Public Act 90-0517 of the 90th General Assembly

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Public Act 90-0517

SB596 Enrolled                                 LRB9003274DJcc

    AN ACT concerning local government, amending named Acts.

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

    Section  2.  The Open Meetings Act is amended by changing
Section 1.02 as follows:

    (5 ILCS 120/1.02) (from Ch. 102, par. 41.02)
    Sec. 1.02.  For the purposes of this Act:
    "Meeting" means any gathering of a majority of  a  quorum
of  the  members  of  a  public  body held for the purpose of
discussing public business.
    "Public  body"  includes  all   legislative,   executive,
administrative  or  advisory  bodies  of the state, counties,
townships,  cities,  villages,  incorporated  towns,   school
districts  and  all  other  municipal  corporations,  boards,
bureaus,  committees  or  commissions  of this State, and any
subsidiary bodies of any of the foregoing including  but  not
limited  to  committees and subcommittees which are supported
in whole or in part by  tax  revenue,  or  which  expend  tax
revenue,  except  the  General  Assembly  and  committees  or
commissions  thereof.  "Public  body" includes tourism boards
and convention or civic center  boards  located  in  counties
that are contiguous to the Mississippi River with populations
of  more  than  250,000  but less than 300,000. "Public body"
does not include a child death review team established  under
the Child Death Review Team Act.
(Source: P.A. 88-614, eff. 9-7-94.)

    Section   3.   The  Public  Building  Commission  Act  is
amended by changing Section 22.1 as follows:

    (50 ILCS 20/22.1) (from Ch. 85, par. 1052.1)
    Sec.  22.1.  (a) Any Public Building Commission which has
not issued any bonds, and has no  indebtedness,  and  has  no
operational  leases  may be dissolved upon the filing, by the
presiding officer of the municipality, county seat or  county
board  which  organized such Commission, in the office of the
recorder a copy of a resolution adopted by the governing body
of such municipality, county seat or county  board  approving
such dissolution.
    (b)  Any  Public  Building Commission which has fulfilled
the purpose for which it was created, and all bonds issued by
it and all of its contractual  obligations  except  personnel
contracts  have  been paid, may be dissolved, upon the filing
by the presiding officer of the municipality, county seat  or
county  board  which organized such Commission, in the office
of the recorder, a  copy  of  a  resolution  adopted  by  the
governing  body  of  such municipality, county seat or county
board approving such dissolution.  Upon  the  dissolution  of
such Commission pursuant to this subsection, the Treasurer of
the  Commission  shall  cause  all  remaining funds under his
control  to  be  transferred  to   the   Treasurer   of   the
municipality,  county  seat  or  county  which  organized the
Commission.
(Source: P.A. 83-358.)

    Section 5.  The Counties  Code  is  amended  by  changing
Sections  5-1022  and 5-1121, by adding Sections 5-1052.5 and
5-1124, and by adding Division 5-41 to Article 5 as follows:

    (55 ILCS 5/5-1022) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-1022)
    Sec. 5-1022. Competitive bids.
    (a)  Any purchase by a county with fewer  than  2,000,000
inhabitants  of services, materials, equipment or supplies in
excess of $10,000, other than professional services, shall be
contracted for in one of the following ways:
         (1)  by a contract let  to  the  lowest  responsible
    bidder   after   advertising  for  bids  in  a  newspaper
    published within  the  county  or,  if  no  newspaper  is
    published  within  the  county,  then  a newspaper having
    general circulation within the county; or
         (2)  by a contract let without advertising for  bids
    in  the  case of an emergency if authorized by the county
    board.
    (b)  In determining the lowest  responsible  bidder,  the
county  board  shall take into consideration the qualities of
the   articles   supplied;   their   conformity   with    the
specifications;  their suitability to the requirements of the
county, availability of support services; uniqueness  of  the
service,  materials,  equipment, or supplies as it applies to
networked,  integrated  computer  systems;  compatibility  to
existing equipment; and the delivery terms.  The county board
also may take  into  consideration  whether  a  bidder  is  a
private  enterprise  or  a  State-controlled  enterprise and,
notwithstanding any other provision  of  this  Section  or  a
lower  bid  by  a  State-controlled  enterprise,  may  let  a
contract  to  the lowest responsible bidder that is a private
enterprise.
    (c)  This Section does not apply to contracts by a county
with  the  federal  government  or  to  purchases   of   used
equipment, purchases at auction or similar transactions which
by  their  very  nature are not suitable to competitive bids,
pursuant to an ordinance adopted by the county board.
    (d)  Notwithstanding the provisions of  this  Section,  a
county  may  let  without advertising for bids in the case of
purchases and contracts, when individual orders do not exceed
$25,000,  for  the  use,  purchase,  delivery,  movement,  or
installation  of  data  processing  equipment,  software,  or
services and telecommunications and inter-connect  equipment,
software, and services.
(Source: P.A. 87-1208; 88-150.)

    (55 ILCS 5/5-1052.5 new)
    Sec.  5-1052.5.  Contracts to care for vacant residential
real estate.
    (a)  A person, except for the servicer of a mortgage loan
acting in that  capacity,  who  contracts  with  the  federal
government   or  any  of  its  agencies,  including,  without
limitation, the Department of Housing and Urban  Development,
to care for vacant residential real estate is responsible for
maintaining  the  property  to prevent and correct health and
sanitation code violations.
    (b)  A person who violates this Section is subject to the
findings,  decision,  and  order  of  a  hearing  officer  as
provided in Division 5-41.
    (c)  A person who intentionally violates this Section  is
guilty of a business offense and shall be fined not less than
$500 and not more than $1,000.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-1121)
    Sec. 5-1121.  Demolition, repair, or enclosure.
    (a)  The  county  board  of each county may upon a formal
request by the city, village or incorporated  town  demolish,
repair,  or  enclose  or  cause  the  demolition,  repair, or
enclosure of dangerous and unsafe  buildings  or  uncompleted
and  abandoned  buildings within the territory of the county,
but outside not within the territory of any municipality, and
may remove or cause the removal of garbage, debris, and other
hazardous, noxious, or unhealthy substances or materials from
those buildings. In any county having adopted, by  referendum
or  otherwise,  a  county  health  department  as provided by
Division 5-25 of the Counties Code or  its  predecessor,  the
county  board of any such county may upon a formal request by
the city, village, or incorporated town demolish,  repair  or
cause  the  demolition  or  repair  of  dangerous  and unsafe
buildings or uncompleted and abandoned buildings  within  the
territory of any city, village, or incorporated town having a
population of less than 50,000.
    The  county board shall apply to the circuit court of the
county in which the building is  located  (i)  for  an  order
authorizing  action to be taken with respect to a building if
the owner or owners  of  the  building,  including  the  lien
holders  of record, after at least 15 days' written notice by
mail to do so, have failed to commence proceedings to put the
building in a safe condition or to demolish it or (ii) for an
order requiring the owner or owners of  record  to  demolish,
repair, or enclose the building or to remove garbage, debris,
and  other  hazardous,  noxious,  or  unhealthy substances or
materials from the building.  It is  not  a  defense  to  the
cause  of action that the building is boarded up or otherwise
enclosed, although the court may order the defendant to  have
the  building  boarded  up or otherwise enclosed. Where, upon
diligent search, the identity or whereabouts of the owner  or
owners of the building, including the lien holders of record,
is  not ascertainable, notice mailed to the person or persons
in whose name the real  estate  was  last  assessed  and  the
posting  of  such  notice  upon  the  premises  sought  to be
demolished  or  repaired  is  sufficient  notice  under  this
Section.
    The hearing upon the application  to  the  circuit  court
shall be expedited by the court and shall be given precedence
over all other suits.
    The cost of the demolition, repair, enclosure, or removal
incurred by the county, by an intervenor, or by a lien holder
of  record, including court costs, attorney's fees, and other
costs  related  to  the  enforcement  of  this  Section,   is
recoverable  from  the  owner or owners of the real estate or
the previous owner or both if the  property  was  transferred
during  the  15  day  notice period and is a lien on the real
estate; the lien is superior to all prior existing liens  and
encumbrances,  except  taxes,  if,  within 180 days after the
repair, demolition, enclosure, or removal,  the  county,  the
lien  holder  of  record,  or the intervenor who incurred the
cost and expense shall file a notice of lien for the cost and
expense incurred in the office of the recorder in the  county
in  which  the real estate is located or in the office of the
registrar of titles of the county if the real estate affected
is registered under the Registered Titles (Torrens) Act.
    The notice must consist of a sworn statement setting  out
(1)  a  description  of  the  real  estate sufficient for its
identification, (2) the amount of money representing the cost
and expense incurred, and (3) the date or dates when the cost
and expense was incurred by the county, the  lien  holder  of
record,  or  the  intervenor.  Upon  payment  of the cost and
expense by the owner of or persons interested in the property
after the notice of lien has been filed, the  lien  shall  be
released by the county, the person in whose name the lien has
been  filed, or the assignee of the lien, and the release may
be filed of record as in the case of filing notice  of  lien.
Unless  the  lien  is enforced under subsection (b), the lien
may be enforced by foreclosure proceedings as in the case  of
mortgage  foreclosures  under Article XV of the Code of Civil
Procedure or  mechanics'  lien  foreclosures.  An  action  to
foreclose  this  lien  may be commenced at any time after the
date  of  filing  of  the  notice  of  lien.   The  costs  of
foreclosure incurred by the county,  including  court  costs,
reasonable   attorney's   fees,   advances  to  preserve  the
property, and other costs related to the enforcement of  this
subsection,  plus  statutory interest, are a lien on the real
estate and are recoverable by the county from  the  owner  or
owners of the real estate.
    All  liens  arising  under  this  subsection (a) shall be
assignable. The assignee of the  lien  shall  have  the  same
power to enforce the lien as the assigning party, except that
the lien may not be enforced under subsection (b).
    If the appropriate official of any county determines that
any   dangerous   and  unsafe  building  or  uncompleted  and
abandoned  building  within  its   territory   fulfills   the
requirements  for an action by the county under the Abandoned
Housing Rehabilitation Act, the  county  may  petition  under
that Act in a proceeding brought under this subsection.
    (b)  In any case where a county has obtained a lien under
subsection  (a),  the  county may enforce the lien under this
subsection (b) in the same proceeding in which  the  lien  is
authorized.
    A county desiring to enforce a lien under this subsection
(b)  shall  petition  the  court  to  retain jurisdiction for
foreclosure proceedings under this subsection.  Notice of the
petition shall be served, by certified or registered mail, on
all persons who were served notice under subsection (a).  The
court shall conduct a hearing on the petition not  less  than
15  days after the notice is served.  If the court determines
that the  requirements  of  this  subsection  (b)  have  been
satisfied,   it   shall   grant   the   petition  and  retain
jurisdiction over the matter until the foreclosure proceeding
is completed.  The  costs  of  foreclosure  incurred  by  the
county,  including  court  costs, reasonable attorneys' fees,
advances to preserve the property, and other costs related to
the enforcement of this subsection, plus statutory  interest,
are  a  lien  on  the  real estate and are recoverable by the
county from the owner or owners of the real estate.   If  the
court denies the petition, the county may enforce the lien in
a separate action as provided in subsection (a).
    All  persons designated in Section 15-1501 of the Code of
Civil  Procedure  as  necessary   parties   in   a   mortgage
foreclosure action shall be joined as parties before issuance
of  an  order  of foreclosure.  Persons designated in Section
15-1501 of the Code of Civil Procedure as permissible parties
may also be joined as parties in the action.
    The provisions  of  Article  XV  of  the  Code  of  Civil
Procedure  applicable to mortgage foreclosures shall apply to
the foreclosure of a lien under this subsection  (b),  except
to  the  extent  that  those provisions are inconsistent with
this subsection.   For  purposes  of  foreclosures  of  liens
under   this   subsection,  however,  the  redemption  period
described in subsection (b) of Section 15-1603 of the Code of
Civil Procedure shall end 60 days after the date of entry  of
the order of foreclosure.
    (c)  In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the
county  board of any county may petition the circuit court to
have property declared abandoned under  this  subsection  (c)
if:
         (1)  the  property  has been tax delinquent for 2 or
    more years or bills for water service  for  the  property
    have been outstanding for 2 or more years;
         (2)  the  property  is unoccupied by persons legally
    in possession; and
         (3)  the property contains  a  dangerous  or  unsafe
    building.
    All persons having an interest of record in the property,
including   tax  purchasers  and  beneficial  owners  of  any
Illinois land trust having title to the  property,  shall  be
named  as defendants in the petition and shall be served with
process.  In addition, service shall  be  had  under  Section
2-206  of  the  Code  of  Civil  Procedure  as in other cases
affecting property.
    The county, however, may proceed under this subsection in
a proceeding brought under subsection  (a).   Notice  of  the
petition  shall  be served by certified or registered mail on
all persons who were served notice under subsection (a).
    If the county proves that  the  conditions  described  in
this subsection exist and the owner of record of the property
does  not  enter an appearance in the action, or, if title to
the property is held by an Illinois land  trust,  if  neither
the  owner of record nor the owner of the beneficial interest
of the trust enters an appearance, the  court  shall  declare
the property abandoned.
    If  that  determination  is made, notice shall be sent by
certified  or  registered  mail  to  all  persons  having  an
interest of record in the property, including tax  purchasers
and beneficial owners of any Illinois land trust having title
to  the  property, stating that title to the property will be
transferred to the county  unless,  within  30  days  of  the
notice,  the  owner  of  record  enters  an appearance in the
action, or unless any other person having an interest in  the
property  files  with  the  court  a  request to demolish the
dangerous or unsafe building or to put the building  in  safe
condition.
    If the owner of record enters an appearance in the action
within  the  30  day period, the court shall vacate its order
declaring the property abandoned.  In that case,  the  county
may  amend  its  complaint  in  order to initiate proceedings
under subsection (a).
    If a request to demolish or repair the building is  filed
within the 30 day period, the court shall grant permission to
the  requesting party to demolish the building within 30 days
or to restore the building to safe condition within  60  days
after  the  request  is granted.  An extension of that period
for up to 60 additional days may be given for good cause.  If
more than one person with an interest in the property files a
timely request, preference shall be given to the person  with
the lien or other interest of the highest priority.
    If  the  requesting  party  proves  to the court that the
building has been demolished  or  put  in  a  safe  condition
within  the  period  of  time granted by the court, the court
shall issue a quitclaim judicial deed for the property to the
requesting party, conveying only the interest of the owner of
record, upon proof of payment to  the  county  of  all  costs
incurred  by  the  county  in  connection  with  the  action,
including  but  not  limited to court costs, attorney's fees,
administrative costs, the  costs,  if  any,  associated  with
building  enclosure  or removal, and receiver's certificates.
The interest in the property so conveyed shall be subject  to
all  liens and encumbrances on the property.  In addition, if
the interest is conveyed to a person holding a certificate of
purchase for the property under the Property  Tax  Code,  the
conveyance  shall  be  subject to the rights of redemption of
all persons entitled to redeem under that Act, including  the
original owner of record.
    If  no  person  with  an interest in the property files a
timely request or if the requesting party fails  to  demolish
the building or put the building in safe condition within the
time  specified  by  the  court,  the county may petition the
court to issue a  judicial  deed  for  the  property  to  the
county.   A  conveyance  by  judicial  deed  shall operate to
extinguish all existing ownership interests in, liens on, and
other interest in the property, including tax liens.
    (d)  Each  county  may  use  the   provisions   of   this
subsection  to expedite the removal of certain buildings that
are a continuing hazard to the community in  which  they  are
located.
    If  a residential building is 2 stories or less in height
as defined by the county's building code,  and  the  official
designated to be in charge of enforcing the county's building
code  determines  that the building is open and vacant and an
immediate and continuing hazard to the community in which the
building is located, then the official shall be authorized to
post a notice not less than 2 feet by 2 feet in size  on  the
front  of  the building.  The notice shall be dated as of the
date of the posting and shall state that unless the  building
is demolished, repaired, or enclosed, and unless any garbage,
debris, and other hazardous, noxious, or unhealthy substances
or  materials are removed so that an immediate and continuing
hazard to the community no longer exists, then  the  building
may  be  demolished,  repaired,  or enclosed, or any garbage,
debris, and other hazardous, noxious, or unhealthy substances
or materials may be removed, by the county.
    Not later than 30  days  following  the  posting  of  the
notice, the county shall do both of the following:
         (1)  Cause  to  be  sent,  by certified mail, return
    receipt requested, a notice to all owners  of  record  of
    the  property, the beneficial owners of any Illinois land
    trust having title to the property, and  all  lienholders
    of  record  in  the  property,  stating the intent of the
    county to demolish, repair, or enclose  the  building  or
    remove  any garbage, debris, or other hazardous, noxious,
    or unhealthy substances or materials if  that  action  is
    not taken by the owner or owners.
         (2)  Cause to be published, in a newspaper published
    or  circulated  in  the  county  where  the  building  is
    located,  a  notice  setting  forth (i) the permanent tax
    index number and the address  of  the  building,  (ii)  a
    statement  that  the  property  is  open  and  vacant and
    constitutes an immediate and  continuing  hazard  to  the
    community,  and (iii) a statement that the county intends
    to demolish, repair, or enclose the  building  or  remove
    any  garbage,  debris,  or  other  hazardous, noxious, or
    unhealthy substances or materials if the owner or  owners
    or  lienholders  of  record  fail  to do so.  This notice
    shall be published for 3 consecutive days.
    A person objecting to the proposed actions of the  county
board may file his or her objection in an appropriate form in
a court of competent jurisdiction.
    If the building is not demolished, repaired, or enclosed,
or  the  garbage,  debris,  or  other  hazardous, noxious, or
unhealthy substances or materials are not removed, within  30
days  of  mailing  the  notice  to  the owners of record, the
beneficial owners of any Illinois land trust having title  to
the  property, and all lienholders of record in the property,
or within 30 days of the  last  day  of  publication  of  the
notice,  whichever  is later, the county board shall have the
power to demolish, repair, or  enclose  the  building  or  to
remove  any  garbage, debris, or other hazardous, noxious, or
unhealthy substances or materials.
    The county may proceed to demolish, repair, or enclose  a
building  or  remove any garbage, debris, or other hazardous,
noxious, or unhealthy  substances  or  materials  under  this
subsection  within a 120-day period following the date of the
mailing of the notice if the appropriate official  determines
that  the  demolition,  repair,  enclosure, or removal of any
garbage, debris, or other hazardous,  noxious,  or  unhealthy
substances  or materials is necessary to remedy the immediate
and  continuing  hazard.   If,  however,  before  the  county
proceeds  with  any  of  the  actions  authorized   by   this
subsection,  any  person  has  sought  a  hearing  under this
subsection before a court  and  has  served  a  copy  of  the
complaint  on the chief executive officer of the county, then
the county shall not proceed  with  the  demolition,  repair,
enclosure, or removal of garbage, debris, or other substances
until  the  court determines that that action is necessary to
remedy the hazard and issues an order authorizing the  county
to do so.
    Following  the  demolition,  repair,  or  enclosure  of a
building,  or  the  removal  of  garbage,  debris,  or  other
hazardous, noxious,  or  unhealthy  substances  or  materials
under  this  subsection, the county may file a notice of lien
against the real estate  for  the  cost  of  the  demolition,
repair,  enclosure,  or  removal  within  180  days after the
repair, demolition, enclosure, or removal occurred,  for  the
cost  and  expense incurred, in the office of the recorder in
the county in which the real estate  is  located  or  in  the
office  of  the registrar of titles of the county if the real
estate affected is registered  under  the  Registered  Titles
(Torrens)  Act.   The notice of lien shall consist of a sworn
statement setting forth (i) a description of the real estate,
such as the address or other  description  of  the  property,
sufficient for its identification; (ii) the expenses incurred
by  the county in undertaking the remedial actions authorized
under this subsection; (iii) the date or dates  the  expenses
were incurred by the county; (iv) a statement by the official
responsible for enforcing the building code that the building
was   open  and  vacant  and  constituted  an  immediate  and
continuing hazard to the community; (v) a  statement  by  the
official  that  the required sign was posted on the building,
that notice was sent by  certified  mail  to  the  owners  of
record, and that notice was published in accordance with this
subsection;  and  (vi)  a  statement as to when and where the
notice was published.  The lien authorized by this subsection
may thereafter be released  or  enforced  by  the  county  as
provided in subsection (a).
(Source: P.A. 89-585, eff. 1-1-97; revised 8-15-96.)

    (55 ILCS 5/5-1124 new)
    Sec. 5-1124.  Second-hand and junk stores.
    (a)  The county board of a county may:
         (1)  License,  locate,  and  regulate  all places of
    business of dealers in junk, rags,  and  any  second-hand
    article whatsoever.
         (2)  Forbid   any   person  or  entity  licensed  or
    regulated under this Section from purchasing or receiving
    from minors, without the written consent of their parents
    or guardians, any article whatsoever.
         (3)  Impose the licensing  and  regulation  of  such
    dealers  as  additional duties pursuant to Section 5-1087
    of this Code.
    (b)  Nothing in this Section shall apply to a licensee of
the Secretary of  State  under  Chapter  5  of  the  Illinois
Vehicle  Code  or  to  an  insurer  or  self-insurer of motor
vehicles.

    (55 ILCS 5/Art. 5, Div. 5-41 heading new)
       DIVISION 5-41.  ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION OF
                    ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41005 new)
    Sec. 5-41005.  Definitions. In this Division 5-41, unless
the context  requires otherwise:
    "Code" means any county ordinance  that  pertains  to  or
regulates   any   of   the  following:  animal  control;  the
definition,   identification,   and   abatement   of   public
nuisances; the accumulation, disposal, and transportation  of
garbage,   refuse,  and  other  forms  of  solid  waste;  the
construction and maintenance  of  buildings  and  structures;
sanitation practices; or zoning.
    "Code   enforcement  officer"  means  a  county  employee
authorized to issue citations for county code violations  and
to  conduct inspections of public or private real property to
determine whether code violations exist. However, nothing  in
this   Division   5-41   shall  be  construed  to  allow  for
administrative adjudication of an ordinance violation in  the
case  where  a  State statute or administrative rule provides
for a specific method or procedure to be followed, other than
administrative adjudication, in enforcing a county ordinance.
    "Hearing officer"  means  a  person  other  than  a  code
enforcement  officer  or  law  enforcement officer having the
following powers and duties:
         (1)  To preside at an administrative hearing  called
    to determine whether a code violation exists.
         (2)  To  hear testimony and accept evidence from the
    code  enforcement  officer,  the  respondent,   and   all
    interested  parties  relevant  to the existence of a code
    violation.
         (3)  To preserve and authenticate the record of  the
    hearing  and  all exhibits and evidence introduced at the
    hearing.
         (4)  To  issue  and  sign  written  findings  and  a
    decision and  order  stating  whether  a  code  violation
    exists.
         (5)  To  impose penalties consistent with applicable
    code provisions and to assess costs reasonably related to
    instituting the proceedings upon finding  the  respondent
    liable  for the charged violation.  In no event, however,
    shall the hearing officer have the authority to impose  a
    penalty of incarceration.
    "Property  owner"  means the legal or beneficial owner of
an improved or unimproved parcel of real estate.
    "Respondent" means a property  owner,  waste  hauler,  or
other  person  charged  with  liability  for  an alleged code
violation and the person to whom the notice of  violation  is
directed.
    "Solid   waste"  means  demolition  materials,  food  and
industrial processing wastes,  garden  trash,  land  cleaning
waste,  mixed  refuse,  non-combustible  refuse, and trash as
defined in the Solid Waste Disposal District Act.
    "Waste hauler" means any person owning or controlling any
vehicle used to carry or transport garbage, refuse, or  other
forms of solid waste.
    (55 ILCS 5/5-41010 new)
    Sec.  5-41010.   Code  hearing unit.  The county board in
any  county  having  a  population  of  less  than  3,000,000
inhabitants may establish by ordinance a  code  hearing  unit
within  an  existing code enforcement agency or as a separate
and independent agency in county  government.  A  county  may
establish a code hearing unit and administrative adjudication
process only under the provisions of this Division 5-41.  The
function  of  the  code hearing unit shall be to expedite the
prosecution and correction of code violations as provided  in
this Division 5-41.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41015 new)
    Sec.  5-41015.   Hearing procedure not exclusive.  In any
county that establishes a code hearing unit pursuant  to  the
provisions of this Division 5-41, the county is not precluded
from  using  other  methods  to enforce the provisions of its
codes.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41020 new)
    Sec. 5-41020.  Instituting proceedings.
    (a)  When a code  enforcement  officer  observes  a  code
violation,  the  officer  shall  note  or,  in the case of an
animal control violation, the code  enforcement  officer  may
respond  to  the  filing  of a formal complaint by noting the
violation on a violation notice and report  form,  indicating
the  following:  the  name  and address of the respondent, if
known; the name,  address,  and  state  vehicle  registration
number  of  the  waste  hauler  who  deposited  the waste, if
applicable; the type and nature of the  violation;  the  date
and  time  the violation was observed; the names of witnesses
to the violation; and the address of the location or property
where the violation is observed.
    (b)  The violation notice and report form shall contain a
file number and a hearing date noted by the code  enforcement
officer  in the blank spaces provided for that purpose on the
form.  The violation  notice  and  report  shall  state  that
failure  to  appear  at the hearing on the date indicated may
result  in  a  determination  of  liability  for  the   cited
violation and the imposition of fines and assessment of costs
as   provided  by  the  applicable  county  ordinance.    The
violation notice and report shall  also  state  that  upon  a
determination  of  liability and the exhaustion of or failure
to exhaust procedures for judicial review, any  unpaid  fines
or  costs  imposed will constitute a debt due and owed to the
county.
    (c)  A copy of the violation notice and report form shall
be served on the respondent either  personally  or  by  first
class  mail,  postage  prepaid,  sent  to  the address of the
respondent.  If the name of  the  respondent  property  owner
cannot  be ascertained or if service on the respondent cannot
be made by mail,  service  may  be  made  on  the  respondent
property  owner  by posting, not less than 20 days before the
hearing is scheduled, a copy  of  the  violation  notice  and
report  form  in  a prominent place on the property where the
violation is found.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41025 new)
    Sec. 5-41025.  Subpoenas; default.
    (a)  At any time  prior  to  the  hearing  date,  at  the
request of the code enforcement officer, the attorney for the
county,  the  respondent, or the attorney for the respondent,
the hearing officer assigned  to  hear  the  case  may  issue
subpoenas directing witnesses to appear and give testimony at
the hearing.
    (b)  If the respondent or the respondent's attorney fails
to  appear  on  the  date  set  for  the hearing, the hearing
officer may find the respondent in default and shall  proceed
with   the  hearing  and  accept  evidence  relating  to  the
existence of a code violation.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41030 new)
    Sec. 5-41030.   Representation at hearings.  The case for
the county may be presented by the code  enforcement  officer
or  by  the  State's Attorney.  In no event, however, may the
case for the county be presented by an employee of  the  code
hearing  unit.   The case for the respondent may be presented
by the respondent  or  the  respondent's  attorney.   If  the
respondent  is  a  corporation,  it  may  appear  through any
officer, director, manager, or supervisor of the corporation.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41035 new)
    Sec.  5-41035.   Evidence  at  hearings.     The  hearing
officer shall preside at the hearing, shall  hear  testimony,
and  shall  accept  any evidence relevant to the existence or
non-existence of a code violation on the property  indicated.
The  code  enforcement  officer's signed violation notice and
report form shall be prima facie evidence of the existence of
the code violation described in the form.  The  strict  rules
of  evidence  applicable to judicial proceedings do not apply
to hearings authorized under this Division 5-41.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41040 new)
    Sec. 5-41040.  Findings,  decision,  and  order.  At  the
conclusion  of  the hearing, the hearing officer shall make a
determination on the basis of the evidence presented  at  the
hearing   as   to  whether  a  code  violation  exists.   The
determination shall be in writing and shall be designated  as
the  hearing  officer's  findings,  decision, and order.  The
findings, decision,  and  order  shall  include  the  hearing
officer's findings of fact, a determination of whether a code
violation  exists based on the findings of fact, and an order
imposing a fine or other penalty, directing the respondent to
correct  the  violation,  or  dismissing  the  case  if   the
violation  is  not proved.  If the hearing officer determines
that the respondent is liable for the  cited  violation,  the
hearing  officer shall enter an order imposing sanctions that
are provided in the code for the violations proved, including
the imposition of fines and the recovery of the costs of  the
proceedings.   Costs  may  be recovered in the same manner as
fines and penalties.  A copy of the findings,  decision,  and
order  shall  be  served by personal service or by any method
provided for service of the violation notice and report  form
under Section 5-41020.  The payment of any penalty or fine or
costs  of  the  proceedings and the disposition of that money
shall be in the manner provided  in  this  Code,  unless  the
county  board  provides  otherwise when establishing the code
hearing unit.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41045 new)
    Sec.  5-41045.   Administrative  review.   The  findings,
decision, and order of the hearing officer shall  be  subject
to  review  in  the  circuit  court  of  the  county.     The
Administrative  Review  Law  and  the  rules adopted pursuant
thereto shall apply  to  and  govern  every  action  for  the
judicial review of the final findings, decision, and order of
a hearing officer under this Division 5-41.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41050 new)
    Sec.  5-41050.   Sanctions;  transfer  or  conveyance  of
property.   The    order  to correct a code violation and the
sanctions imposed by a county against a  respondent  property
owner  as  the  result of a finding of a code violation under
this Division 5-41 shall attach to the property,  subject  to
the  interests  of  all lien holders of record, as well as to
the owner of the property, so that the owner cannot avoid the
finding of a code violation against the owner by conveying or
transferring  the  property  to  another.    Any   subsequent
transferee or owner of property takes the property subject to
the  findings, decision, and order of a hearing officer under
this Division 5-41 if a notice consisting of a  copy  of  the
order  to correct a code violation and imposing any sanctions
and costs, if applicable,  and  a  description  of  the  real
estate  affected  that  is  sufficient  to  identify the real
estate has been filed in the office of the  Recorder  or  the
office  of the Registrar of Titles by the county prior to the
transfer or conveyance to the subsequent transferee or owner.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41055 new)
    Sec.  5-41055.  Collection  of  unpaid  fines  or   other
sanctions.
    (a)  Any  fine or other sanction or costs imposed, or any
part  of  any  fine  or  other  sanction  or  costs  imposed,
remaining unpaid  after  the  exhaustion  of  or  failure  to
exhaust    procedures   for   judicial   review   under   the
Administrative Review Law is a  debt  due  and  owed  to  the
county  and,  as  such,  may  be collected in accordance with
applicable  law.   Any  subsequent  owner  or  transferee  of
property takes subject to this debt  if  a  notice  has  been
filed pursuant to Section 5-41050.
    (b)  After expiration of the period within which judicial
review  under the Administrative Review Law may be sought for
a final determination of the code violation, the  county  may
commence  a proceeding in the circuit court of the county for
purposes of obtaining a judgment  on  the  hearing  officer's
findings,  decision,  and  order.   Nothing  in  this Section
prevents  a  county  from  consolidating  multiple  findings,
decisions, and orders against a person or property in such  a
proceeding.
    (c)  Upon  commencement  of  the action, the county shall
file a certified copy of the findings, decision,  and  order,
which  shall  be  accompanied by a certification that recites
facts sufficient to show that  the  findings,  decision,  and
order  were  issued in accordance with this Division 5-41 and
the applicable county ordinance.  Service of the summons  and
a  copy  of  the  petition  may  be by any method provided by
Section 2-203 of the Code of Civil Procedure or by  certified
mail,  return  receipt  requested,  provided  that  the total
amount of fines or other sanctions and costs imposed  by  the
findings, decision, and order does not exceed $5,000.
    (d)  If   the  court  is  satisfied  that  the  findings,
decision, and order were entered within the  requirements  of
this  Division  5-41  and the applicable county ordinance and
that the respondent had an opportunity for  a  hearing  under
this  Division  5-41  and  for judicial review as provided in
Section 5-41045:
         (1)  The court shall render judgment in favor of the
    county  and  against  the  respondent  for   the   amount
    indicated in the findings, decision, and order plus court
    costs.   The  judgment  has  the  same  effect and may be
    enforced in the same manner as other  judgments  for  the
    recovery of money.
         (2)  The   court   may   issue   other   orders   or
    injunctions,  or both, requested by the county to enforce
    the order of the hearing officer or  to  correct  a  code
    violation.

    (55 ILCS 5/5-41060 new)
    Sec.  5-41060.  Adoption of other necessary provisions by
county.   Any county establishing  a  code  hearing  unit  by
ordinance under this Division 5-41 may adopt other provisions
necessary  and proper to carry into effect the powers granted
and the purposes stated in this Division.
    (55 ILCS 5/5-1080 rep.)
    Section 6.  The Counties Code  is  amended  by  repealing
Section  5-1080.   The  repeal  of  Section  5-1080 shall not
affect any cause  of  action  brought  under  Section  5-1080
before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997.

    Section  7.  The Township Code is amended, if and only if
the provisions  of  Senate  Bill  307  of  the  90th  General
Assembly  that  are  changed  by  this amendatory Act of 1997
become law, by changing Section 182-5 as follows:

    (60 ILCS 1/182-5)
    Sec. 182-5.  Primary health care special district; tax.
    (a)  In any township in a county  with  a  population  of
25,000  or  less  containing  a  federally  designated health
manpower shortage area, the township board  may  provide  for
primary  health  care  under an intergovernmental cooperation
agreement with another unit  of  local  government  or  under
contract  with  physicians, a physician group, a professional
service  corporation,  a  medical   corporation,   a   health
maintenance  organization, a voluntary health service plan, a
limited health  service  plan,  a  hospital  for  out-patient
services, or a federally qualified health center.
    (b)  For   purposes  described  in  subsection  (a),  the
township board may levy an annual tax of not more than 0.095%
of the value of all the taxable property in the township,  as
equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, upon that
property.  Before a tax may be levied under this Section, the
township  board  shall  certify  that  question to the proper
election officials in accordance with General  Election  Law,
who  shall  submit  the  proposition by referendum to all the
voters in the area to be served.  The referendum shall be  in
substantially the following form:
    Shall  (name of township) be authorized to levy an annual
tax of not more than 0.095% of the value of all  the  taxable
property  in  the  township to provide primary health care to
its citizens?
    The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No".
    If the majority of the voters voting on  the  proposition
vote  in  favor  of  it,  the  tax  levy is authorized.  If a
majority of the vote is against the proposition, the tax levy
is not authorized.  No tax may be levied under this  Section,
however,  with respect to any property that is subject to any
other tax levied for the sole purpose  of  providing  primary
health care.
    (c)  Any  territory  of  a  special  primary  health care
district that is annexed  to  a  municipality  that  provides
primary  health  care  within  its  corporate limits shall be
automatically disconnected from the township  primary  health
care district.
(Source: 90SB0307eng.)

    Section  8.   The  Illinois  Municipal Code is amended by
changing Sections 8-1-7 and 11-135-2 as follows:

    (65 ILCS 5/8-1-7) (from Ch. 24, par. 8-1-7)
    Sec. 8-1-7.  (a) Except as  provided  otherwise  in  this
Section,   no   contract  shall  be  made  by  the  corporate
authorities, or by any committee or member  thereof,  and  no
expense   shall  be  incurred  by  any  of  the  officers  or
departments of any municipality, whether the  object  of  the
expenditure  has been ordered by the corporate authorities or
not,  unless  an  appropriation  has  been  previously   made
concerning  that  contract  or expense. Any contract made, or
any  expense  otherwise  incurred,  in   violation   of   the
provisions  of  this section shall be null and void as to the
municipality, and no money belonging thereto shall be paid on
account thereof. However, pending the passage of  the  annual
appropriation  ordinance  for  any fiscal year, the corporate
authorities may  authorize  heads  of  departments  or  other
separate  agencies  of  the  municipality  to  make necessary
expenditures for the support thereof upon the  basis  of  the
appropriations  of  the preceding fiscal year. However, if it
is determined by two-thirds vote of the corporate authorities
then holding office at a regularly scheduled meeting  of  the
corporate  authorities  that  it is expedient and in the best
public interest to begin proceedings for the construction  of
a  needed  public  work,  then the provisions of this section
shall not apply to the extent that the corporate  authorities
may  employ  or  contract for professional services necessary
for the planning and financing of such public work.
    (b)  Notwithstanding any provision of this  Code  to  the
contrary,  the  corporate authorities of any municipality may
make  contracts  for  a  term  exceeding  one  year  and  not
exceeding the term of the mayor or president  holding  office
at  the  time  the contract is executed, relating to: (1) the
employment of a municipal manager,  administrator,  engineer,
health  officer,  land  planner,  finance director, attorney,
police chief or other officer who requires technical training
or knowledge; (2)  the  employment  of  outside  professional
consultants   such  as  engineers,  doctors,  land  planners,
auditors, attorneys or  other  professional  consultants  who
require technical training or knowledge; (3) the provision of
data  processing equipment and services; or (4) the provision
of  services  which  directly  relate  to   the   prevention,
identification  or  eradication of disease.  In such case the
corporate   authorities   shall   include   in   the   annual
appropriation   ordinance   for   each   fiscal   year,    an
appropriation  of a sum of money sufficient to pay the amount
which, by the terms of the contract, is  to  become  due  and
payable during the current fiscal year.
    (c)  This  section  shall  not  apply  to  municipalities
operating under special charters.
    (d)  In  order  to  promote orderly collective bargaining
relationships, to prevent labor strife  and  to  protect  the
interests  of  the  public  and  the health and safety of the
citizens  of  Illinois,  this  Section  shall  not  apply  to
multi-year collective bargaining  agreements  between  public
employers  and  exclusive  representatives  governed  by  the
provisions of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.
    (d)  Notwithstanding  any  provision  of this Code to the
contrary, the corporate authorities of any  municipality  may
enter  into  multi-year collective bargaining agreements with
exclusive  representatives  under  the  provisions   of   the
Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.
    (e)  Notwithstanding  any  provision  of this Code to the
contrary, the corporate authorities of any  municipality  may
enter into any multi-year contract or otherwise associate for
any term under the provisions of Section 10 of Article VII of
the    Illinois   Constitution   or   the   Intergovernmental
Cooperation Act.
(Source: P.A. 85-924.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-135-2) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-135-2)
    Sec. 11-135-2.  Upon the adoption of such an ordinance or
resolution  by  the  corporate  authorities   of   any   such
municipality,  the  mayor  or president, with the approval of
the corporate authorities, shall appoint a commissioner.  The
commissioners  so  appointed  by  each of such municipalities
together with a like commissioner appointed by the  presiding
officer  of  the  county board with the advice and consent of
the county board of the county in which the major part of the
works of the water commission are, or  are  to  be,  located,
shall constitute a commission and public corporation with the
powers  and  duties  specified  in  this  Division  135.  The
corporate  name  of  the commission shall be "(here insert an
appropriate name indicative of the  area)  Water  Commission"
and  as  such  the  Commission may contract and be contracted
with, and sue and be sued.
    The commissioners so appointed shall serve for a term  of
6  years,  or  until their successors have been appointed and
have  qualified  in  the  same   manner   as   the   original
appointments,  except  that the commissioners first appointed
shall determine by lot at their first meeting the  respective
commissioners  whose terms shall be for 2, 4 and 6 years from
the date of that meeting. Each commissioner  appointed  by  a
mayor   or  president  shall  be  an  elector  or  the  chief
administrator of  the  municipality  for  which  he  acts  as
commissioner, and the commissioner appointed by the presiding
officer of the county board shall be an elector of the county
in  which the major works of the water commission are, or are
to be, located.  Any  commissioner  so  appointed  may  be  a
member  of  the governing board or officer or employee of the
municipality or county from which the appointment is made.  A
commissioner  is  eligible   for   reappointment   upon   the
expiration  of  his  term.  A vacancy shall be filled for the
balance of the unexpired term of the person who has ceased to
hold office by the mayor, president or county board presiding
officer who initially  made  such  appointment  in  the  same
manner  as  the original appointment. Each commissioner shall
receive  the  same  compensation,  as   determined   by   the
appointing  authority,  which  shall  not be more than $2,000
$1,000 per year, except that no commissioner who is a  member
of  the  governing  board  or  officer  or  employee  of  the
municipality or county from which the appointment is made may
receive  any  compensation for serving as commissioner.  Each
commissioner  shall  furnish  a   bond   for   the   faithful
performance  of  his  official duties. This bond shall not be
less  than  $5,000  and  its  costs  shall  be  paid  by  the
commission.
    Each commissioner may be removed for any cause for  which
any  other municipal officer may be removed. No commissioner,
or employee of the commission, and no mayor, or president, or
other member of the corporate authorities, or any employee of
any of the municipalities, shall be  interested  directly  or
indirectly  in  any  contract or job of work or materials, or
the profits thereof, or services to be performed  for  or  by
the commission.
    A  violation  of  any of the foregoing provisions of this
section is a Class C misdemeanor. A conviction is  cause  for
the removal of a person from his office or employment.
(Source: P.A. 84-811.)

    Section  15.   The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
changing Section 11-14.5 as follows:

    (305 ILCS 5/11-14.5)
    Sec. 11-14.5. Overpayment; recovery. If an  applicant  or
recipient  receives  any form of public aid from the Illinois
Department or a local governmental unit to which he or she is
not entitled, the Illinois Department or  local  governmental
unit  may  determine  that  the  applicant  or  recipient has
received  an  overpayment  of  public   aid.   The   Illinois
Department   may  determine  that  an  overpayment  has  been
received regardless of any determination of the cause of  the
overpayment,  including  but  not  limited to a determination
that the overpayment was caused by an error of  the  Illinois
Department   or   local   governmental   unit.  The  Illinois
Department or local governmental unit may attempt to  recover
the overpayment by recoupment from future assistance payments
or food stamps or any other legal means consistent with State
and federal law.
(Source: P.A. 89-673, eff. 8-14-96.)
    Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

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