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.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning referenda.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section
5 6-19 and adding Section 28-1.5 as follows:
 
6     (10 ILCS 5/6-19)  (from Ch. 46, par. 6-19)
7     Sec. 6-19. The election officials canvassing returns shall
8 cause a statement of the result of such election on the
9 rejection of this Article 6 and Articles 14 and 18 of this Act
10 to be certified to the court. If a majority of the electors
11 voting on the question vote total votes cast at such election
12 is in the affirmative, the court shall enter an order declaring
13 said Articles rejected and shall file a copy of the order in
14 the office of the Secretary of State. Thereupon said Articles
15 shall cease to be operative and binding in such city.
16 (Source: Laws 1965, p. 3481.)
 
17     (10 ILCS 5/28-1.5 new)
18     Sec. 28-1.5. Referenda; general primary and general
19 elections. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,
20 referenda may be placed on the ballot only at the general
21 primary election and the general election.
 
22     Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by changing
23 Sections 1-3002 and 1-4004 as follows:
 
24     (55 ILCS 5/1-3002)  (from Ch. 34, par. 1-3002)
25     Sec. 1-3002. Election; effect. If it shall appear that a
26 majority of the electors voting on the question all the votes
27 cast at such election, in each of the counties interested, is
28 in favor of the erection of such new county, the county clerk
29 of each of said counties shall certify the same to the

 

 

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1 Secretary of State, stating in such certificate the name,
2 territorial contents and boundaries of such new county;
3 whereupon the Secretary of State shall notify the Governor of
4 the result of such election, whose duty it shall be to order an
5 election of county officers for such new county in accordance
6 with the general election law for the election of county
7 officers. At such election the qualified voters of said new
8 county shall elect all county officers for said county, except
9 as hereinafter excepted, who shall be commissioned and
10 qualified in the same manner as such officers are in other
11 counties in this State, and who shall continue in office until
12 the next regular election for such officers, and until their
13 successors are elected and qualified, and who shall have all
14 the jurisdiction and perform all the duties which are or may be
15 conferred upon such officers in other counties of this State.
16 (Source: P.A. 86-962.)
 
17     (55 ILCS 5/1-4004)  (from Ch. 34, par. 1-4004)
18     Sec. 1-4004. Effect of vote. If a majority of the electors
19 voting on the question, in each of the counties, is votes
20 polled in each of such counties at such election shall be in
21 favor of said proposition, all that territory included within
22 the established boundaries of the petitioning county, shall be
23 united and annexed to the adjoining county, and such
24 petitioning county, shall cease to have any separate existence
25 as a county, but shall be merged into and form an integral part
26 of such adjoining county, in fact and in name, at the time and
27 in the manner hereinafter provided.
28 (Source: P.A. 86-962.)
 
29     Section 15. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
30 changing Sections 2-2-3, 2-2-8, 2-3-6, 5-5-1, 11-66-3, and
31 11-112-1 as follows:
 
32     (65 ILCS 5/2-2-3)  (from Ch. 24, par. 2-2-3)
33     Sec. 2-2-3. The question shall be in substantially the

 

 

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1 following form:
2 -------------------------------------------------------------
3     Shall the city of....        YES
4 incorporate as a city under   -------------------------------
5 the general law?                  NO
6 -------------------------------------------------------------
7 The corporate authorities shall cause the result of the canvass
8 to be entered on the records of the city. If a majority of the
9 electors voting on the question votes cast at the election
10 favor incorporation as a city under the general law, the city
11 is incorporated under this Code. Thereupon, the city officers
12 then in office shall exercise the powers conferred upon like
13 officers in this Code, until their successors are elected and
14 have qualified.
15 (Source: P.A. 81-1489.)
 
16     (65 ILCS 5/2-2-8)  (from Ch. 24, par. 2-2-8)
17     Sec. 2-2-8. The proposition shall be in substantially the
18 following form:
19 -------------------------------------------------------------
20     Shall the territory (here describe         YES
21 it) be incorporated as a city under        ------------------
22 the general law?                               NO
23 -------------------------------------------------------------
24     The result of the election shall be entered of record in
25 the court. If a majority of the electors voting on the
26 proposition votes cast at the election favor incorporation as a
27 city under the general law, the inhabitants of the territory
28 described in the petition are incorporated as a city under this
29 Code, with the name stated in the petition.
30     Appeals may be taken as in other civil cases.
31 (Source: P.A. 83-343.)
 
32     (65 ILCS 5/2-3-6)  (from Ch. 24, par. 2-3-6)
33     Sec. 2-3-6. Upon the filing of such a petition with the
34 circuit clerk, the court shall hear testimony and rule that the

 

 

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1 area under consideration is or is not a village in fact. The
2 ruling of the court shall be entered of record in the court. If
3 the court rules that the area does not constitute a village in
4 fact, the petition to incorporate the area as a village is
5 denied and no subsequent petition concerning village
6 incorporation of any of the land described in the earlier
7 petition may be filed within one year. If the court rules that
8 the area does constitute a village in fact, such court shall
9 enter an order so finding and the proposition shall be
10 certified and submitted to the electors of such area in the
11 manner provided by the general election law. The proposition
12 shall be in substantially the following form:
13 -------------------------------------------------------------
14     Shall the territory (here          YES
15 describe it) be incorporated as    --------------------------
16 a village under the general law?       NO
17 -------------------------------------------------------------
18     The result of the election shall be entered of record in
19 the court. If a majority of the electors voting on the
20 proposition votes cast at the election favor incorporation as a
21 village under the general law the inhabitants of the territory
22 described in the petition are incorporated as a village under
23 this Code with the name stated in the petition.
24 (Source: P.A. 83-343.)
 
25     (65 ILCS 5/5-5-1)  (from Ch. 24, par. 5-5-1)
26     Sec. 5-5-1. Petition for abandonment of managerial form;
27 referendum; succeeding elections of officers and aldermen or
28 trustees.
29     (a) A city or village that has operated for 4 years or more
30 under the managerial form of municipal government may abandon
31 that organization as provided in this Section. For the purposes
32 of this Article, the operation of the managerial form of
33 municipal government shall be deemed to begin on the date of
34 the appointment of the first manager in the city or village.
35 When a petition for abandonment signed by electors of the

 

 

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1 municipality equal in number to at least 10% of the number of
2 votes cast for candidates for mayor at the preceding general
3 quadrennial municipal election is filed with the circuit court
4 for the county in which that city or village is located, the
5 court shall set a date not less than 10 nor more than 30 days
6 thereafter for a hearing on the sufficiency of the petition.
7 Notice of the filing of the petition and of the date of the
8 hearing shall be given in writing to the city or village clerk
9 and to the mayor or village president at least 7 days before
10 the date of the hearing. If the petition is found sufficient,
11 the court shall enter an order directing that the proposition
12 be submitted at an election other than a primary election for
13 the municipality. The clerk of the court shall certify the
14 proposition to the proper election authorities for submission.
15 The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
16         Shall (name of city or village) retain the managerial
17     form of municipal government?
18     (b) If the majority of the electors voting on the
19 proposition vote in the affirmative votes at the election are
20 "yes", then the proposition to abandon is rejected and the
21 municipality shall continue operating under this Article 5. If
22 the majority of the electors voting on the proposition vote in
23 the negative of the votes are "no", then the proposition to
24 abandon operation under this Article 5 is approved.
25     (c) If the proposition for abandonment is approved, the
26 city or village shall become subject to Article 3.1 or Article
27 4, whichever Article was in force in the city or village
28 immediately before the adoption of the plan authorized by this
29 Article 5, upon the election and qualification of officers to
30 be elected at the next succeeding general municipal election.
31 Those officers shall be those prescribed by Article 3.1 or
32 Article 4, as the case may be, but the change shall not in any
33 manner or degree affect the property rights or liabilities of
34 the city or village. The mayor, clerk, and treasurer and all
35 other elected officers of a city or village in office at the
36 time the proposition for abandonment is approved shall continue

 

 

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1 in office until the expiration of the term for which they were
2 elected.
3     (d) If a city or village operating under this Article 5 has
4 aldermen or trustees elected from wards or districts and a
5 proposition to abandon operation under this Article 5 is
6 approved, then the officers to be elected at the next
7 succeeding general municipal election shall be elected from the
8 same wards or districts as exist immediately before the
9 abandonment.
10     (e) If a city or village operating under this Article 5 has
11 a council or village board elected from the municipality at
12 large and a proposition to abandon operation under this Article
13 5 is approved, then the first group of aldermen, board of
14 trustees, or commissioners so elected shall be of the same
15 number as was provided for in the municipality at the time of
16 the adoption of a plan under this Article 5, with the same ward
17 or district boundaries in cities or villages that immediately
18 before the adoption of this Article 5 had wards or districts,
19 unless the municipal boundaries have been changed. If there has
20 been such a change, the council or village board shall so alter
21 the former ward or district boundaries so as to conform as
22 nearly as possible to the former division. If the plan
23 authorized by this Article 5 is abandoned, the next general
24 municipal election for officers shall be held at the time
25 specified in Section 3.1-10-75 or 3.1-25-15 for that election.
26 The aldermen or trustees elected at that election shall, if the
27 city or village was operating under Article 3 at the time of
28 adoption of this Article 5 and had at that time staggered 4
29 year terms of office for the aldermen or trustees, choose by
30 lot which shall serve initial 2 year terms as provided by
31 Section 3.1-20-35 or 3.1-15-5, whichever may be applicable, in
32 the case of election of those officers at the first election
33 after a municipality is incorporated.
34     (f) The proposition to abandon the managerial form of
35 municipal government shall not be submitted in any city or
36 village oftener than once in 12 months.

 

 

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1 (Source: P.A. 93-847, eff. 7-30-04.)
 
2     (65 ILCS 5/11-66-3)  (from Ch. 24, par. 11-66-3)
3     Sec. 11-66-3. If a majority of the electors voting on the
4 question all votes cast at the election are in favor of the tax
5 levy for a municipal coliseum, the corporate authorities, in
6 the next annual tax levy, shall include a tax not to exceed
7 .25% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department
8 of Revenue, on all the taxable property of the municipality for
9 the establishment of a municipal coliseum in the municipality,
10 and thereafter may annually levy a tax not to exceed .05% of
11 the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of
12 Revenue, on all the taxable property of the municipality, for
13 the maintenance thereof and for the payment for the use of any
14 money loaned or advanced to the municipality for the purpose of
15 buying a site and building the municipal coliseum, and for the
16 repayment of any money so loaned or advanced. Payment for the
17 use of money so loaned or advanced shall be in such form and
18 manner as the board of directors may determine, and the amount
19 so paid shall not exceed 5% annually on any money so loaned or
20 advanced. The corporate authorities of such a municipality,
21 when real estate owned by the municipality is not necessary for
22 any other municipal purpose, may authorize the use of the real
23 estate for the municipal coliseum.
24     The foregoing limitations upon tax rates may be increased
25 or decreased according to the referendum provisions of the
26 General Revenue Law of Illinois.
27 (Source: P.A. 86-1028.)
 
28     (65 ILCS 5/11-112-1)  (from Ch. 24, par. 11-112-1)
29     Sec. 11-112-1. When a vote has been taken under "An Act to
30 enable cities, villages and towns threatened with overflow or
31 inundation to levy taxes by vote of the electors thereof, to
32 strengthen, build, raise or repair the levees around same and
33 to issue anticipation warrants on such taxes," approved June
34 11, 1897, as amended, or when a vote is taken under this

 

 

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1 Section and Section 11-112-2 at a general municipal election in
2 a municipality that is protected by levees or embankments, or
3 that may deem it necessary to be so protected, and a majority
4 of the electors voting on the question legal votes cast at the
5 election were or are for a tax to build, raise, strengthen, or
6 repair the levees around the municipality, not exceeding the
7 rate of .1666% annually, to be levied annually for a period of
8 not exceeding 7 years on the taxable property of the
9 municipality, the corporate authorities of the municipality
10 may (1) make an appropriation by ordinance of the proceeds of
11 the tax so authorized, (2) pass an ordinance levying the tax
12 for the whole period as authorized by the vote to be annually
13 extended, and (3) draw tax anticipation warrants thereon to the
14 amount that the tax levy will produce based on the assessment
15 of the preceding year of all the taxable property of the
16 municipality. These warrants shall draw interest at not to
17 exceed the rate authorized by the vote authorizing the tax, not
18 exceeding 7% annually, but the warrants shall not be sold below
19 par.
20     The foregoing limitation upon tax rate may be increased or
21 decreased according to the referendum provisions of the General
22 Revenue Law of Illinois.
23 (Source: P.A. 76-845.)
 
24     Section 20. The Fire Protection District Act is amended by
25 changing Sections 1 and 3 as follows:
 
26     (70 ILCS 705/1)  (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 21)
27     Sec. 1. It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative
28 determination that in order to promote and protect the health,
29 safety, welfare and convenience of the public, it is necessary
30 in the public interest to provide for the creation of municipal
31 corporations known as fire protection districts and to confer
32 upon and vest in the fire protection districts all powers
33 necessary or appropriate in order that they may engage in the
34 acquisition, establishment, maintenance and operation of fire

 

 

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1 stations, facilities, vehicles, apparatus and equipment for
2 the prevention and control of fire therein and the underwater
3 recovery of drowning victims, and provide as nearly adequate
4 protection from fire for lives and property within the
5 districts as possible and regulate the prevention and control
6 of fire therein; and that the powers herein conferred upon such
7 fire protection districts are public objects and governmental
8 functions in the public interest.
9     Whenever any territory is (1) an area of contiguous
10 territory in a county, or in more than one but in not more than
11 5 counties; (2) so situated that the destruction by fire of the
12 buildings and other property therein is hazardous to the lives
13 and property of the public; (3) so situated that the
14 acquisition, establishment, maintenance and operation of a
15 fire station or stations, facilities, vehicles, apparatus and
16 equipment for the prevention and control of fire therein will
17 conduce to the promotion and protection of the health, safety,
18 welfare and convenience of the public; (4) so situated that it
19 does not divide any city, village or incorporated town, but, in
20 the case of a city, village or incorporated town situated
21 partly within and partly without one or more existing fire
22 protection districts, such territory shall not be considered as
23 dividing the city, village or incorporated town if it includes
24 all of the city, village or incorporated town situated outside
25 of any existing fire protection district; (5) so situated that
26 such territory contains no territory included in any other fire
27 protection district, or if any territory is disconnected in the
28 manner provided in Section 16c of this Act, the same may be
29 incorporated as a fire protection district. For the purpose of
30 meeting the requirement of item (1) that the territory be
31 contiguous, territory shall be considered to be contiguous if
32 the only separation between parts of such territory is land
33 owned by the United States, the State of Illinois, or any
34 agency or instrumentality of either. In the case of territory
35 disconnected from an existing district pursuant to Section 16c
36 of this Act, such territory may be incorporated as provided in

 

 

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1 that Section; otherwise such districts may be incorporated
2 under this Act in the manner following:
3     Fifty or more of the legal voters resident within the
4 limits of the proposed district, or a majority thereof if less
5 than 100, may petition the circuit court for the county which
6 contains all or the largest portion of the proposed district to
7 cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of the
8 proposed district, whether the proposed territory shall be
9 organized as a fire protection district under this Act; the
10 petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a
11 definite description of the boundaries of the territory to be
12 embraced in the proposed district, and the name of the proposed
13 district and shall allege facts in support of the organization
14 and incorporation.
15     Upon filing a petition in the office of the circuit clerk
16 of the county in which the petition is made, the court shall
17 fix a time and place for a hearing upon the subject of the
18 petition.
19     Notice shall be given by the court to which the petition is
20 addressed, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff of the county in
21 which the petition is made at the order and direction of the
22 court, of the time and place of the hearing upon the subject of
23 the petition at least 20 days prior thereto by one publication
24 thereof in one or more daily or weekly papers published within
25 the proposed fire protection district (or if no daily or weekly
26 newspaper is published within such proposed fire protection
27 district, then either by one publication thereof in any
28 newspaper of general circulation within that territory or by
29 posting at least 10 copies of the notice in the district at
30 least 20 days before the hearing in conspicuous places as far
31 separated from each other as consistently possible), and by
32 mailing a copy of the notice to the mayor or president of the
33 board of trustees of all cities, villages and incorporated
34 towns in whole or in part within the proposed fire protection
35 district.
36     At the hearing all persons residing in or owning property

 

 

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1 situated in the proposed fire protection district shall have an
2 opportunity to be heard; and if the court finds that the
3 petition does not comply with the provisions of this Act or
4 that the allegations of the petition are not true, the court
5 shall dismiss the petition; but if the court finds that the
6 petition complies with the provisions of this Act and that the
7 allegations of the petition are true, the same shall be
8 incorporated in an order which shall be filed of record in the
9 court. Upon the entering of such order the court shall order
10 the submission to the legal voters of the proposed fire
11 protection district the question of organization and
12 establishment of the proposed fire protection district at an
13 election. The circuit clerk shall certify the question and the
14 order to the proper election officials who shall submit the
15 question at an election in accordance with the general election
16 law. The notice of the referendum shall specify the purpose of
17 such election with a description of the proposed district.
18     The question shall be in substantially the following form:
19 -------------------------------------------------------------
20     For Fire Protection District.
21 -------------------------------------------------------------
22     Against Fire Protection District.
23 -------------------------------------------------------------
24     The court shall cause a written statement of the results of
25 such election to be filed of record in the court. If no city or
26 village or incorporated town nor any part thereof is included
27 in the territory proposed as a district and the majority of the
28 electors voting votes cast at such election upon the question
29 shall be in favor of the incorporation of the proposed fire
30 protection district, or if a city or village or incorporated
31 town or any part thereof is included in the territory proposed
32 as a district and a majority of the electors voting votes cast
33 at such election upon the question, within the limits of each
34 city or village or incorporated town and also a majority of the
35 electors voting on the question those cast outside the limits
36 of each such city or village or incorporated town shall be in

 

 

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1 favor of the proposed fire protection district, or if a city or
2 village or incorporated town is included in the territory
3 proposed as a district and a majority of the electors voting
4 votes cast at such election upon the question within the limits
5 of such city or village or incorporated town or in any other
6 city or village or incorporated town which is included in the
7 proposed territory shall be in favor of the proposed fire
8 protection district, and even if a majority of the electors
9 voting upon the question votes cast outside the limits of such
10 city or cities or village or villages or incorporated town or
11 towns, are not in favor of the proposed fire protection
12 district, in each city or village or incorporated town in which
13 a majority of the electors voting on the question are casts a
14 majority of votes in favor of the proposed district, the
15 proposed district or portion of the proposed district in which
16 a majority of the electors voting on the question votes cast at
17 the election are in favor of the proposition as provided in
18 this amendatory Act of 1986 and this amendatory Act of the 94th
19 General Assembly shall thenceforth be deemed an organized fire
20 protection district under this Act, and the court shall enter
21 an order accordingly and cause the same to be filed of record
22 in the court and shall also cause to be sent to the county
23 clerk of any and all other counties in which any portion of the
24 district lies and the Office of the State Fire Marshal a
25 certified copy of the order organizing the district and a plat
26 of the same indicating what lands of the district lie in such
27 other county or counties. The circuit clerk shall also file
28 with the Office of the State Fire Marshal a certified copy of
29 any other order organizing any other fire protection district
30 which may have been theretofore organized in the county.
31 (Source: P.A. 85-1434.)
 
32     (70 ILCS 705/3)  (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 23)
33     Sec. 3. Additional contiguous territory having the
34 qualifications set forth in Section 1 may be added to any fire
35 protection district as provided for in this Act in the manner

 

 

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1 following:
2     (a) One percent or more of the legal voters resident within
3 the limits of the proposed addition to the fire protection
4 district may petition the court of the county in which the
5 original petition for the formation of the fire protection
6 district was filed, to cause the question to be submitted to
7 the legal voters of the proposed additional territory whether
8 the proposed additional territory shall become a part of any
9 contiguous fire protection district organized under this Act
10 and whether the voters of the additional territory shall assume
11 a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness of the
12 district. The petition shall be addressed to the court and
13 shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of the
14 territory to be embraced in the proposed addition and shall
15 allege facts in support of such addition.
16     Upon filing the petition in the office of the circuit clerk
17 of the county in which the original petition for the formation
18 of the fire protection district was filed, it shall be the duty
19 of the court to fix a time and place of a hearing upon the
20 subject of the petition.
21     Notice shall be given by the court, or by the circuit clerk
22 or sheriff upon order of the court of the county in which the
23 petition is filed, of the time and place of a hearing upon the
24 petition in the manner as provided in Section 1. The conduct of
25 the hearing on the question whether the proposed additional
26 territory shall become a part of the fire protection district
27 shall be carried out in the manner described in Section 1, as
28 nearly as may be. The question shall be in substantially the
29 following form:
30 -------------------------------------------------------------
31     For joining the.... Fire
32 Protection District and assuming a
33 proportionate share of bonded
34 indebtedness, if any.
35 -------------------------------------------------------------
36     Against joining the.... Fire

 

 

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1 Protection District and assuming a
2 proportionate share of bonded
3 indebtedness, if any.
4 -------------------------------------------------------------
5     If a majority of the electors voting votes cast at the
6 election upon the question of becoming a part of any contiguous
7 fire protection district are in favor of becoming a part of
8 that fire protection district and if the trustees of the fire
9 protection district accept the proposed additional territory
10 by resolution, the proposed additional territory shall be
11 deemed an integral part of that fire protection district and
12 shall be subject to all the benefits of service and
13 responsibilities of the district as set forth in this Act.
14     (b) The owner or owners of any tract or tracts of land,
15 contiguous to an existing fire protection district and not
16 already included in a fire protection district, may file a
17 written petition, addressed to the trustees of the fire
18 protection district to which they seek to have their tract or
19 tracts of land attached, containing a definite description of
20 the boundaries of the territory and a statement that they
21 desire that their property become a part of the fire protection
22 district to which their petition is addressed, and that they
23 are willing that their property assume a proportionate share of
24 the bonded indebtedness, if any, of the fire protection
25 district.
26     When such a petition is filed with the trustees, they shall
27 immediately pass a resolution to accept or reject the territory
28 proposed to be attached. If the trustees resolve in favor of
29 accepting the territory, they shall file with the court of the
30 county where the fire protection district was organized the
31 original petition and a certified copy of the resolution, and
32 the court shall then enter an order stating that the proposed
33 annexed territory shall be deemed an integral part of that fire
34 protection district and subject to all of the benefits of
35 service and responsibilities of the district. The circuit clerk
36 shall transmit a certified copy of the order to the county

 

 

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1 clerk of each county in which any of the territory affected is
2 situated and to the State Fire Marshal.
3     (c) Upon the annexation of territory by a district, the
4 boundary shall extend to the far side of any adjacent highway
5 and shall include all of every highway within the area annexed.
6 These highways shall be considered to be annexed even though
7 not included in the legal description set forth in the petition
8 for annexation.
9 (Source: P.A. 85-556; 86-1191.)
 
10     Section 25. The River Conservancy Districts Act is amended
11 by changing Section 1 as follows:
 
12     (70 ILCS 2105/1)  (from Ch. 42, par. 383)
13     Sec. 1. Whenever the unified control of a lake or of a
14 river system or a portion thereof shall be deemed conducive to
15 the prevention of stream pollution development, conservation
16 and protection of water supply, preservation of water levels,
17 control or prevention of floods, reclamation of wet and
18 overflowed lands, development of irrigation, conservation of
19 soil, provision of domestic, industrial or public water
20 supplies, collection and disposal of sewage and other public
21 liquid wastes, provision of forests, wildlife areas, parks and
22 recreational facilities, and to the promotion of the public
23 health, comfort and convenience the same may be organized as a
24 conservancy district under this Act in the manner following:
25     One per cent or more of the legal voters resident within
26 the limits of such proposed district, and, with respect to
27 petitions filed on or after the effective date of this
28 amendatory Act of 1990, one percent of the legal voters
29 resident in each county in which the proposed district is
30 situated, may petition the circuit court for the county which
31 contains all or the largest portion of the proposed district to
32 cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of such
33 proposed district, whether such proposed territory shall be
34 organized as a conservancy district under this Act, which

 

 

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1 petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a
2 general description of the boundaries of the territory to be
3 embraced in the proposed district and the name of such proposed
4 district. The description need not be given by metes and bounds
5 or by legal subdivisions, but it shall be sufficient if a
6 generally accurate description is given of the territory to be
7 organized as a district. Such territory need not be contiguous,
8 provided that it be so situated that the public health, safety,
9 convenience or welfare will be promoted by the organization as
10 a single district of the territory described.
11     Upon filing such petition in the office of the circuit
12 clerk of the county in which such petition is filed as
13 aforesaid it shall be the duty of the court to consider the
14 boundaries of any such proposed conservancy district, whether
15 the same shall be those stated in the petition or otherwise.
16 The decision of the court is appealable as in other civil
17 cases.
18     The court shall by order fix a time and place for a hearing
19 on the petition not less than 60 days after the date of such
20 order. Notice shall be given by the court to whom the petition
21 is addressed of the time and place where such commissioners
22 shall meet for such hearing by a publication inserted once in
23 one or more daily or weekly papers published within the
24 proposed conservancy district, or if no daily or weekly
25 newspaper is published within such proposed conservancy
26 district, then by posting such notice, at least 10 copies, in
27 such proposed district at least 20 days before such meeting, in
28 conspicuous public places as far separated from each other as
29 consistently possible.
30     At such hearing all persons in such proposed conservancy
31 district shall have an opportunity to be heard, touching upon
32 the location and boundaries of such proposed district and to
33 make suggestions regarding the same, and the court, after
34 hearing statements, evidence and suggestions, shall fix and
35 determine the limits and boundaries of such proposed district,
36 and for that purpose and to that extent, may alter and amend

 

 

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1 such petition. After such determination by the court, the same
2 shall be incorporated in an order which shall be entered of
3 record in the circuit court or courts of the counties situate
4 in the proposed district and the court shall also by the order
5 provide for the holding of a referendum as herein provided.
6     Upon the entering of such order the court shall certify the
7 question of organization and establishment of the proposed
8 conservancy district as determined by the court to the proper
9 election officials who shall submit the question at an election
10 in accordance with the general election law. In addition to the
11 requirements of the general election law, notice of the
12 referendum shall specify the purpose of the referendum and
13 contain a description of such proposed district. The clerk of
14 the court shall send notice of the referendum to the county
15 board of each county in which the proposed district is
16 situated.
17     Each legal voter resident within such proposed conservancy
18 district shall have the right to cast a ballot at such
19 election. The question shall be in substantially the following
20 form:
21 -------------------------------------------------------------
22     Shall a Conservancy District
23 be organized, with authority to levy
24 an annual tax at a maximum rate of         YES
25 ... % (maximum rate authorized under
26 Section 17 of the River Conservancy    ----------------------
27 Districts Act) of the value of all
28 taxable property within the limits of      NO
29 the District as equalized or assessed
30 by the Department of Revenue?
31 -------------------------------------------------------------
32     The ballots cast on the question in each county shall be
33 returned and canvassed by the county clerk of the county in
34 which the same are cast and such county clerks respectively
35 shall file with the county clerk of the county, in which the
36 petition is filed, a true copy of the return and canvass of the

 

 

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1 votes cast in each of said counties and thereupon the county
2 clerk of the county in which such petition is filed shall
3 canvass the entire vote cast in the election from the returns
4 furnished by such respective county clerks and shall ascertain
5 the result of such referendum and certify the same to the
6 court. The court shall cause a statement of the results of such
7 referendum to be entered of record in the court. If a majority
8 of the electors voting votes cast at such election upon the
9 question shall be in favor of the organization of the proposed
10 conservancy district such proposed district shall thenceforth
11 be deemed an organized conservancy district under this Act and
12 a municipal corporation with the powers and duties herein
13 conferred and bearing the name set forth in the petition.
14 (Source: P.A. 86-1307.)
 
15     Section 30. The North Shore Sanitary District Act is
16 amended by changing Sections 26 and 27 as follows:
 
17     (70 ILCS 2305/26)  (from Ch. 42, par. 296.6)
18     Sec. 26. Additional contiguous territory may be added to
19 any sanitary district organized under this Act in the manner
20 following:
21     Ten per cent or more of the legal voters resident within
22 the limits of such proposed addition to such sanitary district
23 may petition the circuit court for the county in which such
24 sanitary district is located to cause the question to be
25 submitted to the legal voters of such proposed additional
26 territory whether such proposed additional territory shall
27 become a part of any contiguous sanitary district organized
28 under this Act and whether such additional territory and the
29 taxpayers thereof shall assume a proportionate share of the
30 bonded indebtedness, if any, of such sanitary district. Such
31 petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a
32 definite description of the boundaries of the territory sought
33 to be added. Provided that no territory disqualified in Section
34 1 of this Act shall be included.

 

 

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1     Upon filing such petition in the office of the circuit
2 clerk of the county in which such sanitary district is located
3 it shall be the duty of the court to consider the boundaries of
4 such proposed additional territory, whether the same shall be
5 those stated in the petition or otherwise. The decision of the
6 court shall be a final order and appealable as in other civil
7 cases.
8     Notice shall be given by the court of the time and place
9 when and where all persons interested will be heard
10 substantially as provided in and by Section 1 of this Act. The
11 court shall certify its order and the proposition to the proper
12 election officials who shall submit the proposition at an
13 election in accordance with the general election law. The
14 proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
15 -------------------------------------------------------------
16 For joining sanitary district and
17 assuming a proportionate share
18 of bonded indebtedness, if any.
19 -------------------------------------------------------------
20 Against joining sanitary district
21 and assuming a proportionate
22 share of bonded indebtedness,
23 if any.
24 -------------------------------------------------------------
25 If a majority of the electors voting on the question votes cast
26 at such election shall be in favor of becoming a part of such
27 sanitary district and if the trustees of such sanitary district
28 accept the proposed additional territory by ordinance annexing
29 the same, the court shall enter an appropriate order of record
30 in the court, and such additional territory shall thenceforth
31 be deemed an integral part of such sanitary district. Any such
32 additional contiguous territory may be annexed to such sanitary
33 district upon petition addressed to such court, signed by a
34 majority of the owners of lands constituting such territory
35 who, in the case of natural persons, shall have arrived at
36 lawful age and who represent a majority in area of such

 

 

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1 territory, which said petition shall contain a definite
2 description of the boundaries of such territory and shall set
3 forth the willingness of the petitioners that such territory
4 and the taxpayers thereof assume a proportionate share of the
5 bonded indebtedness, if any, of such sanitary district. Upon
6 the filing of such petition and notice of and hearing and
7 decision upon the same by the aforesaid commissioners, all as
8 hereinbefore provided, such commissioners or a majority of
9 them, shall enter an order containing their findings and
10 decision as to the boundaries of the territory to be annexed;
11 and thereupon, if the trustees of such sanitary district shall
12 pass an ordinance annexing the territory described in such
13 order to said sanitary district, the court shall enter an
14 appropriate order as hereinabove provided, and such additional
15 territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such
16 sanitary district.
17 (Source: P.A. 83-343.)
 
18     (70 ILCS 2305/27)  (from Ch. 42, par. 296.7)
19     Sec. 27. Any contiguous territory located within the
20 boundaries of any sanitary district organized under this Act,
21 and upon the border of such district, may become disconnected
22 from such district in the manner following, to wit: 10% or more
23 of the legal voters resident in the territory sought to be
24 disconnected from such district, may petition the circuit court
25 for the county in which such sanitary district is located to
26 cause the question of whether such territory shall be
27 disconnected to be submitted to the legal voters of such
28 territory. Such petition shall be addressed to the court and
29 shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of such
30 territory and recite as a fact, that there is no outstanding
31 bonded indebtedness of such sanitary district which was
32 incurred or assumed while such territory was a part of such
33 sanitary district and that no special assessments for local
34 improvements were levied upon or assessed against any of the
35 lands within such territory or, if so levied or assessed, that

 

 

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1 all of such assessments have been fully paid and discharged and
2 that such territory is not, at the time of the filing of such
3 petition, and will not be, either benefited or served by any
4 work or improvements either then existing or then authorized by
5 said sanitary district. Upon filing such petition in the office
6 of the circuit clerk of the county in which such sanitary
7 district is located it shall be the duty of the court to
8 consider the boundaries of such territory and the facts upon
9 which the petition is founded. The court may alter the
10 boundaries of such territory and shall deny the prayer of the
11 petition, if the material allegations therein contained are not
12 founded in fact; a decision of said commissioners or a majority
13 of them shall be conclusive and not subject to review.
14     Notice shall be given by the court of the time and place
15 when and where all persons interested will be heard
16 substantially as provided in and by Section 1 of this Act. The
17 court shall certify its order and the question to the proper
18 election officials who shall submit the question at an election
19 in accordance with the general election law. The proposition
20 shall be in substantially the following form:
21 -------------------------------------------------------------
22     For disconnection from
23 sanitary district.
24 -------------------------------------------------------------
25     Against disconnection from
26 sanitary district.
27 -------------------------------------------------------------
28 If a majority of the electors voting on the proposition votes
29 cast at such election shall be in favor of disconnection, and
30 if the trustees of such sanitary district shall, by ordinance,
31 disconnect such territory, thereupon the court shall enter an
32 appropriate order of record in the court and thereafter such
33 territory shall thenceforth be deemed disconnected from such
34 sanitary district.
35 (Source: P.A. 83-343.)
 

 

 

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1     Section 35. The Street Light District Act is amended by
2 changing Section 2a as follows:
 
3     (70 ILCS 3305/2a)  (from Ch. 121, par. 356a)
4     Sec. 2a. Additional territory having the qualifications
5 set forth in Section 1 may be added to any street lighting
6 district as provided for in this Act in the manner following:
7     Fifty or more of the legal voters resident within the
8 limits of such proposed addition to such street lighting
9 district may petition the circuit court of the county in which
10 the original petition for the formation of said street lighting
11 district was filed, to cause the question to be submitted to
12 the legal voters of such proposed additional territory whether
13 such proposed additional territory shall become a part of any
14 street lighting district organized under this Act and whether
15 the voters of the additional territory shall assume a
16 proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness of such
17 district. The petition shall be addressed to the court and
18 shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of the
19 territory to be embraced in the proposed addition and shall
20 allege facts in support of the addition.
21     Upon filing the petition in the office of the circuit clerk
22 of the county in which the original petition for the formation
23 of such street lighting district was filed, it shall be the
24 duty of the court to fix a time and place of a hearing upon the
25 subject of said petition.
26     Notice shall be given by the circuit court, or by the
27 circuit clerk or sheriff upon order of the circuit court of the
28 county in which such petition is filed, of the time and place
29 of a hearing upon the petition in the manner as provided in
30 Section 1. The conduct of the hearing and the manner of
31 conducting a subsequent referendum on the question whether the
32 proposed additional territory shall become a part of the street
33 lighting district, shall be carried out in the manner described
34 in Section 1, as nearly as may be, and in accordance with the
35 general election law but the question shall be in substantially

 

 

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1 the following form, to-wit:
2 -------------------------------------------------------------
3     For joining the.... Street
4 Lighting District and assuming a
5 proportionate share of bonded
6 indebtedness, if any.
7 -------------------------------------------------------------
8     Against joining the.... Street
9 Lighting District and assuming a
10 proportionate share of bonded
11 indebtedness, if any.
12 -------------------------------------------------------------
13     If a majority of the electors voting votes cast at the
14 election upon the question of becoming a part of any street
15 lighting district shall be in favor of becoming a part of such
16 street lighting district and if the trustees of said street
17 lighting district accept the proposed additional territory by
18 resolution, such proposed additional territory shall
19 thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such street lighting
20 district and shall be subject to all the benefits of service
21 and responsibilities of said district as herein set forth.
22     The owner or owners of any tract or tracts of land not
23 included in a street lighting district, may file a written
24 petition, addressed to the trustees of the street lighting
25 district to which they seek to have their tract or tracts of
26 land attached, containing a definite description of the
27 boundaries of the territory and a statement that they desire
28 that their property become a part of the street lighting
29 district to which their petition is addressed, and that they
30 are willing that their property assume a proportionate share of
31 the bonded indebtedness, if any, of such street lighting
32 district.
33     When such a petition is filed with the trustees, they shall
34 immediately pass a resolution to accept or reject the territory
35 proposed to be attached. If the trustees resolve in favor of
36 accepting such territory, they shall file with the court of the

 

 

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1 county where the street lighting district was organized the
2 original petition and a certified copy of the resolution and
3 the circuit clerk shall then enter an order stating that such
4 proposed annexed territory shall thenceforth be deemed an
5 integral part of such street lighting district and subject to
6 all of the benefits of service and responsibilities of the
7 district. The circuit clerk shall transmit a certified copy of
8 the order to the county clerk of each county in which any of
9 the territory affected is situated.
10 (Source: P.A. 81-1489.)
 
11     Section 40. The School Code is amended by changing Section
12 32-1 as follows:
 
13     (105 ILCS 5/32-1)  (from Ch. 122, par. 32-1)
14     Sec. 32-1. May vote to organize under general law.
15     (a) Any special charter district may, by vote of its
16 electors, cease to control its school under the Act under which
17 it was organized, and become part of the school township or
18 townships in which it is situated. Upon petition of 50 voters
19 of the district, presented to the board having the control and
20 management of the schools, the board shall order submitted to
21 the voters at an election to be held in the district, in
22 accordance with the general election law, the question of
23 "organizing under the general school law". The secretary of the
24 board shall make certification to the proper election authority
25 in accordance with the general election law. If, however, a
26 majority of the electors votes cast at any such election in any
27 school district subject to Sections 32-3 through 32-4.11 voting
28 on the question are is against organizing the district under
29 the general school law, the question may not again be submitted
30 in the district for 22 months thereafter, and then only upon
31 petition signed by at least 2% of the voters of the school
32 district. Notice shall be given in accordance with the general
33 election law, which notice shall be in the following form:
34
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM

 

 

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1     Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), a referendum
2 will be held at.... for the purpose of deciding the question of
3 organizing under the general school law. The polls will be
4 opened at .... o'clock ..m and closed at .... o'clock ..m.
5
Signed .....

 
6     If a majority of the electors voting votes cast on the
7 proposition is in favor of organizing under the general school
8 law, then the board having the control and management of
9 schools in the district, shall declare the proposition carried.
10     When such a proposition is declared to have so carried, the
11 board of education shall continue to exercise its powers and
12 duties under the general school law. Each member of the board
13 of education selected under the provisions of the special
14 charter shall continue in office until his term has expired.
15 Before the term of each of these members expires, the board
16 shall give notice of an election to be held on the date of the
17 next regular school election, in accordance with the general
18 election law to fill the vacancy which is created. Nomination
19 papers filed under this Section are not valid unless the
20 candidate named therein files with the secretary of the board
21 of education a receipt from the county clerk showing that the
22 candidate has filed a statement of economic interests as
23 required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Such receipt
24 shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in
25 which his nomination papers were filed or within the period for
26 the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general
27 election law.
28     (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any special charter
29 district whose board is appointed by the mayor or other
30 corporate authority of that municipality may, by resolution
31 adopted by the corporate authorities of that municipality cease
32 to control its school under the Act under which it was
33 organized, become a part of the school township or townships in
34 which it is situated and become organized under the general
35 school law. If such a resolution is adopted, the board of

 

 

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1 education shall continue to exercise its powers and duties
2 under the general school law. Each member of the board of
3 education selected under the provisions of the special charter
4 shall continue in office until his term has expired. Before the
5 term of each of these members expires, the board shall give
6 notice of an election to be held on the date of the next
7 regular school election, in accordance with the general
8 election law to fill the vacancy which is created.
9 (Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
 
10     Section 45. The Public Community College Act is amended by
11 changing Section 3-5 as follows:
 
12     (110 ILCS 805/3-5)  (from Ch. 122, par. 103-5)
13     Sec. 3-5. The proposition shall be in substantially the
14 following form:
15     FOR the establishment of a community college district with
16 authority to levy taxes at the rate of.... per cent for
17 educational purposes, and.... per cent for operations and
18 maintenance of facilities purposes.
19     AGAINST the establishment of a community college district
20 with authority to levy taxes at the rate of.... per cent for
21 educational purposes, and.... per cent for operations and
22 maintenance of facilities purposes.
23     In order for the proposition to be approved, a majority of
24 the electors voting on the proposition votes cast in the
25 territory at the election must be in favor of the proposition
26 of establishing a community college district; provided,
27 however, that if the territory described in the petition
28 includes one or more community college districts, the
29 proposition has not received a majority of the votes cast on
30 the proposition unless it also receives a majority of the votes
31 cast on the proposition within the territory included within
32 each such district, the count to be taken separately within
33 such districts.
34 (Source: P.A. 85-1335.)