(70 ILCS 705/3.1) (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 23.1)

Sec. 3.1. Annexation under a comprehensive county fire protection plan.

(a) Additional contiguous territory having the qualifications set forth in Section 1 and in this Section may be added to a fire protection district as provided in this Section, but only if the ISO rating of the district will not be adversely affected by adding the contiguous territory.

(b) If the territory is unincorporated, is not part of a fire protection district, and does not have available a source of fire protection on a voluntary or contractual basis, then the territory may be added to a fire protection district by action of the county board of the county in which the territory is located as part of a comprehensive county fire protection plan adopted under subsection (c).

(c) If the county board proposes to adopt a comprehensive county fire protection plan for the purpose of ensuring that fire protection is available throughout the unincorporated areas of the county, it shall fix a time and a place for a hearing on the question. The county board shall give notice of the time and place of the hearing, the question to be heard, and a description of the unincorporated territory without fire protection as follows: (i) to the president of each fire protection district located within the county by certified U. S. mail deposited for mailing at least 20 days before the hearing; and (ii) by one publication at least 14 days before the hearing in one or more newspapers having general circulation within the county. The plan shall propose that all the unincorporated territory without fire protection be added to one or more fire protection districts. At the hearing all persons having an interest in the matter shall have an opportunity to be heard.

(d) If, after the hearing, the county board proposes to proceed with adoption of the comprehensive county fire protection plan, it shall notify the appropriate election officials, who shall submit the question of approval of the plan to the electors of the entire county in accordance with the general election law. If a majority of those voting on the question are in favor of adopting the plan, it shall be adopted.

(e) If, after the adoption of a comprehensive county fire protection plan, the county board determines to add any territory to a fire protection district, it shall do so by ordinance. The ordinance shall describe the territory and shall specify a date, not more than one year after the adoption of the ordinance, at which time the territory shall be considered added to and a part of the fire protection district. A certified copy of the ordinance shall be transmitted to each of the following: the county clerk, the secretary of the fire protection district, and the State Fire Marshal. On the date specified in the ordinance, the territory shall become an integral part of the fire protection district and subject to all of the benefits of service and responsibilities of the district.

(Source: P.A. 86-568.)