LOC GOV-HUMAN REMAINS ID

104th Regular Session Introduced by Lindsey LaPointe and 1 co-sponsor

Strengthens local law enforcement training to identify human remains and standardizes handling, DNA testing, and labeling of unidentified remains for faster identification and buri

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

Purpose and intent

HB5569 would update Illinois law to strengthen training for local law enforcement on identifying human remains and to improve procedures when unidentified remains are discovered. The bill aims to standardize identification efforts, use of DNA in unidentified cases, and the handling/labeling of unknown remains to aid future identification and burial processes.

Key provisions

Training requirement ( Illinois Police Training Act, new Section 10.28 )

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct or approve a training program on the identification of human remains.
Target: law enforcement officers employed by local (city/county) law enforcement agencies.
Purpose of the training: equip officers to identify human remains and respond appropriately to such findings.

Handling and reporting of unidentified remains ( Missing Persons Identification Act, amended Section 25 )

When remains are not identifiable, the coroner, medical examiner, or assisting law enforcement agency must obtain a biological sample from the unidentified individual.
The DNA sample must be sent to an accredited CODIS laboratory.
DNA profiles must be entered into the appropriate State and National DNA Index Systems within 90 days from discovery of the remains.
If remains are later identified, the assisting agency must provide all known aliases associated with the deceased to the coroner or medical examiner.
Burial/interment process for unknown individuals or body parts:
- Before burial, the medical examiner or coroner must assign a case number to the unknown individual or body part.
- A stainless-steel tag stamped/inscribed with the assigned case number must be placed on the individual or body part and on the outside of the burial container.

Who is affected

Local law enforcement officers (through required training in identification of human remains).

Coroners, medical examiners, and assisting law enforcement agencies handling unidentified remains.

For unidentified cases, DNA laboratories accredited for CODIS and the state/national DNA databases.

Families and communities may benefit indirectly through improved identification processes and record-keeping.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Training mandate: Board involvement to develop or approve a specialized training program on identifying human remains (no specific start date provided beyond enactment timing).

DNA processing timeline: DNA profiles of unidentified remains must be entered into CODIS within 90 days from discovery.

Post-identification process: Upon identification, provision of all known aliases to the coroner/medical examiner.

Case labeling and tracking: Unknown remains/body parts must be assigned a case number with stainless-steel tagging placed on both the remains/body part and burial container prior to burial.

Additional details

Effective date references indicate alignment with P.A. 104-339, eff. 1-1-26, suggesting coordination with existing reforms in related statutes.

The bill includes sponsor and co-sponsor information, with additional co-sponsorship added during the process.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law to highlight exact statutory changes or a plain-language briefing for a general-audience audience.