SB3471sam001 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Darin M. LaHood

Filed: 3/20/2014

09800SB3471sam001 LRB098 19819 MLW 57039 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3471

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3471 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Illinois Highway Code is amended by changing Sections 6-301, 6-303, 6-305, 6-307, 6-308, 6-309, 6-311, 6-312, 6-313, 6-314, 6-315a, 6-319, and 6-327 as follows:

(605 ILCS 5/6-301) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-301)

Sec. 6-301. All township and district roads established under this Division of this Code shall be not less than 40 feet in width, except as provided in Section 6-327.

Highway commissioners in single township road districts may annually determine that certain roads in the district are vital to the general benefit of the district and designate them all or in part as arterial district roads. The designation must be approved by the county superintendent of highways, after notice and hearing, prior to the commissioners' recording the roads with the county superintendent of highways. No road or portion thereof designated as arterial shall be closed, or vacated, or permanently posted at a reduced weight limit without written approval of the county despite the road's inclusion in any annexation or incorporation proceedings provided for in the Illinois Municipal Code. This paragraph does not apply to roads in home rule units of government nor the roads included in our annexation proceeding by home rule units of governments.

This Division of this Code shall not apply to proceedings for laying out, widening, altering or vacating streets in municipalities, except as provided in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 86-1229.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-303) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-303)

Sec. 6-303. Existing township and district roads may be widened, altered, or vacated, or permanently posted at a reduced weight limit and new township and district roads may be laid out in the manner provided in this Division of this Code. Any number of voters not less than 5% of the legal voters, or 12 legal voters, whichever is less, residing in any road district may file a petition with the highway commissioner of such district, praying for the laying out, widening, altering or vacation of such roads. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in counties with a population between 125,000 and 130,000, a petition for laying out, widening, altering, or vacating roads in a subdivision established under a county subdivision ordinance, where the final plat of the subdivision was approved by the county board, shall be filed with the county board unless the plat was filed with the county recorder at least 15 years before the petition is filed.

However, where the laying out, widening, altering, or vacating, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of a township or district road is required by the construction, operation, or maintenance of a State highway, the Department, in lieu of a petition may file a certificate, signed by the Secretary of the Department, or his duly authorized agent, setting forth the necessity for the laying out, widening, altering, or vacating, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of such roads. The procedure upon the filing of such certificate shall be the same as, and conform to, the procedure followed upon the filing of a petition. Such petition or certificate shall set forth a description of the road and what part is to be widened, altered, or vacated, or permanently posted at a reduced weight limit, and if for a new road the names of the owners of lands, if known, and if not known it shall so state, over which the road is to pass, the points at or near which it is to terminate. When the general course of relocated roads shall render the same practicable, such relocated roads shall be laid out on section lines, or regular divisional lines subdividing a section or sections.

The highway commissioner, in lieu of a petition, may file a certificate with district clerk and county clerk to vacate or permanently post at a reduced weight limit roads. The procedure upon filing of such certificate shall be the same as, and conform to, the procedure followed upon the filing of a petition.

(Source: P.A. 87-1121.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-305) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-305)

Sec. 6-305. Whenever the highway commissioner receives a certificate from the Department as provided in Section 6-303 of this Act, or a petition praying for the laying out, widening, altering, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of a township or district road, he shall fix a time when and a place where he will examine the route of such township or district road and hear reasons for or against the laying out, widening, altering, or vacating, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit. He shall give at least 10 days' written notice of the time and place of such examination and hearing to the county superintendent of highways and to any municipality which is affected by such action occurring within its planning area, and by publication in at least one newspaper published in the township or district or, in the absence of such published newspaper, in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the township or district or, in the absence of such generally circulated newspaper, by posting notices in 5 of the most public places in the district in the vicinity of the road to be laid out, widened, altered, or vacated, or permanently posted at a reduced weight limit. The commissioner may, by written notice to the county superintendent of highways and any affected municipality, and by public announcement and by the posting of a notice at the time and place named for the first hearing, adjourn such hearing from time to time, but not for a longer period than 10 days. At such meeting, or such adjourned meeting the commissioner shall decide and publicly announce whether he will grant or refuse the prayer of the petition, and shall endorse upon or annex to the petition a brief memorandum of such decision. The memorandum shall be signed by the commissioner and filed within 5 days thereafter in the office of the district clerk. The commissioner shall also send a copy of the memorandum to the county superintendent of highways and any affected municipality, and, in cases where action is initiated as the result of a Department certificate, a copy of the memorandum to the Department.

No road shall be laid out, widened, altered, or vacated, or permanently posted at a reduced weight limit unless the highway commissioner finds that such alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit is in the public and economic interest and further finds that any person residing or owning land within 2 miles of any portion of the road proposed to be altered, or vacated, or permanently posted at a reduced weight limit shall still have reasonable access (but not necessarily a direct route) by way of a motor vehicle or other portable farm machinery commonly used in the area to farm land he owns or operates and to community and trade centers after the road is altered or vacated. Such findings shall be contained in the memorandum of decision signed by the highway commissioner.

A final hearing may be held at the time of the preliminary or adjourned meeting if all damages have been released, all surveys and plats are made and there are no objectors. If there are objectors, the final hearing shall be held as provided for in Section 6-311.

(Source: P.A. 85-1421.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-307) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-307)

Sec. 6-307. If the highway commissioner, or upon appeal from his decision, the county superintendent of highways, shall enter a preliminary order for the laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of a township or district road, the highway commissioner or county superintendent of highways, as the case may be, shall cause a survey and plat of such township or district road to be made by a competent surveyor who shall report such survey and plat to the highway commissioner or county superintendent, as the case may be, giving the courses and distances and specifying the land over which such road is to pass; in which he may make such changes between the termini of the road described in the petition, as the convenience and interest of the public in his judgment may require. Upon the petition of 12 land owners residing in the district where the road is situated, it shall be the duty of the highway commissioner or county superintendent, as the case may be, within a reasonable time to employ a competent surveyor and have any road designated in such petition to be once resurveyed.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-308) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-308)

Sec. 6-308. Whenever the highway commissioner of any road district or upon appeal from his decision, the county superintendent of highways has entered a preliminary order for the laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of a township or district road, and a survey therefor has been completed as hereinbefore provided, proceedings shall next be taken to fix the damages which will be sustained by the adjoining land owners by reason of such laying out, widening, altering, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit. In case such preliminary order was entered by the highway commissioner, he shall act for the district in all matters relating to the fixing of damages, as well as the surveying of such road. But in case such order was entered by the county superintendent of highways on appeal, as aforesaid, the county superintendent shall represent the district in such matters.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-309) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-309)

Sec. 6-309. The damages sustained by the owner or owners of land by reason of the laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of a township or district road, may be agreed upon by the owners of such lands, if competent to contract, and the highway commissioner or county superintendent, as the case may be. Such damages may also be released by such owners, and in such case the agreement or release shall be in writing, the same shall be filed and recorded with the copy of the order laying out, widening, altering, or vacating, or permanently posting at a reduced weight limit such road in the office of the district clerk, and shall be a perpetual bar against such owners, their grantees and assigns for all further claims for such damages.

In case the highway commissioner or the county superintendent, as the case may be, acting for the road district, is unable to agree with the owner or owners of the land necessary for the laying out, widening or alteration of such road on the compensation to be paid, the highway commissioner, or the county superintendent of highways, as the case may be, may in the name of the road district, enter condemnation proceedings to procure such land, in the same manner as near as may be, as provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-311) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-311)

Sec. 6-311. Within 20 days after the damages likely to be sustained by reason of the proposed laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of any township or district road have been finally ascertained, either by agreement of the parties or by condemnation proceedings, or within 20 days after such damages may have been released, the highway commissioner or the county superintendent of highways, as the case may be, shall hold a public hearing at which he shall hear and consider reasons for or against the proposed laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of such road, and at which time and place he shall publicly announce his final decision relative thereto. The highway commissioner or the county superintendent of highways, as the case may be, shall give public notice of such public hearing by publication in at least one newspaper published in the township or district or, in the absence of such published newspaper, in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the township or district or, in the absence of such generally circulated newspaper at the time prescribed for notice, by posting notices thereof in at least 5 of the most public places in the district in the vicinity of the road for at least 5 days prior thereto. A written notice shall be mailed or delivered to all owners of the property adjacent to the road which is the subject of the hearing. A written notice may be mailed or delivered to every person known to have been present at the hearings conducted pursuant to Sections 6-305 and 6-306 of this Act and to every other person who has requested such notice.

At such time and place the highway commissioner, if he is the official conducting the hearing, shall determine the advisability of such proposed laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of such road, shall make an order for the same and shall within 5 days thereafter file such order in the office of the district clerk.

At such time and place the county superintendent of highways, if he is the official conducting the hearing, shall:

(a) Be empowered to administer oaths;

(b) Permit the appearance in person or by counsel, the introduction of evidence and the cross examination of witnesses by not less than 3 of the qualified petitioners, not less than 3 other legal voters residing within 2 miles of any portion of such road, and not less than 3 other persons owning land operated as a farm and wholly or partially situated within 2 miles of any portion of such road, except that no such permission shall extend to a person other than a petitioner unless it appears that he will be directly and adversely affected by the change requested in the petition;

(c) Provide that every person offering testimony shall testify under oath or affirmation and shall be subject to cross examination, except that the technical rules of evidence governing proceedings in circuit courts are inapplicable in such hearing;

(d) Secure and retain a stenographic transcript of the proceedings, including all evidence offered or introduced at the hearing; and

(e) Determine the advisability of such proposed laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of such road, shall make an order for the same and shall within 5 days thereafter file such final order in the office of the district clerk.

Every order entered and filed pursuant to this Section in approval of the change requested in the petition shall contain an express finding that such alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of the township or district road will be in the public and economic interest and will not deprive residents or owners of proximate land of reasonable access elsewhere as specified in Section 6-305 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 83-1362.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-312) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-312)

Sec. 6-312. In case such final order was entered by the highway commissioner as provided in Section 6-311 of this Code finally determining the advisability of such proposed laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of any township or district road, any 3 qualified petitioners who may have signed the petition for such proposed laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit, or any 3 legal voters residing within 2 miles of any portion of such road, or any 3 other persons owning land operated as a farm within 2 miles of any portion of such road, may (if either they are qualified petitioners or they both have raised objections at the hearing pursuant to Section 6-311 of this Act and will be directly and adversely affected by such proposed laying out, widening, alteration or vacation) appeal to the county superintendent of highways by filing a notice of such appeal in the office of the district clerk within 10 days of the date of filing the decision appealed from. Thereupon such clerk shall at once transmit all papers relating to such proposed laying out, widening, altering, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of such road to the county superintendent of highways, who shall within 20 days after the receipt of the same, hold a public hearing within such district to finally determine upon the laying out, widening, altering, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of such road. Such hearing shall be upon such notice and conducted in like manner as the hearing before the highway commissioner relative to such final decision and from which appeal has been taken, except that the powers and duties of the county superintendent of highways in conducting such hearing and in determining and filing his final order shall be identical to the powers and duties of such superintendent prescribed by Section 6-311 of this Act. Judicial review may be pursued after such final order of the county superintendent of highways relative to the alteration or vacation of such roads in the manner provided in Section 6-315a of this Division.

(Source: Laws 1963, p. 3216.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-313) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-313)

Sec. 6-313. In case the highway commissioner, or upon appeal from his decision, the county superintendent of highways, shall finally determine against the advisability of the proposed laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of such township or district road, such order shall have the effect to annul and revoke all proceedings and assessments, releases and agreements in respect to damages growing out of the proceedings upon the petition aforesaid. In case the commissioner or county superintendent affirms such prior proceedings, he shall make an order to be signed by him, declaring such road to be laid out, widened, altered, or vacated, or permanently posted at a reduced weight limit as a public highway and which order shall contain or have annexed thereto a definite description of the line of such road, together with the plat thereof. The highway commissioner or county superintendent, as the case may be, shall within 5 days from the date of his final order, cause the same, together with the report of the surveyor, the petition and the releases, agreements or assessments in respect to damages, to be deposited and filed in the office of the district clerk; who shall note upon such order the date of such filing. It shall be the duty of such clerk to record such order, together with the plat of the surveyor in a proper book to be kept for that purpose.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-314) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-314)

Sec. 6-314. After it has been finally determined that a township or district road shall be laid out, widened, altered, or vacated, or permanently posted at a reduced weight limit, either by the highway commissioner, or upon appeal, by the county superintendent of highways, all proceedings subsequent thereto on behalf of the district shall be taken by the highway commissioner thereof as provided in this division of this Code. And such highway commissioner in such cases is hereby authorized to resort to all necessary proceedings not inconsistent with the provisions of this Code to secure the laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of any such road.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-315a) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-315a)

Sec. 6-315a. Any 3 persons who, at a hearing conducted by the county superintendent of highways pursuant to Section 6-306, 6-311 or 6-312 of this Act, have been permitted to appear, in person or by counsel, and to introduce evidence and cross examine witnesses, may (if they are qualified petitioners, or have raised objections at a hearing pursuant to Section 6-311 or 6-312 of this Act and will be directly and adversely affected by such proposed alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit) obtain judicial review of such final administrative decision of the superintendent (meaning his final order denying the petition after a hearing pursuant to Section 6-306, or granting or denying the petition after a hearing pursuant to Section 6-311 or 6-312, to be filed in the office of the district clerk after the hearing) pursuant to the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof, and any rules adopted pursuant thereto. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Such judicial review proceeding shall be given precedence over all other civil cases, except cases arising under the Workers' Compensation Act and the Unemployment Insurance Act.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-319) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-319)

Sec. 6-319.

Township and district roads may be laid out, widened, altered or vacated on county or district lines, or from one district to another, and in case a railroad right-of-way or stream of water joins the boundary line of such county or district line, then along the line of such railroad right-of-way or stream of water, in the same manner as other township and district roads, except that in such cases, a copy of the petition shall be posted in and presented to the highway commissioners of each district interested; such petition to be as in other cases, and signed by not less than 5% of the legal voters, or 12 legal voters, whichever is less, residing in the district or county. Whereupon the highway commissioners of the several districts shall meet and act together, in the same time and manner as in other cases, in considering the petition, viewing the premises, adjusting damages, and making all orders in reference to such proposed road, widening, alteration or vacation, and a copy of all final orders and plats and papers shall be filed and recorded in each of the counties and districts interested. In case the commissioners are unable to agree, the county superintendent of highways shall act as arbitrator between them in case the districts shall lie within the same county, and if in different counties the Department or any person designated by it, shall so act. All appeals hereinbefore provided for in this Division of this Code may likewise be taken to the county superintendent of highways, or in case the districts shall lie in 2 or more counties, to the Department.

In lieu of petitions, the highway commissioners of all road districts interested may file a certificate to vacate or permanently post at a reduced weight limit roads with the respective county clerks and with the respective township or district clerks, as the case may be. The procedure upon the filing of such certificates shall be the same as, and conform to, the procedure followed upon the filing of a petition.

(Source: P.A. 78-543.)

(605 ILCS 5/6-327) (from Ch. 121, par. 6-327)

Sec. 6-327. Township and district roads for private and public use of the widths of 50 feet or less may be laid out from one or more dwellings or plantations to any public road, or from one public road to another, or from one or more lots of land to a public road or from one or more lots of land to a public waterway, on petition to the highway commissioner by any person directly interested. Upon receiving such petition, proceedings shall be had respecting the laying out of such road as in the case of other township and district roads. In case the highway commissioner or upon appeal, the county superintendent of highways, shall enter a preliminary order for the laying out of such road, such highway officer or officers making such preliminary order shall, if possible, and the parties are competent to contract, agree upon the total amount of damages, together with the portion thereof to be paid by the district, if any, as well as by each of the land owners benefited by such road. In case such damages cannot be determined or apportioned by agreement, the same shall be fixed as in the case of other township and district roads. The amount of such damages shall be paid by the person benefited thereby, to the extent and in proportion that they are benefited as determined and declared by the court. The remainder of the amount of damages, over and above that to be paid by the parties aforesaid, if any, shall be paid by the district as in other cases. The amount of damages to be paid by individuals shall be paid to the parties entitled thereto, before the road shall be opened for use. In all other respects the provisions of this Division of this Code relative to the opening, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of other township and district roads shall be applicable also to the laying out, widening, alteration, or vacation, or permanent posting at a reduced weight limit of roads for private and public use: Provided that the cost of the construction of the roadway, bridges and culverts and the maintenance thereof shall be borne by the parties paying for such road.

(Source: Laws 1963, p. 2045.)

Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 15-316 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/15-316) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-316)

Sec. 15-316. When the Department or local authority may restrict right to use highways.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (g), local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction may by ordinance or resolution prohibit the operation of vehicles upon any such highway or impose restrictions as to the weight of vehicles to be operated upon any such highway, for a total period of not to exceed 90 days in any one calendar year, whenever any said highway by reason of deterioration, rain, snow, or other climate conditions will be seriously damaged or destroyed unless the use of vehicles thereon is prohibited or the permissible weights thereof reduced.

(b) The local authority enacting any such ordinance or resolution shall erect or cause to be erected and maintained signs designating the provision of the ordinance or resolution at each end of that portion of any highway affected thereby, and the ordinance or resolution shall not be effective unless and until such signs are erected and maintained.

(c) Local authorities, with the exception of road districts as provided for in the Illinois Highway Code, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction may also, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit the operation of trucks or other commercial vehicles, or may impose limitations as the weight thereof, on designated highways, which prohibitions and limitations shall be designated by appropriate signs placed on such highways.

(c-1) (Blank).

(c-5) Highway commissioners, with respect to roads under their jurisdiction, shall not permanently post a road or portion thereof at a reduced weight limit except in accordance with Division 3 of Article 6 of the Illinois Highway Code.

(d) The Department shall likewise have authority as hereinbefore granted to local authorities to determine by resolution and to impose restrictions as to the weight of vehicles operated upon any highway under the jurisdiction of said department, and such restrictions shall be effective when signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the highway or portion of any highway affected by such resolution.

(d-1) (Blank).

(d-2) (Blank).

(e) When any vehicle is operated in violation of this Section, the owner or driver of the vehicle shall be deemed guilty of a violation and either the owner or the driver of the vehicle may be prosecuted for the violation. Any person, firm, or corporation convicted of violating this Section shall be fined $50 for any weight exceeding the posted limit up to the axle or gross weight limit allowed a vehicle as provided for in subsections (a) or (b) of Section 15-111 and $75 per every 500 pounds or fraction thereof for any weight exceeding that which is provided for in subsections (a) or (b) of Section 15-111.

(f) A municipality is authorized to enforce a county weight limit ordinance applying to county highways within its corporate limits and is entitled to the proceeds of any fines collected from the enforcement.

(g) An ordinance or resolution enacted by a county or township pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section shall not apply to cargo tank vehicles with two or three permanent axles when delivering propane for emergency heating purposes if the cargo tank is loaded at no more than 50 percent capacity, the gross vehicle weight of the vehicle does not exceed 32,000 pounds, and the driver of the cargo tank vehicle notifies the appropriate agency or agencies with jurisdiction over the highway before driving the vehicle on the highway pursuant to this subsection. The cargo tank vehicle must have an operating gauge on the cargo tank which indicates the amount of propane as a percent of capacity of the cargo tank. The cargo tank must have the capacity displayed on the cargo tank, or documentation of the capacity of the cargo tank must be available in the vehicle. For the purposes of this subsection, propane weighs 4.2 pounds per gallon. This subsection does not apply to municipalities. Nothing in this subsection shall allow cargo tank vehicles to cross bridges with posted weight restrictions if the vehicle exceeds the posted weight limit.

(Source: P.A. 96-1337, eff. 1-1-11.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".