DRILLING-COALBED METHANE DAMAG Senate SponsorsSen. William R. Haine House Sponsors(Rep. John E. Bradley) 8/14/2008SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 95-0830 765 ILCS 530/2from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9652765 ILCS 530/3from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9653765 ILCS 530/4from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9654765 ILCS 530/6from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9656Amends the Drilling Operations Act. Provides that the Act applies to oil, gas and coalbed methane (instead of oil and gas). Provides that a drilling operator must give a surface owner written notice of the commencement of drilling and do so by certified mail postmarked at least 30 days prior to drilling (instead of 10 days) or by personal delivery at least 30 days prior to drilling (instead of 8 days). Provides that the operator shall pay money to the surface owner equal to the damages sustained by the owner and his or her tenant (instead of owner) for losses to agricultural production and income, land value, access, and improvements caused by drilling (instead of damages to crops, trees, improvements and livestock). Provides a crop valuation method (instead of an alternative crop valuation method). Provides that if the owner and operator do not agree on compensation, the owner may bring a legal action and if in the action the court awards a greater amount of compensation than the operator offered, the court shall award costs, interest on the compensation from the day drilling began, and attorney's fees (instead of no attorney's fees can be recovered if the operator relies on a third party appraisal). Provides that electrical lines, flow lines, and other underground structures (instead of flow lines and other underground structures) must be buried below the surface. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to:765 ILCS 530/6Replaces everything after the enacting clause with substantially similar provisions that provide that the Act applies to oil, gas and coalbed methane (instead of oil and gas) and that a drilling operator must give a surface owner written notice of the commencement of drilling and do so by certified mail postmarked at least 15 days prior to drilling (instead of 10 days) or by personal delivery at least 15 days prior to drilling (instead of 8 days). Effective immediately. 2/14/2008SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine 2/14/2008SenateFirst Reading 2/14/2008SenateReferred to Rules 3/5/2008SenateAssigned to Environment and Energy 3/12/2008SenateDo Pass Environment and Energy; 009-000-000 3/12/2008SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 13, 2008 4/10/2008SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine 4/10/2008SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules 4/15/2008SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Environment and Energy 4/16/2008SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Environment and Energy; 013-000-000 4/16/2008SenateSecond Reading 4/16/2008SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Haine 4/16/2008SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 17, 2008 4/17/2008SenateThird Reading - Passed; 053-000-000 4/17/2008HouseArrived in House 4/17/2008HousePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 4/21/2008HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. John E. Bradley 4/24/2008HouseFirst Reading 4/24/2008HouseReferred to Rules Committee 5/6/2008HouseAssigned to Environment & Energy Committee 5/9/2008HouseCommittee Deadline Extended-Rule 9(b) May 23, 2008 5/13/2008HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Environment & Energy Committee; 023-000-000 5/13/2008HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/14/2008HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 5/14/2008HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 5/19/2008HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 096-000-000 5/19/2008SenatePassed Both Houses 6/17/2008SenateSent to the Governor 8/14/2008SenateGovernor Approved 8/14/2008SenateEffective Date August 14, 2008 8/14/2008SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 95-0830