SB3269 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 19961 MJP 44360 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB3269

Introduced 2/19/2016, by Sen. Wm. Sam McCann

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

430 ILCS 170/15

Amends the First Informer Broadcasters Act. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency may by rule establish protocols to facilitate first informer access to affected areas.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

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

Section 5. The First Informer Broadcasters Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

(430 ILCS 170/15)

Sec. 15. First informer broadcasters; training and certification.

(a) Any Statewide organization, or any member of a Statewide organization, that represents broadcasters, cable television communications, or any other provider that uses emerging technologies may establish a program for training and certifying broadcast engineers and technical personnel as first informer broadcasters. Each program established pursuant to this subsection must:

(i) be consistent with federal law and guidelines;

(ii) provide training and education concerning restoring, repairing and resupplying any facilities and equipment of a broadcaster in an area affected by an emergency or disaster; and

(iii) provide training and education concerning the personal safety of a first informer broadcaster in an area affected by an emergency or disaster.

(b) To the extent practicable and consistent with not endangering public safety or inhibiting recovery efforts, State and local governmental agencies shall allow a first informer broadcaster access to an area affected by an emergency or disaster for the purpose of restoring, repairing, or resupplying any facility or equipment critical to the ability of a broadcaster to acquire, produce, and transmit essential emergency or disaster-related public information programming, including, without limitation, repairing and maintaining transmitters and generators, and transporting fuel for generators.

(c) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency may by rule establish protocols to facilitate first informer access to affected areas under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 97-1155, eff. 1-25-13.)