FIBER OPTIC EXCAVATION CREWS

Amends the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act. Defines "fiber optic excavation crew". Provides that a fiber optic excavation crew shall comply with the following requirements: (1) every member of the fiber optic excavation crew must have completed a safety and installation training course provided by JULIE; (2) throughout an excavation project, the fiber optic excavation crew shall only use updated city maps, county maps, and right-of-way maps that are less than 2 years old; (3) the fiber optic excavation crew shall obtain a surety bond and provide proof of the surety bond to the unit of local government with jurisdiction over the excavation project; and (4) within 30 days after the completion of an excavation project, the fiber optic excavation crew shall fully restore any residential and landowner ground surface and landscaping to the condition the applicable land was in before the excavation project commenced. Provides that the amount of the surety bond shall be a reasonable amount set by the applicable unit of local government. Provides that the manager or supervisor of the crew shall send, and the project owner shall confirm the submission of, a letter affirming the restoration of the affected land to the mayor or the applicable township official of the land on which the project is located. Provides that a person who violates the amendatory provisions shall be subject to a $500 fine for the first violation, a $1,000 fine for the second violation, and a fine of no more than $5,000 for each subsequent violation. Provides that the Commission may enter into an arbitration process with a person who violates the amendatory provisions 5 or more times to determine the proper damages, repayment, and fines for the violations.