Lead Organization

Comments

ALL

Develop specific legislation for each of the following additional FPF Funding Initiatives that  ensure that for
each initiative that 425 ILCS 25 13 (c) Sections (1) IFSI and (2) Chicago Fire Department and all remaining
  subparagraphs of Section 13 (c) are modified to authorize allocation of the additional FPF funding for
distribution to these “purposes”:  

1.      1% of gross motor vehicle insurance premiums.   Modify 425 ILCS section 12 to eliminate
the word “fire” from “motor Vehicle Fire Risk Premium…” thus making all motor vehicle risk insurance
premiums part of the 1% FPF.   

2.      $3.00 increase in the driver’s history record requests.  Modify the Illinois Vehicle Code and
425 ILCS by adding a new Section 12.1 to authorize an additional $3 to be collected with each
request and deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund.  

3.      $5.00 increase in drivers license renewals.  Modify the Illinois Vehicle Code and 425 ILCS 25
by adding a new Section 12.x  to authorize an additional $1 to be collected with each renewal and
deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund.  

4.      $1.00 increase in License Plate Sticker Renewal. Modify the Illinois Vehicle Code and 425 ILCS 25
by adding a new Section 12.x  authorize an additional $1 to be collected with each renewal and
deposited into the Fire Prevention Fund.

5.       Maintenance of MABAS operations and capital expenses.  Add a new Sub-Section to 425 ILCS
Section 13 to wit: “(5) For the maintenance, operation and capital expenses of the
Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).”  

Additional non-legislative proposal:

6.     $1.00 check box on insurance premium billings consults w/insurance companies.
It was agreed that IFSA would set up meeting with insurance company representatives to
discuss having the insurance companies doing business in Illinois add a voluntary check the
box to add $1 to the insurance premium billings to be deposited in a TRUST FUND for fire
and emergency.

Proposed Initiative

Lead Organization

Comments

MAMA-C Legislation

MABAS

AN ACT to authorize interstate mutual aid for emergency responses which do not rise to
the level requiring a state or local declaration of a state of emergency or disaster, and to
recognize out-of-state professional licenses, certifications or other permits when the state
or a county, city, village, township, special district, or other political subdivision or unit of
local government requests mutual aid from jurisdictions outside of this State, to provide
immunity from civil actions to certain persons acting pursuant to mutual aid agreements,
and to maintain employee benefits.

R/R Crossing Closing
Notification

IAFPD

Railroad Crossing Closings Notifications to require County and Township Road Supervisor to
notify local fire district chiefs

Add Alternatives to  the
Requirement  to Publish
Entire Budget

IAFPD, NIAFPD

Amend Section 7 (70ILCS705/7) by striking the phrase “or making any appropriation”,
thereby removing the requirement on fire protections to publish its entire budget. Each
FPD must currently publish its budget resulting in many $1000s that could otherwise be
spent on providing necessary services.

Natural Gas/Utilities in
Hazardous Materials/Spiller
Pays

IAFPD

Add natural gas, gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas to the "hazardous material emergency
response reimbursement act to provide for cost recovery subsequent to natural gas leaks
caused by improper locating of the gas service lines or by careless actions of the contractor.
Include electrical transmission. Extra ordinary expenses can also be recovered. The issue is
ongoing and being addressed via ‘JULIE’ Regulations rewrite.  Add IEMA and
Commerce Commission.

Cook County Tax Appeals
Notification

IAFPD, NIAFPD

Amend Section 35 of the Property Tax Code to include Cook County fire protection districts
in the notification of property tax appeals that exceed $100,000 and delete a provision
exempting counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants from certain notice requirements
concerning tax objections.

Proposed Initiative

Lead Organization

Comments

Public/Private Partnerships
for Mutual Aid

MABAS

Establish a mechanism for providing immunity from liability for private sector organizations
when they act to support emergency and disaster response.  Local government does not
have the resources including funding to handle all emergencies.  In some cases, private
sector partnerships must be created in order for the local emergency service agencies to
mitigate the emergency without cause for liability issues.  Local emergency responders who
respond to all types of emergencies are covered under the Tort Immunity Law.  However,
there are some emergencies that demand a response of special equipment such as cranes,
drilling equipment, and the like which are owned and operated by private sector companies
who are willing to assist but are open for lawsuits.  Further, in many rural areas of the state,
the response time of the private contractor would be more expedient given the geographic
proximity to the emergency scene versus mutual aid or a state asset, thus resulting in a
efficient incident management.

Resolution to amend the
sprinkler retrofit

IFIA

Amend the 1986 Internal Revenue Code to classify fire sprinkler retrofits as a five year
property for purposes of depreciation.

Require all advertisements
of “Class C Fireworks” to
include a disclaimer

IFSA

Require all advertisements of class C fireworks in Illinois to include a disclaimer stating
Warning: Illinois law prohibits the possession of fireworks without proper permits. 
Check with law enforcement prior to purchase.

Out of State fireworks companies advertise in Illinois to lure our residents across the border
to purchase fireworks in blatant violation of Illinois law.  The majority of fireworks injuries seen
in children under 15 stem from misuse of class C fireworks. 

Enable Consolidation of Fire
Districts and Departments by
amending applicable Statutes

ALL

Amend all applicable Statutes to allow consolidation of fire districts and fire departments. 

Task Force may be needed to prepare the applicable language.

Proposed Initiative

Lead Organization

Comments

Blood Draws for DUI

IFCA EMS
Committee

This proposed legislation amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and would remove the language
that currently requires “certified paramedics” to draw blood from suspected DUI drivers
upon the request from a police officer. Although the EMS community supports law
enforcement efforts in reducing the amount of drunk drivers on our highways, utilizing
paramedics to draw blood alcohol samples poses many significant financial and legal
problems for the fire service.

Seek a Resolution from both
the Illinois House and Senate
supporting continued federal
financial assistance for
disaster preparedness and
readiness of first responder
consortiums involving mutual
aid total force capabilities.

MABAS

Passing a state legislative resolution encouraging our federal elected representatives to
support first responder disaster response funding directly related to Illinois-specific risks for
meta-disasters, like the New Madrid Fault Line, and the needed statewide mutual aid
system’s response, operation and sustainment. The action supports the recently released
Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD #8) and revised national response policy.

Seek legislative remedy
exempting MABAS
specifically occupied
properties from property taxes
whether leasing, renting or
owning the noted, specific
properties.

MABAS

Pass legislation at the state level officially exempting MABAS owned, leased or rented
property specifically noted as fully tax exempt from local taxing authorities.  MABAS are
considered intergovernmental entities facilitating the sharing of governmental resources
between units ofgovernment (state to local and local to local). Applying property tax
requirements against the occupied properties would put an additional, unrealistic burden on
units of local government potentially making use and occupancy of the structures unaffordable,
unrealistic and crippling to nationally recognize mutual aid systems and the State’s ability to
respond to disasters. Tax exemption of properties requires an initial consideration by the
county with formal approval by the Illinois Department of Revenue

Proposed Initiative

Lead Organization

Comments

Seek legislation to clarify
emergency vehicle license
plate use and fees.

IFCA

625 ILCS 5/3-808.1   Vehicle registration plates….government owned vehicles

(b) Permanent vehicle registration plates shall be issued for a onetime fee of $8.00, to the
following:

6.      Beginning with the 2012 registration year, municipally owned, fire district owned, or
MABAS owned vehicles operated by or for any fire department, fire protection district,
or MABAS.  These registration plates shall contain the designation “fire department”
and shall contain the specific MABAS Division number or letter and unit letter and/or
number.

(c)   2.   Beginning with the 2012 registration year, municipally owned, fire district owned, or
MABAS owned vehicles operated by or for any fire department, fire protection district, or
MABAS that have been issued registration plates under subsection (b) of this Section shall be
exempt from any fee for the transfer of registration from one vehicle to another vehicle. 
Each fire department, fire protection district, or MABAS shall report to the Secretary of State
any transfer of registration plates from one vehicle to another vehicle operated by or for any fire
department, fire protection district, or MABAS.  The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to
implement this subsection (c) (2).

Seek Legislation for Volunteer
Departments to address the
unemployment insurance.

IFCA, NIAFPD

That a Fire District not pays unemployment when a Paid on call FF is laid off from their
full time job and are still working for the Fire District.

Seek legislation to amend the
seat belt use in emergency
vehicles.

IFCA

Amend the Illinois Vehicle Code.  Provide that the exception to safety belt requirements does
not apply to firefighters and other emergency services personnel.  Effective immediately.

Seek Legislation to amend the
Illinois Hospital Act to reflect
the Federal Ryan White Act
language.

IFCA

With the recent re-authorization of the federal Ryan White Act, there are gaps of coverage of
the Illinois EMS provider when comparing the State and Federal legislation. Two of the most
glaring difference deals in the notification process of potential exposed workers to a blood
borne pathogens or communicable disease and the newly revised CDC communicable
disease listing. We would like to change the Illinois Hospital Act to reflect the federal
legislation.

Proposed Initiative

Lead Organization

Comments

Seek Legislation to amend
Homestead property and
paying property taxes.

IAFPD

"Homestead property" under this Section includes residential property that is occupied by its owner or owners
as his or their principal dwelling place, or that is a leasehold interest on which a single family residence is
situated, which is occupied as a residence by a person who has an ownership interest therein, legal or
equitable or as a lessee, and on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes. For land
improved with an apartment building owned and operated as a cooperative or a building which is a life care
facility as defined in Section 15‑170 and considered to be a cooperative under Section 15‑170, the maximum
reduction from the equalized
assessed value shall be limited to the increase in the value above the equalized assessed value of the
property for 1977, up to the maximum reduction set forth above, multiplied by the number of apartments or
units occupied by a person or persons who is liable, by contract with the owner or owners of record, for
paying property taxes on the property and is an owner of record of a legal or equitable interest in the
cooperative apartment building, other than a leasehold interest. For purposes of this Section, the term "life
care facility" has the meaning stated in Section 15‑170.