Public Act 0403 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0277 Enrolled LRB095 04509 CMK 24562 b

Public Act 095-0403

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 57.8a as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/57.8a new)

Sec. 57.8a. Assignment of payments from the Underground Storage Tank Fund.

(a) If the Agency has formed a priority list for payment under Section 57.8(a)(3) of this Act, an owner or operator on the priority list may assign to any bank, financial institution, lender, or other person that provides factoring or financing to an owner or operator or to a consultant of an owner or operator a full approved payment amount on the priority list for which the owner or operator is awaiting payment. The assignment must be made on an approved payment-by-approved payment basis and must be made on forms prescribed by the Agency. No assignment under this Section prevents or affects the right of the State Comptroller to make the deductions and off-sets provided in Section 10.05 of the State Comptroller Act.

(b) The making of an assignment under this Section shall not affect an owner's or operator's right to appeal an Agency decision as provided in this Title. No assignee shall have a right to appeal an Agency decision as provided in this Title.

(c) An owner's or operator's assignment under this Section is irrevocable and may be made to only one assignee. The State shall pay the assigned amount, subject to right of the State Comptroller to make the deductions and off-sets provided in Section 10.05 of the State Comptroller Act, to this one assignee only and shall not pay the assigned amount to any subsequent assignee of the one assignee.

(d) The State and its officers and employees are discharged of all liability upon payment of the assigned amount to the assignee. The assignor and assignee shall hold harmless and indemnify the State and its officers and employees from all claims, actions, suits, complaints, and liabilities related to the assignment.

(e) An assignee may use funds received for any purpose including, without limitation, paying principal, interest, or other costs due on any financing made by the assignee. To the extent an owner or operator incurs costs associated with making an assignment under this Section, the owner or operator may not seek reimbursement of those costs from the Fund.

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