ISP-COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

104th Regular Session Introduced by Bill Cunningham

Requires the Illinois State Police Merit Board to follow and enforce the terms of any collective bargaining agreement applicable to ISP employees.

Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 22, 2026

Purpose and Intent

SB3292 adds a new provision to the Illinois State Police Act stating that the Illinois State Police Merit Board must adhere to the terms and conditions of any collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in place between the Illinois State Police (ISP) and its employees. The bill clarifies that neither the Merit Board nor its employees or representatives may act contrary to the terms of a CBA applicable to employees under the Board’s authority.

Key Provisions

New Section 3.5 (20 ILCS 2610/3.5) – Collective Bargaining Compliance:

The Illinois State Police Merit Board is bound by the terms and conditions of any collective bargaining agreement in place between the ISP and its employees.
The Merit Board, and its employees or representatives, may not act contrary to the terms of a CBA that applies to employees under the Board’s authority.

Who/What is Affected

Illinois State Police Merit Board (ISPMB): The body responsible for evaluating and certifying ISP personnel decisions.

ISP Employees Covered by a CBA: All ISP employees who are part of a collective bargaining agreement with the ISP.

ISP and Its Representatives: Bound by the terms of the applicable CBA as applied to employees under the ISPMB’s authority.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduction and Schedule:

Introduced February 3, 2026 by Senator Bill Cunningham (Co-sponsor: Bill Cunningham).
Inserted into the Illinois State Police Act as new Section 3.5.

Legislative Progress (as of provided history):

Assigned to the Executive on February 17, 2026.
Do Pass Executive on March 11, 2026 (009-003-000).
Placed on Calendar for 2nd Reading March 12, 2026; subsequently moved through readings in March and April 2026.
Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline established for May 8, 2026 (as of April 17, 2026).

Potential Impact

Labor Relations Alignment: Ensures ISPMB decisions and actions are consistent with CBAs, potentially limiting unilateral actions by the Merit Board that would conflict with negotiated terms.

Rights and Protections for ISP Employees: Codifies the primacy of the CBA terms for ISP employees under the Merit Board’s jurisdiction, potentially strengthening protections around wages, hours, working conditions, grievance procedures, and other CBA provisions.

Administrative Considerations: May require Merit Board processes to reference and interpret existing CBAs when making determinations affecting ISP employees.

Notes

The text does not specify any changes to the content of existing CBAs themselves, only that the Merit Board must comply with their terms.

The bill’s impact depends on whether a CBA is in place at any given time between ISP and its employees; if no CBA exists, the provision would have limited effect.

Bill