97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB2525

 

Introduced 11/9/2011, by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
70 ILCS 2605/19  from Ch. 42, par. 339

    Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that the district is liable for damages or loss to real estate or personal property caused in whole or in part by the operations of the sanitary district whether the damages or loss are caused by the overflow of the sanitary district's channels, ditches, drains, outlets, or other improvements, or whether the damages or loss result from the district's use, maintenance, construction, or repair of the same or other equipment or facilities. Further provides that an owner or permitted user of real estate may submit a claim for reimbursement rather than bringing action to recover damages. Sets forth the requirements for the claim and damages awarded. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act
5is amended by changing Section 19 as follows:
 
6    (70 ILCS 2605/19)  (from Ch. 42, par. 339)
7    Sec. 19. Sanitary district liability.
8    (a) Every sanitary district shall be liable for all damages
9to real estate within or without such district which shall be
10overflowed or otherwise damaged by reason of the construction,
11enlargement or use of any channel, ditch, drain, outlet or
12other improvement under the provisions of this Act. The
13liability imposed by this Section shall be broadly construed
14and shall include any damages or loss to real estate or
15personal property caused in whole or in part by the operations
16of the sanitary district, whether the damages or losses are
17caused by the overflow of the sanitary district's channels,
18ditches, drains, outlets, or other improvements, or whether the
19damages or losses result from the sanitary district's use,
20maintenance, construction, or repair of the same or other
21equipment or facilities that are used by the sanitary district.
22The right to recovery established by this Section applies,
23without limitation, to all owners and permitted users of real

 

 

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1estate that are subject to the property tax levied by the
2sanitary district. The provisions of the Local Governmental and
3Governmental Tort Immunity Act shall not relieve the sanitary
4district of any liability imposed by this Section. Actions act
5; and actions to recover such damages may be brought in the
6county where such real estate is situated, or in the county
7where such sanitary district is located, at the option of the
8party claiming to be injured. And in case judgment is rendered
9against such district for damage, the plaintiff shall also
10recover his reasonable attorneys' fees to be taxed as costs of
11suit: Provided, however, it shall appear on the hearing of
12plaintiff's motion to tax such attorney's fees, that the
13plaintiff notified the trustees of such district, in writing,
14at least 60 days before suit was commenced by leaving a copy of
15such notice with some one of the trustees of such district,
16stating that he claims damages to the amount of .... dollars by
17reason of (here insert the cause of damage) and intends to sue
18for the same: And, provided further, that the amount recovered
19shall be larger than the amount offered by said trustees (if
20anything) as a compromise for damages sustained.
21    (b) An owner or permitted user of real estate entitled to
22recover damages pursuant to this Section may submit a claim for
23reimbursement to the Executive Director of the board for the
24dollar amount expended to replace or repair the damaged real
25estate or personal property as an alternative to bringing an
26action to recover damages and attorneys' fees. The acceptance

 

 

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1and payment of a claim for reimbursement shall operate as a
2waiver of the owner's or permitted user's right to initiate an
3action to recover damages or loss arising from the same
4incident. The maximum amount of any reimbursement shall be the
5dollar amount of property tax levied by the sanitary district
6on the damaged real estate in the immediately preceding tax
7year or, where the claimant is not the owner of the damaged
8real estate, a pro rata share of the dollar amount of property
9tax levied on the damaged real estate by the sanitary district
10in the immediately preceding tax year based upon the claimant's
11proportionate use of the damaged real estate. A claim for
12reimbursement shall be supported by receipts detailing the
13amount expended for the replacement or repair of the damaged
14real estate or personal property. The Executive Director shall
15cause reimbursement to be made within 90 calendar days after
16the Executive Director's receipt of a properly supported claim
17for reimbursement. The Executive Director shall promulgate any
18additional rules and regulations deemed necessary for the
19reimbursement process.
20(Source: Laws 1907, p. 284.)
 
21    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22becoming law.