99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB3269
 
Introduced 2/19/2016, by Sen. Wm. Sam McCann
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
430 ILCS 170/15

     Amends the First Informer Broadcasters Act. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency may by rule establish protocols to facilitate first informer access to affected areas.
  


LRB099 19961 MJP 44360 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
SB3269LRB099 19961 MJP 44360 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning safety.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 5. The First Informer Broadcasters Act is amended  
5by changing Section 15 as follows:
 
6    (430 ILCS 170/15)

7    Sec. 15. First informer broadcasters; training and 
8certification.
9    (a) Any Statewide organization, or any member of a 
10Statewide organization, that represents broadcasters, cable 
11television communications, or any other provider that uses 
12emerging technologies may establish a program for training and 
13certifying broadcast engineers and technical personnel as 
14first informer broadcasters. Each program established pursuant 
15to this subsection must:

16        (i) be consistent with federal law and guidelines;
17        (ii) provide training and education concerning 
18    restoring, repairing and resupplying any facilities and 
19    equipment of a broadcaster in an area affected by an 
20    emergency or disaster; and
21        (iii) provide training and education concerning the 
22    personal safety of a first informer broadcaster in an area 
23    affected by an emergency or disaster.
 
 
SB3269- 2 -LRB099 19961 MJP 44360 b

1    (b) To the extent practicable and consistent with not 
2endangering public safety or inhibiting recovery efforts, 
3State and local governmental agencies shall allow a first 
4informer broadcaster access to an area affected by an emergency 
5or disaster for the purpose of restoring, repairing, or 
6resupplying any facility or equipment critical to the ability 
7of a broadcaster to acquire, produce, and transmit essential 
8emergency or disaster-related public information programming, 
9including, without limitation, repairing and maintaining 
10transmitters and generators, and transporting fuel for 
11generators.

12    (c) The Illinois Emergency Management Agency may by rule 
13establish protocols to facilitate first informer access to 
14affected areas under this Section. 
15(Source: P.A. 97-1155, eff. 1-25-13.)