95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB1740

 

Introduced 2/23/2007, by Rep. Rich Brauer

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Outdoor Lighting Control Act. Provides requirements for shielding or filtration for the listed lamp types, unless the lighting contains an automatic shutoff device and is not used from 11:00 p.m. until sunrise. Exempts fossil fuel light produced directly or indirectly by the combustion of natural gas or other utility-type fossil fuels and those outdoor lighting fixtures installed prior to the effective date of the Act from the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency may identify and designate, as dark areas, areas that are especially suitable for astronomical observations or that provide nocturnal benefits to flora and fauna due to their darkness; and shall submit a proposed plan to preserve areas designated as dark areas.


LRB095 08643 LCT 28826 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1740 LRB095 08643 LCT 28826 b

1     AN ACT concerning safety.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Outdoor Lighting Control Act.
 
6     Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to create
7 standards for outdoor lighting so that its use does not
8 interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of adjacent
9 property, while also minimizing atmospheric light scattering.
 
10     Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
11     "Outdoor light fixtures" means any artificial illuminating
12 devices, outdoor fixtures, lamps, and other devices, permanent
13 or portable, that are used for outdoor illumination. "Outdoor
14 light fixtures" shall include, but not be limited to, devices
15 used for search, spot, or flood lights for:
16         (1) Buildings and structures.
17         (2) Recreational areas.
18         (3) Parking lot lighting.
19         (4) Landscape lighting.
20         (5) Security lighting.
21     "Fully shielded" means that those fixtures so designated
22 shall be shielded in such a manner that light rays emitted from

 

 

 

HB1740 - 2 - LRB095 08643 LCT 28826 b

1 the fixture, either directly from the source of illumination or
2 indirectly from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal
3 plane running through the lowest point of the fixture where
4 light is emitted.
5     "Filtration" means those outdoor light fixtures that have
6 glass, acrylic, or translucent enclosures (quartz glass does
7 not meet this requirement).
 
8     Section 15. Requirements for shielding or filtration. When
9 used for outdoor lighting, shielding, or filtration shall be
10 required for the lamp types as set forth in the following
11 table, unless the lighting contains an automatic shutoff device
12 and is not used from 11:00 p.m. until sunrise:
 
13Fixture Lamp Type Shielded Filtered
14High pressure sodium Fully None
15Metal halide Fully Yes
16Fluorescent Fully Yes
17Quartz Fully None
18Incandescent greater than 150 watts Fully None
19Low pressure sodium NoneNone
20     For the purposes of this Act, quartz lamps shall not be
21 considered an incandescent light source.
 
22     Section 20. Other restrictions.

 

 

HB1740 - 3 - LRB095 08643 LCT 28826 b

1     (a) The installation of mercury vapor fixtures for use as
2 outdoor lighting after the effective date of this Act is
3 prohibited.
4     (b) A recreation facility, public or private, may use
5 outdoor lighting from 11:00 p.m. until sunrise to conclude an
6 event or activity begun before 10:00 p.m.
 
7     Section 25. Exemptions. The following are exempt from this
8 Act:
9         (1) Fossil fuel light produced directly or indirectly
10     by the combustion of natural gas or other utility-type
11     fossil fuels.
12         (2) Unless otherwise regulated, these provisions shall
13     not apply to outdoor lighting fixtures installed prior to
14     the effective date of this Act.
 
15     Section 30. Dark areas.
16     (a) Designation. The Environmental Protection Agency may
17 identify and designate, as dark areas, areas of this State that
18 are especially suitable for astronomical observations or that
19 provide nocturnal benefits to flora and fauna due to their
20 darkness.
21     (b) Proposed plan. The Environmental Protection Agency
22 shall submit a proposed plan to preserve any areas designated
23 as dark areas to the Governor and the General Assembly within
24 18 months of the designation of the area as a dark area.