Public Act 0522 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1042 Enrolled LRB098 05337 HEP 35371 b

Public Act 098-0522

AN ACT concerning civil law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act is amended by changing Sections 2, 4, 6, and 7 as follows:

(745 ILCS 65/2) (from Ch. 70, par. 32)

Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Land" includes roads, land, water, watercourses, private ways and buildings, structures, and machinery or equipment when attached to the realty, but does not include residential buildings or residential property.

(b) "Owner" includes the possessor of any interest in land, whether it be a tenant, lessee, occupant, the State of Illinois and its political subdivisions, or person in control of the premises.

(c) "Recreational or conservation purpose" means:

(1) entry onto the land of another to conduct hunting or recreational shooting or a combination thereof or any activity solely related to the aforesaid hunting or recreational shooting; or .

(2) entry by the general public onto the land of another for any activity undertaken for conservation, resource management, educational, or outdoor recreational use.

(d) "Charge" means an admission fee for permission to go upon the land, but does not include: the sharing of game, fish or other products of recreational use; or benefits to or arising from the recreational use; or contributions in kind, services or cash made for the purpose of properly conserving the land.

(e) "Person" includes any person, regardless of age, maturity, or experience, who enters upon or uses land for recreational purposes.

(f) "Invites", for the purposes of this Act, means the words or conduct of the owner would lead a reasonable person to believe that the owner desires the particular person to enter the land to the exclusion of the general public. No economic interest on the part of the owner is required.

(g) "Permits", for the purposes of this Act, means the words or conduct of the owner would lead a reasonable person to believe that the owner is willing to allow the general public to enter the land. The words or conduct of the owner inviting (i) the general public to enter the land or (ii) particular persons to enter the land for a recreational or conservation purpose as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this Section shall be construed as "permits" for purposes of this Act.

The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly apply only to causes of action accruing on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 94-625, eff. 8-18-05.)

(745 ILCS 65/4) (from Ch. 70, par. 34)

Sec. 4. Except as specifically recognized by or provided in Section 6 of this Act, an owner of land who either directly or indirectly invites or permits without charge any person to use such property for recreational or conservation purposes does not thereby:

(a) Extend any assurance that the premises are safe for any purpose.

(b) (Blank). Confer upon such person the legal status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed.

(c) Assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property caused by an act or omission of such person or any other person who enters upon the land.

(d) Assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to such person or property caused by any natural or artificial condition, structure or personal property on the premises.

The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly apply only to causes of action accruing on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 86-414.)

(745 ILCS 65/6) (from Ch. 70, par. 36)

Sec. 6. Nothing in this Act limits in any way any liability which otherwise exists:

(a) For willful and wanton failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity.

(b) For injury suffered in any case where the owner of land invites, as defined in subsection (f) of Section 2 of this Act, or charges the person or persons who enter or go on the land for the recreational use thereof, except that in the case of land leased to the State or a subdivision thereof, any consideration received by the owner for such lease is not a charge within the meaning of this Section.

The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly apply only to causes of action accruing on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 85-959.)

(745 ILCS 65/7) (from Ch. 70, par. 37)

Sec. 7. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to:

(a) (Blank). Create a duty of care or ground of liability for injury to persons or property.

(b) Relieve any person using the land of another for recreational purposes from any obligation which he may have in the absence of this Act to exercise care in his use of such land and in his activities thereon, or from the legal consequences of failure to employ such care.

The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly apply only to causes of action accruing on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.

(Source: Laws 1965, p. 2263.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2014.

Effective Date: 1/1/2014