Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill today sponsored by State Senator Michael Noland (D-Elgin) that will require someone convicted of manufacturing controlled substances to pay restitution for costs arising from law enforcement and emergency services.

"Those convicted of making and selling controlled substances such as methamphetamines will now be required to pay the costs of investigating and securing a crime scene," Noland said. "Emergency response service units such as police and fire fighters should not have to bear the cost for gathering evidence or securing a meth crime scene, a cost that should not fall back on Illinois taxpayers."

House Bill 1258 was proposed by the Elgin Police Department and the City of Elgin. Expenses incurred by police, fire departments and other agencies to gather evidence or secure a site used to manufacture controlled substances would be collected from a convicted drug dealer. The restitution would be imposed on the offender by a court as a part of the sentencing process.

Elgin Police Officer Chris Jensen testified in Springfield in a May hearing of the Senate Criminal Law Committee. He explained the costs involved in safely collecting evidence and secure sites where controlled substances such as meth are found. Fines collected from the offenders will be distributed among law enforcement agencies under Illinois’ Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act.

"Our law enforcement agencies resources are very limited and these investigations can cost thousands of dollars," Noland said. "I am grateful to Governor Quinn for supporting this law to provide restitution for our local, county and state agencies that protect our communities from drug dealers. Our state’s economic future depends on safe neighborhoods, and this new law represents an investment in that future."

The Governor also signed House Bill 3033 today, Senator Noland’s bill to provide technical training to city police departments to qualify for and receive federal anti-gang grants from the US Department of Justice. This bill was also an initiative of the Elgin Police Department and the City of Elgin.