SB0495 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 09964 JAM 40222 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB0495

Introduced 2/16/2005, by Sen. Wendell E. Jones

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/6-19	from Ch. 46, par. 6-19
10 ILCS 5/28-1.5 new
55 ILCS 5/1-3002	from Ch. 34, par. 1-3002
55 ILCS 5/1-4004	from Ch. 34, par. 1-4004
65 ILCS 5/2-2-3	from Ch. 24, par. 2-2-3
65 ILCS 5/2-2-8	from Ch. 24, par. 2-2-8
65 ILCS 5/2-3-6	from Ch. 24, par. 2-3-6
65 ILCS 5/5-5-1	from Ch. 24, par. 5-5-1
65 ILCS 5/11-66-3	from Ch. 24, par. 11-66-3
65 ILCS 5/11-112-1	from Ch. 24, par. 11-112-1
70 ILCS 705/1	from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 21
70 ILCS 705/3	from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 23
70 ILCS 2105/1	from Ch. 42, par. 383
70 ILCS 2305/26	from Ch. 42, par. 296.6
70 ILCS 2305/27	from Ch. 42, par. 296.7
70 ILCS 3305/2a	from Ch. 121, par. 356a
105 ILCS 5/32-1	from Ch. 122, par. 32-1
110 ILCS 805/3-5	from Ch. 122, par. 103-5

Amends the Election Code. Provides that referenda may be placed on the ballot only at the general primary election and the general election. Amends the Election Code, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the Fire Protection District Act, the River Conservancy District Act, the North Shore Sanitary District Act, the Street Light District Act, the Surface Water Protection District Act, the School Code, and the Public Community College Act. Requires that certain referenda be approved by a majority of the electors voting on the question.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning referenda.

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

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 6-19 and adding Section 28-1.5 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/6-19) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-19)

Sec. 6-19. The election officials canvassing returns shall cause a statement of the result of such election on the rejection of this Article 6 and Articles 14 and 18 of this Act to be certified to the court. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote total votes cast at such election is in the affirmative, the court shall enter an order declaring said Articles rejected and shall file a copy of the order in the office of the Secretary of State. Thereupon said Articles shall cease to be operative and binding in such city.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3481.)

(10 ILCS 5/28-1.5 new)

Sec. 28-1.5. Referenda; general primary and general elections. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, referenda may be placed on the ballot only at the general primary election and the general election.

Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by changing Sections 1-3002 and 1-4004 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/1-3002) (from Ch. 34, par. 1-3002)

Sec. 1-3002. Election; effect. If it shall appear that a majority of the electors voting on the question all the votes cast at such election, in each of the counties interested, is in favor of the erection of such new county, the county clerk of each of said counties shall certify the same to the Secretary of State, stating in such certificate the name, territorial contents and boundaries of such new county; whereupon the Secretary of State shall notify the Governor of the result of such election, whose duty it shall be to order an election of county officers for such new county in accordance with the general election law for the election of county officers. At such election the qualified voters of said new county shall elect all county officers for said county, except as hereinafter excepted, who shall be commissioned and qualified in the same manner as such officers are in other counties in this State, and who shall continue in office until the next regular election for such officers, and until their successors are elected and qualified, and who shall have all the jurisdiction and perform all the duties which are or may be conferred upon such officers in other counties of this State.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

(55 ILCS 5/1-4004) (from Ch. 34, par. 1-4004)

Sec. 1-4004. Effect of vote. If a majority of the electors voting on the question, in each of the counties, is votes polled in each of such counties at such election shall be in favor of said proposition, all that territory included within the established boundaries of the petitioning county, shall be united and annexed to the adjoining county, and such petitioning county, shall cease to have any separate existence as a county, but shall be merged into and form an integral part of such adjoining county, in fact and in name, at the time and in the manner hereinafter provided.

(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

Section 15. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by changing Sections 2-2-3, 2-2-8, 2-3-6, 5-5-1, 11-66-3, and 11-112-1 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/2-2-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 2-2-3)

Sec. 2-2-3. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall the city of.... YES incorporate as a city under -------------------------------

the general law? NO

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The corporate authorities shall cause the result of the canvass to be entered on the records of the city. If a majority of the electors voting on the question votes cast at the election favor incorporation as a city under the general law, the city is incorporated under this Code. Thereupon, the city officers then in office shall exercise the powers conferred upon like officers in this Code, until their successors are elected and have qualified.

(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

(65 ILCS 5/2-2-8) (from Ch. 24, par. 2-2-8)

Sec. 2-2-8. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall the territory (here describe YES it) be incorporated as a city under ------------------

the general law? NO

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The result of the election shall be entered of record in the court. If a majority of the electors voting on the proposition votes cast at the election favor incorporation as a city under the general law, the inhabitants of the territory described in the petition are incorporated as a city under this Code, with the name stated in the petition.

Appeals may be taken as in other civil cases.

(Source: P.A. 83-343.)

(65 ILCS 5/2-3-6) (from Ch. 24, par. 2-3-6)

Sec. 2-3-6. Upon the filing of such a petition with the circuit clerk, the court shall hear testimony and rule that the area under consideration is or is not a village in fact. The ruling of the court shall be entered of record in the court. If the court rules that the area does not constitute a village in fact, the petition to incorporate the area as a village is denied and no subsequent petition concerning village incorporation of any of the land described in the earlier petition may be filed within one year. If the court rules that the area does constitute a village in fact, such court shall enter an order so finding and the proposition shall be certified and submitted to the electors of such area in the manner provided by the general election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall the territory (here YES describe it) be incorporated as --------------------------

a village under the general law? NO

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The result of the election shall be entered of record in the court. If a majority of the electors voting on the proposition votes cast at the election favor incorporation as a village under the general law the inhabitants of the territory described in the petition are incorporated as a village under this Code with the name stated in the petition.

(Source: P.A. 83-343.)

(65 ILCS 5/5-5-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 5-5-1)

Sec. 5-5-1. Petition for abandonment of managerial form; referendum; succeeding elections of officers and aldermen or trustees.

(a) A city or village that has operated for 4 years or more under the managerial form of municipal government may abandon that organization as provided in this Section. For the purposes of this Article, the operation of the managerial form of municipal government shall be deemed to begin on the date of the appointment of the first manager in the city or village. When a petition for abandonment signed by electors of the municipality equal in number to at least 10% of the number of votes cast for candidates for mayor at the preceding general quadrennial municipal election is filed with the circuit court for the county in which that city or village is located, the court shall set a date not less than 10 nor more than 30 days thereafter for a hearing on the sufficiency of the petition. Notice of the filing of the petition and of the date of the hearing shall be given in writing to the city or village clerk and to the mayor or village president at least 7 days before the date of the hearing. If the petition is found sufficient, the court shall enter an order directing that the proposition be submitted at an election other than a primary election for the municipality. The clerk of the court shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

Shall (name of city or village) retain the managerial form of municipal government?

(b) If the majority of the electors voting on the proposition vote in the affirmative votes at the election are "yes", then the proposition to abandon is rejected and the municipality shall continue operating under this Article 5. If the majority of the electors voting on the proposition vote in the negative of the votes are "no", then the proposition to abandon operation under this Article 5 is approved.

(c) If the proposition for abandonment is approved, the city or village shall become subject to Article 3.1 or Article 4, whichever Article was in force in the city or village immediately before the adoption of the plan authorized by this Article 5, upon the election and qualification of officers to be elected at the next succeeding general municipal election. Those officers shall be those prescribed by Article 3.1 or Article 4, as the case may be, but the change shall not in any manner or degree affect the property rights or liabilities of the city or village. The mayor, clerk, and treasurer and all other elected officers of a city or village in office at the time the proposition for abandonment is approved shall continue in office until the expiration of the term for which they were elected.

(d) If a city or village operating under this Article 5 has aldermen or trustees elected from wards or districts and a proposition to abandon operation under this Article 5 is approved, then the officers to be elected at the next succeeding general municipal election shall be elected from the same wards or districts as exist immediately before the abandonment.

(e) If a city or village operating under this Article 5 has a council or village board elected from the municipality at large and a proposition to abandon operation under this Article 5 is approved, then the first group of aldermen, board of trustees, or commissioners so elected shall be of the same number as was provided for in the municipality at the time of the adoption of a plan under this Article 5, with the same ward or district boundaries in cities or villages that immediately before the adoption of this Article 5 had wards or districts, unless the municipal boundaries have been changed. If there has been such a change, the council or village board shall so alter the former ward or district boundaries so as to conform as nearly as possible to the former division. If the plan authorized by this Article 5 is abandoned, the next general municipal election for officers shall be held at the time specified in Section 3.1-10-75 or 3.1-25-15 for that election. The aldermen or trustees elected at that election shall, if the city or village was operating under Article 3 at the time of adoption of this Article 5 and had at that time staggered 4 year terms of office for the aldermen or trustees, choose by lot which shall serve initial 2 year terms as provided by Section 3.1-20-35 or 3.1-15-5, whichever may be applicable, in the case of election of those officers at the first election after a municipality is incorporated.

(f) The proposition to abandon the managerial form of municipal government shall not be submitted in any city or village oftener than once in 12 months.

(Source: P.A. 93-847, eff. 7-30-04.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-66-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-66-3)

Sec. 11-66-3. If a majority of the electors voting on the question all votes cast at the election are in favor of the tax levy for a municipal coliseum, the corporate authorities, in the next annual tax levy, shall include a tax not to exceed .25% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, on all the taxable property of the municipality for the establishment of a municipal coliseum in the municipality, and thereafter may annually levy a tax not to exceed .05% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, on all the taxable property of the municipality, for the maintenance thereof and for the payment for the use of any money loaned or advanced to the municipality for the purpose of buying a site and building the municipal coliseum, and for the repayment of any money so loaned or advanced. Payment for the use of money so loaned or advanced shall be in such form and manner as the board of directors may determine, and the amount so paid shall not exceed 5% annually on any money so loaned or advanced. The corporate authorities of such a municipality, when real estate owned by the municipality is not necessary for any other municipal purpose, may authorize the use of the real estate for the municipal coliseum.

The foregoing limitations upon tax rates may be increased or decreased according to the referendum provisions of the General Revenue Law of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 86-1028.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-112-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-112-1)

Sec. 11-112-1. When a vote has been taken under "An Act to enable cities, villages and towns threatened with overflow or inundation to levy taxes by vote of the electors thereof, to strengthen, build, raise or repair the levees around same and to issue anticipation warrants on such taxes," approved June 11, 1897, as amended, or when a vote is taken under this Section and Section 11-112-2 at a general municipal election in a municipality that is protected by levees or embankments, or that may deem it necessary to be so protected, and a majority of the electors voting on the question legal votes cast at the election were or are for a tax to build, raise, strengthen, or repair the levees around the municipality, not exceeding the rate of .1666% annually, to be levied annually for a period of not exceeding 7 years on the taxable property of the municipality, the corporate authorities of the municipality may (1) make an appropriation by ordinance of the proceeds of the tax so authorized, (2) pass an ordinance levying the tax for the whole period as authorized by the vote to be annually extended, and (3) draw tax anticipation warrants thereon to the amount that the tax levy will produce based on the assessment of the preceding year of all the taxable property of the municipality. These warrants shall draw interest at not to exceed the rate authorized by the vote authorizing the tax, not exceeding 7% annually, but the warrants shall not be sold below par.

The foregoing limitation upon tax rate may be increased or decreased according to the referendum provisions of the General Revenue Law of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 76-845.)

Section 20. The Fire Protection District Act is amended by changing Sections 1 and 3 as follows:

(70 ILCS 705/1) (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 21)

Sec. 1. It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination that in order to promote and protect the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public, it is necessary in the public interest to provide for the creation of municipal corporations known as fire protection districts and to confer upon and vest in the fire protection districts all powers necessary or appropriate in order that they may engage in the acquisition, establishment, maintenance and operation of fire stations, facilities, vehicles, apparatus and equipment for the prevention and control of fire therein and the underwater recovery of drowning victims, and provide as nearly adequate protection from fire for lives and property within the districts as possible and regulate the prevention and control of fire therein; and that the powers herein conferred upon such fire protection districts are public objects and governmental functions in the public interest.

Whenever any territory is (1) an area of contiguous territory in a county, or in more than one but in not more than 5 counties; (2) so situated that the destruction by fire of the buildings and other property therein is hazardous to the lives and property of the public; (3) so situated that the acquisition, establishment, maintenance and operation of a fire station or stations, facilities, vehicles, apparatus and equipment for the prevention and control of fire therein will conduce to the promotion and protection of the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public; (4) so situated that it does not divide any city, village or incorporated town, but, in the case of a city, village or incorporated town situated partly within and partly without one or more existing fire protection districts, such territory shall not be considered as dividing the city, village or incorporated town if it includes all of the city, village or incorporated town situated outside of any existing fire protection district; (5) so situated that such territory contains no territory included in any other fire protection district, or if any territory is disconnected in the manner provided in Section 16c of this Act, the same may be incorporated as a fire protection district. For the purpose of meeting the requirement of item (1) that the territory be contiguous, territory shall be considered to be contiguous if the only separation between parts of such territory is land owned by the United States, the State of Illinois, or any agency or instrumentality of either. In the case of territory disconnected from an existing district pursuant to Section 16c of this Act, such territory may be incorporated as provided in that Section; otherwise such districts may be incorporated under this Act in the manner following:

Fifty or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of the proposed district, or a majority thereof if less than 100, may petition the circuit court for the county which contains all or the largest portion of the proposed district to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of the proposed district, whether the proposed territory shall be organized as a fire protection district under this Act; the petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed district, and the name of the proposed district and shall allege facts in support of the organization and incorporation.

Upon filing a petition in the office of the circuit clerk of the county in which the petition is made, the court shall fix a time and place for a hearing upon the subject of the petition.

Notice shall be given by the court to which the petition is addressed, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff of the county in which the petition is made at the order and direction of the court, of the time and place of the hearing upon the subject of the petition at least 20 days prior thereto by one publication thereof in one or more daily or weekly papers published within the proposed fire protection district (or if no daily or weekly newspaper is published within such proposed fire protection district, then either by one publication thereof in any newspaper of general circulation within that territory or by posting at least 10 copies of the notice in the district at least 20 days before the hearing in conspicuous places as far separated from each other as consistently possible), and by mailing a copy of the notice to the mayor or president of the board of trustees of all cities, villages and incorporated towns in whole or in part within the proposed fire protection district.

At the hearing all persons residing in or owning property situated in the proposed fire protection district shall have an opportunity to be heard; and if the court finds that the petition does not comply with the provisions of this Act or that the allegations of the petition are not true, the court shall dismiss the petition; but if the court finds that the petition complies with the provisions of this Act and that the allegations of the petition are true, the same shall be incorporated in an order which shall be filed of record in the court. Upon the entering of such order the court shall order the submission to the legal voters of the proposed fire protection district the question of organization and establishment of the proposed fire protection district at an election. The circuit clerk shall certify the question and the order to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. The notice of the referendum shall specify the purpose of such election with a description of the proposed district.

The question shall be in substantially the following form:

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For Fire Protection District.

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Against Fire Protection District.

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The court shall cause a written statement of the results of such election to be filed of record in the court. If no city or village or incorporated town nor any part thereof is included in the territory proposed as a district and the majority of the electors voting votes cast at such election upon the question shall be in favor of the incorporation of the proposed fire protection district, or if a city or village or incorporated town or any part thereof is included in the territory proposed as a district and a majority of the electors voting votes cast at such election upon the question, within the limits of each city or village or incorporated town and also a majority of the electors voting on the question those cast outside the limits of each such city or village or incorporated town shall be in favor of the proposed fire protection district, or if a city or village or incorporated town is included in the territory proposed as a district and a majority of the electors voting votes cast at such election upon the question within the limits of such city or village or incorporated town or in any other city or village or incorporated town which is included in the proposed territory shall be in favor of the proposed fire protection district, and even if a majority of the electors voting upon the question votes cast outside the limits of such city or cities or village or villages or incorporated town or towns, are not in favor of the proposed fire protection district, in each city or village or incorporated town in which a majority of the electors voting on the question are casts a majority of votes in favor of the proposed district, the proposed district or portion of the proposed district in which a majority of the electors voting on the question votes cast at the election are in favor of the proposition as provided in this amendatory Act of 1986 and this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall thenceforth be deemed an organized fire protection district under this Act, and the court shall enter an order accordingly and cause the same to be filed of record in the court and shall also cause to be sent to the county clerk of any and all other counties in which any portion of the district lies and the Office of the State Fire Marshal a certified copy of the order organizing the district and a plat of the same indicating what lands of the district lie in such other county or counties. The circuit clerk shall also file with the Office of the State Fire Marshal a certified copy of any other order organizing any other fire protection district which may have been theretofore organized in the county.

(Source: P.A. 85-1434.)

(70 ILCS 705/3) (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 23)

Sec. 3. Additional contiguous territory having the qualifications set forth in Section 1 may be added to any fire protection district as provided for in this Act in the manner following:

(a) One percent or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of the proposed addition to the fire protection district may petition the court of the county in which the original petition for the formation of the fire protection district was filed, to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of the proposed additional territory whether the proposed additional territory shall become a part of any contiguous fire protection district organized under this Act and whether the voters of the additional territory shall assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness of the district. The petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed addition and shall allege facts in support of such addition.

Upon filing the petition in the office of the circuit clerk of the county in which the original petition for the formation of the fire protection district was filed, it shall be the duty of the court to fix a time and place of a hearing upon the subject of the petition.

Notice shall be given by the court, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff upon order of the court of the county in which the petition is filed, of the time and place of a hearing upon the petition in the manner as provided in Section 1. The conduct of the hearing on the question whether the proposed additional territory shall become a part of the fire protection district shall be carried out in the manner described in Section 1, as nearly as may be. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

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For joining the.... Fire Protection District and assuming a proportionate share of bonded indebtedness, if any.

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Against joining the.... Fire Protection District and assuming a proportionate share of bonded indebtedness, if any.

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If a majority of the electors voting votes cast at the election upon the question of becoming a part of any contiguous fire protection district are in favor of becoming a part of that fire protection district and if the trustees of the fire protection district accept the proposed additional territory by resolution, the proposed additional territory shall be deemed an integral part of that fire protection district and shall be subject to all the benefits of service and responsibilities of the district as set forth in this Act.

(b) The owner or owners of any tract or tracts of land, contiguous to an existing fire protection district and not already included in a fire protection district, may file a written petition, addressed to the trustees of the fire protection district to which they seek to have their tract or tracts of land attached, containing a definite description of the boundaries of the territory and a statement that they desire that their property become a part of the fire protection district to which their petition is addressed, and that they are willing that their property assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of the fire protection district.

When such a petition is filed with the trustees, they shall immediately pass a resolution to accept or reject the territory proposed to be attached. If the trustees resolve in favor of accepting the territory, they shall file with the court of the county where the fire protection district was organized the original petition and a certified copy of the resolution, and the court shall then enter an order stating that the proposed annexed territory shall be deemed an integral part of that fire protection district and subject to all of the benefits of service and responsibilities of the district. The circuit clerk shall transmit a certified copy of the order to the county clerk of each county in which any of the territory affected is situated and to the State Fire Marshal.

(c) Upon the annexation of territory by a district, the boundary shall extend to the far side of any adjacent highway and shall include all of every highway within the area annexed. These highways shall be considered to be annexed even though not included in the legal description set forth in the petition for annexation.

(Source: P.A. 85-556; 86-1191.)

Section 25. The River Conservancy Districts Act is amended by changing Section 1 as follows:

(70 ILCS 2105/1) (from Ch. 42, par. 383)

Sec. 1. Whenever the unified control of a lake or of a river system or a portion thereof shall be deemed conducive to the prevention of stream pollution development, conservation and protection of water supply, preservation of water levels, control or prevention of floods, reclamation of wet and overflowed lands, development of irrigation, conservation of soil, provision of domestic, industrial or public water supplies, collection and disposal of sewage and other public liquid wastes, provision of forests, wildlife areas, parks and recreational facilities, and to the promotion of the public health, comfort and convenience the same may be organized as a conservancy district under this Act in the manner following:

One per cent or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of such proposed district, and, with respect to petitions filed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1990, one percent of the legal voters resident in each county in which the proposed district is situated, may petition the circuit court for the county which contains all or the largest portion of the proposed district to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of such proposed district, whether such proposed territory shall be organized as a conservancy district under this Act, which petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a general description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed district and the name of such proposed district. The description need not be given by metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions, but it shall be sufficient if a generally accurate description is given of the territory to be organized as a district. Such territory need not be contiguous, provided that it be so situated that the public health, safety, convenience or welfare will be promoted by the organization as a single district of the territory described.

Upon filing such petition in the office of the circuit clerk of the county in which such petition is filed as aforesaid it shall be the duty of the court to consider the boundaries of any such proposed conservancy district, whether the same shall be those stated in the petition or otherwise. The decision of the court is appealable as in other civil cases.

The court shall by order fix a time and place for a hearing on the petition not less than 60 days after the date of such order. Notice shall be given by the court to whom the petition is addressed of the time and place where such commissioners shall meet for such hearing by a publication inserted once in one or more daily or weekly papers published within the proposed conservancy district, or if no daily or weekly newspaper is published within such proposed conservancy district, then by posting such notice, at least 10 copies, in such proposed district at least 20 days before such meeting, in conspicuous public places as far separated from each other as consistently possible.

At such hearing all persons in such proposed conservancy district shall have an opportunity to be heard, touching upon the location and boundaries of such proposed district and to make suggestions regarding the same, and the court, after hearing statements, evidence and suggestions, shall fix and determine the limits and boundaries of such proposed district, and for that purpose and to that extent, may alter and amend such petition. After such determination by the court, the same shall be incorporated in an order which shall be entered of record in the circuit court or courts of the counties situate in the proposed district and the court shall also by the order provide for the holding of a referendum as herein provided.

Upon the entering of such order the court shall certify the question of organization and establishment of the proposed conservancy district as determined by the court to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, notice of the referendum shall specify the purpose of the referendum and contain a description of such proposed district. The clerk of the court shall send notice of the referendum to the county board of each county in which the proposed district is situated.

Each legal voter resident within such proposed conservancy district shall have the right to cast a ballot at such election. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall a Conservancy District be organized, with authority to levy an annual tax at a maximum rate of YES ... % (maximum rate authorized under Section 17 of the River Conservancy ----------------------

Districts Act) of the value of all taxable property within the limits of NO the District as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue?

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The ballots cast on the question in each county shall be returned and canvassed by the county clerk of the county in which the same are cast and such county clerks respectively shall file with the county clerk of the county, in which the petition is filed, a true copy of the return and canvass of the votes cast in each of said counties and thereupon the county clerk of the county in which such petition is filed shall canvass the entire vote cast in the election from the returns furnished by such respective county clerks and shall ascertain the result of such referendum and certify the same to the court. The court shall cause a statement of the results of such referendum to be entered of record in the court. If a majority of the electors voting votes cast at such election upon the question shall be in favor of the organization of the proposed conservancy district such proposed district shall thenceforth be deemed an organized conservancy district under this Act and a municipal corporation with the powers and duties herein conferred and bearing the name set forth in the petition.

(Source: P.A. 86-1307.)

Section 30. The North Shore Sanitary District Act is amended by changing Sections 26 and 27 as follows:

(70 ILCS 2305/26) (from Ch. 42, par. 296.6)

Sec. 26. Additional contiguous territory may be added to any sanitary district organized under this Act in the manner following:

Ten per cent or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of such proposed addition to such sanitary district may petition the circuit court for the county in which such sanitary district is located to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of such proposed additional territory whether such proposed additional territory shall become a part of any contiguous sanitary district organized under this Act and whether such additional territory and the taxpayers thereof shall assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of such sanitary district. Such petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of the territory sought to be added. Provided that no territory disqualified in Section 1 of this Act shall be included.

Upon filing such petition in the office of the circuit clerk of the county in which such sanitary district is located it shall be the duty of the court to consider the boundaries of such proposed additional territory, whether the same shall be those stated in the petition or otherwise. The decision of the court shall be a final order and appealable as in other civil cases.

Notice shall be given by the court of the time and place when and where all persons interested will be heard substantially as provided in and by Section 1 of this Act. The court shall certify its order and the proposition to the proper election officials who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

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For joining sanitary district and assuming a proportionate share of bonded indebtedness, if any.

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Against joining sanitary district and assuming a proportionate share of bonded indebtedness, if any.

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If a majority of the electors voting on the question votes cast at such election shall be in favor of becoming a part of such sanitary district and if the trustees of such sanitary district accept the proposed additional territory by ordinance annexing the same, the court shall enter an appropriate order of record in the court, and such additional territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such sanitary district. Any such additional contiguous territory may be annexed to such sanitary district upon petition addressed to such court, signed by a majority of the owners of lands constituting such territory who, in the case of natural persons, shall have arrived at lawful age and who represent a majority in area of such territory, which said petition shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of such territory and shall set forth the willingness of the petitioners that such territory and the taxpayers thereof assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of such sanitary district. Upon the filing of such petition and notice of and hearing and decision upon the same by the aforesaid commissioners, all as hereinbefore provided, such commissioners or a majority of them, shall enter an order containing their findings and decision as to the boundaries of the territory to be annexed; and thereupon, if the trustees of such sanitary district shall pass an ordinance annexing the territory described in such order to said sanitary district, the court shall enter an appropriate order as hereinabove provided, and such additional territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such sanitary district.

(Source: P.A. 83-343.)

(70 ILCS 2305/27) (from Ch. 42, par. 296.7)

Sec. 27. Any contiguous territory located within the boundaries of any sanitary district organized under this Act, and upon the border of such district, may become disconnected from such district in the manner following, to wit: 10% or more of the legal voters resident in the territory sought to be disconnected from such district, may petition the circuit court for the county in which such sanitary district is located to cause the question of whether such territory shall be disconnected to be submitted to the legal voters of such territory. Such petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of such territory and recite as a fact, that there is no outstanding bonded indebtedness of such sanitary district which was incurred or assumed while such territory was a part of such sanitary district and that no special assessments for local improvements were levied upon or assessed against any of the lands within such territory or, if so levied or assessed, that all of such assessments have been fully paid and discharged and that such territory is not, at the time of the filing of such petition, and will not be, either benefited or served by any work or improvements either then existing or then authorized by said sanitary district. Upon filing such petition in the office of the circuit clerk of the county in which such sanitary district is located it shall be the duty of the court to consider the boundaries of such territory and the facts upon which the petition is founded. The court may alter the boundaries of such territory and shall deny the prayer of the petition, if the material allegations therein contained are not founded in fact; a decision of said commissioners or a majority of them shall be conclusive and not subject to review.

Notice shall be given by the court of the time and place when and where all persons interested will be heard substantially as provided in and by Section 1 of this Act. The court shall certify its order and the question to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

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For disconnection from sanitary district.

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Against disconnection from sanitary district.

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If a majority of the electors voting on the proposition votes cast at such election shall be in favor of disconnection, and if the trustees of such sanitary district shall, by ordinance, disconnect such territory, thereupon the court shall enter an appropriate order of record in the court and thereafter such territory shall thenceforth be deemed disconnected from such sanitary district.

(Source: P.A. 83-343.)

Section 35. The Street Light District Act is amended by changing Section 2a as follows:

(70 ILCS 3305/2a) (from Ch. 121, par. 356a)

Sec. 2a. Additional territory having the qualifications set forth in Section 1 may be added to any street lighting district as provided for in this Act in the manner following:

Fifty or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of such proposed addition to such street lighting district may petition the circuit court of the county in which the original petition for the formation of said street lighting district was filed, to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of such proposed additional territory whether such proposed additional territory shall become a part of any street lighting district organized under this Act and whether the voters of the additional territory shall assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness of such district. The petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed addition and shall allege facts in support of the addition.

Upon filing the petition in the office of the circuit clerk of the county in which the original petition for the formation of such street lighting district was filed, it shall be the duty of the court to fix a time and place of a hearing upon the subject of said petition.

Notice shall be given by the circuit court, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff upon order of the circuit court of the county in which such petition is filed, of the time and place of a hearing upon the petition in the manner as provided in Section 1. The conduct of the hearing and the manner of conducting a subsequent referendum on the question whether the proposed additional territory shall become a part of the street lighting district, shall be carried out in the manner described in Section 1, as nearly as may be, and in accordance with the general election law but the question shall be in substantially the following form, to-wit:

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For joining the.... Street Lighting District and assuming a proportionate share of bonded indebtedness, if any.

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Against joining the.... Street Lighting District and assuming a proportionate share of bonded indebtedness, if any.

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If a majority of the electors voting votes cast at the election upon the question of becoming a part of any street lighting district shall be in favor of becoming a part of such street lighting district and if the trustees of said street lighting district accept the proposed additional territory by resolution, such proposed additional territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such street lighting district and shall be subject to all the benefits of service and responsibilities of said district as herein set forth.

The owner or owners of any tract or tracts of land not included in a street lighting district, may file a written petition, addressed to the trustees of the street lighting district to which they seek to have their tract or tracts of land attached, containing a definite description of the boundaries of the territory and a statement that they desire that their property become a part of the street lighting district to which their petition is addressed, and that they are willing that their property assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of such street lighting district.

When such a petition is filed with the trustees, they shall immediately pass a resolution to accept or reject the territory proposed to be attached. If the trustees resolve in favor of accepting such territory, they shall file with the court of the county where the street lighting district was organized the original petition and a certified copy of the resolution and the circuit clerk shall then enter an order stating that such proposed annexed territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such street lighting district and subject to all of the benefits of service and responsibilities of the district. The circuit clerk shall transmit a certified copy of the order to the county clerk of each county in which any of the territory affected is situated.

(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

Section 40. The School Code is amended by changing Section 32-1 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/32-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 32-1)

Sec. 32-1. May vote to organize under general law.

(a) Any special charter district may, by vote of its electors, cease to control its school under the Act under which it was organized, and become part of the school township or townships in which it is situated. Upon petition of 50 voters of the district, presented to the board having the control and management of the schools, the board shall order submitted to the voters at an election to be held in the district, in accordance with the general election law, the question of "organizing under the general school law". The secretary of the board shall make certification to the proper election authority in accordance with the general election law. If, however, a majority of the electors votes cast at any such election in any school district subject to Sections 32-3 through 32-4.11 voting on the question are is against organizing the district under the general school law, the question may not again be submitted in the district for 22 months thereafter, and then only upon petition signed by at least 2% of the voters of the school district. Notice shall be given in accordance with the general election law, which notice shall be in the following form:

NOTICE OF REFERENDUM

Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), a referendum will be held at.... for the purpose of deciding the question of organizing under the general school law. The polls will be opened at .... o'clock ..m and closed at .... o'clock ..m.

Signed .....

If a majority of the electors voting votes cast on the proposition is in favor of organizing under the general school law, then the board having the control and management of schools in the district, shall declare the proposition carried.

When such a proposition is declared to have so carried, the board of education shall continue to exercise its powers and duties under the general school law. Each member of the board of education selected under the provisions of the special charter shall continue in office until his term has expired. Before the term of each of these members expires, the board shall give notice of an election to be held on the date of the next regular school election, in accordance with the general election law to fill the vacancy which is created. Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid unless the candidate named therein files with the secretary of the board of education a receipt from the county clerk showing that the candidate has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Such receipt shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in which his nomination papers were filed or within the period for the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general election law.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any special charter district whose board is appointed by the mayor or other corporate authority of that municipality may, by resolution adopted by the corporate authorities of that municipality cease to control its school under the Act under which it was organized, become a part of the school township or townships in which it is situated and become organized under the general school law. If such a resolution is adopted, the board of education shall continue to exercise its powers and duties under the general school law. Each member of the board of education selected under the provisions of the special charter shall continue in office until his term has expired. Before the term of each of these members expires, the board shall give notice of an election to be held on the date of the next regular school election, in accordance with the general election law to fill the vacancy which is created.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

Section 45. The Public Community College Act is amended by changing Section 3-5 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/3-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 103-5)

Sec. 3-5. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

FOR the establishment of a community college district with authority to levy taxes at the rate of.... per cent for educational purposes, and.... per cent for operations and maintenance of facilities purposes.

AGAINST the establishment of a community college district with authority to levy taxes at the rate of.... per cent for educational purposes, and.... per cent for operations and maintenance of facilities purposes.

In order for the proposition to be approved, a majority of the electors voting on the proposition votes cast in the territory at the election must be in favor of the proposition of establishing a community college district; provided, however, that if the territory described in the petition includes one or more community college districts, the proposition has not received a majority of the votes cast on the proposition unless it also receives a majority of the votes cast on the proposition within the territory included within each such district, the count to be taken separately within such districts.

(Source: P.A. 85-1335.)