HB1271 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1271

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Rep. Katie Stuart

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new

Amends the Fire Investigation Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall, in consultation with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), annually determine what funding is necessary for MABAS to sufficiently alleviate difficulties that emergency responders face in coordinating personnel and equipment from participating agencies and units of local government when responding to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes in this State. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, the Office shall, in consultation with MABAS, establish a formula for the distribution of that funding, with certain requirements. Provides for a continuing appropriation from the General Revenue Fund to the Office for the maintenance, operation, and capital expenses of MABAS. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately.

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 Fire Investigation Act is amended by adding Section 13.1.1 as follows:

(425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new)

Sec. 13.1.1. MABAS continuing appropriation for warehouse tornado disaster response.

(a) The General Assembly finds that, because of the large-scale footprint of many large warehouse complexes in this State, and because emergency responders face difficulties in coordinating personnel and equipment from a variety of agencies in a given geographic region to respond to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes, the State should further invest moneys into the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to assist emergency responders with respect to responding to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes in this State.

(b) In this Section:

"Large warehouse complex" means one or more warehouses at the same location, whose individual or combined warehouse space is at least 400,000 square feet, operating under the same management.

"Mutual Aid Box Alarm System" or "MABAS" means an intergovernmental organization established under Section 10 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act that, through prearranged mutual aid and dispatch agreements among participating units of local government, engages in mutual-aid responses for the purpose of disaster preparedness and response.

(c) Beginning July 1, 2026, the Office shall, in consultation with MABAS, annually determine what funding is necessary for MABAS to sufficiently alleviate difficulties that emergency responders face in coordinating personnel and equipment from participating agencies and units of local government when responding to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes in this State.

(d) By July 1, 2026, the Office shall, in consultation with MABAS, establish a formula for the distribution of the funding provided under subsection (c) that considers the risk of tornadoes, the total square footage of warehouse space at large warehouse complexes, and the human population of the large warehouse complexes during all working hours.

(e) Beginning July 1, 2026, there is hereby appropriated, on a continuing annual basis in each fiscal year, from the General Revenue Fund to the Office, to be distributed under this Section or rules adopted under this Section for the maintenance, operation, and capital expenses of MABAS, an amount equal to that determined under subsection (c) of this Section.

(f) The Office shall adopt rules before July 1, 2026, implementing this Section.

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