Bill Text: IL HB5066 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Prescribed Burning Act. Removes a provision making a property owner and any person conducting a prescribed burn liable for actual damage or injury caused by the prescribed burn or resulting smoke upon proof of negligence. Provides instead that no landowner, agent of the landowner, or certified prescribed burn manager is liable for damage, injury, or loss caused by a prescribed burn or resulting smoke unless proven to be grossly negligent. Effective immediately.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-18 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB5066 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2021-HB5066-Introduced.html
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1 | AN ACT concerning conservation.
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2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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4 | Section 5. The Illinois Prescribed Burning Act is amended | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | by changing Section 15 as follows:
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6 | (525 ILCS 37/15)
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7 | Sec. 15. Requirements; liability. | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | (a) Before conducting a prescribed burn under this Act, a | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | person shall:
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10 | (1) obtain the written consent of the landowner;
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11 | (2) have a written prescription approved by a | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | certified prescribed burn manager; | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | (3) have at least one certified prescribed burn | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | manager present on site with a copy of the prescription | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | while the burn is being conducted; | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | (4) notify the local fire department, county | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | dispatcher, 911 dispatcher, or other designated emergency | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | dispatcher on the day of the prescribed burn; and | |||||||||||||||||||
19 | (5) make a reasonable attempt to notify all adjoining | |||||||||||||||||||
20 | property owners and occupants of the date and time of the | |||||||||||||||||||
21 | prescribed burn. | |||||||||||||||||||
22 | (b) (Blank). The property owner and any person conducting | |||||||||||||||||||
23 | a prescribed burn under this Act shall be liable for any actual |
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1 | damage or injury caused by the fire or resulting smoke upon | ||||||
2 | proof of negligence. | ||||||
3 | (b-5) No landowner or agent of the landowner shall be | ||||||
4 | liable for damage, injury, or loss caused by a prescribed burn | ||||||
5 | or resulting smoke of a prescribed burn unless the landowner | ||||||
6 | or agent of the landowner is proven to be grossly negligent. | ||||||
7 | (b-10) No certified prescribed burn manager shall be | ||||||
8 | liable for damage, injury, or loss caused by a prescribed burn | ||||||
9 | or resulting smoke of a prescribed burn conducted under an | ||||||
10 | approved prescription unless the certified prescribed burn | ||||||
11 | manager is proven to be grossly negligent. | ||||||
12 | (c) Any prescribed burning conducted under this Act: | ||||||
13 | (1) is declared to be in the public interest; | ||||||
14 | (2) does not constitute a public or private nuisance | ||||||
15 | when conducted in compliance with Section 9 of the | ||||||
16 | Environmental Protection Act and all other State statutes | ||||||
17 | and rules applicable to prescribed burning; and | ||||||
18 | (3) is a property right of the property owner if | ||||||
19 | naturally occurring vegetative fuels are used.
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20 | (Source: P.A. 95-108, eff. 8-13-07.)
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21 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||||||
22 | becoming law.
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