SB1496 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 09698 AWJ 29907 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1496

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Thomas Cullerton

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-45 heading new
55 ILCS 5/5-45001 new
65 ILCS 5/11-5.4-1 new

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the county board or corporate authority of any non-home rule county or municipality may adopt a crime free rental housing ordinance for the purpose of reducing crime in residential areas. The ordinance may include, but is not limited to, requirements for property owners to obtain a valid residential rental license, submit to a public safety and crime prevention inspection, attend a crime safety and prevention training program, include an addendum in rental agreements regarding criminal behavior by the tenant, conduct background checks on prospective tenants, and submit to periodic inspections of the rental property. Provides that the ordinance may also include provisions for violations of the ordinance. Prohibits waiver or modification of the lease agreement to avoid provisions in the ordinance. Further provides that any ordinance enacted under this Section does not apply to any facility licensed or inspected by the State of Illinois or the federal government, with the exception of mobile home parks. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Division 5-45 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-45 heading new)

Division 5-45. Crime Free Rental Housing Ordinances

(55 ILCS 5/5-45001 new)

Sec. 5-45001. Crime free rental housing ordinance. The county board of a non-home rule county may adopt a crime free rental housing ordinance for the purpose of reducing crime, including drugs and gang-related activities, in residential areas. The county sheriff or other county employees may administer and enforce the ordinance.

(a) A crime free rental housing ordinance may include, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) a requirement that a property owner obtain a valid residential rental license from the county in order to rent any dwelling unit or renew an existing lease for a dwelling unit;

(2) a requirement that a property owner submit to a public safety and crime prevention inspection and attend a training program or seminar concerning crime prevention before he or she may obtain a residential rental license;

(3) a requirement that any lease entered into for residential property located in the county include a provision or an addendum that prohibits a tenant, a tenant's family member, or a guest of the tenant from engaging in, facilitating, or permitting any quasi-criminal or criminal activity as defined by federal, State, or local law, including providing that the violation of such a provision permits a landlord to initiate eviction proceedings, notwithstanding any provision of the lease to the contrary;

(4) a requirement that on and after the effective date of the crime free rental housing ordinance a property owner must conduct a background check on a person prior to entering into or renewing an agreement to lease rental property to that person;

(5) a requirement that a property owner submit to periodic inspections of his or her rental property to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and

(6) penalties for violating the ordinance.

(b) For the purposes of this Section, "tenant" means a tenant, subtenant, lessee, sublessee, or other person entitled to possession, occupancy, or benefits of a residential rental property.

(c) Prohibition of waiver or modification. The provisions of any ordinance enacted under this Section may not be waived or modified in any lease or separate agreement.

(d) Exclusions. This Section does not apply to any facility that is licensed or inspected by the State of Illinois or the federal government. However, any ordinance enacted under this Section shall apply to mobile home parks, as defined in Section 2.5 of the Mobile Home Park Act.

Section 10. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by adding Section 11-5.4-1 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-5.4-1 new)

Sec. 11-5.4-1. Crime free rental housing ordinance. The corporate authorities of a non-home rule municipality may adopt a crime free rental housing ordinance for the purpose of reducing crime, including drugs and gang-related activities, in residential areas. The municipality's police department or other municipal employees may administer and enforce the ordinance.

(a) A crime free rental housing ordinance may include, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) a requirement that a property owner obtain a valid residential rental license from the municipality in order to rent any dwelling unit or renew an existing lease for a dwelling unit;

(2) a requirement that a property owner submit to a public safety and crime prevention inspection and attend a training program or seminar concerning crime prevention before he or she may obtain a residential rental license;

(3) a requirement that any lease entered into for residential property located in the municipality include a provision or an addendum that prohibits a tenant, a tenant's family member, or a guest of the tenant from engaging in, facilitating, or permitting any quasi-criminal or criminal activity as defined by federal, State, or local law, including providing that the violation of such a provision permits a landlord to initiate eviction proceedings, notwithstanding any provision of the lease to the contrary;

(4) a requirement that on and after the effective date of the crime free rental housing ordinance a property owner must conduct a background check on a person prior to entering into or renewing an agreement to lease rental property to that person;

(5) a requirement that a property owner submit to periodic inspections of his or her rental property to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and

(6) penalties for violating the ordinance.

(b) For the purposes of this Section, "tenant" means a tenant, subtenant, lessee, sublessee, or other person entitled to possession, occupancy, or benefits of a residential rental property.

(c) Prohibition of waiver or modification. The provisions of any ordinance enacted under this Section may not be waived or modified in any lease or separate agreement.

(d) Exclusions. This Section does not apply to any facility that is licensed or inspected by the State of Illinois or the federal government. However, any ordinance enacted under this Section shall apply to mobile home parks, as defined in Section 2.5 of the Mobile Home Park Act.

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