Bill Text: IL HB4165 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Modifies definitions. Provides that, to reduce vandalism and theft, the rescue equipment station shall have signage (rather than an alarm, signage, and a warning of cameras) that warns lakefront patrons that tampering with or misuse of public rescue equipment is strictly prohibited. Removes provisions about automatic contacting of 9-1-1 and compliance with a specified guide. Provides that the buoyant line attached to each ring life buoy must be at least 100 feet in length (rather than 100 inches). Provides that each unit of local government owning a pier or drop-off on Lake Michigan shall track and publish a report on the unit's website lakefront drownings if such drownings occur within 100 feet of the unit's piers and drop-offs and if the unit was made aware of such drowning (rather than making a report to the Department of Public Health). Provides that, if there have been drownings during the reporting period, each unit of local government must also publish a water safety plan on the unit's website. Adds provisions relating to high-incident drowning area plans. Makes other changes. Changes the effective date from 180 days after becoming law to one year after becoming law.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-2)

Status: (Passed) 2022-06-02 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 102-1036 [HB4165 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HB4165-Introduced.html

---

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 HB4165 Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Lake Michigan Rescue Equipment Act. Provides that the owner of a pier or drop-off on Lake Michigan shall install public rescue equipment, including, at a minimum, ring life buoys, on each of the owner's piers and drop-offs along the Lake Michigan coast. Provides that public rescue equipment shall also be installed in all high-incident drowning areas on an owner's property. Includes requirements for ring life buoys. Provides that each unit of local government owning a pier or drop-off on Lake Michigan shall track and report to the Department of Public Health, in a form prescribed by the Department, Lake Michigan lakefront drownings, both fatal and non-fatal drownings, near the unit's piers and drop-offs. Includes tracking and reporting requirements. Provides that the Department shall analyze the tracking and reporting and appropriately provide a plan and recommendations for reduction in drowning incidents. Defines terms. Effective 180 days after becoming law.
LRB102 20009 AWJ 28935 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
A BILL FOR
HB4165 LRB102 20009 AWJ 28935 b
AN ACT concerning water safety.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Lake
Michigan Rescue Equipment Act.
Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
"Drop-off" means the areas of a lake's shoreline where a
paved path or rocks allows direct public access to the water.
"High-incident drowning area" means an area where more
than one drowning incident has occurred in the span of 5 years.
"Public rescue equipment" includes a range of water rescue
devices available for public use in case of emergency, such as
life rings, throw bags, rescue tubes, and rescue poles.
"Pier" means a platform supported on pillars or girders
leading out from the shore into a lake.
Section 10. Public rescue equipment on piers and
drop-offs.
(a) The owner of a pier or drop-off on Lake Michigan shall
install public rescue equipment, including, at a minimum, ring
life buoys, on each of the owner's piers and drop-offs along
the Lake Michigan coast. The ring life buoy must not be
permanently secured in any way to the station, rack, or pier.

HB4165 - 2 - LRB102 20009 AWJ 28935 b
Each ring life buoy must be stowed inside a station to protect
it from constant weather exposure. The station must be a
bright orange or yellow color for high visibility and to allow
for quick access to the ring.
To reduce vandalism and theft, the station shall have an
alarm when opened and signage that warns lakefront patrons
that they are on camera and tampering with or misuse of public
rescue equipment is strictly prohibited. Additionally, on
piers in high-incident drowning areas, stations shall
automatically alert 911 when the ring life buoys are pulled
from their mounting stations.
Public rescue equipment shall also be installed in all
high-incident drowning areas on an owner's property and shall
be in accordance with the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution's "A Guide to Coastal Public Rescue Equipment".
(b) The owner of the pier or drop-off shall oversee the
installation and maintenance of the public rescue equipment.
The State or unit of local government owning a pier or drop-off
shall also provide public education regarding public rescue
equipment.
Section 15. Ring life buoy requirements. Ring life buoys
installed as required in Section 10 must meet the following:
(1) The ring life buoy shall meet the requirements of
46 CFR 160.050 or 46 CFR 160.150 for SOLAS-approved
equipment or successor standards issued by the United

HB4165 - 3 - LRB102 20009 AWJ 28935 b
States Coast Guard.
(2) There shall be attached to each ring life buoy a
buoyant line of at least 100 inches length, with a
breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewton. The end of the
line must not be secured to the shore.
(3) Each ring life buoy shall be marked with type II
retroreflective material meeting the requirements of 46
CFR 164.018.
(4) Each ring life buoy shall be placed at a distance
not to exceed 200 feet from the shoreline of the lake and
be readily available for emergency rescue operations.
Section 20. Tracking, reporting, and analyzing drownings.
Each unit of local government owning a pier or drop-off on Lake
Michigan shall track and report to the Department of Public
Health, in a form prescribed by the Department, Lake Michigan
lakefront drownings, both fatal and non-fatal drownings, near
the unit's piers and drop-offs. Such tracking and reporting
shall include, at a minimum, access to and use of public rescue
equipment, location, temperature, time of day, conditions,
demographics, swimming ability, and type of entry into the
water. Based on this tracking and reporting, the Department
shall analyze the tracking and reporting and appropriately
provide a plan and recommendations for reduction in drowning
incidents.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect 180 days

HB4165 - 4 - LRB102 20009 AWJ 28935 b
after becoming law.