104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3479
 
Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Rick Ryan
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
65 ILCS 5/11-5-8.5 new
    Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality with 500 or more residents owns, operates, or maintains an ambulance department, then the municipality shall not cease the operation and maintenance of the ambulance department without a referendum. Provides that, if a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of dissolving the ambulance department, then the court shall enter an order discontinuing the ambulance department. Provides that the rights of the employees of the dissolved ambulance department provided by the Personnel Code, any applicable collective bargaining agreements, or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by the amendatory Act. Limits home rule powers.


LRB104 11108 RTM 21190 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
HB3479LRB104 11108 RTM 21190 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by 
5adding Section 11-5-8.5 as follows:
 
6    (65 ILCS 5/11-5-8.5 new)
7    Sec. 11-5-8.5. Cessation of ambulance services.
8    (a) If a municipality with 500 or more residents owns, 
9operates, or maintains an ambulance department under Section 
1011-5-7, then the municipality shall not cease the operation 
11and maintenance of the ambulance department without a 
12referendum. (b) The referendum proposing the dissolution of 
13the ambulance department shall be conducted in a manner that 
14is consistent with this Section. The ballot for the referendum 
15shall be in substantially the following form: 
16------------------------------------------------------------- 
17Shall the (name of ambulance 
18department) serving the citizens         YES 
19with (list local unit(s) of --------------------------------- 
20government) cease to provide             NO 
21emergency services and be 
22dissolved and discontinued? 
23------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
 
HB3479- 2 -LRB104 11108 RTM 21190 b

1    (b) If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in 
2favor of dissolving the ambulance department, then the court 
3shall enter an order discontinuing the ambulance department.
4    (c) The rights of the employees of the dissolved ambulance 
5department provided by the Personnel Code, any applicable 
6collective bargaining agreements, or under any pension, 
7retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by this 
8amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.
9    (d) A municipality that is a home rule unit may not 
10dissolve an ambulance department in a manner that is 
11inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation 
12under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the 
13Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule 
14units of the powers and functions exercised by the State.