70 ILCS 3405/ Surface Water Protection District Act.

(70 ILCS 3405/0.01) (from Ch. 42, par. 447.99)

Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Surface Water Protection District Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-1324.)

(70 ILCS 3405/1) (from Ch. 42, par. 448)

Sec. 1. It is declared as a matter of legislative determination that in order to promote and protect the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public, it is necessary in the public interest to provide for the creation of municipal corporations known as surface water protection districts and to confer upon and vest in the surface water protection districts all powers necessary or appropriate in order that they may engage in the acquisition, establishment, maintenance and operation of ditches, channels, flumes or similar waterways, trunk sewers, lateral sewers, manholes, street inlets, roadway culverts, outlet structures, junction chambers, pumping stations, retention basins, dams, levees, gate structures, spillways, control works, or any other types of construction necessary for the collection of surface waters within the district boundaries, and the subsequent conveyance and disposal of such waters at suitable points of discharge, and provide as nearly adequate protection from property loss and damage to lives and property within the district as possible; and that the powers herein conferred upon such surface water protection districts are public objects and governmental functions in the public interest.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 1510.)

(70 ILCS 3405/2) (from Ch. 42, par. 449)

Sec. 2. Whenever any territory is (1) an area of contiguous territory in a county, or in more than one, but in not more than two counties; (2) so situated that the acquisition, establishment, maintenance and operation of facilities, vehicles, apparatus and equipment for the prevention and control of surface water damage therein will conduce to the promotion and protection of the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public; (3) so situated that such territory contains no territory included in any other surface water protection district; the same may be incorporated as a surface water protection district in the manner provided in Sections 3 and 4 or in the manner provided in Section 4a.

(Source: Laws 1963, p. 2900.)

(70 ILCS 3405/3) (from Ch. 42, par. 450)

Sec. 3. Fifty or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of such proposed district, or a majority thereof if less than 100, may petition the circuit court for the county which contains all or the largest portion of the proposed district to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of such proposed district, whether such proposed territory shall be organized as a surface water protection district under this Act. The petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a general description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed district, and the name of such proposed district and shall allege facts in support of such organization and incorporation. The description contained in the petition need not be given by metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions but it shall be sufficient if a generally accurate description is given of the territory to be organized as a district.

Upon filing any such petition with the clerk of the court, the court shall fix a time and place for a hearing upon the subject of the petition.

Notice shall be given by the court to whom the petition is addressed, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff of the county in which such petition is made at the order and direction of the court, of the time and place of the hearing upon the subject of the petition at least 20 days prior thereto by one publication thereof in one or more daily or weekly papers published within the proposed surface water protection district (or if no daily or weekly newspaper is published within such proposed surface water protection district, then either by one publication thereof in any newspaper of general circulation within said territory or by posting at least ten copies of such notice in such district at least 20 days before such hearing in conspicuous places as far separated from each other as consistently possible), and by mailing a copy of such notice to the mayor or president of the board of trustees of all cities, villages and incorporated towns within such proposed surface water protection district.

At the hearing all persons residing in or owning property situated in the proposed surface water protection district may appear and be heard touching upon the sufficiency of the petition and the location and boundaries of such proposed district and to make suggestions regarding the same. If the court finds that the petition does not comply with the provisions of this Act or that the allegations of the petition are not true, the court shall dismiss the petition; but if the court finds that the petition complies with the provisions of this Act and that the allegations of the petition are true, the court shall fix and determine the boundaries and limits of such proposed district and for that purpose and to that extent may alter and amend the petition, and the same shall be incorporated in an order which shall be entered of record in the court. Upon the entering of such order the court shall certify the question of organization and establishment of the proposed surface water protection district to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, such notice shall specify the purpose of such election with a description of such proposed district.

Each legal voter resident within such proposed district shall have the right to cast a ballot at such referendum. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

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For organization of....(name)

Surface Water Protection District

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Against organization of....(name)

Surface Water Protection District

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(Source: P.A. 83-343.)

(70 ILCS 3405/4) (from Ch. 42, par. 451)

Sec. 4. The court shall cause a statement of the result of such referendum to be spread upon the records of the court. If a majority of the votes cast upon the question shall be in favor of the incorporation of the proposed surface water protection district, such district shall thenceforth be an organized surface water protection district under this Act. The court shall enter an order accordingly and cause the same to be filed in the records of the court and shall also cause to be sent to the circuit clerk of any other county in which any portion of the district lies a certified copy of the order organizing such district and a plat of the same indicating what lands of the district lie in such other county.

(Source: P.A. 83-343.)

(70 ILCS 3405/4a) (from Ch. 42, par. 451a)

Sec. 4a. A surface water protection district may be organized without an election upon petition by all the owners of the land included in the proposed district. Such petition shall be addressed to the same court as is provided in Section 3 for petitions and shall, with respect to content, comply with the provisions of Section 3, except that the prayer of the petition shall be for the entry of an order organizing and incorporating the territory described in the petition as a surface water protection district, rather than that the question be submitted to the legal voters of the proposed district.

A hearing upon the subject of the petition shall be fixed and notice thereof given and the hearing held in the manner provided in Section 3.

If the court finds that the petition does not comply with the provisions of this Act or that the allegations of the petition are not true, the court shall dismiss the petition; but if the court finds that the petition complies with the provisions of this Act and that the allegations of the petition are true, the court shall enter an order defining and fixing the boundaries of the district and organizing and incorporating it as a surface water protection district. Such order shall be filed in the records of the court and a copy thereof sent to the appropriate clerk in any other county in the same manner as is provided in Section 4 for orders entered thereunder.

(Source: P.A. 83-343.)

(70 ILCS 3405/5) (from Ch. 42, par. 452)

Sec. 5. All courts in this State shall take judicial notice of the existence of all surface water protection districts organized under this Act and every such district is a body corporate and as such may sue or be sued.

(Source: P.A. 77-958.)

(70 ILCS 3405/6) (from Ch. 42, par. 453)

Sec. 6. Additional contiguous territory having the qualifications set forth in Section 2 may be added to any surface water protection district as provided for in this Act in the manner provided in Sections 7 and 8.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 1510.)

(70 ILCS 3405/7) (from Ch. 42, par. 454)

Sec. 7. One per cent or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of such proposed addition to a surface water protection district may petition the circuit court for the county in which the original petition for the formation of the surface water protection district was filed, to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of such proposed additional territory whether such proposed additional territory shall become a part of the contiguous surface water protection district organized under this Act and whether the voters of such additional territory shall assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of such district. Such petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed addition and shall allege facts in support of such addition.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3826.)

(70 ILCS 3405/8) (from Ch. 42, par. 455)

Sec. 8. Upon filing such petition in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in which the original petition for the formation of such surface water protection district was filed, the court shall fix a time and place of a hearing upon the subject of said petition.

Notice shall be given by the court, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff upon order of the court of the county in which such petition is filed, of the time and place of a hearing upon the petition in the manner as provided in Section 3. The conduct of the hearing and the referendum on the question whether the proposed additional territory shall become a part of the surface water protection district, shall be carried out in the manner described in Section 3, as nearly as may be and in accordance with the general election law. The question shall be in substantially the following form:

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For joining the.... Surface Water

Protection District and assuming a

proportionate share of bonded

indebtedness, if any.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Against joining the.... Surface

Water Protection District and assuming

a proportionate share of bonded

indebtedness, if any.

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If a majority of the votes cast at such election upon the question of becoming a part of any contiguous surface water protection district shall be in favor of becoming a part of such surface water protection district, the court shall then enter an order stating that such additional territory shall thenceforth be an integral part of such surface water protection district and subject to all of the benefits of service and responsibilities of the district. The circuit clerk shall transmit a certified copy of the order to the circuit clerk of any other county in which any of the territory affected is situated.

(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

(70 ILCS 3405/9) (from Ch. 42, par. 456)

Sec. 9. A board of trustees consisting of 5 members for the government and control of the affairs and business of a surface water protection district incorporated under this Act shall be appointed in the following manner:

(1) In case the territory of the district lies entirely within one county, for the district shall be appointed by the presiding officer of the county board with the advice and consent of the county board.

(2) In case the territory of the district lies within 2 or more counties, the number of trustees who are residents of a county shall be in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the number of residents of the district who reside in that county in relation to the total population of the district.

Upon the expiration of the term of a trustee who is in office on the effective date of this amendatory Act, the successor shall be a resident of whichever county is entitled to such representation in order to bring about the proportional representation required herein, and he shall be appointed by the county board of that county, or in the case of a home rule county as defined in Article VII, Section 6 of the Constitution of 1970, the chief executive officer of that county, with the advice and consent of the county board.

Thereafter, each trustee shall be succeeded by a resident of the same county who shall be appointed by the same appointing authority; however, the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply to the appointment of the successor to each trustee who is in office at the time of the publication of each decennial Federal census of population.

All trustees shall reside in the district. In the case of a district organized under Section 4a, the trustees need not be residents of the district until the circuit court of the judicial circuit in which the greatest portion of the proposed district is located determines that the petition proposing the district has complied with all of the provisions of this Act and warrants the appointment of the trustees therefrom. Trustees from districts created under Section 4a shall be appointed as provided hereinbefore. Not more than 2 trustees shall be residents of any one city, village or incorporated town in the district unless such city, village or incorporated town contains more than 50% of the population in the district as determined by the last preceding federal census.

Members of the original board shall hold office for terms of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years from the first Monday in May next following their appointment and until their successors have been appointed and qualified. The length of term of the first trustees shall be determined by lot at their first meeting and the board shall certify the determination to the authority which made the appointments.

Successors shall be appointed by the appointing authority which appointed the trustee whose term is expiring to serve for a term of 5 years from the first Monday in May and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Successor trustees shall be appointed on or before the second Monday in April of the year in which a term expires.

Before entering upon the duties of office each trustee shall take and subscribe to the constitutional oath of office and shall enter into bond with security to be approved by the appointing authority of the county from which he is appointed and in the sum as the appointing authority may determine. Both oath and bond shall be filed with the county clerk.

(Source: P.A. 79-855.)

(70 ILCS 3405/10) (from Ch. 42, par. 457)

Sec. 10. A majority of the board of trustees shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day. No trustee or employee of the district shall be directly or indirectly interested financially in any contract, work or business or the sale of any article, the expense, price, or consideration for which is paid by said district; nor in the purchase of any real estate or other property, belonging to the district, or which shall be sold for taxes or assessments or by virtue of legal process at the suit of the district. However nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the appointment or selection of any person as a trustee or employee whose only interest in the district is as an owner of real estate in the district or of contributing to the payment of taxes levied by said district. The trustees shall provide and adopt a corporate seal for the district.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 1510.)

(70 ILCS 3405/11) (from Ch. 42, par. 458)

Sec. 11. Whenever a vacancy in the board of trustees occurs, either by death, resignation, refusal to qualify or for any other reason, the appointing authority which made the original appointment shall fill the vacancy by appointment, and the person so appointed shall qualify for office in the manner hereinbefore stated and shall thereupon assume the duties of the office for the balance of the unexpired term.

(Source: P.A. 77-682.)

(70 ILCS 3405/12) (from Ch. 42, par. 459)

Sec. 12. The trustees appointed as provided by this Act shall constitute a board of trustees for the district for which they are appointed, which board of trustees is the corporate authority of the surface water protection district and shall exercise all of the powers and control all the affairs and property of such district. The board of trustees immediately after their appointment and at their first meeting in May of each year thereafter shall elect one of their number as president and one of their number as secretary and shall elect a treasurer for the district, who may be one of the trustees or be any other citizen of the district and who shall hold office during the pleasure of the board and who shall give such bond as may be required by the board. The board may prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of all of the officers and employees of the district. However, a member of the board of trustees shall in no case receive a sum to exceed $250 per annum. The board of trustees shall have full power to pass all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations for the proper management and conduct of the business of the district for carrying into effect the objects for which the district was formed.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2372.)

(70 ILCS 3405/13) (from Ch. 42, par. 460)

Sec. 13. All ordinances imposing any penalty or making any appropriations shall within one month after they are passed, be published at least once in a newspaper published in the district, or if no such newspaper of general circulation is published therein, by posting copies of the same in ten public places in the district; and no such ordinance shall take effect until 10 days after it is so published or posted, and all other ordinances and resolutions shall take effect from and after their passage unless otherwise provided therein.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 1510.)

(70 ILCS 3405/14) (from Ch. 42, par. 461)

Sec. 14. All ordinances, orders, and resolutions and the date of publication thereof, may be proven by the certificate of the secretary under the seal of the corporation and when printed in book or pamphlet form and purporting to be published by the board of trustees, such book or pamphlet shall be received as competent evidence of the passage and legal publication of such ordinances, orders and resolutions as of the dates mentioned in such book or pamphlet, in all courts and places without further proof.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 1510.)

(70 ILCS 3405/15) (from Ch. 42, par. 462)

Sec. 15. In acquiring from any city, village or incorporated town or other municipal corporation any surface water protection facilities, the surface water protection district shall compensate the city, village or incorporated town or other municipal corporation for the fair and reasonable value of said facilities and if the value cannot be mutually agreed upon, then the same shall be determined by a committee of three engineers one appointed by the city, village or incorporated town or other municipal corporation, one appointed by the district and the third appointed by the two engineers selected as above described. A decision of a majority of the committee shall be binding upon both parties and the cost of the services of the committee shall be shared by both parties equally.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 1510.)

(70 ILCS 3405/16) (from Ch. 42, par. 463)

Sec. 16. The board of trustees of any surface water protection district has the power: to adopt and enforce ordinances for the necessary protection from surface water damage; to acquire real and personal property, rights of way and privileges either within or without its corporate limits that may be required for its corporate purposes; and to acquire or construct structures necessary to exercise the powers herein conferred and to dispose of such property and structures when no longer needed.

In acquiring any property, right of way or privilege therein, the board of trustees may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided in the Eminent Domain Act.

When, in making any improvement, it is necessary to enter upon any public property or property held for public use, the board of trustees may acquire the necessary right of way over or through such property in the manner herein provided for the acquisition of private property, but the public use of such property shall not be unnecessarily interrupted or interfered with and it shall be restored to its former usefulness as soon as possible.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 3405/16.05)

Sec. 16.05. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 3405/16.1) (from Ch. 42, par. 463.1)

Sec. 16.1. Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved by the Eighty-fourth General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 84-731.)

(70 ILCS 3405/17) (from Ch. 42, par. 464)

Sec. 17. The board of trustees of any surface water protection district incorporated under this Act has the power and it is its legal duty and obligation to provide as nearly adequate protection from surface water damage for all persons and property within the district as possible and to prescribe necessary regulations for the prevention and control of surface water damage.

If in providing protection from surface water damage the flow of water in any stream will be thereby increased or any change or improvement in the course of any stream will be required, the board shall, before commencing the project, submit proposed plans for the project to and receive approval thereof by the Department of Transportation in accordance with the provisions of "An Act in relation to the regulation of the rivers, lakes and streams of the State of Illinois", approved June 10, 1911, as amended.

(Source: P.A. 81-840.)

(70 ILCS 3405/18) (from Ch. 42, par. 465)

Sec. 18. In case any surface water protection district organized hereunder is coterminous with or includes within its corporate limits any pre-existing city, village or incorporated town authorized to provide protection from surface water damage and to regulate the prevention and control of surface water within such city, village or incorporated town and to levy taxes for any such purposes, then such city, village or incorporated town shall, within one year after it is included within the district, cease to exercise any such powers as necessarily conflict with the powers to be exercised by such district in respect to such surface water protection and regulation within the surface water protection district. Such city, village or incorporated town shall not thereafter own, maintain, manage, control or have an interest in any surface water protection facilities located within the corporate limits of the surface water protection district, except curbs and gutters in streets and except as otherwise provided in this Act. Where in any case any pre-existing city, village or incorporated town owns and is in fact operating and maintaining surface water protection facilities located within the corporate limits of a surface water protection district organized under this Act, such city, village or incorporated town shall be paid and reimbursed for the reasonable value of any such existing facilities in the manner provided for by this Act. The terms of payment shall provide for reimbursement in full within not less than twenty years from the date of such agreement.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 1510.)

(70 ILCS 3405/19) (from Ch. 42, par. 466)

Sec. 19. Bonds. Any surface water protection district may borrow money for its corporate purposes and may issue bonds therefor, but shall not become indebted in any manner, or for any purpose, in an amount exceeding, in the aggregate, 5% of the valuation of taxable property therein, to be ascertained by the last equalized assessment for State and county taxes previous to the incurring of such indebtedness. Whenever the board of trustees of the district desires to issue bonds under this Section it shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 20a, certify the question to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. The result of the referendum shall be entered upon the records of the district. If a majority of the votes on the question are in favor of the issuance of bonds, the board of trustees shall order and direct the execution of the bonds for and on behalf of the district. All bonds issued hereunder shall mature in not exceeding 20 annual installments. The ballots for elections held under this Section shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall .... Surface Water YES

Protection District issue bonds -------------------------

in the amount of .... dollars? NO

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(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

(70 ILCS 3405/20) (from Ch. 42, par. 467)

Sec. 20. At the time of or before incurring any indebtedness the board of trustees shall provide for the collection of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal thereof as the same shall fall due, and at least within 20 years from the time of contracting same; such tax shall be in addition to and in excess of all other taxes heretofore or hereafter authorized to be levied by such district. A certified copy of the ordinance adopted by the board of trustees authorizing the issuance of such bonds and levying a tax to pay the same shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of each of the counties wherein any of the territory of the district is situated which certified copy shall constitute the authority for the county clerk or clerks, in each case, to extend the taxes annually necessary to pay the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same mature.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 1510.)

(70 ILCS 3405/20a) (from Ch. 42, par. 467a)

Sec. 20a. Any surface water protection district organized under Section 4a may borrow money for corporate purposes and issue bonds therefor within the limits prescribed in Section 19 without submitting the question of the issuance of such bonds to an election if all of the owners of land included in the district consent to such action. All of the requirements of Sections 19 and 20, except the requirement of an election, shall apply to any such incurring of indebtedness and issuance of bonds.

(Source: Laws 1963, p. 2900.)

(70 ILCS 3405/21) (from Ch. 42, par. 468)

Sec. 21. The board of trustees may levy and collect other taxes for all corporate purposes, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the payment of all obligations incurred in taking over the surface water protection facilities of any city, village, or incorporated town located within the boundaries of any such district, exclusive of taxes to pay bonded indebtedness upon all the taxable property within the territorial limits of such surface water protection district, the aggregate amount of which shall not exceed .125% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue except as provided in this Section.

If the board of trustees desires to levy such taxes at a rate in excess of .125% but not in excess of .25% of the value of all taxable property within the district as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, the board of trustees shall certify the question to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. The result of the referendum shall be entered upon the records of the district. If a majority of the votes on the proposition are in favor of the proposition, the board of trustees may levy such taxes at a rate not to exceed .25% of the value of all taxable property within the district, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall the maximum allowable

tax rate for .... Surface Water YES

Protection District be increased

to .25% of the value of all taxable --------------------

property within the District as

equalized or assessed by the NO

Department of Revenue?

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In any surface water protection district organized under Section 4a, the board of trustees may levy such taxes at a rate in excess of .125% but not in excess of .25% of the value of all taxable property in the district as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue without an election provided such tax rate increase is authorized by the owners of all the property within the district.

(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

(70 ILCS 3405/22) (from Ch. 42, par. 469)

Sec. 22. Whenever any property within a surface water protection district does not have the territorial qualifications described in Section 2 of this Act, is not benefited by such surface water protection district or would receive greater benefit of service from another such district, any legal voter within such district or the owner of such property may detach and disconnect such property from the surface water protection district at any time before the district has incurred any bonded indebtedness in the following manner:

The owner of such property within such surface water protection district or any legal voter within such district may file his petition, in the circuit court for the county in which such district was organized, setting forth therein the description of the property sought to be detached and disconnected, a statement that the detachment and disconnection will not cause the territory remaining in the district to be noncontiguous and alleging facts in support of such detachment and disconnection and praying that such property be detached and disconnected from such surface water protection district. The petition shall be signed and sworn to by the petitioner. Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall set the same for hearing on a day not less than 2 weeks nor more than 4 weeks from the filing thereof and shall give 2 weeks notice of such hearing in the manner provided in Section 3 of this Act, and by mailing a copy of such notice to the president and to the secretary of the board of trustees of the district from which the detachment is sought. All property owners in such district and all persons interested therein may file objections, and at the hearing may appear and contest the detachment and disconnection of the property from the surface water protection district, and both objectors and petitioners may offer any competent evidence in regard thereto. If the court upon hearing the petition shall find that the petition complies with the provisions of this Act and that the allegations of the petition are true or that the property of the petitioner is not benefited by the surface water protection district or that such property would receive greater benefit from another such district, the court shall enter an order detaching and disconnecting such property from the district, and thereupon the property shall cease to be a part of the surface water protection district. The circuit clerk shall transmit a certified copy of the order to the circuit clerk of any other county in which any of the territory affected is situated.

(Source: P.A. 79-1365.)

(70 ILCS 3405/23) (from Ch. 42, par. 470)

Sec. 23. Appeals from the orders and judgments of the circuit court entered under this Act may be taken as in other civil cases.

(Source: P.A. 79-1365.)

(70 ILCS 3405/24) (from Ch. 42, par. 471)

Sec. 24. If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Act is held invalid, the invalidity of such section, paragraph, clause or provision shall not affect any of the other sections, paragraphs, clauses or provisions of this Act.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 1510.)

(70 ILCS 3405/25)

Sec. 25. Cessation of district organization. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a majority vote of the board of trustees is in favor of the proposition to annex the district to another district whose boundaries are contiguous, or consolidate the district into a municipality with which the district is coterminous or substantially coterminous, or consolidate the district into the county in which the district sits if the district contains territory within only one county, and if the governing authorities of the governmental unit assuming the functions of the former district agree by resolution to accept the functions (and jurisdiction over the territory, if applicable) of the consolidated or annexed district, then the district shall cease. On the effective date of the annexation or consolidation, all the rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, indebtedness, obligations, bonding authority, taxing authority, and responsibilities of the district shall vest in and be assumed by the governmental unit assuming the functions of the former district.

The employees of the former district shall be transferred to the governmental unit assuming the functions of the former district. The governmental unit assuming the functions of the former district shall exercise the rights and responsibilities of the former district with respect to those employees. The status and rights of the employees of the former district under any applicable contracts or collective bargaining agreements, historical representation rights under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by this amendatory Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-1002, eff. 8-18-14.)