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1 AN ACT concerning local government.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section
5 5-1192 as follows:
6 (55 ILCS 5/5-1192 new)
7 Sec. 5-1192. Web-based signature. A county may allow a
8 person to sign any document with a web-based signature if the
9 county uses a secure web-based platform. This Section does not
10 apply to a nominating or candidate petition or a referendum
11 petition.
12 Section 10. The Township Code is amended by adding Section
13 85-70 as follows:
14 (60 ILCS 1/85-70 new)
15 Sec. 85-70. Web-based signature. A township may allow a
16 person to sign any document with a web-based signature if the
17 township uses a secure web-based platform. This Section does
18 not apply to a nominating or candidate petition or a
19 referendum petition.
20 Section 15. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
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1 adding Section 1-1-13 as follows:
2 (65 ILCS 5/1-1-13 new)
3 Sec. 1-1-13. Web-based signature. A municipality may allow
4 a person to sign any document with a web-based signature if the
5 municipality uses a secure web-based platform. This Section
6 does not apply to a nominating or candidate petition or a
7 referendum petition.
8 Section 20. The Conservation District Act is amended by
9 changing Section 12 as follows:
10 (70 ILCS 410/12) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7112)
11 Sec. 12. To the extent necessary to carry out the purpose
12 of this Act and in addition to any other powers, duties and
13 functions vested in a district by law, but subject to such
14 limitations and restrictions as are imposed elsewhere by this
15 Act or another law, a district is authorized and empowered:
16 (a) To adopt by-laws, adopt and use a common seal, enter
17 into contracts, acquire and hold real and personal estate and
18 take such other actions as may be necessary for the proper
19 conduct of its affairs.
20 (b) To make and publish all ordinances, rules and
21 regulations necessary for the management and protection of its
22 property and the conduct of its affairs.
23 (c) To study and ascertain the district's wildland and
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1 other open space resources and outdoor recreation facilities,
2 the need for preserving such resources and providing such
3 facilities and the extent to which such needs are being
4 currently met and to prepare and adopt a co-ordinated plan of
5 areas and facilities to meet such needs.
6 (d) To acquire by gift, legacy, purchase, condemnation in
7 the manner provided for the exercise of the right of eminent
8 domain under the Eminent Domain Act, lease, agreement or
9 otherwise the fee or any lesser right or interest in real
10 property and to hold the same with or without public access for
11 open space, wildland, scenic roadway, pathway, outdoor
12 recreation, or other conservation benefits. A district that is
13 entirely within a county of under 200,000 inhabitants and
14 contiguous to a county of more than 2,000,000 inhabitants and
15 that is authorized by referendum as provided in subsection (d)
16 of Section 15 to incur indebtedness over 0.575% but not to
17 exceed 1.725% may acquire an interest in real estate by
18 condemnation only if approved by an affirmative vote of
19 two-thirds of the total number of trustees authorized for that
20 district; such a district may exchange, sell, or otherwise
21 dispose of any portion of any interest in real estate acquired
22 by it by any means within 2 years of acquiring that interest,
23 provided that a public hearing on the exchange, sale or other
24 disposition of such real estate or interest therein is held
25 prior to such action.
26 The Department of Natural Resources, the county board, or
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1 the governing body of any municipality, district or public
2 corporation may, upon request of the conservation district,
3 set apart and transfer any real or personal property owned or
4 controlled by it and not devoted or dedicated to any other
5 inconsistent public use, to the conservation district. In
6 acquiring or accepting land or rights thereto, due
7 consideration shall be given to its open space, outdoor
8 recreation or other conservation values and no real property
9 shall be acquired or accepted which in the opinion of the
10 district or the Department of Natural Resources is of low
11 value from the standpoint of its proposed use.
12 (e) To classify, designate, plan, develop, preserve,
13 administer and maintain all areas, places and facilities in
14 which it has an interest, and construct, reconstruct, alter
15 and renew buildings and other structures, and equip and
16 maintain the same.
17 (f) To accept gifts, grants, legacies, contributions and
18 appropriations of money and other personal property for
19 conservation purposes.
20 (g) To employ and fix the compensation of an executive
21 officer who shall be responsible to the board for the carrying
22 out of its policies. The executive officer shall have the
23 power, subject to the approval of the board, to employ and fix
24 the compensation of such assistants and employees as the board
25 may consider necessary for carrying out the purposes and
26 provisions of this Act.
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1 (h) To charge and collect reasonable fees for the use of
2 such facilities, privileges and conveniences as may be
3 provided.
4 (i) To police its property and to exercise police powers
5 in respect thereto or in respect to the enforcement of any rule
6 or regulation provided by the ordinances of the district and
7 to employ and commission police officers and other qualified
8 persons to enforce the same.
9 (j) To undertake studies pertaining to the natural
10 history, archaeology, history or conservation of natural
11 resources of the county.
12 (k) To lease land for a period not longer than 50 years
13 from the date of the lease to a responsible person, firm, or
14 corporation for construction, reconstruction, alteration,
15 renewal, equipment, furnishing, extension, development,
16 operation and maintenance of lodges, housekeeping and sleeping
17 cabins, swimming pools, golf courses, campgrounds, sand
18 beaches, marinas, convention and entertainment centers, roads
19 and parking areas, and other related buildings and facilities.
20 In any lease of land leased pursuant to this subsection (k),
21 upon expiration of the lease title to all structures on the
22 leased land shall be vested in the district.
23 (l) To lease any building or facility constructed,
24 reconstructed, altered, renewed, equipped, furnished,
25 extended, developed, and maintained by the district to a
26 responsible person, firm, or corporation for operation or
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1 development, or both, and maintenance for a period not longer
2 than 20 years from the date of the lease.
3 (m) To allow a person to sign any document with a web-based
4 signature if the district uses a secure web-based platform.
5 (Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)
6 Section 25. The Downstate Forest Preserve District Act is
7 amended by adding Section 13.9 as follows:
8 (70 ILCS 805/13.9 new)
9 Sec. 13.9. Web-based signature. A forest preserve district
10 may allow a person to sign any document with a web-based
11 signature if the forest preserve district uses a secure
12 web-based platform. This Section does not apply to a
13 nominating or candidate petition or a referendum petition.
14 Section 30. The Cook County Forest Preserve District Act
15 is amended by adding Section 42.5 as follows:
16 (70 ILCS 810/42.5 new)
17 Sec. 42.5. Web-based signature. A forest preserve district
18 may allow a person to sign any document with a web-based
19 signature if the forest preserve district uses a secure
20 web-based platform. This Section does not apply to a
21 nominating or candidate petition or a referendum petition.
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1 Section 35. The Park District Code is amended by changing
2 Section 8-1 as follows:
3 (70 ILCS 1205/8-1) (from Ch. 105, par. 8-1)
4 Sec. 8-1. General corporate powers. Every park district
5 shall, from the time of its organization, be a body corporate
6 and politic by the name set forth in the petition for its
7 organization, the specific name set forth in this Code, or the
8 name it may adopt under Section 8-9 and shall have and exercise
9 the following powers:
10 (a) To adopt a corporate seal and alter the same at
11 pleasure; to sue and be sued; and to contract in
12 furtherance of any of its corporate purposes.
13 (b)(1) To acquire by gift, legacy, grant or purchase,
14 or by condemnation in the manner provided for the exercise
15 of the power of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain
16 Act, any and all real estate, or rights therein necessary
17 for building, laying out, extending, adorning and
18 maintaining any such parks, boulevards and driveways, or
19 for effecting any of the powers or purposes granted under
20 this Code as its board may deem proper, whether such lands
21 be located within or without such district; but no park
22 district, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this
23 subsection, shall have any power of condemnation in the
24 manner provided for the exercise of the power of eminent
25 domain under the Eminent Domain Act or otherwise as to any
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1 real estate, lands, riparian rights or estate, or other
2 property situated outside of such district, but shall only
3 have power to acquire the same by gift, legacy, grant or
4 purchase, and such district shall have the same control of
5 and power over lands so acquired without the district as
6 over parks, boulevards and driveways within such district.
7 (2) In addition to the powers granted in paragraph (1)
8 of subsection (b), a park district located in more than
9 one county, the majority of its territory located in a
10 county over 450,000 in population and none of its
11 territory located in a county over 1,000,000 in
12 population, shall have condemnation power in the manner
13 provided for the exercise of the power of eminent domain
14 under the Eminent Domain Act or as otherwise granted by
15 law as to any and all real estate situated up to one mile
16 outside of such district which is not within the
17 boundaries of another park district.
18 (c) To acquire by gift, legacy or purchase any
19 personal property necessary for its corporate purposes
20 provided that all contracts for supplies, materials or
21 work involving an expenditure in excess of $30,000, or a
22 lower amount if required by board policy, shall be let to
23 the lowest responsible bidder after due advertisement. No
24 district shall be required to accept a bid that does not
25 meet the district's established specifications, terms of
26 delivery, quality, and serviceability requirements.
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1 Contracts which, by their nature, are not adapted to award
2 by competitive bidding, such as contracts for the services
3 of individuals possessing a high degree of professional
4 skill where the ability or fitness of the individual plays
5 an important part, contracts for the printing of finance
6 committee reports and departmental reports, contracts for
7 the printing or engraving of bonds, tax warrants and other
8 evidences of indebtedness, contracts for utility services
9 such as water, light, heat, telephone or telegraph,
10 contracts for fuel (such as diesel, gasoline, oil,
11 aviation, or propane), lubricants, or other petroleum
12 products, contracts for the use, purchase, delivery,
13 movement, or installation of data processing equipment,
14 software, or services and telecommunications and
15 interconnect equipment, software, or services, contracts
16 for duplicating machines and supplies, contracts for goods
17 or services procured from another governmental agency,
18 purchases of equipment previously owned by some entity
19 other than the district itself, and contracts for the
20 purchase of magazines, books, periodicals, pamphlets and
21 reports are not subject to competitive bidding. Contracts
22 for emergency expenditures are also exempt from
23 competitive bidding when the emergency expenditure is
24 approved by 3/4 of the members of the board.
25 All competitive bids for contracts involving an
26 expenditure in excess of $30,000, or a lower amount if
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1 required by board policy, must be sealed by the bidder and
2 must be opened by a member or employee of the park board at
3 a public bid opening at which the contents of the bids must
4 be announced. Each bidder must receive at least 3 days
5 notice of the time and place of the bid opening.
6 For purposes of this subsection, "due advertisement"
7 includes, but is not limited to, at least one public
8 notice at least 10 days before the bid date in a newspaper
9 published in the district or, if no newspaper is published
10 in the district, in a newspaper of general circulation in
11 the area of the district.
12 (d) To pass all necessary ordinances, rules and
13 regulations for the proper management and conduct of the
14 business of the board and district and to establish by
15 ordinance all needful rules and regulations for the
16 government and protection of parks, boulevards and
17 driveways and other property under its jurisdiction, and
18 to effect the objects for which such districts are formed.
19 (e) To prescribe such fines and penalties for the
20 violation of ordinances as it shall deem proper not
21 exceeding $1,000 for any one offense, which fines and
22 penalties may be recovered by an action in the name of such
23 district in the circuit court for the county in which such
24 violation occurred. The park district may also seek in the
25 action, in addition to or instead of fines and penalties,
26 an order that the offender be required to make restitution
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1 for damage resulting from violations, and the court shall
2 grant such relief where appropriate. The procedure in such
3 actions shall be the same as that provided by law for like
4 actions for the violation of ordinances in cities
5 organized under the general laws of this State, and
6 offenders may be imprisoned for non-payment of fines and
7 costs in the same manner as in such cities. All fines when
8 collected shall be paid into the treasury of such
9 district.
10 (f) To manage and control all officers and property of
11 such districts and to provide for joint ownership with one
12 or more cities, villages or incorporated towns of real and
13 personal property used for park purposes by one or more
14 park districts. In case of joint ownership, the terms of
15 the agreement shall be fair, just and equitable to all
16 parties and shall be set forth in a written agreement
17 entered into by the corporate authorities of each
18 participating district, city, village or incorporated
19 town.
20 (g) To secure grants and loans, or either, from the
21 United States Government, or any agency or agencies
22 thereof, for financing the acquisition or purchase of any
23 and all real estate, or rights therein, or for effecting
24 any of the powers or purposes granted under this Code as
25 its Board may deem proper.
26 (h) To establish fees for the use of facilities and
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1 recreational programs of the districts and to derive
2 revenue from non-resident fees from their operations. Fees
3 charged non-residents of such district need not be the
4 same as fees charged to residents of the district.
5 Charging fees or deriving revenue from the facilities and
6 recreational programs shall not affect the right to assert
7 or utilize any defense or immunity, common law or
8 statutory, available to the districts or their employees.
9 (i) To make contracts for a term exceeding one year,
10 but not to exceed 3 years, notwithstanding any provision
11 of this Code to the contrary, relating to: (1) the
12 employment of a park director, superintendent,
13 administrator, engineer, health officer, land planner,
14 finance director, attorney, police chief, or other officer
15 who requires technical training or knowledge; (2) the
16 employment of outside professional consultants such as
17 engineers, doctors, land planners, auditors, attorneys, or
18 other professional consultants who require technical
19 training or knowledge; (3) the provision of data
20 processing equipment and services; and (4) the purchase of
21 energy from a utility or an alternative retail electric
22 supplier. With respect to any contract made under this
23 subsection (i), the corporate authorities shall include in
24 the annual appropriation ordinance for each fiscal year an
25 appropriation of a sum of money sufficient to pay the
26 amount which, by the terms of the contract, is to become
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1 due and payable during that fiscal year.
2 (j) To enter into licensing or management agreements
3 with not-for-profit corporations organized under the laws
4 of this State to operate park district facilities if the
5 corporation covenants to use the facilities to provide
6 public park or recreational programs for youth.
7 (k) To allow a person to sign any document with a
8 web-based signature if the district uses a secure
9 web-based platform.
10 (Source: P.A. 101-304, eff. 8-9-19; 102-999, eff. 5-27-22.)
11 Section 40. The Chicago Park District Act is amended by
12 adding Section 7.08 as follows:
13 (70 ILCS 1505/7.08 new)
14 Sec. 7.08. Web-based signature. The Chicago Park District
15 may allow a person to sign any document with a web-based
16 signature if the Chicago Park District uses a secure web-based
17 platform. This Section does not apply to a nominating or
18 candidate petition or a referendum petition.Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.