Committee refers masked-officer and related private-security items to Human Services; counsel says state preempts private-security registration

On July 28 the Referrals Committee referred a proposal to prohibit law-enforcement officers — described in the referral as federal civil immigration enforcement officers and their designees — from concealing their identities to the Human Services Committee for its Sept. 1 meeting. Council members discussed whether Administration & Public Works (A&PW) or Human Services should handle the item; timing led members to select Human Services’ Sept. 1 meeting. “I'm gonna move this one to Human Services on September 1,” Council member Newsom said, and the chair recorded the ayes. Separately, the committee considered a proposal to require armed private security to register with the city. Alex Truggy, Corporation Counsel, told the committee that state law preempts local regulation in this area and that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) handles licensure and registration for private security. "State law preempts this... the IDFPR with the state of Illinois handles all of the registration and the requirements for licensure for private security," Truggy said. He recommended the committee not take action on the registration proposal and to consult the referrer and co-referrers. The Referrals Committee left the private-security registration item live and directed staff to speak with the referrers; no local registration requirement was adopted.