By Jim Covington

Director of Legislative Affairs

 The following bills have been passed by both chambers and are being sent to the Governor.

Filing fees. House Bill 4956 (Nekritz, D-Northbrook; Crotty, D-Oak Forest) increases the maximum fee paid by civil litigants from $5 to $10 for children’s waiting rooms if the county board approves. Senate Bill 2321 (Trotter, D-Chicago; Colvin, D-Chicago) increases the fees for the county law library from $13 to $21 to be phased in over several years.

Reporting an accident. House Bill 5907 (Rose, R-Mahomet; Righter, R-Mattoon) amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to require a driver to report an accident to the Secretary of State if the damage is in excess of $1,500 or $500 if the driver is uninsured. Makes corresponding changes for posting security as well.

Telecom towers and notice. House Bill 4936 (Kosel, R-New Lenox; Pankau, R-Bloomingdale) amends the Counties Code to require that certified-mail notice be sent at least 15 days before the hearing to the owners of record of all residential property that is adjacent to the lot where the facility is to be sited.

Private-sewage disposal. Senate Bill 2034 (Koehler, D-Peoria; Leitch, R-Peoria) permits a unit of local government to require verification by homeowners who use a private-sewage disposal system that the they have a valid contract for the system with a licensed contractor. Prohibits the unit of local government from asking for verification more than once every three years or assessing an additional fee against homeowners for verification.

Omnibus Municipal Code changes. Senate Bill 2677 (Crotty, D-Oak Forest; Riley, D-Matteson) amends the Municipal Code to make three different changes. (1) The notice for annexation must be published once in a newspaper circulated within the annexed land not less than 10 days before the passage of the annexation ordinance. Written notice must also be served in person or by certified mail on taxpayers not less than 15 days before the passage of the annexation ordinance. If the property sought to be annexed lies within a township in whole or part that is not the township where the municipality is situated, written notice must be given at least 10 days before passage of the annexation ordinance to that township supervisor. If notice of annexation is given as required, no other municipality may annex the proposed territory for 60 days from the date the notice is mailed or delivered to the taxpayers of record unless the other municipality has already started annexation proceedings or a valid petition has been received by the municipality.

(2) Allows a board of fire and police commissioners to waive its examination for police applicants who have previously been full-time, sworn officers if they have been certified by the state board and been with employed with an law enforcement agency in Illinois for at least two years. Allows boards to prepare and keep a second register of eligible officers from this pool. 

(3) Allows a court to declare a building to be abandoned if the owner appears and waives his or her rights. Current law requires the court to dismiss the action if an owner files an appearance. If the court finds that the owner does not intend to abandon the property, the court may order the property owner to demolish or repair the building.

Inheritance by car title. House Bill 1915 (Hoffman, D-Collinsville; Haine, D-Alton) amends the Vehicle Code to allow a car owner to use a car title to designate a beneficiary who would inherit the car if the owner dies. It is modeled after a Missouri statute.