99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB3726

 

Introduced , by Rep. David R. Leitch

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Access to Landlocked Graves on Private Property Act. Defines "landlocked grave". Provides that owners of private property on which a landlocked grave is located have a duty to allow ingress and egress to the grave by: (1) family members and descendants of deceased persons buried there; (2) any cemetery plot owner; and (3) any person engaging in genealogy research who has given reasonable notice to the owner of record or to the occupant of the property or both. Provides that a landowner may not erect a wall, fence, or other structure or device that prevents ingress and egress to the grave unless the wall, fence, or other structure or device has a gate or other means by which ingress and egress can be accomplished. Provides that the landowner may designate the frequency of the access, the hours and duration of the access, and the access route if no traditional access route is obviously visible by a view of the property. Provides that the landowner, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, is immune from liability in any civil suit, claim, action, or cause of action arising out of the access granted. Provides that any person entering onto private property to access a landlocked grave is responsible for conducting himself or herself in a manner that does not damage the private lands or the grave and is liable to the owner of the property for any damage caused as a result of his or her access. Provides that a person denied reasonable access may bring an action in the circuit court where the property is located to enjoin the owner of the property from denying the person reasonable ingress and egress to the grave. Provides that in granting relief, the court may: (i) set the frequency of the access and the hours and duration of the access; and (ii) award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the person denied access. Provides that the Act does not apply to any deed or other written instrument that creates or reserves a landlocked grave on private property.


LRB099 08579 HEP 28738 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3726LRB099 08579 HEP 28738 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Access
5to Landlocked Graves on Private Property Act.
 
6    Section 5. Landlocked grave defined. As used in this Act,
7"landlocked grave" means a private burying ground which is
8completely surrounded by privately-owned land and for which no
9public ingress or egress is available.
 
10    Section 10. Access to landlocked graves located on private
11property.
12    (a) Owners of private property on which a landlocked grave
13is located have a duty to allow ingress and egress to the
14landlocked grave by:
15        (1) family members and descendants of deceased persons
16    buried there;
17        (2) any landlocked grave plot owner; and
18        (3) any person engaging in genealogy research who has
19    given reasonable notice to the owner of record or to the
20    occupant of the property or both.
21    A landowner may not erect a wall, fence, or other structure
22or device that prevents ingress and egress to the landlocked

 

 

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1grave unless the wall, fence, or other structure or device has
2a gate or other means by which ingress and egress can be
3accomplished by persons specified in this Section. The
4landowner may designate the frequency of the access, the hours
5and duration of the access, and the access route if no
6traditional access route is obviously visible by a view of the
7property. The landowner, in the absence of gross negligence or
8willful misconduct, is immune from liability in any civil suit,
9claim, action, or cause of action arising out of the access
10granted pursuant to this Section.
11    (b) The right of ingress and egress granted to persons
12specified in subsection (a) of this Section shall be reasonable
13and limited to the purposes of visiting landlocked graves,
14maintaining the landlocked grave, or conducting genealogy
15research. The right of ingress and egress may not be construed
16to provide a right to operate motor vehicles on the property
17for the purpose of accessing a landlocked grave unless there is
18a road or adequate right-of-way that permits access by a motor
19vehicle and the owner has given written permission to use the
20road or right-of-way of necessity.
21    (c) Any person entering onto private property to access a
22landlocked grave is responsible for conducting himself or
23herself in a manner that does not damage the private lands or
24the landlocked grave and is liable to the owner of the property
25for any damage caused as a result of his or her access.
 

 

 

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1    Section 15. Injunctive relief. Any person denied
2reasonable access under the provisions of this Act may bring an
3action in the circuit court where the property is located to
4enjoin the owner of the property from denying the person
5reasonable ingress and egress to the landlocked grave. In
6granting relief, the court may:
7        (1) set the frequency of the access and the hours and
8    duration of the access; and
9        (2) award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to the
10    person denied access.
 
11    Section 20. Applicability. This Act does not apply to any
12deed or other written instrument that creates or reserves a
13landlocked grave on private property.