House Sponsors: PERSICO-NOVAK. Senate Sponsors: KARPIEL Short description: HAZ MAT-RESPONSE-ALL COMM-COST Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Hazardous Material Emergency Response Reimbursement Act. Provides that it is the intent of the General Assembly to alleviate the financial hardship imposed on all (instead of small) communities that respond to emergency incidents involving hazardous materials. Provides that appropriations shall be made from designated sources to the Emergency Response Reimbursement Fund. Provides that if an emergency response agency is not reimbursed by a responsible party within 180 days after the agency incurs costs and without the agency having to institute a civil action against the responsible party, money in the Fund shall be used to reimburse the agency (instead of if the agency is not reimbursed by the responsible party, money in the Fund shall be used to reimburse the agency). Provides that cost recovery from the Fund is limited to the payment of costs incurred by the agency or a contractor hired by the agency and replacement of expended materials (now limited to replacement of expended materials). Removes the limitation on reimbursement that provides that the applicable cost of supplies must exceed 5% of the agency's budget. Provides that upon judgment for the State Fire Marshal in a civil action, the State is entitled to punitive damages. Effective immediately. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Provides that upon judgment for the State Fire Marshal in a civil action to recover costs because of the failure to reimburse the emergency responder or the Emergency Response Reimbursement Fund, the State may (instead of shall) be entitled to punitive damages. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Changes the effective date to January 1, 1999. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Deletes reference to: 430 ILCS 55/4 430 ILCS 55/6 Removes the amendatory provisions concerning appropriations to the Emergency Response Reimbursement Fund, reimbursement to emergency response agencies, and the State's entitlement to punitive damages to restore existing law, except in the limitation to moneys in the Emergency Response Reimbursement Fund being used to reimburse emergency response agencies, provides that the applicable cost of supplies must exceed 2% (instead of 5%) of the emergency response agency's annual budget. Changes the effective date from effective January 1, 1999 to effective immediately. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 90-0467 Last action date: 97-08-17 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 2 SENATE - 1 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status