HB5351 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 20764 CPF 70453 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5351

Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

415 ILCS 5/52.10 new

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that no person shall knowingly release or cause or organize the release of balloons into the air unless the balloons are (1) used by an institution of higher education or a governmental agency, or pursuant to a governmental contract, for bona fide scientific or meteorological purposes or (2) released indoors and remain indoors. Provides that persons who violate the amendatory Act's provisions shall be subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each offense, and that the release of 50 balloons or fewer at one time is a single offense. Effective January 1, 2021.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 Environmental Protection Act is amended by adding Section 52.10 as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/52.10 new)

Sec. 52.10. Release of balloons.

(a) In this Section:

"Balloon" means any inflatable object manufactured from plastic, latex, rubber, or mylar that is filled with a lighter-than-air gas, such as helium. "Balloon" does not include hot air balloons used to carry human passengers.

"Institution of higher education" means a nonpublic institution of higher education or a public institution of higher education, as those terms are defined in Section 2 of the Higher Education Cooperation Act.

"Person" means an individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, or any other entity.

(b) No person shall knowingly release or cause or organize the release of balloons into the air.

(c) This Section does not apply to the following:

(1) Balloons used by an institution of higher education or a governmental agency, or pursuant to a governmental contract, for bona fide scientific or meteorological purposes.

(2) Balloons that are released indoors and remain indoors.

(d) Any person who violates this Section shall be subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each offense. The release of 50 balloons or fewer at one time is a single offense.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2021.