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92_SB1537
LRB9210763DHmgA
1 AN ACT in relation to public safety.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Emergency Evacuation Plan for People With Disabilities Act.
6 Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7 (1) "High rise structure" means a new or existing
8 structure over 80 feet above grade that acts as a
9 commercial office, residential, or hotel structure.
10 (2) "Persons with disabilities" means individuals
11 with:
12 (i) varying degrees of mobility impairments,
13 ranging from walker users to wheelchair users;
14 (ii) visual impairments that may require
15 special assistance in learning the emergency
16 evacuation routes or assistance in proceeding down
17 exit stairs;
18 (iii) hearing impairments that may require
19 modification of the standard audible alarms;
20 (iv) temporary impairments due to recovery
21 from serious medical conditions such as stroke,
22 traumatic injuries such as a broken leg or a
23 sprained ankle, or surgeries such as a knee or hip
24 replacement;
25 (v) medical conditions such as respiratory
26 disorders or pregnancy under which they may tire
27 easily, need special assistance, or need more time
28 to evacuate; or
29 (vi) mental impairments under which they may
30 become confused during an emergency, lose their
31 sense of direction, or require emergency directions
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1 that are broken down into simplified steps.
2 (3) "Buddy system" means an arrangement under which an
3 employee, tenant, or other occupant of a high rise structure
4 is designated as a "buddy" and assigned to assist a person in
5 need of assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation.
6 Section 10. Emergency evacuation plans.
7 (a) An emergency evacuation plan must be in place for
8 every high rise structure.
9 (b) All emergency evacuation plans must provide for the
10 safe and timely evacuation of people with disabilities and
11 shall include the following elements:
12 (1) An emergency evacuation elevator shall be
13 designated for the evacuation of people with disabilities
14 who cannot use the stairs. Upon the declaration of an
15 emergency evacuation, people with disabilities shall be
16 notified to assemble at the designated emergency
17 evacuation elevator.
18 (2) An alternate fire safe assembly site and
19 stairwells shall be designated for situations in which
20 elevators are inoperable. Building owners shall make
21 assistive technology available in the designated
22 stairwells. Security personnel and safety wardens on each
23 floor shall be trained and certified in the proper use of
24 the assistive technology. As used in this Section,
25 "assistive technology" means devices that aid the egress
26 of a person with disabilities, including but not limited
27 to the egress of a person who uses a wheelchair or
28 scooter.
29 In a residential building, a safety warden may be a
30 resident of the building. In a non-residential building,
31 some or all safety wardens may be employees of that
32 building. If the owner of a non-residential building
33 chooses not to supply one or more safety wardens, the
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1 building's tenants must supply safety wardens.
2 (3) A buddy system shall be developed. At least
3 one but preferably 2 employees, tenants, or occupants of
4 the high rise structure shall be designated as buddies to
5 assist each person with disabilities in the event of an
6 emergency. If the person with disabilities cannot locate
7 his or her buddy, the person shall alert the safety
8 warden on the floor. In an emergency evacuation after
9 normal working hours, the person with disabilities shall
10 alert the security office or emergency control center for
11 the structure. Practice sessions shall be held and
12 buddies shall be trained on proper techniques.
13 (c) Emergency or security personnel must keep up-to-date
14 copies of the emergency evacuation plan in a place designated
15 by the fire department or other agency designated by the
16 municipality in which the structure is located. The plan
17 shall include:
18 (1) procedures for emergency evacuation;
19 (2) designated emergency evacuation elevator and
20 stairwell areas;
21 (3) a list of safety wardens for each floor; and
22 (4) a list, which shall be updated monthly, of
23 people with disabilities, including the floor on which
24 each person is located and each person's form of
25 assistance needed.
26 (d) Emergency evacuation drills shall be conducted at
27 least 4 times a year and shall be observed by representatives
28 of the municipal fire department. If a drill is carried out
29 improperly, it shall be repeated.
30 Section 15. Hotels.
31 (a) This Section applies to hotels that are high rise
32 structures.
33 (b) At registration, all guests shall be:
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1 (i) asked about special needs in the event of
2 an emergency evacuation, which shall be noted on the
3 lists prepared under this Section;
4 (ii) advised of emergency evacuation plans;
5 and
6 (iii) given written emergency evacuation
7 instructions.
8 (c) The hotel owner shall designate lower floors for
9 people who identify themselves as needing assistance in the
10 event of an emergency and shall offer those persons the
11 opportunity to occupy rooms on the designated floors. Twice
12 each day, the management of the hotel shall provide an
13 updated list to the hotel's security desk and other
14 designated emergency personnel. The list shall include people
15 with disabilities who are guests, the name of each guest, the
16 guest's room number, and the guest's need for assistance in
17 the event of an emergency.
18 (d) The security desk shall maintain a list of all
19 personnel who are people with disabilities and their assigned
20 work areas and a copy of the evacuation plan.
21 (e) Designated hotel personnel shall be trained in the
22 proper use of assistive technology. Assistive technology
23 shall be available on every floor where people with
24 disabilities are expected to be guests.
25 (f) Emergency evacuation drills shall be conducted at
26 least 4 times a year and shall be observed by representatives
27 of the municipal fire department. If a drill is carried out
28 improperly, it shall be repeated.
29 Section 20. Rulemaking and implementation. The Illinois
30 Emergency Management Agency shall adopt rules for
31 implementing this Act.
32 Section 905. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
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1 Section 8.26 as follows:
2 (30 ILCS 805/8.26 new)
3 Sec. 8.26. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6
4 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required
5 for the implementation of any mandate created by this
6 amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly.
7 Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8 becoming law.