Illinois General Assembly Unanimously Passes Hazmat Emergency Preparedness Legislation
Senate Bill 71 IEMA-School Safety passed both Houses of the Illinois General Assembly unanimously on May 31st and now waits to be signed into public law.
Introduced by Senator Laura Murphy, SB 71 amends the School Safety Drill Act to provide that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall develop guidance for Illinois schools to incorporate hazardous waste spills and explosions into their emergency plans. By July 1, 2027, each school district will determine procedures based on this guidance.
The genesis of SB71 was a grassroots response to the tragic Lac-Mégantic train derailment of 2013 in Quebec, Canada, when a runaway train derailed, burst into flames, then exploded, killing 47 people and decimating the downtown area. La Coalition Rail Safety Campaign members worked closely with the Lac-Mégantic citizens' rail safety organization, La Coalition Des Citoyens et Organismes Engagés pour la Sécurité Ferroviair de Lac-Mégantic, as well as rail labor groups such as Railroad Workers United to gain momentum for legislation that would help protect children attending schools who could be negatively impacted by the rail transport of hazardous substances.
The railway disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, which resulted in multiple lawsuits filed by several Pennsylvania school districts against Norfolk Southern, convinced Illinois legislators of the necessity for schools to have emergency evacuation plans in place. Toxic materials were found on school buildings, soil, and water supplies, causing student and staff injuries. This further led to medical problems, the risk for future diseases, and the need for future monitoring of properties.
“We hope to see our bill adopted in other states,” said Gerri Songer, Campaign Liaison for La Coalition Rail Safety Campaign, Woods & Wetlands Group, Sierra Club - IL Chapter. Michigan Senator Erika Geiss is excited to draft and introduce legislation similar to the bill passed in Illinois.
“Working with La Coalition has been an eye-opening experience. It was a long, hard fought battle. Our bill was introduced but stuck on first reading for several years. Finally, diligence paid off, and SB 71 is now law in Illinois,” explains La Coalition member, Nicole Saulsberry. “The safety of communities from railway accidents, especially when they are transporting hazardous and highly flammable materials, should be everyone's concern. The devastating impact on residents of Lac-Mégantic underscores this point.”
La Coalition member Gloria Charland says, “It’s encouraging to witness Illinois advancing towards the protection of our families and children. The dedicated efforts of our La Coalition team were instrumental in achieving this significant victory.”
