Public Act 0420 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1645 Enrolled LRB099 07238 HAF 27338 b

Public Act 099-0420

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Section 8-201.6 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/8-201.6 new)

Sec. 8-201.6. Deferral of deposit; victims of domestic violence. For the purposes of this Section, "domestic violence" means abuse by a family or household member, as "abuse" and "family or household members" are defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

A utility shall defer the utility's initial credit and deposit requirements for a period of 60 days for a residential customer or applicant who is a victim of domestic violence. To be eligible for the deferral under this Section, the domestic violence must (1) have been the basis for the issuance of an order of protection or (2) be certified by treating medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, a State's Attorney, the Attorney General, or a domestic violence shelter. The certification letter must be printed on the certifying entity's letterhead or accompanied by a letter on the certifying entity's letterhead that identifies the certifying individual.