Signed by Governor JB Pritzker

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases fees and oversight on the timber buying industry.

Highlights:

• Requires all timber buyers and their agents be at least 18 years of age or older and have filed with the Department of Natural Resources appropriate certification of liability insurance covereage (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits any liability insurance policy from being effective unless issued by an insurance company or surety company authorized to do so by the state of Illinois (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits and makes it unlawful and a violation of this bill for individuals to knowingly (Sec. 5):

• Cut, cause to be cut, take, or caused to be taken any timber without consent of the timber grower; or

• Enter into an agreement or contract with the timber grower for the cutting of timber that misrepresenst the material facts of the terms or uses deception or false pretenses;

• Defines “liability insurance” as not less than $500,000 in insurance covering a timber buyer’s business and agents that shall insure against the liability of the insured for the death, injury, or disability of an employee of other individual and insurance against the liability of the insured for damage to or destruction of another individual’s property (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the governor (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases fees and oversight on the timber buying industry.

Highlights:

• Requires all timber buyers and their agents be at least 18 years of age or older and have filed with the Department of Natural Resources appropriate certification of liability insurance covereage (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits any liability insurance policy from being effective unless issued by an insurance company or surety company authorized to do so by the state of Illinois (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits and makes it unlawful and a violation of this bill for individuals to knowingly (Sec. 5):

• Cut, cause to be cut, take, or caused to be taken any timber without consent of the timber grower; or

• Enter into an agreement or contract with the timber grower for the cutting of timber that misrepresenst the material facts of the terms or uses deception or false pretenses;

• Defines “liability insurance” as not less than $500,000 in insurance covering a timber buyer’s business and agents that shall insure against the liability of the insured for the death, injury, or disability of an employee of other individual and insurance against the liability of the insured for damage to or destruction of another individual’s property (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the governor (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text