HWY AD-VEG CONTROL PERMIT

Amends the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall not unreasonably deny a vegetation control permit that seeks to increase the visibility zone from 250 feet to 500 feet. Provides that the extra distance shall be measured diagonally from the edge of the right-of-way to the edge of the pavement, and the visibility zone will be the triangular section it creates. Provides that the measuring of the vegetation control permit only applies to municipal network signs. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 225 ILCS 440/6.05 new Adds reference to: 605 ILCS 5/9-112.6 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall issue rules to provide the standards and procedures for vegetation control, including permit applications, permits, revocations, and the requirements for replacement of vegetation and landscaping removal to establish clear visibility zones of signs along interstate or primary highways in the State. Provides that the Department shall allow the cutting or trimming of vegetation to clear a visibility zone of 500 feet for a single-sided or 1,000 feet for a double-sided municipal digital network sign along interstate or primary highways. Provides that this distance shall be measured from the edge of the sign face closest to the pavement in a direction parallel to the pavement. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following change: Provides that the Department of Transportation shall allow the cutting or trimming of vegetation to clear a visibility zone of 500 feet for a single-sided or 1,000 feet for a double-sided off-premises sign (rather than a double-sided municipal digital networks sign) along interstate or primary highways. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 1, and makes the following changes. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to provide for vegetation control on land or a right-of-way under its jurisdiction related to the visibility of a permitted or registered outdoor advertising sign or grant a permit for such work. Authorizes the Department to issue rules to provide the standards and procedures for vegetation control to establish clear visibility zones along highways in the State under its jurisdiction (rather than along interstate or primary highways in the State). Provides that visibility zones shall be 250 feet in front of a single-sided sign and 250 feet in front of each side of a double-sided sign (rather than 500 feet for a single-sided sign and 1,000 feet for a double-sided off-premises sign along interstate or primary highways). Provides that the visibility zone for signs shall also include an additional 250-foot triangular section measured diagonally from the edge of the right-of-way to the edge of pavement, which shall be measured from the edge of the sign face closest to the pavement in a direction parallel to the pavement. Provides that all cutting or trimming of vegetation shall maintain environmental compliance. Prohibits the cutting or trimming of vegetation from violating the safety rules of the Department. Requires the Department to process a completed vegetation control application within 45 days. Effective 3 months after becoming law.