RESOLUTION
Sponsored by:
THE HONORABLE LARRY SUFFREDIN, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER
Co-Sponsored by:
THE HONORABLE JOHN H. STROGER, JR., PRESIDENT, JERRY BUTLER, FORREST CLAYPOOL, EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY, ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN, ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, JOAN PATRICIA MUPRHY, ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS, AND BOBBIE L. STEELE, COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION URGING THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBY TO AMEND PUBLIC ACT 94-0625 TO REINSTATE LIABILITY PROTECTION FOR ALL RECREATION AND CONSERVATION PURPOSES
WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly passed Senate Bill 251 in August 2005 and Governor Blagojevich signed the law, Public Act 94-0625; and
WHEREAS, SB251 amended the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act, 745ILCS 65/1 et seq. (West 2004); and
WHEREAS, the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act was originally enacted in 1965 and was intended to encourage property owners to make their property available for public use; and
WHEREAS, before Public Act 94-0625, the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act granted certain protections from liability to property owners, including political subdivisions of the State of Illinois, who allow the public to use their property for recreational or conservation purposes; and
WHEREAS, Public Act 94-0625 amended the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act by changing the definition of “recreational or conservation purpose” to provide liability protection to property owners who allow use of their property only for hunting and recreational shooting and activities directly related thereto; and
WHEREAS, Public Act 94-0625 eliminated the protection against liability previously afforded the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) and other units of government under the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act for various recreational and conservation activities conducted on public property; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners has determined that the enactment of Public Act 94-0625 is not in best interest of the FPDCC.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Commissioners of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County joins more than 44 organizations and units of local government including the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Lake County Forest Preserve District, Chicago Park District, Will County Forest Preserve District, Winnebago County Forest Preserve District, McHenry County Conservation District, Illinois Municipal League and the Illinois Association of Park Districts that are urging the General Assembly to take action to reinstate liability protection for all recreation and conservation purposes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Commissioners of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County urges the Illinois General Assembly to take action to restore the protection from liability to landowners that was taken away in Public Act 94-0625; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, copies of this resolution shall be distributed to Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, Senate President Emil Jones, Jr., Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan and members of the Illinois General Assembly from Cook County.
Approved and adopted the 7th day of December 2005.
______________________________________
JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President
Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners
_______________________________________
LARRY SUFFREDIN, Commissioner
