MINING-OPERATOR BONDS House SponsorsRep. Lawrence Walsh, Jr. and Brandon W. Phelps Senate Sponsors(Sen. William R. Haine) 8/3/2015HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0224 225 ILCS 710/Act rep.225 ILCS 715/8from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 4509 Repeals the Fluorspar and Underground Limestone Mines Act. Amends the Surface-Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act. Changes certain provisions concerning the amount of any bond that is required to be filed with the Department of Natural Resources by an operator. Provides that the penalty of such bonds shall be an amount between $600 and $10,000 (was between $600 and $5,000) per acre as determined by the Director of Natural Resources for lands to be affected by surface mining, including slurry and gob disposal areas. Provides that, under circumstances where a written agreement between the operator and a third party require overburden to be removed, replaced, graded, and seeded in a manner that the necessary bond penalty exceeds $10,000 per acre, the Department shall require a bond amount sufficient to ensure the completion of the reclamation plan specified in the approved permit in the event of forfeiture. Provides that in no case shall the bond for the entire area under one permit be less than $600 per acre or $3,000, whichever is greater.House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to:225 ILCS 710/Act rep.Adds reference to:225 ILCS 710/1from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 4201Replaces provisions repealing the Fluorspar and Underground Limestone Mines Act with provisions amending the Act to change the short title to the "Fluorspar Mines Act". 1/14/2015HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Lawrence Walsh, Jr. 1/14/2015HouseFirst Reading 1/14/2015HouseReferred to Rules Committee 2/17/2015HouseAssigned to Environment 2/20/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Lawrence Walsh, Jr. 2/20/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee 2/24/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Environment 2/25/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Environment; by Voice Vote 2/25/2015HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Environment; 015-000-000 2/26/2015HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 2/26/2015HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandon W. Phelps 3/3/2015HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 3/3/2015HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 3/4/2015HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 114-000-000 3/5/2015SenateArrive in Senate 3/5/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 3/5/2015SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. William R. Haine 3/5/2015SenateFirst Reading 3/5/2015SenateReferred to Assignments 4/8/2015SenateApproved for Consideration Assignments 4/8/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 14, 2015 5/12/2015SenateSecond Reading 5/12/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 13, 2015 5/22/2015SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2015 5/31/2015SenateThird Reading - Passed; 058-000-000 5/31/2015HousePassed Both Houses 6/29/2015HouseSent to the Governor 8/3/2015HouseGovernor Approved 8/3/2015HouseEffective Date January 1, 2016 8/3/2015HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0224