HB0702 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 06118 RSP 36182 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB0702

Introduced 02/01/05, by Rep. Thomas Holbrook

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 3305/4	from Ch. 127, par. 1054
20 ILCS 3305/5	from Ch. 127, par. 1055
20 ILCS 3305/10	from Ch. 127, par. 1060
20 ILCS 3305/17	from Ch. 127, par. 1067
55 ILCS 5/5-1127 new
745 ILCS 10/1-206	from Ch. 85, par. 1-206
745 ILCS 10/Art. V heading
745 ILCS 10/5-101	from Ch. 85, par. 5-101
745 ILCS 10/5-102	from Ch. 85, par. 5-102
745 ILCS 10/5-103	from Ch. 85, par. 5-103
745 ILCS 10/5-104	from Ch. 85, par. 5-104
745 ILCS 10/5-106	from Ch. 85, par. 5-106
625 ILCS 5/1-105	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-105
625 ILCS 5/6-500	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-500

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Act. Provides that "emergency services" under the Act include services provided by a volunteer HazMat response team. Defines "volunteer HazMat response team". Requires the Agency, in consultation with the State Fire Marshal, to coordinate and establish standards and qualifications for the specialized training of members of volunteer HazMat response teams. Provides that volunteer HazMat response team members are eligible for certain State benefits if injured or killed under certain circumstances. Provides that when the Governor of the State, or the principal executive officer of a political subdivision of the State, accepts funds by way of gift or grant for purposes of emergency management, a portion of the funds should go to counties for the formation and operation of volunteer HazMat response teams. Amends the Counties Code. Allows county boards to authorize volunteer HazMat response teams. Provides that a county board may make reasonable appropriations from the county treasury to fund and encourage the formation and operation of a volunteer Hazmat response team. Requires a volunteer HazMat response team to be exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Amends the Local Government and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. Makes changes to provide volunteer HazMat response teams and their members the same tort immunities that are granted to fire fighters. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the vehicles of a volunteer HazMat response team are authorized emergency vehicles and are not commercial vehicles for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Driver's License Act.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning hazardous materials.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 10. The Illinois Emergency Management Act is amended by changing Sections 4, 5, 10, and 17 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3305/4) (from Ch. 127, par. 1054)

Sec. 4. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and terms have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section:

"Coordinator" means the staff assistant to the principal executive officer of a political subdivision with the duty of coordinating the emergency management programs of that political subdivision.

"Disaster" means an occurrence or threat of widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or technological cause, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, hazardous materials spill or other water contamination requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage, epidemic, air contamination, blight, extended periods of severe and inclement weather, drought, infestation, critical shortages of essential fuels and energy, explosion, riot, hostile military or paramilitary action, public health emergencies, or acts of domestic terrorism.

"Emergency Management" means the efforts of the State and the political subdivisions to develop, plan, analyze, conduct, provide, implement and maintain programs for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

"Emergency Services and Disaster Agency" means the agency by this name, by the name Emergency Management Agency, or by any other name that is established by ordinance within a political subdivision to coordinate the emergency management program within that political subdivision and with private organizations, other political subdivisions, the State and federal governments.

"Emergency Operations Plan" means the written plan of the State and political subdivisions describing the organization, mission, and functions of the government and supporting services for responding to and recovering from disasters.

"Emergency Services" means the coordination of functions by the State and its political subdivision, other than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible, as may be necessary or proper to prevent, minimize, repair, and alleviate injury and damage resulting from any natural or technological causes. These functions include, without limitation, fire fighting services, police services, emergency aviation services, medical and health services, volunteer HazMat response team services, rescue, engineering, warning services, communications, radiological, chemical and other special weapons defense, evacuation of persons from stricken or threatened areas, emergency assigned functions of plant protection, temporary restoration of public utility services and other functions related to civilian protection, together with all other activities necessary or incidental to protecting life or property.

"Exercise" means a planned event realistically simulating a disaster, conducted for the purpose of evaluating the political subdivision's coordinated emergency management capabilities, including, but not limited to, testing the emergency operations plan.

"Volunteer HazMat response team" means a volunteer mobile support team that has been authorized by a county board under Section 5-1127 of the Counties Code to respond to HazMat emergencies in that county and that is primarily designed for emergency response to chemical or biological terrorism, radiological emergencies, hazardous material spills, releases, or fires, or other contamination events.

"Illinois Emergency Management Agency" means the agency established by this Act within the executive branch of State Government responsible for coordination of the overall emergency management program of the State and with private organizations, political subdivisions, and the federal government. Illinois Emergency Management Agency also means the State Emergency Response Commission responsible for the implementation of Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986.

"Mobile Support Team" means a group of individuals designated as a team by the Governor or Director to train prior to and to be dispatched, if the Governor or the Director so determines, to aid and reinforce the State and political subdivision emergency management efforts in response to a disaster.

"Municipality" means any city, village, and incorporated town.

"Political Subdivision" means any county, city, village, or incorporated town or township if the township is in a county having a population of more than 2,000,000.

"Principal Executive Officer" means chair of the county board, supervisor of a township if the township is in a county having a population of more than 2,000,000, mayor of a city or incorporated town, president of a village, or in their absence or disability, the interim successor as established under Section 7 of the Emergency Interim Executive Succession Act.

"Public health emergency" means an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health condition that:

(a) is believed to be caused by any of the following:

(i) bioterrorism;

(ii) the appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin;

(iii) a natural disaster;

(iv) a chemical attack or accidental release; or

(v) a nuclear attack or accident; and

(b) poses a high probability of any of the following harms:

(i) a large number of deaths in the affected population;

(ii) a large number of serious or long-term disabilities in the affected population; or

(iii) widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant risk of substantial future harm to a large number of people in the affected population.

(Source: P.A. 92-73, eff. 1-1-02; 93-249, eff. 7-22-03.)

(20 ILCS 3305/5) (from Ch. 127, par. 1055)

Sec. 5. Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

(a) There is created within the executive branch of the State Government an Illinois Emergency Management Agency and a Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, herein called the "Director" who shall be the head thereof. The Director shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve for a term of 2 years beginning on the third Monday in January of the odd-numbered year, and until a successor is appointed and has qualified; except that the term of the first Director appointed under this Act shall expire on the third Monday in January, 1989. The Director shall not hold any other remunerative public office. The Director shall receive an annual salary as set by the Governor from time to time or the amount set by the Compensation Review Board, whichever is higher. If set by the Governor, the Director's annual salary may not exceed 85% of the Governor's annual salary.

(b) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall obtain, under the provisions of the Personnel Code, technical, clerical, stenographic and other administrative personnel, and may make expenditures within the appropriation therefor as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act. The agency created by this Act is intended to be a successor to the agency created under the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency Act of 1975 and the personnel, equipment, records, and appropriations of that agency are transferred to the successor agency as of the effective date of this Act.

(c) The Director, subject to the direction and control of the Governor, shall be the executive head of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Response Commission and shall be responsible under the direction of the Governor, for carrying out the program for emergency management of this State. The Director shall also maintain liaison and cooperate with the emergency management organizations of this State and other states and of the federal government.

(d) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall take an integral part in the development and revision of political subdivision emergency operations plans prepared under paragraph (f) of Section 10. To this end it shall employ or otherwise secure the services of professional and technical personnel capable of providing expert assistance to the emergency services and disaster agencies. These personnel shall consult with emergency services and disaster agencies on a regular basis and shall make field examinations of the areas, circumstances, and conditions that particular political subdivision emergency operations plans are intended to apply.

(e) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and political subdivisions shall be encouraged to form an emergency management advisory committee composed of private and public personnel representing the emergency management phases of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Local Emergency Planning Committee, as created under the Illinois Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, shall serve as an advisory committee to the emergency services and disaster agency or agencies serving within the boundaries of that Local Emergency Planning Committee planning district for:

(1) the development of emergency operations plan provisions for hazardous chemical emergencies; and

(2) the assessment of emergency response capabilities related to hazardous chemical emergencies.

(f) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall:

(1) Coordinate the overall emergency management program of the State.

(2) Cooperate with local governments, the federal government and any public or private agency or entity in achieving any purpose of this Act and in implementing emergency management programs for mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

(2.5) Cooperate with the Department of Nuclear Safety in development of the comprehensive emergency preparedness and response plan for any nuclear accident in accordance with Section 2005-65 of the Department of Nuclear Safety Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and in development of the Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness program in accordance with Section 8 of the Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act.

(2.6) Coordinate with the Department of Public Health with respect to planning for and responding to public health emergencies.

(3) Prepare, for issuance by the Governor, executive orders, proclamations, and regulations as necessary or appropriate in coping with disasters.

(4) Promulgate rules and requirements for political subdivision emergency operations plans that are not inconsistent with and are at least as stringent as applicable federal laws and regulations.

(5) Review and approve, in accordance with Illinois Emergency Management Agency rules, emergency operations plans for those political subdivisions required to have an emergency services and disaster agency pursuant to this Act.

(5.5) Promulgate rules and requirements for the political subdivision emergency management exercises, including, but not limited to, exercises of the emergency operations plans.

(5.10) Review, evaluate, and approve, in accordance with Illinois Emergency Management Agency rules, political subdivision emergency management exercises for those political subdivisions required to have an emergency services and disaster agency pursuant to this Act.

(6) Determine requirements of the State and its political subdivisions for food, clothing, and other necessities in event of a disaster.

(7) Establish a register of persons with types of emergency management training and skills in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

(7.5) In consultation with the State Fire Marshal, coordinate and establish, by rule, standards, qualifications, and certification procedures for members of volunteer HazMat response teams.

(8) Establish a register of government and private response resources available for use in a disaster.

(9) Expand the Earthquake Awareness Program and its efforts to distribute earthquake preparedness materials to schools, political subdivisions, community groups, civic organizations, and the media. Emphasis will be placed on those areas of the State most at risk from an earthquake. Maintain the list of all school districts, hospitals, airports, power plants, including nuclear power plants, lakes, dams, emergency response facilities of all types, and all other major public or private structures which are at the greatest risk of damage from earthquakes under circumstances where the damage would cause subsequent harm to the surrounding communities and residents.

(10) Disseminate all information, completely and without delay, on water levels for rivers and streams and any other data pertaining to potential flooding supplied by the Division of Water Resources within the Department of Natural Resources to all political subdivisions to the maximum extent possible.

(11) Develop agreements, if feasible, with medical supply and equipment firms to supply resources as are necessary to respond to an earthquake or any other disaster as defined in this Act. These resources will be made available upon notifying the vendor of the disaster. Payment for the resources will be in accordance with Section 7 of this Act. The Illinois Department of Public Health shall determine which resources will be required and requested.

(11.5) In coordination with the Department of State Police, develop and implement a community outreach program to promote awareness among the State's parents and children of child abduction prevention and response.

(12) Out of funds appropriated for these purposes, award capital and non-capital grants to Illinois hospitals or health care facilities located outside of a city with a population in excess of 1,000,000 to be used for purposes that include, but are not limited to, preparing to respond to mass casualties and disasters, maintaining and improving patient safety and quality of care, and protecting the confidentiality of patient information. No single grant for a capital expenditure shall exceed $300,000. No single grant for a non-capital expenditure shall exceed $100,000. In awarding such grants, preference shall be given to hospitals that serve a significant number of Medicaid recipients, but do not qualify for disproportionate share hospital adjustment payments under the Illinois Public Aid Code. To receive such a grant, a hospital or health care facility must provide funding of at least 50% of the cost of the project for which the grant is being requested. In awarding such grants the Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall consider the recommendations of the Illinois Hospital Association.

(13) Do all other things necessary, incidental or appropriate for the implementation of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 92-73, eff. 1-1-02; 92-597, eff. 6-28-02; 93-249, eff. 7-22-03; 93-310, eff. 7-23-03; revised 9-11-03.)

(20 ILCS 3305/10) (from Ch. 127, par. 1060)

Sec. 10. Emergency Services and Disaster Agencies.

(a) Each political subdivision within this State shall be within the jurisdiction of and served by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and by an emergency services and disaster agency responsible for emergency management programs. A township, if the township is in a county having a population of more than 2,000,000, must have approval of the county coordinator before establishment of a township emergency services and disaster agency.

(b) Unless multiple county emergency services and disaster agency consolidation is authorized by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency with the consent of the respective counties, each county shall maintain an emergency services and disaster agency that has jurisdiction over and serves the entire county, except as otherwise provided under this Act and except that in any county with a population of over 3,000,000 containing a municipality with a population of over 500,000 the jurisdiction of the county agency shall not extend to the municipality when the municipality has established its own agency.

(c) Each municipality with a population of over 500,000 shall maintain an emergency services and disaster agency which has jurisdiction over and serves the entire municipality. A municipality with a population less than 500,000 may establish, by ordinance, an agency or department responsible for emergency management within the municipality's corporate limits.

(d) The Governor shall determine which municipal corporations, other than those specified in paragraph (c) of this Section, need emergency services and disaster agencies of their own and require that they be established and maintained. The Governor shall make these determinations on the basis of the municipality's disaster vulnerability and capability of response related to population size and concentration. The emergency services and disaster agency of a county or township, shall not have a jurisdiction within a political subdivision having its own emergency services and disaster agency, but shall cooperate with the emergency services and disaster agency of a city, village or incorporated town within their borders. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall publish and furnish a current list to the municipalities required to have an emergency services and disaster agency under this subsection.

(e) Each municipality that is not required to and does not have an emergency services and disaster agency shall have a liaison officer designated to facilitate the cooperation and protection of that municipal corporation with the county emergency services and disaster agency in which it is located in the work of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

(f) The principal executive officer or his or her designee of each political subdivision in the State shall annually notify the Illinois Emergency Management Agency of the manner in which the political subdivision is providing or securing emergency management, identify the executive head of the agency or the department from which the service is obtained, or the liaison officer in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section and furnish additional information relating thereto as the Illinois Emergency Management Agency requires.

(g) Each emergency services and disaster agency shall prepare an emergency operations plan for its geographic boundaries that complies with planning, review, and approval standards promulgated by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall determine which jurisdictions will be required to include earthquake preparedness in their local emergency operations plans.

(h) The emergency services and disaster agency shall prepare and distribute to all appropriate officials in written form a clear and complete statement of the emergency responsibilities of all local departments and officials and of the disaster chain of command.

(i) Each emergency services and disaster agency shall have a Coordinator who shall be appointed by the principal executive officer of the political subdivision in the same manner as are the heads of regular governmental departments. If the political subdivision is a county and the principal executive officer appoints the sheriff as the Coordinator, the sheriff may, in addition to his or her regular compensation, receive compensation at the same level as provided in Section 3 of "An Act in relation to the regulation of motor vehicle traffic and the promotion of safety on public highways in counties", approved August 9, 1951, as amended. The Coordinator shall have direct responsibility for the organization, administration, training, and operation of the emergency services and disaster agency, subject to the direction and control of that principal executive officer. Each emergency services and disaster agency shall coordinate and may perform emergency management functions within the territorial limits of the political subdivision within which it is organized as are prescribed in and by the State Emergency Operations Plan, and programs, orders, rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and by local ordinance and, in addition, shall conduct such functions outside of those territorial limits as may be required under mutual aid agreements and compacts as are entered into under subparagraph (5) of paragraph (c) of Section 6.

(j) In carrying out the provisions of this Act, each political subdivision may enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to place it in a position effectively to combat the disasters as are described in Section 4, to protect the health and safety of persons, to protect property, and to provide emergency assistance to victims of those disasters. If a disaster occurs, each political subdivision may exercise the powers vested under this Section in the light of the exigencies of the disaster and, excepting mandatory constitutional requirements, without regard to the procedures and formalities normally prescribed by law pertaining to the performance of public work, entering into contracts, the incurring of obligations, the employment of temporary workers, the rental of equipment, the purchase of supplies and materials, and the appropriation, expenditure, and disposition of public funds and property.

(k) Volunteers who, while engaged in a disaster, an exercise, training related to the emergency operations plan of the political subdivision, or a search-and-rescue team response to an occurrence or threat of injury or loss of life that is beyond local response capabilities, suffer disease, injury or death, shall, for the purposes of benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act or Workers' Occupational Diseases Act only, be deemed to be employees of the State, if: (1) the claimant is a duly qualified and enrolled (sworn in) as a volunteer of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or an emergency services and disaster agency accredited by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, or is a member of a volunteer HazMat response team, and (2) if: (i) the claimant was participating in a disaster as defined in Section 4 of this Act, (ii) the exercise or training participated in was specifically and expressly approved by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency prior to the exercise or training, or (iii) the search-and-rescue team response was to an occurrence or threat of injury or loss of life that was beyond local response capabilities and was specifically and expressly approved by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency prior to the search-and-rescue team response. The computation of benefits payable under either of those Acts shall be based on the income commensurate with comparable State employees doing the same type work or income from the person's regular employment, whichever is greater.

(l) If any person who is entitled to receive benefits through the application of this Section receives, in connection with the disease, injury or death giving rise to such entitlement, benefits under an Act of Congress or federal program, benefits payable under this Section shall be reduced to the extent of the benefits received under that other Act or program.

(m) (1) Prior to conducting an exercise, the principal executive officer of a political subdivision or his or her designee shall provide area media with written notification of the exercise. The notification shall indicate that information relating to the exercise shall not be released to the public until the commencement of the exercise. The notification shall also contain a request that the notice be so posted to ensure that all relevant media personnel are advised of the exercise before it begins.

(2) During the conduct of an exercise, all messages, two-way radio communications, briefings, status reports, news releases, and other oral or written communications shall begin and end with the following statement: "This is an exercise message".

(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 92-73, eff. 1-1-02.)

(20 ILCS 3305/17) (from Ch. 127, par. 1067)

Sec. 17. Authority to Accept Services, Gifts, Grants or Loans. Whenever the federal government or any agency or officer thereof or whenever any person, firm or corporation shall offer to the State, or to any political subdivision thereof, services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds by way of gift or grant, for purposes of emergency management, the State, acting through the Governor, or such political subdivision, acting through the principal executive officer, may accept such offer and upon such acceptance the Governor of the State, or the principal executive officer of such political subdivision, may authorize an officer of the State or of the political subdivision, as the case may be, to receive such services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds on behalf of the State or such political subdivision. It is the duty of the Governor, or the principal executive officer of the political subdivision receiving services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds by way of gift or grant under this Section, to ensure that a portion of the services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds are assigned to the counties of the State to encourage the formation and operation of volunteer HazMat response teams for emergency response to chemical or biological terrorism, radiological emergencies, hazardous materials spills, releases or fires, or other contamination events.

(Source: P.A. 85-1027.)

Section 15. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section 5-1127 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-1127 new)

Sec. 5-1127. Volunteer HazMat response teams. The county board of any county may, by ordinance, authorize a volunteer HazMat response team to provide emergency response to chemical and biological terrorism, radiological emergencies, hazardous material spills, releases, or fires, or other contamination events. The county board may make reasonable appropriations from the county treasury to fund and encourage the formation and operation of a volunteer Hazmat response team. The ordinance may provide for benefits to be paid by the county if a team member suffers disease, injury, or death in the line of duty. A volunteer HazMat response team must be a not-for-profit organization exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 20. The Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act is amended by changing the heading of Article V and Sections 1-206, 5-101, 5-102, 5-103, 5-104, and 5-106 as follows:

(745 ILCS 10/1-206) (from Ch. 85, par. 1-206)

Sec. 1-206. "Local public entity" includes a county, township, municipality, municipal corporation, school district, school board, educational service region, regional board of school trustees, community college district, community college board, forest preserve district, park district, fire protection district, volunteer HazMat response team authorized by a county board under Section 5-1127 of the Counties Code, sanitary district, museum district, emergency telephone system board, and all other local governmental bodies. "Local public entity" also includes library systems and any intergovernmental agency or similar entity formed pursuant to the Constitution of the State of Illinois or the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act as well as any not-for-profit corporation organized for the purpose of conducting public business. It does not include the State or any office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, commission, university or similar agency of the State.

(Source: P.A. 89-403, eff. 1-1-96.)

(745 ILCS 10/Art. V heading)

ARTICLE V - FIRE PROTECTION , HAZMAT RESPONSE, AND RESCUE

SERVICES

(745 ILCS 10/5-101) (from Ch. 85, par. 5-101)

Sec. 5-101. Neither a local public entity nor a public employee is liable for failure to establish a fire department or otherwise to provide fire protection, rescue or other emergency service.

As used in this Article, "rescue services" includes, but is not limited to, the operation of an ambulance as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.

As used in this Article, "fire protection" includes, but is not limited to, the operations of a volunteer HazMat response team authorized by a county board under Section 5-1127 of the Counties Code.

(Source: P.A. 84-1431.)

(745 ILCS 10/5-102) (from Ch. 85, par. 5-102)

Sec. 5-102. Neither a local public entity that has undertaken to provide fire protection service nor any of its employees is liable for an injury resulting from the failure to suppress or contain a fire, or from the failure to suppress or contain acts of chemical or biological terrorism, radiological emergencies, hazardous material spills, releases, or fires, or other contamination events, or from the failure to provide or maintain sufficient personnel, equipment or other fire protection facilities.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 2983.)

(745 ILCS 10/5-103) (from Ch. 85, par. 5-103)

Sec. 5-103. (a) Neither a local public entity, nor a public employee acting in the scope of his employment, is liable for an injury resulting from the condition of fire protection or firefighting equipment or facilities. Nothing in this section shall exonerate a public entity from liability for negligence by reason of the condition of a motor vehicle while it is traveling on public ways.

(b) Neither a local public entity nor a public employee acting in the scope of his employment, is liable for an injury caused by an act or omission of a public employee while engaged in fighting a fire or responding to chemical or biological terrorism, a radiological emergency, a hazardous material spill, release, or fire, or another contamination event. However, this Section shall not apply if the injury is caused by the willful and wanton conduct of the public employee.

(Source: P.A. 84-1431.)

(745 ILCS 10/5-104) (from Ch. 85, par. 5-104)

Sec. 5-104. Except as provided in this Article, no trustee, officer or employee of a fire protection district, county volunteer HazMat response team, or fire department having a mutual aid agreement with any other such district, team, or department, nor any individual such fire protection district, volunteer HazMat response team, or department, shall be liable for damage caused to bridges and roads thereon, owned by the State or by a unit of local government, when such damage is caused by firefighting, HazMat team, or fire department equipment crossing bridges and roads thereon, for which load limits are lower than the weight of such equipment, when responding to an alarm or returning therefrom.

(Source: P.A. 80-839.)

(745 ILCS 10/5-106) (from Ch. 85, par. 5-106)

Sec. 5-106. Except for willful or wanton conduct, neither a local public entity, nor a public employee acting within the scope of his employment, is liable for an injury caused by the negligent operation of a motor vehicle or firefighting, HazMat, or rescue equipment, when responding to an emergency call, including transportation of a person to a medical facility.

(Source: P.A. 84-1431.)

Section 25. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 1-105 and 6-500 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/1-105) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-105)

Sec. 1-105. Authorized emergency vehicle. Emergency vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by proper local authorities; police vehicles; vehicles of the fire department; vehicles of a volunteer HazMat response team as authorized by a county board under Section 5-1127 of the Counties Code; ambulances; vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency; vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public Health; and vehicles of the Department of Nuclear Safety.

(Source: P.A. 92-138, eff. 7-24-01; 93-829, eff. 7-28-04.)

(625 ILCS 5/6-500) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-500)

Sec. 6-500. Definitions of words and phrases. Notwithstanding the definitions set forth elsewhere in this Code, for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Driver's License Act (UCDLA), the words and phrases listed below have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

(1) Alcohol. "Alcohol" means any substance containing any form of alcohol, including but not limited to ethanol, methanol, propanol, and isopropanol.

(2) Alcohol concentration. "Alcohol concentration" means:

(A) the number of grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath; or

(B) the number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or

(C) the number of grams of alcohol per 67 milliliters of urine.

Alcohol tests administered within 2 hours of the driver being "stopped or detained" shall be considered that driver's "alcohol concentration" for the purposes of enforcing this UCDLA.

(3) (Blank).

(4) (Blank).

(5) (Blank).

(6) Commercial Motor Vehicle.

(A) "Commercial motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle, except those referred to in subdivision (B), designed to transport passengers or property if:

(i) the vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more or such a lesser GVWR as subsequently determined by federal regulations or the Secretary of State; or any combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the GVWR of any vehicle or vehicles being towed is 10,001 pounds or more; or

(ii) the vehicle is designed to transport 16 or more persons; or

(iii) the vehicle is transporting hazardous materials and is required to be placarded in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 172, subpart F.

(B) Pursuant to the interpretation of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 by the Federal Highway Administration, the definition of "commercial motor vehicle" does not include:

(i) recreational vehicles, when operated primarily for personal use;

(ii) United States Department of Defense vehicles being operated by non-civilian personnel. This includes any operator on active military duty; members of the Reserves; National Guard; personnel on part-time training; and National Guard military technicians (civilians who are required to wear military uniforms and are subject to the Code of Military Justice); or

(iii) firefighting and other emergency equipment (including, without limitation, equipment owned or operated by a volunteer HazMat response team as authorized by a county board under Section 5-1127 of the Counties Code), with audible and visual signals, owned or operated by or for a governmental entity, which is necessary to the preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency governmental functions which are normally not subject to general traffic rules and regulations.

(7) Controlled Substance. "Controlled substance" shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 102 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, and shall also include cannabis as defined in Section 3 of the Cannabis Control Act.

(8) Conviction. "Conviction" means an unvacated adjudication of guilt or a determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the law in a court of original jurisdiction or an authorized administrative tribunal; an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the person's appearance in court; the payment of a fine or court cost regardless of whether the imposition of sentence is deferred and ultimately a judgment dismissing the underlying charge is entered; or a violation of a condition of release without bail, regardless of whether or not the penalty is rebated, suspended or probated.

(9) (Blank).

(10) (Blank).

(11) (Blank).

(12) (Blank).

(13) Driver. "Driver" means any person who drives, operates, or is in physical control of a commercial motor vehicle, or who is required to hold a CDL.

(14) Employee. "Employee" means a person who is employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver. A person who is self-employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver must comply with the requirements of this UCDLA pertaining to employees. An owner-operator on a long-term lease shall be considered an employee.

(15) Employer. "Employer" means a person (including the United States, a State or a local authority) who owns or leases a commercial motor vehicle or assigns employees to operate such a vehicle. A person who is self-employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver must comply with the requirements of this UCDLA.

(16) (Blank).

(17) Foreign jurisdiction. "Foreign jurisdiction" means a sovereign jurisdiction that does not fall within the definition of "State".

(18) (Blank).

(19) (Blank).

(20) Hazardous Material. Upon a finding by the United States Secretary of Transportation, in his or her discretion, under 49 App. U.S.C. 5103(a), that the transportation of a particular quantity and form of material in commerce may pose an unreasonable risk to health and safety or property, he or she shall designate the quantity and form of material or group or class of the materials as a hazardous material. The materials so designated may include but are not limited to explosives, radioactive materials, etiologic agents, flammable liquids or solids, combustible liquids or solids, poisons, oxidizing or corrosive materials, and compressed gases.

(21) Long-term lease. "Long-term lease" means a lease of a commercial motor vehicle by the owner-lessor to a lessee, for a period of more than 29 days.

(22) Motor Vehicle. "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self-propelled, and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from over head trolley wires but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved solely by human power and motorized wheel chairs.

(23) Non-resident CDL. "Non-resident CDL" means a commercial driver's license issued by a state to an individual who is domiciled in a foreign jurisdiction.

(24) (Blank).

(25) (Blank).

(25.5) Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Violation. "Railroad-highway grade crossing violation" means a violation, while operating a commercial motor vehicle, of any of the following:

(A) Section 11-1201, 11-1202, or 11-1425 of this Code.

(B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G) (H) Any other similar law or local ordinance of any state relating to railroad-highway grade crossing. (A) (G)

(26) Serious Traffic Violation. "Serious traffic violation" means:

(A) a conviction when operating a commercial motor vehicle of:

(i) a violation relating to excessive speeding, involving a single speeding charge of 15 miles per hour or more above the legal speed limit; or

(ii) a violation relating to reckless driving; or

(iii) a violation of any State law or local ordinance relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than parking violations) arising in connection with a fatal traffic accident; or

(iv) a violation of Section 6-501, relating to having multiple driver's licenses; or

(v) a violation of paragraph (a) of Section 6-507, relating to the requirement to have a valid CDL; or

(vi) a violation relating to improper or erratic traffic lane changes; or

(vii) a violation relating to following another vehicle too closely; or

(B) any other similar violation of a law or local ordinance of any state relating to motor vehicle traffic control, other than a parking violation, which the Secretary of State determines by administrative rule to be serious.

(27) State. "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia and any province or territory of Canada.

(28) (Blank).

(29) (Blank).

(30) (Blank).

(31) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 92-249, eff. 1-1-02; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02; 92-834, eff. 8-22-02; revised 8-26-02.)