102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0418
 
Introduced 2/8/2021, by Rep. Sam Yingling
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
415 ILCS 5/52.10 new

     Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that no person shall knowingly release or cause or organize the release of balloons into the air unless the balloons are (1) used by an institution of higher education or a governmental agency, or pursuant to a governmental contract, for bona fide scientific or meteorological purposes or (2) released indoors and remain indoors. Provides that persons who violate the amendatory Act's provisions shall be subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each offense, and that the release of 50 balloons or fewer at one time is a single offense.

Effective January 1, 2022.
  


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
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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 Environmental Protection Act is amended  by 
5adding Section 52.10 as follows:
 
6    (415 ILCS 5/52.10 new)
7    Sec. 52.10. Release of balloons.
8    (a) In this Section:
9    "Balloon" means any inflatable object manufactured from 
10plastic, latex, rubber, or mylar that is filled with a 
11lighter-than-air gas, such as helium. "Balloon" does not 
12include hot air balloons used to carry human passengers. 
13    "Institution of higher education" means a nonpublic 
14institution of higher education or a public institution of 
15higher education, as those terms are defined in Section 2 of 
16the Higher Education Cooperation Act. 
17    (b) No person shall knowingly release or cause or organize 
18the release of balloons into the air.
19    (c) This Section does not apply to the following:
20        (1) Balloons used by an institution of higher 
21    education or a governmental agency, or pursuant to a 
22    governmental contract, for bona fide scientific or 
23    meteorological purposes.
 
 
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1        (2) Balloons that are released indoors and remain 
2    indoors.
3    (d) Any person who violates this Section shall be subject 
4to a civil penalty of $500 for each offense. The release of 50 
5balloons or fewer at one time is a single offense. 
 
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
71, 2022.