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91_SB0573 LRB9105757MWgc 1 AN ACT concerning referenda, amending named Acts. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing 5 Section 6-19 and adding Section 28-1.5 as follows: 6 (10 ILCS 5/6-19) (from Ch. 46, par. 6-19) 7 Sec. 6-19. The election officials canvassing returns 8 shall cause a statement of the result of such election on the 9 rejection of this Article 6 and Articles 14 and 18 of this 10 Act to be certified to the court. If a majority of the 11 electors voting on the question votetotal votes cast at such12election isin the affirmative, the court shall enter an 13 order declaring said Articles rejected and shall file a copy 14 of the order in the office of the Secretary of State. 15 Thereupon said Articles shall cease to be operative and 16 binding in such city. 17 (Source: Laws 1965, p. 3481.) 18 (10 ILCS 5/28-1.5 new) 19 Sec. 28-1.5. Referenda; general primary and general 20 elections. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, 21 referenda may be placed on the ballot only at the general 22 primary election and the general election. 23 Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by changing 24 Sections 1-3002 and 1-4004 as follows: 25 (55 ILCS 5/1-3002) (from Ch. 34, par. 1-3002) 26 Sec. 1-3002. Election; effect. If it shall appear that a 27 majority of the electors voting on the questionall the votes28cast at such election, in each of the counties interested, is -2- LRB9105757MWgc 1 in favor of the erection of such new county, the county clerk 2 of each of said counties shall certify the same to the 3 Secretary of State, stating in such certificate the name, 4 territorial contents and boundaries of such new county; 5 whereupon the Secretary of State shall notify the Governor of 6 the result of such election, whose duty it shall be to order 7 an election of county officers for such new county in 8 accordance with the general election law for the election of 9 county officers. At such election the qualified voters of 10 said new county shall elect all county officers for said 11 county, except as hereinafter excepted, who shall be 12 commissioned and qualified in the same manner as such 13 officers are in other counties in this State, and who shall 14 continue in office until the next regular election for such 15 officers, and until their successors are elected and 16 qualified, and who shall have all the jurisdiction and 17 perform all the duties which are or may be conferred upon 18 such officers in other counties of this State. 19 (Source: P.A. 86-962.) 20 (55 ILCS 5/1-4004) (from Ch. 34, par. 1-4004) 21 Sec. 1-4004. Effect of vote. If a majority of the 22 electors voting on the question, in each of the counties, is 23votes polled in each of such counties at such election shall24bein favor of said proposition, all that territory included 25 within the established boundaries of the petitioning county, 26 shall be united and annexed to the adjoining county, and such 27 petitioning county, shall cease to have any separate 28 existence as a county, but shall be merged into and form an 29 integral part of such adjoining county, in fact and in name, 30 at the time and in the manner hereinafter provided. 31 (Source: P.A. 86-962.) 32 Section 15. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by -3- LRB9105757MWgc 1 changing Sections 2-2-3, 2-2-8, 2-3-6, 5-5-1, 11-66-3, and 2 11-112-1 as follows: 3 (65 ILCS 5/2-2-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 2-2-3) 4 Sec. 2-2-3. The question shall be in substantially the 5 following form: 6 ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Shall the city of.... YES 8 incorporate as a city under ------------------------------- 9 the general law? NO 10 ------------------------------------------------------------- 11 The corporate authorities shall cause the result of the 12 canvass to be entered on the records of the city. If a 13 majority of the electors voting on the questionvotes cast at14the electionfavor incorporation as a city under the general 15 law, the city is incorporated under this Code. Thereupon, the 16 city officers then in office shall exercise the powers 17 conferred upon like officers in this Code, until their 18 successors are elected and have qualified. 19 (Source: P.A. 81-1489.) 20 (65 ILCS 5/2-2-8) (from Ch. 24, par. 2-2-8) 21 Sec. 2-2-8. The proposition shall be in substantially 22 the following form: 23 ------------------------------------------------------------- 24 Shall the territory (here describe YES 25 it) be incorporated as a city under ------------------ 26 the general law? NO 27 ------------------------------------------------------------- 28 The result of the election shall be entered of record in 29 the court. If a majority of the electors voting on the 30 propositionvotes cast at the electionfavor incorporation as 31 a city under the general law, the inhabitants of the 32 territory described in the petition are incorporated as a -4- LRB9105757MWgc 1 city under this Code, with the name stated in the petition. 2 Appeals may be taken as in other civil cases. 3 (Source: P.A. 83-343.) 4 (65 ILCS 5/2-3-6) (from Ch. 24, par. 2-3-6) 5 Sec. 2-3-6. Upon the filing of such a petition with the 6 circuit clerk, the court shall hear testimony and rule that 7 the area under consideration is or is not a village in fact. 8 The ruling of the court shall be entered of record in the 9 court. If the court rules that the area does not constitute a 10 village in fact, the petition to incorporate the area as a 11 village is denied and no subsequent petition concerning 12 village incorporation of any of the land described in the 13 earlier petition may be filed within one year. If the court 14 rules that the area does constitute a village in fact, such 15 court shall enter an order so finding and the proposition 16 shall be certified and submitted to the electors of such area 17 in the manner provided by the general election law. The 18 proposition shall be in substantially the following form: 19 ------------------------------------------------------------- 20 Shall the territory (here YES 21 describe it) be incorporated as -------------------------- 22 a village under the general law? NO 23 ------------------------------------------------------------- 24 The result of the election shall be entered of record in 25 the court. If a majority of the electors voting on the 26 propositionvotes cast at the electionfavor incorporation as 27 a village under the general law the inhabitants of the 28 territory described in the petition are incorporated as a 29 village under this Code with the name stated in the petition. 30 (Source: P.A. 83-343.) 31 (65 ILCS 5/5-5-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 5-5-1) 32 Sec. 5-5-1. Petition for abandonment of managerial form; -5- LRB9105757MWgc 1 referendum; succeeding elections of officers and aldermen or 2 trustees. 3 (a) A city or village that has operated for 4 years or 4 more under the managerial form of municipal government may 5 abandon that organization as provided in this Section. For 6 the purposes of this Article, the operation of the managerial 7 form of municipal government shall be deemed to begin on the 8 date of the appointment of the first manager in the city or 9 village. When a petition for abandonment signed by electors 10 of the municipality equal in number to at least 10% of the 11 number of votes cast for candidates for mayor at the 12 preceding general quadrennial municipal election is filed 13 with the circuit court for the county in which that city or 14 village is located, the court shall set a date not less than 15 10 nor more than 30 days thereafter for a hearing on the 16 sufficiency of the petition. Notice of the filing of the 17 petition and of the date of the hearing shall be given in 18 writing to the city or village clerk and to the mayor or 19 village president at least 7 days before the date of the 20 hearing. If the petition is found sufficient, the court shall 21 enter an order directing that the proposition be submitted at 22 an election other than a primary election for the 23 municipality. The clerk of the court shall certify the 24 proposition to the proper election authorities for 25 submission. The proposition shall be in substantially the 26 following form: 27 Shall (name of city or village) retain the 28 managerial form of municipal government? 29 (b) If the majority of the electors voting on the 30 proposition vote in the affirmativevotes at the election are31"yes", then the proposition to abandon is rejected and the 32 municipality shall continue operating under this Article 5. 33 If the majority of the electors voting on the proposition 34 vote in the negativeof the votes are "no", then the -6- LRB9105757MWgc 1 proposition to abandon operation under this Article 5 is 2 approved. 3 (c) If the proposition for abandonment is approved, the 4 city or village shall become subject to Article 3.1 or 5 Article 4, whichever Article was in force in the city or 6 village immediately before the adoption of the plan 7 authorized by this Article 5, upon the election and 8 qualification of officers to be elected at the next 9 succeeding general municipal election. Those officers shall 10 be those prescribed by Article 3.1 or Article 4, as the case 11 may be, but the change shall not in any manner or degree 12 affect the property rights or liabilities of the city or 13 village. The mayor, clerk, and treasurer and all other 14 elected officers of a city or village in office at the time 15 the proposition for abandonment is approved shall continue in 16 office until the expiration of the term for which they were 17 elected. 18 (d) If a city or village operating under this Article 5 19 has aldermen or trustees elected from wards or districts and 20 a proposition to abandon operation under this Article 5 is 21 approved, then the officers to be elected at the next 22 succeeding general municipal election shall be elected from 23 the same wards or districts as exist immediately before the 24 abandonment. 25 (e) If a city or village operating under this Article 5 26 has a council or village board elected from the municipality 27 at large and a proposition to abandon operation under this 28 Article 5 is approved, then the first group of aldermen, 29 board of trustees, or commissioners so elected shall be of 30 the same number as was provided for in the municipality at 31 the time of the adoption of a plan under this Article 5, with 32 the same ward or district boundaries in cities or villages 33 that immediately before the adoption of this Article 5 had 34 wards or districts, unless the municipal boundaries have been -7- LRB9105757MWgc 1 changed. If there has been such a change, the council or 2 village board shall so alter the former ward or district 3 boundaries so as to conform as nearly as possible to the 4 former division. If the plan authorized by this Article 5 is 5 abandoned, the next general municipal election for officers 6 shall be held at the time specified in Section 3.1-10-75 or 7 3.1-25-15 for that election. The aldermen or trustees elected 8 at that election shall, if the city or village was operating 9 under Article 3 at the time of adoption of this Article 5 and 10 had at that time staggered 4 year terms of office for the 11 aldermen or trustees, choose by lot which shall serve initial 12 2 year terms as provided by Section 3.1-20-35 or 3.1-15-5, 13 whichever may be applicable, in the case of election of those 14 officers at the first election after a municipality is 15 incorporated. 16 (f) The proposition to abandon the managerial form of 17 municipal government shall not be submitted in any city or 18 village oftener than once in 46 months. 19 (Source: P.A. 87-1119.) 20 (65 ILCS 5/11-66-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-66-3) 21 Sec. 11-66-3. If a majority of the electors voting on the 22 questionall votes cast at the electionare in favor of the 23 tax levy for a municipal coliseum, the corporate authorities, 24 in the next annual tax levy, shall include a tax not to 25 exceed .25% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the 26 Department of Revenue, on all the taxable property of the 27 municipality for the establishment of a municipal coliseum in 28 the municipality, and thereafter may annually levy a tax not 29 to exceed .05% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the 30 Department of Revenue, on all the taxable property of the 31 municipality, for the maintenance thereof and for the payment 32 for the use of any money loaned or advanced to the 33 municipality for the purpose of buying a site and building -8- LRB9105757MWgc 1 the municipal coliseum, and for the repayment of any money so 2 loaned or advanced. Payment for the use of money so loaned or 3 advanced shall be in such form and manner as the board of 4 directors may determine, and the amount so paid shall not 5 exceed 5% annually on any money so loaned or advanced. The 6 corporate authorities of such a municipality, when real 7 estate owned by the municipality is not necessary for any 8 other municipal purpose, may authorize the use of the real 9 estate for the municipal coliseum. 10 The foregoing limitations upon tax rates may be increased 11 or decreased according to the referendum provisions of the 12 General Revenue Law of Illinois. 13 (Source: P.A. 86-1028.) 14 (65 ILCS 5/11-112-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-112-1) 15 Sec. 11-112-1. When a vote has been taken under "An Act 16 to enable cities, villages and towns threatened with overflow 17 or inundation to levy taxes by vote of the electors thereof, 18 to strengthen, build, raise or repair the levees around same 19 and to issue anticipation warrants on such taxes," approved 20 June 11, 1897, as amended, or when a vote is taken under this 21 Section and Section 11-112-2 at a general municipal election 22 in a municipality that is protected by levees or embankments, 23 or that may deem it necessary to be so protected, and a 24 majority of the electors voting on the questionlegal votes25cast at the electionwere or are for a tax to build, raise, 26 strengthen, or repair the levees around the municipality, not 27 exceeding the rate of .1666% annually, to be levied annually 28 for a period of not exceeding 7 years on the taxable property 29 of the municipality, the corporate authorities of the 30 municipality may (1) make an appropriation by ordinance of 31 the proceeds of the tax so authorized, (2) pass an ordinance 32 levying the tax for the whole period as authorized by the 33 vote to be annually extended, and (3) draw tax anticipation -9- LRB9105757MWgc 1 warrants thereon to the amount that the tax levy will produce 2 based on the assessment of the preceding year of all the 3 taxable property of the municipality. These warrants shall 4 draw interest at not to exceed the rate authorized by the 5 vote authorizing the tax, not exceeding 7% annually, but the 6 warrants shall not be sold below par. 7 The foregoing limitation upon tax rate may be increased 8 or decreased according to the referendum provisions of the 9 General Revenue Law of Illinois. 10 (Source: P.A. 76-845.) 11 Section 20. The Fire Protection District Act is amended 12 by changing Sections 1 and 3 as follows: 13 (70 ILCS 705/1) (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 21) 14 Sec. 1. It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative 15 determination that in order to promote and protect the 16 health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public, it is 17 necessary in the public interest to provide for the creation 18 of municipal corporations known as fire protection districts 19 and to confer upon and vest in the fire protection districts 20 all powers necessary or appropriate in order that they may 21 engage in the acquisition, establishment, maintenance and 22 operation of fire stations, facilities, vehicles, apparatus 23 and equipment for the prevention and control of fire therein 24 and the underwater recovery of drowning victims, and provide 25 as nearly adequate protection from fire for lives and 26 property within the districts as possible and regulate the 27 prevention and control of fire therein; and that the powers 28 herein conferred upon such fire protection districts are 29 public objects and governmental functions in the public 30 interest. 31 Whenever any territory is (1) an area of contiguous 32 territory in a county, or in more than one but in not more -10- LRB9105757MWgc 1 than 5 counties; (2) so situated that the destruction by fire 2 of the buildings and other property therein is hazardous to 3 the lives and property of the public; (3) so situated that 4 the acquisition, establishment, maintenance and operation of 5 a fire station or stations, facilities, vehicles, apparatus 6 and equipment for the prevention and control of fire therein 7 will conduce to the promotion and protection of the health, 8 safety, welfare and convenience of the public; (4) so 9 situated that it does not divide any city, village or 10 incorporated town, but, in the case of a city, village or 11 incorporated town situated partly within and partly without 12 one or more existing fire protection districts, such 13 territory shall not be considered as dividing the city, 14 village or incorporated town if it includes all of the city, 15 village or incorporated town situated outside of any existing 16 fire protection district; (5) so situated that such territory 17 contains no territory included in any other fire protection 18 district, or if any territory is disconnected in the manner 19 provided in Section 16c of this Act, the same may be 20 incorporated as a fire protection district. For the purpose 21 of meeting the requirement of item (1) that the territory be 22 contiguous, territory shall be considered to be contiguous if 23 the only separation between parts of such territory is land 24 owned by the United States, the State of Illinois, or any 25 agency or instrumentality of either. In the case of 26 territory disconnected from an existing district pursuant to 27 Section 16c of this Act, such territory may be incorporated 28 as provided in that Section; otherwise such districts may be 29 incorporated under this Act in the manner following: 30 Fifty or more of the legal voters resident within the 31 limits of the proposed district, or a majority thereof if 32 less than 100, may petition the circuit court for the county 33 which contains all or the largest portion of the proposed 34 district to cause the question to be submitted to the legal -11- LRB9105757MWgc 1 voters of the proposed district, whether the proposed 2 territory shall be organized as a fire protection district 3 under this Act; the petition shall be addressed to the court 4 and shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of 5 the territory to be embraced in the proposed district, and 6 the name of the proposed district and shall allege facts in 7 support of the organization and incorporation. 8 Upon filing a petition in the office of the circuit clerk 9 of the county in which the petition is made, the court shall 10 fix a time and place for a hearing upon the subject of the 11 petition. 12 Notice shall be given by the court to which the petition 13 is addressed, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff of the 14 county in which the petition is made at the order and 15 direction of the court, of the time and place of the hearing 16 upon the subject of the petition at least 20 days prior 17 thereto by one publication thereof in one or more daily or 18 weekly papers published within the proposed fire protection 19 district (or if no daily or weekly newspaper is published 20 within such proposed fire protection district, then either by 21 one publication thereof in any newspaper of general 22 circulation within that territory or by posting at least 10 23 copies of the notice in the district at least 20 days before 24 the hearing in conspicuous places as far separated from each 25 other as consistently possible), and by mailing a copy of the 26 notice to the mayor or president of the board of trustees of 27 all cities, villages and incorporated towns in whole or in 28 part within the proposed fire protection district. 29 At the hearing all persons residing in or owning property 30 situated in the proposed fire protection district shall have 31 an opportunity to be heard; and if the court finds that the 32 petition does not comply with the provisions of this Act or 33 that the allegations of the petition are not true, the court 34 shall dismiss the petition; but if the court finds that the -12- LRB9105757MWgc 1 petition complies with the provisions of this Act and that 2 the allegations of the petition are true, the same shall be 3 incorporated in an order which shall be filed of record in 4 the court. Upon the entering of such order the court shall 5 order the submission to the legal voters of the proposed fire 6 protection district the question of organization and 7 establishment of the proposed fire protection district at an 8 election. The circuit clerk shall certify the question and 9 the order to the proper election officials who shall submit 10 the question at an election in accordance with the general 11 election law. The notice of the referendum shall specify the 12 purpose of such election with a description of the proposed 13 district. 14 The question shall be in substantially the following 15 form: 16 ------------------------------------------------------------- 17 For Fire Protection District. 18 ------------------------------------------------------------- 19 Against Fire Protection District. 20 ------------------------------------------------------------- 21 The court shall cause a written statement of the results 22 of such election to be filed of record in the court. If no 23 city or village or incorporated town nor any part thereof is 24 included in the territory proposed as a district and the 25 majority of the electors votingvotes cast at such election26 upon the question shall be in favor of the incorporation of 27 the proposed fire protection district, or if a city or 28 village or incorporated town or any part thereof is included 29 in the territory proposed as a district and a majority of the 30 electors votingvotes cast at such electionupon the 31 question, within the limits of each city or village or 32 incorporated town and also a majority of the electors voting 33 on the questionthose castoutside the limits of each such 34 city or village or incorporated town shall be in favor of the -13- LRB9105757MWgc 1 proposed fire protection district, or if a city or village or 2 incorporated town is included in the territory proposed as a 3 district and a majority of the electors votingvotes cast at4such electionupon the question within the limits of such 5 city or village or incorporated town or in any other city or 6 village or incorporated town which is included in the 7 proposed territory shall be in favor of the proposed fire 8 protection district, and even if a majority of the electors 9 voting upon the questionvotes castoutside the limits of 10 such city or cities or village or villages or incorporated 11 town or towns, are not in favor of the proposed fire 12 protection district, in each city or village or incorporated 13 town in which a majority of the electors voting on the 14 question arecasts a majority of votesin favor of the 15 proposed district, the proposed district or portion of the 16 proposed district in which a majority of the electors voting 17 on the questionvotes cast at the electionare in favor of 18 the proposition as provided in this amendatory Act of 1986 19 and this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly shall 20 thenceforth be deemed an organized fire protection district 21 under this Act, and the court shall enter an order 22 accordingly and cause the same to be filed of record in the 23 court and shall also cause to be sent to the county clerk of 24 any and all other counties in which any portion of the 25 district lies and the Office of the State Fire Marshal a 26 certified copy of the order organizing the district and a 27 plat of the same indicating what lands of the district lie in 28 such other county or counties. The circuit clerk shall also 29 file with the Office of the State Fire Marshal a certified 30 copy of any other order organizing any other fire protection 31 district which may have been theretofore organized in the 32 county. 33 (Source: P.A. 85-1434.) -14- LRB9105757MWgc 1 (70 ILCS 705/3) (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 23) 2 Sec. 3. Additional contiguous territory having the 3 qualifications set forth in Section 1 may be added to any 4 fire protection district as provided for in this Act in the 5 manner following: 6 (a) One percent or more of the legal voters resident 7 within the limits of the proposed addition to the fire 8 protection district may petition the court of the county in 9 which the original petition for the formation of the fire 10 protection district was filed, to cause the question to be 11 submitted to the legal voters of the proposed additional 12 territory whether the proposed additional territory shall 13 become a part of any contiguous fire protection district 14 organized under this Act and whether the voters of the 15 additional territory shall assume a proportionate share of 16 the bonded indebtedness of the district. The petition shall 17 be addressed to the court and shall contain a definite 18 description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced 19 in the proposed addition and shall allege facts in support of 20 such addition. 21 Upon filing the petition in the office of the circuit 22 clerk of the county in which the original petition for the 23 formation of the fire protection district was filed, it shall 24 be the duty of the court to fix a time and place of a hearing 25 upon the subject of the petition. 26 Notice shall be given by the court, or by the circuit 27 clerk or sheriff upon order of the court of the county in 28 which the petition is filed, of the time and place of a 29 hearing upon the petition in the manner as provided in 30 Section 1. The conduct of the hearing on the question whether 31 the proposed additional territory shall become a part of the 32 fire protection district shall be carried out in the manner 33 described in Section 1, as nearly as may be. The question 34 shall be in substantially the following form: -15- LRB9105757MWgc 1 ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 For joining the.... Fire 3 Protection District and assuming a 4 proportionate share of bonded 5 indebtedness, if any. 6 ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Against joining the.... Fire 8 Protection District and assuming a 9 proportionate share of bonded 10 indebtedness, if any. 11 ------------------------------------------------------------- 12 If a majority of the electors votingvotes cast at the13electionupon the question of becoming a part of any 14 contiguous fire protection district are in favor of becoming 15 a part of that fire protection district and if the trustees 16 of the fire protection district accept the proposed 17 additional territory by resolution, the proposed additional 18 territory shall be deemed an integral part of that fire 19 protection district and shall be subject to all the benefits 20 of service and responsibilities of the district as set forth 21 in this Act. 22 (b) The owner or owners of any tract or tracts of land, 23 contiguous to an existing fire protection district and not 24 already included in a fire protection district, may file a 25 written petition, addressed to the trustees of the fire 26 protection district to which they seek to have their tract or 27 tracts of land attached, containing a definite description of 28 the boundaries of the territory and a statement that they 29 desire that their property become a part of the fire 30 protection district to which their petition is addressed, and 31 that they are willing that their property assume a 32 proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of 33 the fire protection district. 34 When such a petition is filed with the trustees, they -16- LRB9105757MWgc 1 shall immediately pass a resolution to accept or reject the 2 territory proposed to be attached. If the trustees resolve in 3 favor of accepting the territory, they shall file with the 4 court of the county where the fire protection district was 5 organized the original petition and a certified copy of the 6 resolution, and the court shall then enter an order stating 7 that the proposed annexed territory shall be deemed an 8 integral part of that fire protection district and subject to 9 all of the benefits of service and responsibilities of the 10 district. The circuit clerk shall transmit a certified copy 11 of the order to the county clerk of each county in which any 12 of the territory affected is situated and to the State Fire 13 Marshal. 14 (c) Upon the annexation of territory by a district, the 15 boundary shall extend to the far side of any adjacent highway 16 and shall include all of every highway within the area 17 annexed. These highways shall be considered to be annexed 18 even though not included in the legal description set forth 19 in the petition for annexation. 20 (Source: P.A. 85-556; 86-1191.) 21 Section 25. The River Conservancy Districts Act is 22 amended by changing Section 1 as follows: 23 (70 ILCS 2105/1) (from Ch. 42, par. 383) 24 Sec. 1. Whenever the unified control of a lake or of a 25 river system or a portion thereof shall be deemed conducive 26 to the prevention of stream pollution development, 27 conservation and protection of water supply, preservation of 28 water levels, control or prevention of floods, reclamation of 29 wet and overflowed lands, development of irrigation, 30 conservation of soil, provision of domestic, industrial or 31 public water supplies, collection and disposal of sewage and 32 other public liquid wastes, provision of forests, wildlife -17- LRB9105757MWgc 1 areas, parks and recreational facilities, and to the 2 promotion of the public health, comfort and convenience the 3 same may be organized as a conservancy district under this 4 Act in the manner following: 5 One per cent or more of the legal voters resident within 6 the limits of such proposed district, and, with respect to 7 petitions filed on or after the effective date of this 8 amendatory Act of 1990, one percent of the legal voters 9 resident in each county in which the proposed district is 10 situated, may petition the circuit court for the county which 11 contains all or the largest portion of the proposed district 12 to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of 13 such proposed district, whether such proposed territory shall 14 be organized as a conservancy district under this Act, which 15 petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a 16 general description of the boundaries of the territory to be 17 embraced in the proposed district and the name of such 18 proposed district. The description need not be given by metes 19 and bounds or by legal subdivisions, but it shall be 20 sufficient if a generally accurate description is given of 21 the territory to be organized as a district. Such territory 22 need not be contiguous, provided that it be so situated that 23 the public health, safety, convenience or welfare will be 24 promoted by the organization as a single district of the 25 territory described. 26 Upon filing such petition in the office of the circuit 27 clerk of the county in which such petition is filed as 28 aforesaid it shall be the duty of the court to consider the 29 boundaries of any such proposed conservancy district, whether 30 the same shall be those stated in the petition or otherwise. 31 The decision of the court is appealable as in other civil 32 cases. 33 The court shall by order fix a time and place for a 34 hearing on the petition not less than 60 days after the date -18- LRB9105757MWgc 1 of such order. Notice shall be given by the court to whom the 2 petition is addressed of the time and place where such 3 commissioners shall meet for such hearing by a publication 4 inserted once in one or more daily or weekly papers published 5 within the proposed conservancy district, or if no daily or 6 weekly newspaper is published within such proposed 7 conservancy district, then by posting such notice, at least 8 10 copies, in such proposed district at least 20 days before 9 such meeting, in conspicuous public places as far separated 10 from each other as consistently possible. 11 At such hearing all persons in such proposed conservancy 12 district shall have an opportunity to be heard, touching upon 13 the location and boundaries of such proposed district and to 14 make suggestions regarding the same, and the court, after 15 hearing statements, evidence and suggestions, shall fix and 16 determine the limits and boundaries of such proposed 17 district, and for that purpose and to that extent, may alter 18 and amend such petition. After such determination by the 19 court, the same shall be incorporated in an order which shall 20 be entered of record in the circuit court or courts of the 21 counties situate in the proposed district and the court shall 22 also by the order provide for the holding of a referendum as 23 herein provided. 24 Upon the entering of such order the court shall certify 25 the question of organization and establishment of the 26 proposed conservancy district as determined by the court to 27 the proper election officials who shall submit the question 28 at an election in accordance with the general election law. 29 In addition to the requirements of the general election law, 30 notice of the referendum shall specify the purpose of the 31 referendum and contain a description of such proposed 32 district. The clerk of the court shall send notice of the 33 referendum to the county board of each county in which the 34 proposed district is situated. -19- LRB9105757MWgc 1 Each legal voter resident within such proposed 2 conservancy district shall have the right to cast a ballot at 3 such election. The question shall be in substantially the 4 following form: 5 ------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Shall a Conservancy District 7 be organized, with authority to levy 8 an annual tax at a maximum rate of YES 9 ... % (maximum rate authorized under 10 Section 17 of the River Conservancy ---------------------- 11 Districts Act) of the value of all 12 taxable property within the limits of NO 13 the District as equalized or assessed 14 by the Department of Revenue? 15 ------------------------------------------------------------- 16 The ballots cast on the question in each county shall be 17 returned and canvassed by the county clerk of the county in 18 which the same are cast and such county clerks respectively 19 shall file with the county clerk of the county, in which the 20 petition is filed, a true copy of the return and canvass of 21 the votes cast in each of said counties and thereupon the 22 county clerk of the county in which such petition is filed 23 shall canvass the entire vote cast in the election from the 24 returns furnished by such respective county clerks and shall 25 ascertain the result of such referendum and certify the same 26 to the court. The court shall cause a statement of the 27 results of such referendum to be entered of record in the 28 court. If a majority of the electors votingvotes cast at29such electionupon the question shall be in favor of the 30 organization of the proposed conservancy district such 31 proposed district shall thenceforth be deemed an organized 32 conservancy district under this Act and a municipal 33 corporation with the powers and duties herein conferred and 34 bearing the name set forth in the petition. -20- LRB9105757MWgc 1 (Source: P.A. 86-1307.) 2 Section 30. The North Shore Sanitary District Act is 3 amended by changing Sections 26 and 27 as follows: 4 (70 ILCS 2305/26) (from Ch. 42, par. 296.6) 5 Sec. 26. Additional contiguous territory may be added to 6 any sanitary district organized under this Act in the manner 7 following: 8 Ten per cent or more of the legal voters resident within 9 the limits of such proposed addition to such sanitary 10 district may petition the circuit court for the county in 11 which such sanitary district is located to cause the question 12 to be submitted to the legal voters of such proposed 13 additional territory whether such proposed additional 14 territory shall become a part of any contiguous sanitary 15 district organized under this Act and whether such additional 16 territory and the taxpayers thereof shall assume a 17 proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of 18 such sanitary district. Such petition shall be addressed to 19 the court and shall contain a definite description of the 20 boundaries of the territory sought to be added. Provided that 21 no territory disqualified in Section 1 of this Act shall be 22 included. 23 Upon filing such petition in the office of the circuit 24 clerk of the county in which such sanitary district is 25 located it shall be the duty of the court to consider the 26 boundaries of such proposed additional territory, whether the 27 same shall be those stated in the petition or otherwise. The 28 decision of the court shall be a final order and appealable 29 as in other civil cases. 30 Notice shall be given by the court of the time and place 31 when and where all persons interested will be heard 32 substantially as provided in and by Section 1 of this Act. -21- LRB9105757MWgc 1 The court shall certify its order and the proposition to the 2 proper election officials who shall submit the proposition at 3 an election in accordance with the general election law. The 4 proposition shall be in substantially the following form: 5 ------------------------------------------------------------- 6 For joining sanitary district and 7 assuming a proportionate share 8 of bonded indebtedness, if any. 9 ------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Against joining sanitary district 11 and assuming a proportionate 12 share of bonded indebtedness, 13 if any. 14 ------------------------------------------------------------- 15 If a majority of the electors voting on the questionvotes16cast at such electionshall be in favor of becoming a part of 17 such sanitary district and if the trustees of such sanitary 18 district accept the proposed additional territory by 19 ordinance annexing the same, the court shall enter an 20 appropriate order of record in the court, and such additional 21 territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral part of 22 such sanitary district. Any such additional contiguous 23 territory may be annexed to such sanitary district upon 24 petition addressed to such court, signed by a majority of the 25 owners of lands constituting such territory who, in the case 26 of natural persons, shall have arrived at lawful age and who 27 represent a majority in area of such territory, which said 28 petition shall contain a definite description of the 29 boundaries of such territory and shall set forth the 30 willingness of the petitioners that such territory and the 31 taxpayers thereof assume a proportionate share of the bonded 32 indebtedness, if any, of such sanitary district. Upon the 33 filing of such petition and notice of and hearing and 34 decision upon the same by the aforesaid commissioners, all as -22- LRB9105757MWgc 1 hereinbefore provided, such commissioners or a majority of 2 them, shall enter an order containing their findings and 3 decision as to the boundaries of the territory to be annexed; 4 and thereupon, if the trustees of such sanitary district 5 shall pass an ordinance annexing the territory described in 6 such order to said sanitary district, the court shall enter 7 an appropriate order as hereinabove provided, and such 8 additional territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral 9 part of such sanitary district. 10 (Source: P.A. 83-343.) 11 (70 ILCS 2305/27) (from Ch. 42, par. 296.7) 12 Sec. 27. Any contiguous territory located within the 13 boundaries of any sanitary district organized under this Act, 14 and upon the border of such district, may become disconnected 15 from such district in the manner following, to wit: 10% or 16 more of the legal voters resident in the territory sought to 17 be disconnected from such district, may petition the circuit 18 court for the county in which such sanitary district is 19 located to cause the question of whether such territory shall 20 be disconnected to be submitted to the legal voters of such 21 territory. Such petition shall be addressed to the court and 22 shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of 23 such territory and recite as a fact, that there is no 24 outstanding bonded indebtedness of such sanitary district 25 which was incurred or assumed while such territory was a part 26 of such sanitary district and that no special assessments for 27 local improvements were levied upon or assessed against any 28 of the lands within such territory or, if so levied or 29 assessed, that all of such assessments have been fully paid 30 and discharged and that such territory is not, at the time of 31 the filing of such petition, and will not be, either 32 benefited or served by any work or improvements either then 33 existing or then authorized by said sanitary district. Upon -23- LRB9105757MWgc 1 filing such petition in the office of the circuit clerk of 2 the county in which such sanitary district is located it 3 shall be the duty of the court to consider the boundaries of 4 such territory and the facts upon which the petition is 5 founded. The court may alter the boundaries of such territory 6 and shall deny the prayer of the petition, if the material 7 allegations therein contained are not founded in fact; a 8 decision of said commissioners or a majority of them shall be 9 conclusive and not subject to review. 10 Notice shall be given by the court of the time and place 11 when and where all persons interested will be heard 12 substantially as provided in and by Section 1 of this Act. 13 The court shall certify its order and the question to the 14 proper election officials who shall submit the question at an 15 election in accordance with the general election law. The 16 proposition shall be in substantially the following form: 17 ------------------------------------------------------------- 18 For disconnection from 19 sanitary district. 20 ------------------------------------------------------------- 21 Against disconnection from 22 sanitary district. 23 ------------------------------------------------------------- 24 If a majority of the electors voting on the propositionvotes25cast at such electionshall be in favor of disconnection, and 26 if the trustees of such sanitary district shall, by 27 ordinance, disconnect such territory, thereupon the court 28 shall enter an appropriate order of record in the court and 29 thereafter such territory shall thenceforth be deemed 30 disconnected from such sanitary district. 31 (Source: P.A. 83-343.) 32 Section 35. The Street Light District Act is amended by 33 changing Section 1 as follows: -24- LRB9105757MWgc 1 (70 ILCS 3305/2a) (from Ch. 121, par. 356a) 2 Sec. 2a. Additional territory having the qualifications 3 set forth in Section 1 may be added to any street lighting 4 district as provided for in this Act in the manner following: 5 Fifty or more of the legal voters resident within the 6 limits of such proposed addition to such street lighting 7 district may petition the circuit court of the county in 8 which the original petition for the formation of said street 9 lighting district was filed, to cause the question to be 10 submitted to the legal voters of such proposed additional 11 territory whether such proposed additional territory shall 12 become a part of any street lighting district organized under 13 this Act and whether the voters of the additional territory 14 shall assume a proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness 15 of such district. The petition shall be addressed to the 16 court and shall contain a definite description of the 17 boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed 18 addition and shall allege facts in support of the addition. 19 Upon filing the petition in the office of the circuit 20 clerk of the county in which the original petition for the 21 formation of such street lighting district was filed, it 22 shall be the duty of the court to fix a time and place of a 23 hearing upon the subject of said petition. 24 Notice shall be given by the circuit court, or by the 25 circuit clerk or sheriff upon order of the circuit court of 26 the county in which such petition is filed, of the time and 27 place of a hearing upon the petition in the manner as 28 provided in Section 1. The conduct of the hearing and the 29 manner of conducting a subsequent referendum on the question 30 whether the proposed additional territory shall become a part 31 of the street lighting district, shall be carried out in the 32 manner described in Section 1, as nearly as may be, and in 33 accordance with the general election law but the question 34 shall be in substantially the following form, to-wit: -25- LRB9105757MWgc 1 ------------------------------------------------------------- 2 For joining the.... Street 3 Lighting District and assuming a 4 proportionate share of bonded 5 indebtedness, if any. 6 ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Against joining the.... Street 8 Lighting District and assuming a 9 proportionate share of bonded 10 indebtedness, if any. 11 ------------------------------------------------------------- 12 If a majority of the electors votingvotes cast at the13electionupon the question of becoming a part of any street 14 lighting district shall be in favor of becoming a part of 15 such street lighting district and if the trustees of said 16 street lighting district accept the proposed additional 17 territory by resolution, such proposed additional territory 18 shall thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such street 19 lighting district and shall be subject to all the benefits of 20 service and responsibilities of said district as herein set 21 forth. 22 The owner or owners of any tract or tracts of land not 23 included in a street lighting district, may file a written 24 petition, addressed to the trustees of the street lighting 25 district to which they seek to have their tract or tracts of 26 land attached, containing a definite description of the 27 boundaries of the territory and a statement that they desire 28 that their property become a part of the street lighting 29 district to which their petition is addressed, and that they 30 are willing that their property assume a proportionate share 31 of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of such street lighting 32 district. 33 When such a petition is filed with the trustees, they 34 shall immediately pass a resolution to accept or reject the -26- LRB9105757MWgc 1 territory proposed to be attached. If the trustees resolve in 2 favor of accepting such territory, they shall file with the 3 court of the county where the street lighting district was 4 organized the original petition and a certified copy of the 5 resolution and the circuit clerk shall then enter an order 6 stating that such proposed annexed territory shall 7 thenceforth be deemed an integral part of such street 8 lighting district and subject to all of the benefits of 9 service and responsibilities of the district. The circuit 10 clerk shall transmit a certified copy of the order to the 11 county clerk of each county in which any of the territory 12 affected is situated. 13 (Source: P.A. 81-1489.) 14 Section 40. The School Code is amended by changing 15 Section 32-1 as follows: 16 (105 ILCS 5/32-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 32-1) 17 Sec. 32-1. May vote to organize under general law. 18 (a) Any special charter district may, by vote of its 19 electors, cease to control its school under the Act under 20 which it was organized, and become part of the school 21 township or townships in which it is situated. Upon petition 22 of 50 voters of the district, presented to the board having 23 the control and management of the schools, the board shall 24 order submitted to the voters at an election to be held in 25 the district, in accordance with the general election law, 26 the question of "organizing under the general school law". 27 The secretary of the board shall make certification to the 28 proper election authority in accordance with the general 29 election law. If, however, a majority of the electorsvotes30cast at any such electionin any school district subject to 31 Sections 32-3 through 32-4.11 voting on the question areis32 against organizing the district under the general school law, -27- LRB9105757MWgc 1 the question may not again be submitted in the district for 2 22 months thereafter, and then only upon petition signed by 3 at least 2% of the voters of the school district. Notice 4 shall be given in accordance with the general election law, 5 which notice shall be in the following form: 6 NOTICE OF REFERENDUM 7 Notice is hereby given that on (insert date),the ....8day of ...., 19..,a referendum will be held at.... for the 9 purpose of deciding the question of organizing under the 10 general school law. The polls will be opened at .... o'clock 11 ..m and closed at .... o'clock ..m. 12 Signed ..... 13 If a majority of the electors votingvotes caston the 14 proposition is in favor of organizing under the general 15 school law, then the board having the control and management 16 of schools in the district, shall declare the proposition 17 carried. 18 When such a proposition is declared to have so carried, 19 the board of education shall continue to exercise its powers 20 and duties under the general school law. Each member of the 21 board of education selected under the provisions of the 22 special charter shall continue in office until his term has 23 expired. Before the term of each of these members expires, 24 the board shall give notice of an election to be held on the 25 date of the next regular school election, in accordance with 26 the general election law to fill the vacancy which is 27 created. Nomination papers filed under this Section are not 28 valid unless the candidate named therein files with the 29 secretary of the board of education a receipt from the county 30 clerk showing that the candidate has filed a statement of 31 economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental 32 Ethics Act. Such receipt shall be so filed either previously 33 during the calendar year in which his nomination papers were 34 filed or within the period for the filing of nomination -28- LRB9105757MWgc 1 papers in accordance with the general election law. 2 (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any special charter 3 district whose board is appointed by the mayor or other 4 corporate authority of that municipality may, by resolution 5 adopted by the corporate authorities of that municipality 6 cease to control its school under the Act under which it was 7 organized, become a part of the school township or townships 8 in which it is situated and become organized under the 9 general school law. If such a resolution is adopted, the 10 board of education shall continue to exercise its powers and 11 duties under the general school law. Each member of the 12 board of education selected under the provisions of the 13 special charter shall continue in office until his term has 14 expired. Before the term of each of these members expires, 15 the board shall give notice of an election to be held on the 16 date of the next regular school election, in accordance with 17 the general election law to fill the vacancy which is 18 created. 19 (Source: P.A. 81-1490; revised 10-20-98.) 20 Section 45. The Public Community College Act is amended 21 by changing Section 3-5 as follows: 22 (110 ILCS 805/3-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 103-5) 23 Sec. 3-5. The proposition shall be in substantially the 24 following form: 25 FOR the establishment of a community college district 26 with authority to levy taxes at the rate of.... per cent for 27 educational purposes, and.... per cent for operations and 28 maintenance of facilities purposes. 29 AGAINST the establishment of a community college district 30 with authority to levy taxes at the rate of.... per cent for 31 educational purposes, and.... per cent for operations and 32 maintenance of facilities purposes. -29- LRB9105757MWgc 1 In order for the proposition to be approved, a majority 2 of the electors voting on the propositionvotes cast in the3territory at the electionmust be in favor of the proposition 4 of establishing a community college district; provided, 5 however, that if the territory described in the petition 6 includes one or more community college districts, the 7 proposition has not received a majority of the votes cast on 8 the proposition unless it also receives a majority of the 9 votes cast on the proposition within the territory included 10 within each such district, the count to be taken separately 11 within such districts. 12 (Source: P.A. 85-1335.)