Bill Text: IL HB3479 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality with 500 or more residents owns, operates, or maintains an ambulance department, then the municipality shall not cease the operation and maintenance of the ambulance department without a referendum. Provides that, if a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of dissolving the ambulance department, then the court shall enter an order discontinuing the ambulance department. Provides that the rights of the employees of the dissolved ambulance department provided by the Personnel Code, any applicable collective bargaining agreements, or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by the amendatory Act. Limits home rule powers.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-03-21 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB3479 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB3479-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3479 Introduced , by Rep. Rick Ryan SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
65 ILCS 5/11-5-8.5 new
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality with 500 or more residents owns, operates, or maintains an ambulance department, then the municipality shall not cease the operation and maintenance of the ambulance department without a referendum. Provides that, if a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of dissolving the ambulance department, then the court shall enter an order discontinuing the ambulance department. Provides that the rights of the employees of the dissolved ambulance department provided by the Personnel Code, any applicable collective bargaining agreements, or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by the amendatory Act. Limits home rule powers.
LRB104 11108 RTM 21190 b
A BILL FOR
HB3479 LRB104 11108 RTM 21190 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 Section 11-5-8.5 as follows:
(65 ILCS 5/11-5-8.5 new)
Sec. 11-5-8.5. Cessation of ambulance services.
(a) If a municipality with 500 or more residents owns,
operates, or maintains an ambulance department under Section
11-5-7, then the municipality shall not cease the operation
and maintenance of the ambulance department without a
referendum. (b) The referendum proposing the dissolution of
the ambulance department shall be conducted in a manner that
is consistent with this Section. The ballot for the referendum
shall be in substantially the following form:
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Shall the (name of ambulance
department) serving the citizens YES
with (list local unit(s) of ---------------------------------
government) cease to provide NO
emergency services and be
dissolved and discontinued?
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HB3479 - 2 - LRB104 11108 RTM 21190 b
(b) If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in
favor of dissolving the ambulance department, then the court
shall enter an order discontinuing the ambulance department.
(c) The rights of the employees of the dissolved ambulance
department provided by the Personnel Code, any applicable
collective bargaining agreements, or under any pension,
retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by this
amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.
(d) A municipality that is a home rule unit may not
dissolve an ambulance department in a manner that is
inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation
under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the
Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule
units of the powers and functions exercised by the State.