SB1246 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 06134 MLW 36175 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB1246

Introduced 1/30/2013, by Sen. Pamela J. Althoff

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

615 ILCS 90/7.5a new

Amends the Fox Waterway Agency Act. Provides that if dredging and restoration work upon a channel located within the territory of the Agency is paid for with boating fees or other public moneys, the water located within the channel remains public water and that the channel shall remain open and accessible to the general public. Provides that if the dredging and restoration work is entirely paid for with funds other than those generated by boating fees or other public moneys, the owner of the property adjoining the channel shall retain the right to close the channel to the general public, provided that if a property owner closes a channel, he or she shall post signage giving notice that the channel is a private waterway and closed to the general public.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

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

Section 5. The Fox Waterway Agency Act is amended by adding Section 7.5a as follows:

(615 ILCS 90/7.5a new)

Sec. 7.5a. Public use of channels.

(a) If dredging and restoration work upon a channel located within the territory of the Agency is paid for with boating fees or other public moneys, the water located within the channel remains public water. The channel shall remain open and accessible to the general public.

(b) If dredging and restoration work upon a channel located within the territory of the Agency is entirely paid for with funds other than those generated by boating fees or other public moneys, the owner of the property adjoining the channel shall retain the right to close the channel to the general public, provided that if a property owner closes a channel to the public in accordance with this subsection (b), the property owner shall post signage giving notice that the channel is a private waterway and closed to the general public.