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.)