Public Act 095-0020
 		





HB0033 Enrolled
LRB095 03557 DRH 23561 b






    AN ACT concerning transportation.

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

 
    Section 5. The Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act is amended  by 
adding Section 23b as follows:
 
    (615 ILCS 5/23b  new)
    Sec. 23b. Dams; signs and buoys.
    (a) The Department of Natural Resources shall establish 
specifications for signs and devices that provide warnings of 
the presence of dams for persons using the public waters of the 
State.  The Department shall establish such specifications 
pursuant to administrative rule.
    (b)  For dams located in public waters and that are not 
subject to federal regulation regarding safety standards, the 
Department of Natural Resources shall examine each dam to 
determine hazards that may exist at each dam.
    (c) The Department of Natural Resources shall, after 
conducting the examination required under subsection (b) of 
this Section, submit administrative rules setting forth 
appropriate safety devices to be required at each dam.
    (d)  The Department of Natural Resources shall be authorized 
to designate enforceable exclusion zones around dams pursuant 
to administrative rule.  Violation of such exclusion zones shall 
constitute a Class A misdemeanor.
    (e) Except for willful and wanton misconduct, neither the 
Department of Natural Resources nor employees or agents of the 
Department shall be liable for damages, injuries, or deaths 
occurring at dams located in public waters by reason of the 
Department's regulation thereof pursuant to this Section.  
Nothing in this Act shall relieve an owner or operator of a dam 
from the legal duties, obligations, and liabilities arising 
from ownership or operation.

 

    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.





Effective Date:  8/2/2007