HB2987 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 09137 RPS 19193 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2987

Introduced 2/6/2025, by Rep. Katie Stuart

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Warehouse Tornado Preparedness Act. Provides that all operators of a warehouse within this State shall prepare a tornado safety plan for each warehouse they operate within 120 days after the effective date of the Act for each existing warehouse or, for warehouses opened on or after 120 days after the effective date of the Act, no later than 7 days after the warehouse becomes operational. Provides that each plan shall be specific to the warehouse it was prepared for and must be reviewed and updated at least once per year or upon any significant change to the operations of the warehouse that affects the applicability or accuracy of the information in the plan. Specifies what the plan must contain. Requires each warehouse facility to have designated or constructed sufficient shelter space for at least 125% of persons who regularly work in the warehouse at the same time, including persons who are at the warehouse temporarily, such as delivery drivers. Requires each warehouse to maintain specified emergency supplies in its tornado shelter. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Warehouse Tornado Preparedness Act.

Section 5. Definitions.In this Act:

"Warehouse" means an establishment as defined by any of the following North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes, however such establishment is denominated:

(1) 493 for Warehousing and Storage;

(2) 423 for Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods;

(3) 424 for Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods,

(4) 454110 for Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses; or

(5) 492110 for Couriers and Express Delivery Services.

"Warehouse worker" means any person who spends a majority of working hours working within a warehouse, regardless of that person's status as an employee or independent contractor or the existence or non-existence of any employment relationship between the operator or owner of the warehouse. "Warehouse worker" does not include a person who, due to the person's employment or any other reason, enters a warehouse irregularly, infrequently, or only for a short period of time.

Section 10. Tornado safety plan required. All operators of a warehouse within this State shall prepare a tornado safety plan for each warehouse they operate within 120 days after the effective date of this Act for each existing warehouse or, for warehouses opened on or after 120 days after the effective date of this Act, no later than 7 days after the warehouse becomes operational. Each plan shall be specific to the warehouse it was prepared for and must be reviewed and updated at least once per year or upon any significant change to the operations of the warehouse that affects the applicability or accuracy of the information in the plan. Copies of this plan and all updates made to the plan must be filed with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, and the fire department, fire protection district, or local emergency services agency with primary responsibility for the warehouse. The plan must, at a minimum, contain the following information:

(1) A floor plan of the warehouse with emergency exits, assembly points, and shelter areas along with orienting landmarks clearly displayed.

(2) A written description of the actions that employees and supervisors are required to perform in the event of a tornado warning or other severe weather event.

(3) A list of all emergency equipment stored in the warehouse and the equipment's location and instructions on the use of the equipment.

(4) A written description of the actions that employees and supervisors are required to perform in the aftermath of a tornado or other severe weather event including basic first aid procedures, and guidelines for communications with other warehouse workers and first responders.

Section 15. Tornado shelters. Each warehouse facility must designate or construct sufficient shelter space for at least 125% of persons who regularly work in the warehouse at the same time, including persons who are at the warehouse temporarily, such as delivery drivers. The tornado shelters must be built to withstand high winds and must, at a minimum, meet the requirements of a storm shelter as defined in Chapter 4, Section 423 of the International Building Code in effect on the effective date of this Act or, for warehouses built or reconstructed after the effective date of this Act, any successor section and amendments to the International Building Code for warehouses.

Section 20. Emergency supplies. Each warehouse must maintain in its tornado shelters a first aid kit, food and water sufficient for the entire shelter's capacity for 12 hours, a fire extinguisher, flashlights and other lighting equipment, high visibility clothing, and communications equipment, including, but not limited to, a 2-way radio communication device, a weather radio, and whistles.

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