SB2358 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 03775 JRC 13799 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2358

Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Jason Plummer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
20 ILCS 3305/7	from Ch. 127, par. 1057

Creates the Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency Act, which may be referred to as the PRAISE Act. Provides that an order, rule, regulation, ordinance, resolution, or other directive issued by the State government or a unit of local government pursuant to an emergency or health or safety determination, declaration, or proclamation that requires closure or limitation of any business or other facility otherwise open to public use or patronage, but which exempts in whole or in part any particular entity or set of entities, shall exempt to the same extent a place of worship of a tax exempt religious organization as the other entities are exempted. Requires the provisions to be construed to afford to religious organizations and the organizations' places of worship the same degree of freedom to meet as is afforded to the most favored entity or set of entities. Allows a civil action by a person or religious organization that has been burdened or impaired by a violation of the provisions, including injunctive orders; compensatory damages; nominal damages; a finding of a violation; and, when malice or recklessness is demonstrated, punitive damages. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act to make a conforming change.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 1. Short title; references to Act.

(a) This Act may be cited as the Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency Act.

(b) References to Act. This Act may be referred to as the PRAISE Act.

Section 5. Definition. As used in this Act, "place of worship" means a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other building, structure, or place used primarily for religious worship and includes the grounds of the building, structure, or place.

Section 10. Protection for places of worship. An order, rule, regulation, ordinance, resolution, or other directive issued by the State government or a unit of local government pursuant to an emergency or health or safety determination, declaration, or proclamation that requires closure or limitation of any business or other facility otherwise open to public use or patronage, but which exempts in whole or in part any particular entity or set of entities, shall exempt to the same extent any place of worship of a religious organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 CFR 501(c)(3) as the other entities are exempted. This Section shall be construed to afford to religious organizations and the organizations' places of worship the same degree of freedom to meet as is afforded to the most favored entity or set of entities.

Section 15. Enforcement. A person or religious organization burdened or impaired by a violation of Section 10 may bring a civil action for relief against the burden or impairment in a circuit court. A court may provide the following, noninclusive relief: injunctive orders; compensatory damages; nominal damages; a finding of a violation; and, when malice or recklessness is demonstrated, punitive damages.

Section 20. Home rule. A home rule unit may not regulate places of worship in a manner inconsistent with this Act. This Act is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

Section 100. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act is amended by changing Section 7 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3305/7) (from Ch. 127, par. 1057)

Sec. 7. Emergency Powers of the Governor. In the event of a disaster, as defined in Section 4, the Governor may, by proclamation declare that a disaster exists. Upon such proclamation, the Governor shall have and may exercise for a period not to exceed 30 days the following emergency powers; provided, however, that the lapse of the emergency powers shall not, as regards any act or acts occurring or committed within the 30-day period, deprive any person, firm, corporation, political subdivision, or body politic of any right or rights to compensation or reimbursement which he, she, it, or they may have under the provisions of this Act:

(1) To suspend the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing procedures for conduct of State business, or the orders, rules and regulations of any State agency, if strict compliance with the provisions of any statute, order, rule, or regulation would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action, including emergency purchases, by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, in coping with the disaster.

(2) To utilize all available resources of the State government as reasonably necessary to cope with the disaster and of each political subdivision of the State.

(3) To transfer the direction, personnel or functions of State departments and agencies or units thereof for the purpose of performing or facilitating disaster response and recovery programs.

(4) On behalf of this State to take possession of, and to acquire full title or a lesser specified interest in, any personal property as may be necessary to accomplish the objectives set forth in Section 2 of this Act, including: airplanes, automobiles, trucks, trailers, buses, and other vehicles; coal, oils, gasoline, and other fuels and means of propulsion; explosives, materials, equipment, and supplies; animals and livestock; feed and seed; food and provisions for humans and animals; clothing and bedding; and medicines and medical and surgical supplies; and to take possession of and for a limited period occupy and use any real estate necessary to accomplish those objectives; but only upon the undertaking by the State to pay just compensation therefor as in this Act provided, and then only under the following provisions:

a. The Governor, or the person or persons as the Governor may authorize so to do, may forthwith take possession of property for and on behalf of the State; provided, however, that the Governor or persons shall simultaneously with the taking, deliver to the owner or his or her agent, if the identity of the owner or agency is known or readily ascertainable, a signed statement in writing, that shall include the name and address of the owner, the date and place of the taking, description of the property sufficient to identify it, a statement of interest in the property that is being so taken, and, if possible, a statement in writing, signed by the owner, setting forth the sum that he or she is willing to accept as just compensation for the property or use. Whether or not the owner or agent is known or readily ascertainable, a true copy of the statement shall promptly be filed by the Governor or the person with the Director, who shall keep the docket of the statements. In cases where the sum that the owner is willing to accept as just compensation is less than $1,000, copies of the statements shall also be filed by the Director with, and shall be passed upon by an Emergency Management Claims Commission, consisting of 3 disinterested citizens who shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, within 20 days after the Governor's declaration of a disaster, and if the sum fixed by them as just compensation be less than $1,000 and is accepted in writing by the owner, then the State Treasurer out of funds appropriated for these purposes, shall, upon certification thereof by the Emergency Management Claims Commission, cause the sum so certified forthwith to be paid to the owner. The Emergency Management Claims Commission is hereby given the power to issue appropriate subpoenas and to administer oaths to witnesses and shall keep appropriate minutes and other records of its actions upon and the disposition made of all claims.

b. When the compensation to be paid for the taking or use of property or interest therein is not or cannot be determined and paid under item a of this paragraph (4), a petition in the name of The People of the State of Illinois shall be promptly filed by the Director, which filing may be enforced by mandamus, in the circuit court of the county where the property or any part thereof was located when initially taken or used under the provisions of this Act praying that the amount of compensation to be paid to the person or persons interested therein be fixed and determined. The petition shall include a description of the property that has been taken, shall state the physical condition of the property when taken, shall name as defendants all interested parties, shall set forth the sum of money estimated to be just compensation for the property or interest therein taken or used, and shall be signed by the Director. The litigation shall be handled by the Attorney General for and on behalf of the State.

c. Just compensation for the taking or use of property or interest therein shall be promptly ascertained in proceedings and established by judgment against the State, that shall include, as part of the just compensation so awarded, interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the fair market value of the property or interest therein from the date of the taking or use to the date of the judgment; and the court may order the payment of delinquent taxes and special assessments out of the amount so awarded as just compensation and may make any other orders with respect to encumbrances, rents, insurance, and other charges, if any, as shall be just and equitable.

(5) When required by the exigencies of the disaster, to sell, lend, rent, give, or distribute all or any part of property so or otherwise acquired to the inhabitants of this State, or to political subdivisions of this State, or, under the interstate mutual aid agreements or compacts as are entered into under the provisions of subparagraph (5) of paragraph (c) of Section 6 to other states, and to account for and transmit to the State Treasurer all funds, if any, received therefor.

(6) To recommend the evacuation of all or part of the population from any stricken or threatened area within the State if the Governor deems this action necessary.

(7) To prescribe routes, modes of transportation, and destinations in connection with evacuation.

(8) To control ingress and egress to and from a disaster area, the movement of persons within the area, and the occupancy of premises therein.

(9) To suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation of alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives, and combustibles.

(10) To make provision for the availability and use of temporary emergency housing.

(11) A proclamation of a disaster shall activate the State Emergency Operations Plan, and political subdivision emergency operations plans applicable to the political subdivision or area in question and be authority for the deployment and use of any forces that the plan or plans apply and for use or distribution of any supplies, equipment, and materials and facilities assembled, stockpiled or arranged to be made available under this Act or any other provision of law relating to disasters.

(12) Control, restrict, and regulate by rationing, freezing, use of quotas, prohibitions on shipments, price fixing, allocation or other means, the use, sale or distribution of food, feed, fuel, clothing and other commodities, materials, goods, or services; and perform and exercise any other functions, powers, and duties as may be necessary to promote and secure the safety and protection of the civilian population.

(13) During the continuance of any disaster the Governor is commander-in-chief of the organized and unorganized militia and of all other forces available for emergency duty. To the greatest extent practicable, the Governor shall delegate or assign authority to the Director to manage, coordinate, and direct all resources by orders issued at the time of the disaster.

(14) Prohibit increases in the prices of goods and services during a disaster.

Nothing in this Act allows the Governor or any other governmental official to proclaim, declare, or otherwise issue any order that violates the Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency Act.

(Source: P.A. 102-485, eff. 8-20-21.)