605 ILCS 5/9-119.5

(605 ILCS 5/9-119.5)

Sec. 9-119.5. Hay harvesting permit.

(a) The Department may issue a hay harvesting permit authorizing the mowing and harvesting of hay on a specified right-of-way in this State. An owner or owner's designee has priority until July 30 of each year to receive a permit for the portion of right-of-way that is adjacent to the owner's land. After July 30 of each year, a permit may be issued to an applicant that is not the owner of the land adjacent to the right-of-way for a maximum distance of 5 miles each year. A permit issued under this subsection may be valid from July 15 of each year until September 15 of each year, and the Department must include the timeframe that the permit is valid on every permit issued under this subsection. Commencement of harvesting activity notice instructions must be included on every permit under this subsection in accordance with paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this Section. The non-refundable application fee for every permit under this subsection is $40, and all fees collected by the Department shall be deposited into the Road Fund.

(b) An applicant for a permit in subsection (a) must:

(1) sign a release acknowledging that the applicant (i) assumes all risk for the quality of the hay harvested under the permit, (ii) assumes all liability for accidents or injury that results from the activities permitted by the Department, (iii) is liable for any damage to the right-of-way described in paragraphs (5) and (6) of subsection (c), and (iv) understands that the State or any instrumentality thereof assumes no risk or liability for the activities permitted by the Department;

(2) demonstrate proof that a liability insurance policy in the amount of not less than $1,000,000 is in force to cover any accident, damage, or loss that may occur to persons or property as a result of the activities permitted by the Department; and

(3) pay a non-refundable application fee of $40.

(c) The usage of a permit in subsection (a) is subject to the following limitations:

(1) The permittee must give the Department 48 hours notice prior to commencing any activities permitted by the Department;

(2) The permittee must identify the location of noxious weeds pursuant to the Noxious Weed Law. Noxious weeds may be mowed but may not be windrowed or baled;

(3) The permittee may use the permit only during the timeframes specified on the permit;

(4) The permittee must carry a copy of the permit at all times while performing the activities permitted by the Department;

(5) The permittee may use the permit only when soil in the right-of-way is dry enough to prevent rutting or other similar type of damage to the right-of-way; and

(6) The permittee may not alter, damage, or remove any right-of-way markers, land monuments, fences, signs, trees, shrubbery or similar landscape vegetation, or other highway features or structures.

(d) The Department may immediately terminate a permit in subsection (a) issued to a permittee for failure to comply with the use limitations of subsection (c).

(e) The Department or the permittee may cancel the permit at any time upon 3 days written notice.

(f) The Department may promulgate rules for the administration of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 96-415, eff. 8-13-09; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)