OIL AND GAS LEASE REQUIREMENTS Senate SponsorsSen. Sue Rezin-William E. Brady House Sponsors(Rep. John Bradley-Frank J. Mautino) 1/10/2017SenateSession Sine Die 225 ILCS 725/6from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 5409Amends the Illinois Oil and Gas Act. Establishes the criteria that the Department of Natural Resources may consider when making a determination that the oil and gas leases submitted with an application for a permit or transfer of a permit for a well are operative and that prior oil and gas leases covering the same lands have terminated due to non-development or non-production under the current permittee. Provides that the Department may rely upon affidavits of non-development and non-production from individuals familiar with the history of development and production of such lands in addition to other evidence. Requires that such testimony and evidence create a rebuttable presumption that there has been no development or production of oil or gas on the lands described in the prior leases for at least 24 consecutive months subsequent to the expiration of the primary term or any extension of the primary term as set forth in the leases. Further provides that a court order or judgment declaring the prior leases terminated is not required, except in extraordinary circumstances where such a determination cannot reasonably be concluded from the testimony and evidence submitted to the Department. Provides that, upon the Department's determination of a rebuttable presumption, the Department shall provide the current permittee with notice and a 30-day opportunity to request a hearing to rebut the presumption before a final determination on a lease is made. Further provides that, upon the Department's determination of a rebuttable presumption, if the applicant is not requesting a transfer of any existing permit, but is requesting a new permit, the permit shall be issued to the applicant. Provides that any determination made by the Department shall not diminish the rights or obligations of any current permittee of a well that are otherwise provided by statute or regulation of the Department. Further provides that any request for a determination by the Department or any subsequent hearing requires the payment of a nonrefundable fee of $1000. Requires that the Department make a determination on a lease no later than 90 days after the Department's receipt of a valid request for a determination. Effective immediately.House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to:225 ILCS 725/6Adds reference to:225 ILCS 725/1afrom Ch. 96 1/2, par. 5401aReplaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Oil and Gas Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. 2/20/2015SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. William E. Brady 2/20/2015SenateFirst Reading 2/20/2015SenateReferred to Assignments 3/3/2015SenateAssigned to Environment and Conservation 3/12/2015SenatePostponed - Environment and Conservation 3/19/2015SenatePostponed - Environment and Conservation 3/26/2015SenateDo Pass Environment and Conservation; 009-000-000 3/26/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 14, 2015 4/21/2015SenateSecond Reading 4/21/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 22, 2015 4/22/2015SenateThird Reading - Passed; 056-000-000 4/23/2015HouseArrived in House 4/23/2015HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. John Bradley 4/23/2015HouseFirst Reading 4/23/2015HouseReferred to Rules Committee 5/19/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 29, 2015 5/19/2015HouseAssigned to Executive Committee 5/22/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2015 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Frank J. Mautino 5/25/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Michael J. Madigan 5/25/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee 5/26/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Executive Committee 5/26/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Executive Committee; by Voice Vote 5/26/2015HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Executive Committee; 007-004-000 5/26/2015HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/26/2015HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 5/26/2015HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate 5/27/2015HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 5/31/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) June 30, 2015 6/30/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) July 31, 2015 7/31/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) August 31, 2015 8/31/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) September 30, 2015 9/30/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) October 31, 2015 10/30/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) December 4, 2015 11/9/2015SenateChief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Sue Rezin 11/9/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. William E. Brady 11/9/2015HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Frank J. Mautino 11/9/2015HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee 11/9/2015HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 003-000-000 12/4/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) January 29, 2016 1/29/2016HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) April 28, 2016 4/12/2016HouseRecalled to Second Reading - Short Debate 4/12/2016HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate 4/28/2016HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee 1/10/2017SenateSession Sine Die