MYERS-PARKE-ZICKUS. 720 ILCS 5/Art. 20.5 heading new 720 ILCS 5/20.5-5 new Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of causing a catastrophe. Defines the offense as knowingly causing a catastrophe by explosion, fire, flood, collapse of a building, release of poison, radioactive material, bacteria, virus, or other dangerous and difficult to confine force or substance. Penalty is a Class X felony. Effective immediately. 98-02-06 H FILED WITH CLERK 98-02-06 H ADDED AS A JOINT SPONSOR PARKE 98-02-06 H ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR ZICKUS 98-02-10 H FIRST READING 98-02-10 H REFERRED TO HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE RULES 99-01-12 H SESSION SINE DIE END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Summary