SB1275 Summary

• Amends the State Police Act to require complaints against State Police officers be supported by sworn affidavits, and complaints found to contain false information must be referred to the State's Attorney for prosecution.

• Adds provision requiring that if a recorded conversation is used as evidence of officer misconduct and is found to have been intentionally altered by the complainant to inaccurately reflect the incident, it must be referred to the State's Attorney for prosecution determination.

• Amends the Uniform Peace Officers' Disciplinary Act with identical requirements regarding sworn affidavits for complaints and referral of complaints with false information to the State's Attorney.

• Adds new subsection (r) to the Criminal Code of 2012 authorizing citizens to record conversations of law enforcement officers performing public duties in public places where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy and the conversation is audible to the unassisted ear.

• Specifies that law enforcement officers recording conversations must notify parties that recording is occurring; defines "public place" to include streets, parks, highways, and common areas of public and private facilities.