103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5315
 
Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Daniel Didech
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
765 ILCS 165/10
765 ILCS 165/15
765 ILCS 165/45
    Amends the Homeowner's Energy Policy Statement Act. Defines "video doorbell" as an Internet-enabled doorbell, equipped with a camera or microphone, or both, that: (1) sends a notification to the smartphone, computer, or similar Internet-enabled mobile device of a user when a guest arrives at the entrance of the door; (2) is activated when the guest presses the button of the doorbell, is activated when the doorbell senses a guest with its built-in monitor sensors, or is activated remotely by the user of the doorbell through the user's smartphone, computer, or similar Internet-enabled mobile device; and (3) allows the user using the smartphone, computer, or similar Internet-enabled mobile device to watch and talk with the guest by using the doorbell's built-in camera and microphone. Prohibits the adoption of a bylaw or exercise of any power by the governing entity of a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of a solar energy system installed for the primary purpose of providing solar energy to a video doorbell. Provides that the Act applies to any solar energy system installed for the primary purpose of providing solar energy to a video doorbell.


LRB103 34870 LNS 64732 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
HB5315LRB103 34870 LNS 64732 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act is 
5amended by changing Sections 10, 15, and 45 as follows:
 
6    (765 ILCS 165/10)
7    Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:
8    "Solar energy" means radiant energy received from the sun 
9at wave lengths suitable for heat transfer, photosynthetic 
10use, or photovoltaic use.
11    "Solar collector" means:
12        (1) an assembly, structure, or design, including 
13    passive elements, used for gathering, concentrating, or 
14    absorbing direct and indirect solar energy, specially 
15    designed for holding a substantial amount of useful 
16    thermal energy and to transfer that energy to a gas, 
17    solid, or liquid or to use that energy directly; or
18        (2) a mechanism that absorbs solar energy and converts 
19    it into electricity; or
20        (3) a mechanism or process used for gathering solar 
21    energy through wind or thermal gradients; or
22        (4) a component used to transfer thermal energy to a 
23    gas, solid, or liquid, or to convert it into electricity.
 
 
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1    "Solar storage mechanism" means equipment or elements 
2(such as piping and transfer mechanisms, containers, heat 
3exchangers, batteries, or controls thereof, and gases, solids, 
4liquids, or combinations thereof) that are utilized for 
5storing solar energy, gathered by a solar collector, for 
6subsequent use.
7    "Solar energy system" means:
8        (1) a complete assembly, structure, or design of solar 
9    collector, or a solar storage mechanism, which uses solar 
10    energy for generating electricity or for heating or 
11    cooling gases, solids, liquids, or other materials; and
12        (2) the design, materials, or elements of a system and 
13    its maintenance, operation, and labor components, and the 
14    necessary components, if any, of supplemental conventional 
15    energy systems designed or constructed to interface with a 
16    solar energy system. 
17    "Video doorbell" means an Internet-enabled doorbell, 
18equipped with a camera or microphone, or both, that: 
19        (1) sends a notification to the smartphone, computer, 
20    or similar Internet-enabled mobile device of a user when a 
21    guest arrives at the entrance of the door; 
22        (2) is activated when the guest presses the button of 
23    the doorbell, is activated when the doorbell senses a 
24    guest with its built-in monitor sensors, or is activated 
25    remotely by the user of the doorbell through the user's 
26    smartphone, computer, or similar Internet-enabled mobile 
 
 
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1    device; and 
2        (3) allows the user using the smartphone, computer, or 
3    similar Internet-enabled mobile device to watch and talk 
4    with the guest by using the doorbell's built-in camera and 
5    microphone. 
6(Source: P.A. 102-161, eff. 7-26-21.)
 
7    (765 ILCS 165/15)
8    Sec. 15. Associations; prohibitions.  Notwithstanding any 
9provision of this Act or other provision of law, the adoption 
10of a bylaw or exercise of any power by the governing entity of 
11a homeowners' association, common interest community 
12association, or condominium unit owners' association which 
13prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of 
14a solar energy system, including, but not limited to, a solar 
15energy system installed for the primary purpose of providing 
16solar energy to a video doorbell, is expressly prohibited.
17(Source: P.A. 96-1436, eff. 1-1-11.)
 
18    (765 ILCS 165/45)
19    Sec. 45. Inapplicability; applicability.  
20    (a) This Act shall not apply to any building that: 
21        (1) is greater than 60 feet in height; or
22        (2) has a shared roof and is subject to a homeowners' 
23    association, common interest community association, 
24    condominium unit owners' association.
 
 
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1    (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the 
2contrary, this Act shall apply to any solar energy system 
3installed for the primary purpose of providing solar energy to 
4a video doorbell. 
5    (c) As used in this Section, "shared roof" means any roof 
6that (i) serves more than one unit, including, but not limited 
7to, a contiguous roof serving adjacent units, or (ii) is part 
8of the common elements or common area. 
9(Source: P.A. 102-161, eff. 7-26-21.)