Bill Text: IL HB1863 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Regional Water Commission Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that Municipalities may enter into joint efforts to acquire, develop, and operate a joint water supply, joint water works, or both, through intergovernmental cooperation in a regional water commission. Includes findings of the General Assembly.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-23 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB1863 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HB1863-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 HB1863 Introduced , by Rep. Lawrence Walsh, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 135.5 heading new
65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-1 new
65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-5 new
65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-10 new
Creates the Regional Water Commission Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that Municipalities may enter into joint efforts to acquire, develop, and operate a joint water supply, joint water works, or both, through intergovernmental cooperation in a regional water commission. Includes findings of the General Assembly.
LRB102 13268 AWJ 18612 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
HB1863 LRB102 13268 AWJ 18612 b
AN ACT concerning local government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
adding Division 135.5 to Article 11 as follows:
(65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 135.5 heading new)
Division 135.5. REGIONAL WATER COMMISSION
(65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-1 new)
Sec. 11-135.5-1. References to Division. This Division may
be referred to as the Regional Water Commission Act.
(65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-5 new)
Sec. 11-135.5-5. Findings. The General Assembly finds
that:
(1) It is necessary and in the public interest to help
assure a sufficient and economic supply of a source of
water of suitable quality within those areas of this State
that are dependent on ground water supply from portions of
the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer as well as shallow
aquifers, and where those aquifers are expected not to be
able to provide a sufficient supply of water or water of
suitable quality to one or more municipalities which may

HB1863 - 2 - LRB102 13268 AWJ 18612 b
be located in more than a single county, and where,
because of economic development and population growth and
proximity to large urban centers, the health, safety and
welfare of the residents is threatened by the continuing
reduction in the amount of ground water and quality of
ground water that can be obtained from the aquifers.
(2) Because of a need to provide such municipalities a
continuing, available, and adequate source and supply of
water on an economically viable basis, it is necessary and
desirable to establish a different structure for affected
municipalities to jointly establish an alternative source
of water supply and the necessary waterworks and other
supporting facilities as needed to provide a reliable,
sustainable, and high-quality source of water on a
cost-effective basis.
(3) It is not the intent of the General Assembly to
interfere with the structure and operation of other water
commissions and county water commissions already existing
around the State as of the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly or to
interfere with the power of municipalities to provide for
the retail distribution of water to its residents or the
customers of its water systems.
(4) It is in the State's best interest to provide for a
sufficient and economic supply of water to such areas.

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(65 ILCS 5/11-135.5-10 new)
Sec. 11-135.5-10. Regional water commissions.
Municipalities may enter into joint efforts to acquire,
develop, and operate a joint water supply, joint water works,
or both, through intergovernmental cooperation in a regional
water commission as provided in this Division.