Public Act 0388 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1349 Enrolled LRB098 07604 OMW 37676 b

Public Act 098-0388

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Fire Protection District Act is amended by adding Section 11j as follows:

(70 ILCS 705/11j new)

Sec. 11j. Installation of access or key boxes. The board of trustees of any fire protection district may, by ordinance, require the installation of an access or key box if: (1) a structure is protected by an automatic fire alarm or security system or access to or within the structure or area is unduly difficult because of secured openings; and (2) immediate access is necessary for life-saving purposes. In the case of a health care facility that is secured by an electronic code box that is in good working order, if the owner of the health care facility provides the fire department with a valid access code, then that health care facility is not required to be accessible by an access or key box. For the purposes of this Section, "health care facility" means: a hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or the University of Illinois Hospital Act; a nursing home or long-term care facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act; an assisted living establishment, as defined in the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act; a mental health facility, as defined in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code; a supportive living facility certified to participate in the supportive living facilities program under Section 5-5.01a of the Illinois Public Aid Code; or a facility licensed under the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act. "Access or key box" means a secure device with a lock operable only by a fire department master key, and containing building entry keys and other keys that may be required for access in an emergency.

The access or key box shall be of an approved type listed in accordance with the most recently published version of the standard Underwriters Laboratories 1037 and shall contain keys to gain access as required by the fire chief of the fire protection district, or his or her designee.

An ordinance enacted under this Section may specify particular classes or types of structures or occupancies that are required to install an access or key box. However, an ordinance enacted under this Section shall not apply to single family residential structures or to facilities owned or operated by a public utility, as that term is defined under Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.