HB2037 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 05510 AJO 15576 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB2037

Introduced 2/18/2009, by Rep. Michael J. Madigan - Barbara Flynn Currie - John A. Fritchey

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

740 ILCS 130/5

Amends the Premises Liability Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning firearm ranges.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning civil law.

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

Section 5. The Premises Liability Act is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

(740 ILCS 130/5)

Sec. 5. Firearm ranges; liability.

(a) As used in this Section, "firearm range" means a rifle, pistol, silhouette, skeet, trap, black powder, or other similar range in this State used for discharging firearms in a sporting event, for practice or instruction in the the use of a firearm, or for the testing of a firearm. "Firearm range" also includes licensed shooting preserves and public hunting areas operated or licensed by the Department of Natural Resources.

(b) An owner or operator of a firearm range in existence on January 1, 1994, is immune from any criminal liability arising out of or as a consequence of noise or sound emissions resulting from the normal use of the firearm range. An owner or operator of a firearm range is not subject to any action for public or private nuisance or trespass and no court in this State shall enjoin the use or operation of a firearm range on the basis of noise or sound emissions resulting from the normal use of the firearm range.

(c) An owner or operator of a firearm range placed in operation after January 1, 1994, is immune from any criminal liability and is not subject to any action for public or private nuisance or trespass arising out of or as a consequence of noise or sound emissions resulting from the normal use of the firearm range, if the firearm range conforms to any one of the following requirements:

(1) All areas from which a firearm may be properly discharged are at least 1,000 yards from any occupied permanent dwelling on adjacent property.

(2) All areas from which a firearm may be properly discharged are enclosed by a permanent building or structure that absorbs or contains sound energy escaping from the muzzle of firearms in use.

(3) If the firearm range is situated on land otherwise subject to land use zoning, the firearm range is in compliance with the requirements of the zoning authority.

(4) The firearm range is operated by a governmental entity or is licensed by the Department of Natural Resources.

(5) The firearm range met the requirements of clause (1) of this subsection (c) at the time the range began its operation and subsequently an occupied permanent dwelling on adjacent property was built within 1,000 yards from an area of the range from which a firearm may be properly discharged.

(Source: P.A. 94-387, eff. 7-29-05.)