HB4753 EnrolledLRB097 18551 KMW 63783 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Renewable Energy Production District Act is
5amended by changing Sections 5, 10, 15, and 20 and by adding
6Sections 22 and 30 as follows:
 
7    (70 ILCS 1950/5)
8    Sec. 5. Definitions Definition.
9    "Board" means the board of trustees of a renewable energy
10production special district created under this Act.
11    "District" means a renewable energy production special
12district created under this Act.
13    "Renewable energy facility" means a generator that is
14attached to a building or parcel of land and that is powered by
15methane gas generated from landfills, solar electric energy or
16wind, dedicated crops grown for electricity generation,
17anaerobic digestion of livestock or food processing waste, fuel
18cells or microturbines powered by renewable fuels, or
19hydroelectric energy. "Renewable fuels" does not include the
20incineration or burning of tires, garbage, general household,
21institutional, or commercial waste, industrial lunchroom or
22office waste, landscape waste other than tree waste, railroad
23crossties, utility poles, or construction or demolition

 

 

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1debris, other than untreated and unadulterated waste wood.
2(Source: P.A. 97-265, eff. 8-8-11.)
 
3    (70 ILCS 1950/10)
4    Sec. 10. Renewable energy production special district.
5    (a) Any or all areas area within the boundaries of a single
6county may be incorporated as a single renewable energy
7production special district. The territory incorporated in a
8district formed under this Act shall be contiguous and may
9contain any territory not previously included in any renewable
10energy production district.
11    (b) Fifty or more of the legal voters resident within the
12limits of the proposed district or a majority if there are
13fewer than 100 legal voters, hereinafter referred to as the
14"petitioners", may petition the circuit court for the county in
15which the proposed district is located to cause the question to
16be submitted to the legal voters of the proposed district
17whether the proposed territory shall be organized as a
18renewable energy production special district under this Act.
19The petition shall be addressed to the court and shall set
20forth (i) contain a definite description of the boundaries of
21the territory to be embraced in the proposed district, (ii) and
22the name of the proposed district, and (iii) a request that the
23question be submitted to the legal voters of the proposed
24district. The territory incorporated in a district formed under
25this Act shall be contiguous and may contain any territory not

 

 

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1previously included in any renewable energy production
2district.
3    Upon filing a petition, in the office of the circuit clerk
4of the county in which the petition is made, the court shall
5consider the boundaries of the renewable energy production
6district whether the same shall be those stated in the petition
7or otherwise.
8    (c) In the event that 2 or more petitions covering in part
9the same territory are filed prior to the public hearing upon
10the petition first filed, the petitions shall be consolidated
11for public hearing, and a hearing thereon may be continued to
12permit the giving of sufficient notice upon any petition or
13petitions.
14    (d) The petitioners shall give at least 20 days notice
15prior to a hearing Notice shall be given by the court of the
16time and place of a hearing upon the subject of the petition.
17The notice shall be published in one or more newspapers of
18general circulation within the proposed renewable energy
19production special district or, if there is no newspaper of
20general circulation within the proposed renewable energy
21production special district, then by posting at least 10 copies
22in 10 of the most public places within the boundaries of the
23proposed district at least 20 days before the meeting in
24conspicuous places as far separated from each other as
25consistently possible.
26    The filing fee on the petition and the costs of printing

 

 

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1and publication or posting of notices of public hearings shall
2be paid by the petitioners.
3    (e) At the hearing on the petition, all persons in the
4proposed renewable energy production special district shall
5have an opportunity to present evidence, be heard concerning
6the creation, location, and boundary of the proposed district,
7and make suggestions regarding the same, provided, however,
8that the court may refuse to allow evidence or testimony deemed
9cumulative. After and the court, after hearing statements,
10evidence, and suggestions, the court shall fix and determine
11the limits and boundaries of the proposed district, and for
12that purpose and to that extent, may alter and amend the
13petition. In determining the limits and boundaries of the
14proposed district the court may consider, among other factors,
15the public interest and whether the territory contained within
16the proposed district contains only portions of one or more
17electoral districts. After the determination by the court the
18limits and boundaries shall be incorporated in an order, and
19the order shall be filed in the records of the court. Upon the
20entering of the order, the court shall certify the order and
21the proposition to the proper election officials, who shall
22submit the proposition to the voters at the next permissible an
23election in accordance with the general election law. In
24addition to the requirements of the general election law,
25notice of the referendum shall include a description of the
26boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed

 

 

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1district and the name of the proposed district.
2    The proposition shall be in substantially the following
3form:
4        Shall a renewable energy production special district
5    to be known as the (name of the proposed district) be
6    incorporated?
7        The proposed district encompasses (description of
8    territory in the proposed district).
9    Votes shall be recorded as "YES" or "NO".
10    The court shall cause a statement of the results of the
11election to be filed in the records of the court. If a majority
12of the votes cast upon the question are in favor of the
13incorporation of the proposed renewable energy production
14special district, then the district shall thereafter be an
15organized renewable energy production special district under
16this Act, and the court shall enter an order accordingly and
17cause the same to be filed in the records of the court and
18shall also send to the county clerk a certified copy of the
19order organizing the district.
20(Source: P.A. 97-265, eff. 8-8-11.)
 
21    (70 ILCS 1950/15)
22    Sec. 15. Board of trustees.
23    (a) A renewable energy production district shall be
24governed by a board of trustees. The board of trustees shall
25consist of 5 members. A member of the board of trustees must

 

 

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1reside within the territory embraced within the district.
2Within 90 days after the order is entered organizing the
3district, the county board in which the renewable energy
4production district is located shall appoint the initial
5members of the board. Of the initial members, 3 shall serve for
6a 3-year term and 2 shall serve for a 5-year term, as
7determined by lot. Thereafter, the members of the board shall
8serve for a 5-year term. Vacancies shall be filled in the same
9manner as appointments. The members of the board shall annually
10elect one member to serve as the chairperson. Members of the
11board shall serve without compensation but may receive the
12reasonable cost of their travel expenses and may be reimbursed
13for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their
14official duties as members of the board.
15    (b) Within 60 days after appointment of the initial board
16of trustees, the board shall meet and elect a chairman, who
17shall thereafter be elected annually by the board, the
18secretary, and the treasurer. At the initial meeting, the board
19shall adopt by-laws that shall at a minimum (i) define the
20first and subsequent fiscal years of the district, (ii)
21determine the dates and times of other regular and special
22meetings of the board, and (iii) set forth the procedure for
23amending the by-laws.
24    (c) A majority of the members appointed shall constitute a
25quorum in order to do business.
26    (d) Formal action of the board shall be in the form of an

 

 

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1ordinance, resolution, motion, or other appropriate form,
2approved by a majority of the board members in attendance at a
3board meeting.
4(Source: P.A. 97-265, eff. 8-8-11.)
 
5    (70 ILCS 1950/20)
6    Sec. 20. Powers of the board of trustees. The board shall
7exercise all of the powers and control all the affairs of a
8renewable energy production special district.
9    (a) The board may:
10        (1) finance, acquire, construct, operate, and
11    maintain, or dispose of a renewable energy facility;
12        (2) contract with private or public entities to
13    finance, acquire, construct, operate, or maintain, or
14    dispose of a renewable energy facility for the district;
15        (3) solicit and accept moneys from any legal source;
16    and
17        (4) sell the renewable energy produced by a renewable
18    energy facility; .
19        (5) acquire, purchase, own, lease, rent, sell, and
20    convey interests in real and tangible and intangible
21    personal property;
22        (6) purchase insurance;
23        (7) sue and be sued;
24        (8) hire employees, prescribe their duties and fix
25    their compensation;

 

 

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1        (9) adopt and use a seal;
2        (10) make and execute contracts, loans, leases,
3    subleases, installation purchase agreements, notes and
4    other instruments evidencing financial obligations, and
5    other instruments necessary or convenient in the exercise
6    of its powers;
7        (11) make, adopt, amend, and repeal ordinances,
8    resolutions, bylaws, rules, and regulations not
9    inconsistent with this Act, provided, however, that such
10    ordinances, resolutions, bylaws, rules, and regulations
11    shall not be applicable to the operation and maintenance of
12    renewable energy or waste disposal activities by private
13    businesses or concerns or other public entities;
14        (12) sell, lease, sublease, license, transfer, convey,
15    or otherwise dispose of any of its real or personal
16    property, or interests therein, in whole or in part, at any
17    time upon such terms and conditions as it may determine;
18        (13) invest funds, not required for immediate
19    disbursement, in property or agreements;
20        (14) apply for, accept and use grants, loans, or other
21    financial assistance from any private entity or municipal,
22    county, State, or federal governmental agency or other
23    public entity;
24        (15) employ or enter into contracts for the employment
25    of any person, firm, or corporation, and for professional
26    services, necessary or desirable for the accomplishment of

 

 

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1    the corporate objects of the district or the proper
2    administration, management, protection or control of its
3    property and assets; and
4        (16) make and execute all contracts and other
5    instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its
6    powers.
7    This Section shall be liberally construed to give effect to
8its purposes.
9    (b) The board must:
10        (1) remit all money collected from a renewable energy
11    facility, exclusive of operations, maintenance, capital,
12    debt service, and investment costs, to the county in which
13    the district is located; and .
14        (2) comply with the requirements that apply to
15    pollution control facilities under the Environmental
16    Protection Act, as well as any other applicable permitting
17    and regulatory requirements under that Act, if it intends
18    to own, operate, or construct a generator that is attached
19    to a building or parcel of land and is powered by fuel
20    cells or microturbines.
21    (c) The board is not authorized to and shall not use
22eminent domain or quick take proceedings to acquire property.
23(Source: P.A. 97-265, eff. 8-8-11.)
 
24    (70 ILCS 1950/22 new)
25    Sec. 22. Dissolution of a district.

 

 

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1    (a) Action to dissolve a district may be instituted either
2by action of a board or petition.
3    (b) If a district has fully discharged its debts and
4obligations, then the board of that district may adopt an
5ordinance finding and determining that the foregoing condition
6has been met and that the public interest does not require
7continuation of the district. A copy of the ordinance shall be
8published in one or more newspapers of general circulation
9within the district or, if there is no newspaper of general
10circulation within the district, then by posting copies in 10
11of the most public places within the boundaries of the proposed
12district. In addition to a copy of the ordinance, the
13publication or posting shall include a notice of (i) the
14specific number of voters required to sign a petition
15requesting the submission to the electors of the question of
16the dissolution of the district, (ii) the date by which the
17petition must be filed, and (iii) the official with whom, or
18office at which, the petition must be filed. Unless a petition
19is filed with the secretary of the board within 30 days after
20publication or posting containing the signatures of voters
21equal in number to 10% or more of the total number of
22registered voters in the territory of the district requesting
23that the question of the dissolution of the Authority be
24submitted to an election, the district shall be deemed to be
25dissolved at the expiration of the 30-day period. If such a
26petition is filed, then the question of the dissolution of the

 

 

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1district shall be certified by the board to the proper election
2authority, which shall submit the question to the electors of
3the district at the next permissible election in accordance
4with the general election law.
5    The question shall be in substantially the following form:
6        Shall the (name of the district) be dissolved?
7    Votes shall be recorded as "YES" or "NO".
8    The result of the election shall be entered upon the
9corporate records of the district. If a majority of the ballots
10cast on the question are marked "yes", then the district shall
11be dissolved. But if a majority of the ballots on the question
12are marked "no", the board shall proceed with the affairs of
13the district as though the dissolution ordinance had never been
14adopted, and the question shall not again be submitted to the
15voters for a period of 2 years. When the business and affairs
16of any district have been concluded after dissolution, that
17fact shall be certified by the chair of its board to the county
18clerk of the county where the district was located.
19    (c) 10% or more of the total number of registered voters
20residing within the territory of the district, hereinafter
21referred to as the "petitioners", may petition the circuit
22court for the county where the proposed district is located to
23cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of the
24proposed district whether the district shall be dissolved. The
25petition shall be addressed to the court and shall set forth
26(i) the name of the district, (ii) an allegation that the

 

 

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1district has fully discharged its debts and obligations, and
2(iii) a request that the question be submitted to the electors
3residing within the limits of the district whether the district
4shall be dissolved.
5    The petitioners shall give at least 20 calendar days notice
6of the time and place of a hearing upon the subject of the
7petition. The notice shall be published in one or more
8newspapers of general circulation within the district or, if
9there is no newspaper of general circulation within the
10district, then by posting the notice at least 20 calendar days
11prior to the hearing in 10 of the most public places within the
12boundaries of the proposed district. All costs relating to the
13filing of the petition and the costs of printing and
14publication or posting of notices of public hearing thereon
15shall be paid by the petitioners.
16    At the hearing on the petition all persons in the district
17shall have an opportunity to present evidence and be heard
18concerning the dissolution of the district, provided, however,
19that the court may refuse to allow evidence or testimony deemed
20cumulative.
21    After hearing statements, evidence, and suggestions, the
22court shall determine whether the district has fully discharged
23its debts and obligations and, if so, the court shall enter an
24order that the proposition whether the district shall be
25dissolved be submitted to the electors residing within the
26limits of the district. Upon the entering of such an order, the

 

 

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1court shall certify the order and the proposition to the proper
2election officials, who shall submit the proposition to the
3voters at the next permissible election in accordance with the
4general election law.
5    The question shall be in substantially the following form:
6        Shall the (name of the district) be dissolved?
7    Votes shall be recorded as "YES" or "NO".
8    The result of the election shall be entered upon the
9corporate records of the district. If a majority of the ballots
10cast on the question are marked "yes", then the district shall
11be dissolved. But if a majority of the ballots on the question
12are marked "no", the board shall proceed with the affairs of
13the district as though dissolution had never been considered,
14and the question shall not again be submitted to the voters for
15a period of 2 years. When the business and affairs of any
16district have been concluded after dissolution, that fact shall
17be certified by the chair of its board to the county clerk of
18the county where the district was located.
 
19    (70 ILCS 1950/30 new)
20    Sec. 30. Records of a district. The board shall adopt rules
21and regulations for the retention and proper safekeeping and
22maintenance of its permanent records and for the recording of
23the corporate actions of the district. The district shall be
24subject to the provisions of the Local Records Act.
 
25    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

 

 

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1becoming law.