Shelby County Rescue Squad Bill Signed By Governor –

Springfield, Ill. (ECWd) –

On August 9, 2024, Governor Pritzker signed SB-1102, which was sponsored by Senator Steve McClure and Representatives Tony McCombie and Brad Halbrook.

Shelby County Board Member Sonny Ross assisted in the creation of this legislation.

This new Public Act authorizes Shelby County to operate a Volunteer Rescue Squad.

The bill amended Section 5 of the Counties Code by inserting the following:

Sec. 5-1189. Shelby County rescue squad. The Shelby County Board may form, manage, fund, and operate a volunteer rescue squad to provide assistance within Shelby County to any public entity providing law enforcement, firefighting, emergency disaster response, or first responder services. The volunteer rescue squad may (i) locate missing persons, including drowning victims, (ii) perform a supporting, and not direct, role in fighting fires, and (iii) extricate persons from unsafe conditions. The Shelby County Board may provide benefits for rescue squad volunteers who suffer disease, injury, or death in the line of duty.

Cover photo taken from Shelby County Rescue Squad’s Facebook page.