HB3685 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 09475 BAB 19536 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3685

Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

210 ILCS 125/21.2 new

Amends the Swimming Facility Act. Creates the Task Force on Lake Michigan Beach Public Use to review current and potential future public coordination, consolidation, use, and access issues and to offer policy-making recommendations related to the efficient use of governmental bodies and structures in regulating the use of public bathing areas along Lake Michigan. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide administrative support for the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall be composed of specified members, and the Task Force shall elect a chairperson from its membership. Requires appointments to be made within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires members to serve without compensation. Establishes duties of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of findings, recommendations, and other information to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved January 1, 2027. 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 5. The Swimming Facility Act is amended by adding Section 21.2 as follows:

(210 ILCS 125/21.2 new)

Sec. 21.2. Task Force on Lake Michigan Beach Public Use.

(a) The Task Force on Lake Michigan Beach Public Use is created to review current and potential future public coordination, consolidation, use, and access issues and to offer policy-making recommendations related to the efficient use of governmental bodies and structures in regulating the use of public bathing areas along Lake Michigan.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of:

(1) One member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) One member of the General Assembly, appointed by the President of the Senate.

(3) One member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(4) One member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(5) One representative of the City of Chicago, either the Mayor or the Mayor's designee and one representative appointed by the governing body of each local municipality that currently maintains at least one portion of a public bathing beach as defined by the Swimming Facility Act.

(6) 2 representatives of the Illinois environmental protection and conservation community, appointed by the Governor.

(7) 2 experts in the incidences, causes, and impacts of swimming-related injuries and deaths with regard to large bodies of water, appointed by the Governor.

(8) 2 experts in the parks and recreation field, appointed by the Governor.

(9) The Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources or the Director's designee.

(b) The Department of Natural Resources shall provide administrative support for the Task Force.

(c) The Task Force shall elect a chairperson from its membership and shall have the authority to determine its meeting schedules, hearing schedules, and agendas.

(d) Appointments shall be made within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

(e) Members shall serve without compensation and shall be adults and residents of Illinois.

(f) The Task Force shall:

(1) review existing beach management structures, admission policies, accessibility survey, and, at minimum, 10 years of safety & workplace safety data;

(2) review potential future government or management structures that would provide uniform beach access, safety, accessibility, and training while allowing local variety of programming and enhancements;

(3) gather and analyze information on the cost and other impacts in safety, nonuniform accessibility, differing training standards, associated with individualized municipal beach management; and

(4) provide recommendations on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of at least two intergovernmental or governmental structures for public beach accessibility that would provide positive changes to residents of Illinois in the areas of cost of access, safety, accessibility, and training.

(g) The Task Force shall submit a report of findings, recommendations, and other information to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026.

(h) The Task Force shall be dissolved on January 1, 2027.

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