Bill Text: IL SB1840 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Amends the Park District Code. Provides that a park district may levy and collect annually a tax for maintaining a police system, for implementing and maintaining public safety and security measures, or both (currently, only for maintaining a police system) within the parks, playgrounds, and other facilities maintained by the district. Defines "public safety and security measures". Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-30 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0235 [SB1840 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB1840-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 103-0235
SB1840 Enrolled LRB103 05269 AWJ 50287 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 Park District Code is amended by changing
Section 5-9 as follows:
(70 ILCS 1205/5-9) (from Ch. 105, par. 5-9)
Sec. 5-9. Any park district may levy and collect annually,
a tax of not to exceed .025 per cent of the value, as equalized
or assessed by the Department of Revenue of all taxable
property in the district for the purpose of organizing and
maintaining a police system, for implementing and maintaining
public safety and security measures, or both within the parks
and playgrounds maintained by the district. The tax shall be
levied and collected in the same manner as the general taxes
for the district. This tax shall be in addition to all other
taxes authorized by law to be levied and collected in the
district and shall not be included within any limitation of
rate contained in this Code or any other law, but shall be
excluded therefrom and be in addition thereto and in excess
thereof.
The proceeds of the tax authorized by this Section shall
be paid to the treasurer of the district and kept in a fund to
be known as the police and public safety and security fund.

This fund shall be used for the organization and maintaining
of a police system including the hiring of a regular policeman
or police force for the purpose of policing the parks and
playgrounds maintained within the district or for public
safety and security measures.
Prior to levy and collection of such tax, the park
districts shall adopt a resolution that it shall levy and
collect such tax, and, within 15 days after adopting the
resolution, it shall be published once in a newspaper
published and having a general circulation in the park
district, or, if there is no such newspaper, then in some
newspaper having a general circulation in the county wherein
such district or the greater or greatest portion in area of
said district lies, or, if there be no such newspaper, copies
of the ordinance shall be posted in at least three public
places in the district. The publication or posting of the
resolution shall include a notice of (1) the specific number
of voters required to sign a petition requesting that the
question of the adoption of the resolution be submitted to the
electors of the district; (2) the time in which the petition
must be filed; and (3) the date of the prospective referendum.
The Secretary of the governing board of the park district
shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting
one.
If within this 30 day period a petition is filed, signed by
electors of the district numbering 10% or more of the

registered voters of the district, asking that the question of
levying and collecting such tax be submitted to the electors
of the district, the board shall certify the question to the
proper election officials, who shall submit that question at
an election in which all the electors of the district may vote.
If no such valid petition is filed with the secretary of the
district within 30 days after the publication or posting of
the resolution, then the park district shall be authorized to
levy and collect such tax. Notice of such referendum shall be
given and such referendum shall be conducted in the manner
provided by the general election law.
The proposition shall be in substantially the following
form:
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Shall the.... Park District be authorized
and empowered to levy and collect a tax of YES
.... per cent for the purpose of police ---------------
programs, public safety and security measures, NO
or both as provided in Section 5-9 of
the Park District Code?
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If a majority of the voters of such district voting
thereon vote for the levy and collection of the tax provided
for, such district shall be authorized and empowered to levy
and collect such tax annually thereafter for a police system,
public safety and security measures, or both. If the park

district has police officers, the police officers must
complete if the district participates in the training program
established under the Illinois Police Training Act. The
foregoing limitations upon tax rates may be increased or
decreased according to the referendum provisions of the
General Revenue Law of the State of Illinois.
If a majority of voters of a park district have approved a
proposition under this Section for "police programs" prior to
the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
Assembly, the levy approved may also be used for public safety
and security measures.
As used in this Section, "public safety and security
measures" includes, but is not limited to, security personnel,
special-events staff, safety audits, safety drills,
active-shooter training or similar training, and security
improvements or safety-related upgrades to buildings, grounds,
or other facilities, such as security lighting, video cameras,
metal detectors, and emergency call boxes.
(Source: P.A. 87-767.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.