Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 20 - EXECUTIVE BRANCH
20 ILCS 3440/ - Human Skeletal Remains Protection Act.

(20 ILCS 3440/0.01) (from Ch. 127, par. 2660)
Sec. 0.01.
Short title.
This Act may be cited as the
Human Skeletal Remains Protection Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-1324.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/1) (from Ch. 127, par. 2661)
Sec. 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:
(a) "Human skeletal remains" include the bones and decomposed fleshy
parts of a deceased human body.
(b) "Unregistered graves" are any graves or locations where a human body
has been buried or deposited; is over 100 years old; and is not in a
cemetery registered with or licensed by the State Comptroller under the Cemetery Care Act or under the authority of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation pursuant to the Cemetery Oversight Act, whichever is applicable.
(c) "Grave artifacts" are any item of human manufacture or use that is
associated with the human skeletal remains in an unregistered grave.
(d) "Grave markers" are any tomb, monument, stone, ornament, mound, or
other item of human manufacture that is associated with an unregistered grave.
(e) "Person" means any natural individual, firm, trust, estate,
partnership, association, joint stock company, joint venture, corporation
or a receiver, trustee, guardian or other representatives appointed by
order of any court, the Federal and State governments, including State
Universities created by statute or any city, town, county or other political
subdivision of this State.
(f) "Disturb" includes excavating, removing, exposing, defacing,
mutilating, destroying, molesting, or desecrating in any
way human skeletal remains, unregistered graves, and grave markers.

(Source: P.A. 96-863, eff. 3-1-10; 97-679, eff. 2-6-12.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/2) (from Ch. 127, par. 2662)
Sec. 2. Legislative finding and intentions. The General Assembly
finds that existing laws do not provide equal or adequate protection for all
human graves. There is a real and growing threat to the safety and
sanctity of unregistered and unmarked graves. Numerous incidents in
Illinois have resulted in the desecration of human remains and vandalism to
grave markers. Similar incidents have occurred in neighboring states and
as a result those states have increased their criminal penalties for such
conduct. There is a strong likelihood that persons engaged for personal or
financial gain in the mining of prehistoric and historic Indian, pioneer,
and Civil War veteran's graves will move their operations to Illinois to
avoid the increased penalties being imposed in neighboring states. There
is an immediate need for legislation to protect the graves of these earlier
Illinoisans from such desecration. The General Assembly intends to assure
with this Act that all human burials be accorded equal treatment and
respect for human dignity without reference to ethnic origins, cultural
backgrounds or religious affiliations.
The General Assembly also finds that those persons engaged in the
scientific study or collecting of artifacts which
have not been acquired in violation of law are engaged in legitimate and
worthy scientific, educational and recreational activities. This Act is
not intended to interfere with the continued legitimate collecting
activities or studies of such persons; nor is it intended to interfere with
the normal enjoyment of private property owners, farmers, or those engaged
in the development, mining or improvement of real property.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/3) (from Ch. 127, par. 2663)
Sec. 3.
Any person who discovers human skeletal remains subject to
this Act shall promptly notify the coroner. Any person who knowingly fails
to report such a discovery within 48 hours is guilty of a Class C
misdemeanor, unless such person has reasonable cause to believe that the
coroner had already been so notified. If the human skeletal remains appear
to be from an unregistered grave, the coroner shall promptly notify the Department of Natural Resources
prior to their removal. Nothing in this Act
shall be construed to apply to human skeletal remains subject to "An Act to
revise the law in relation to coroners".

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/4) (from Ch. 127, par. 2664)
Sec. 4.
It is unlawful for any person, either by himself or through
an agent, to knowingly disturb human skeletal remains and grave artifacts
in unregistered graves protected by this Act unless such person obtains a
permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources.

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/4.5)
Sec. 4.5.
O'Hare Modernization.
Nothing in this Act limits the authority
of the City of Chicago to exercise its powers under the O'Hare Modernization
Act or requires that City, or any person acting on behalf of that City, to
obtain a permit under this Act when acquiring property or otherwise exercising
its powers under the O'Hare Modernization Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-450, eff. 8-6-03.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/4.75)
Sec. 4.75. South Suburban Airport. The Illinois Department of Transportation, and any person acting on its behalf under a public-private agreement entered into in accordance with the Public-Private Agreements for the South Suburban Airport Act, is exempt from the permit requirements of this Act, provided that the Illinois Department of Transportation, or any such person, takes reasonable steps to comply with the provisions of this Act so long as compliance does not interfere with the design, development, operation, or maintenance of the South Suburban Airport or the exercise of their powers under the Public-Private Agreements for the South Suburban Airport Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-109, eff. 7-25-13.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/5) (from Ch. 127, par. 2665)
Sec. 5.
It is unlawful for any person, either by himself or through
an agent, to knowingly disturb a grave marker protected by this Act unless
such person obtains a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources.

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/6) (from Ch. 127, par. 2666)
Sec. 6.

It is unlawful for any person, either by himself or through
an agent, to offer any human skeletal remains, grave artifacts or grave
markers for sale or exchange with the knowledge that they have been
collected or excavated in violation of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-151.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/7) (from Ch. 127, par. 2667)
Sec. 7.

It is unlawful for any person, either by himself or through
an agent, to knowingly allow the disturbance of human skeletal remains,
unregistered graves, or grave markers on property controlled by that person
unless such disturbance is authorized by a permit issued by the Historic
Preservation Agency.

(Source: P.A. 86-151.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/8) (from Ch. 127, par. 2668)
Sec. 8.
The State's Attorney of the county in which a
violation of Sections 4, 5, 6, or 7 of this Act is alleged to
have occurred, or the Attorney General, may be requested by
the Director of Natural Resources to initiate
criminal prosecutions or to seek civil damages, injunctive
relief and any other appropriate relief. The Department of Natural Resources shall co-operate with the State's Attorney
or the Attorney General. Persons aware of any violations of
this Act shall contact the Department of Natural Resources.

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/9) (from Ch. 127, par. 2669)
Sec. 9.
The Department of Natural Resources is authorized to offer a
reward of up to $2000 for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of persons who violate Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/10) (from Ch. 127, par. 2670)
Sec. 10.

Any violation of Sections 4, 6 or 7 of this Act is a Class A
misdemeanor and the violator shall be subject to imprisonment for not more
than 1 year and a fine not in excess of $10,000; any subsequent violation
is a Class 4 felony. Each disturbance of an unregistered grave constitutes
a separate offense.

(Source: P.A. 86-151.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/11) (from Ch. 127, par. 2671)
Sec. 11.

Any violation of Section 5 of this Act is a Class B
misdemeanor and the violator shall be subject to imprisonment for not more
than 6 months and a fine not in excess of $500; any subsequent violation
is a Class A misdemeanor. Each disturbance of a grave marker constitutes a
separate offense.

(Source: P.A. 86-151.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/12) (from Ch. 127, par. 2672)
Sec. 12.

Persons convicted of a violation of Section 4 or 5 of this
Act shall also be liable for civil damages to be assessed by the Historic
Preservation Agency. Civil damages may include:
(a) forfeiture of any and all equipment used in disturbing the protected
unregistered graves or grave markers;
(b) any and all costs incurred in cleaning, restoring, analyzing,
accessioning and curating the recovered materials;
(c) any and all costs associated with restoring the land to its original
contour or the grave marker to its original condition;
(d) any and all costs associated with recovery of data, and analyzing,
publishing, accessioning and curating materials when the prohibited
activity is so extensive as to preclude the restoration of the unregistered
burials or grave markers;
(e) any and all costs associated with the reinterment of the human skeletal remains;
(f) any and all costs associated with the determination and collection
of the civil damages.
When civil damages are recovered through the Attorney General, the
proceeds shall be deposited into the Historic Sites Fund; when civil
damages are recovered through the State's Attorney, the proceeds shall be
deposited into the county funds designated by the county board.

(Source: P.A. 86-151.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/13) (from Ch. 127, par. 2673)
Sec. 13.
(a) The Department of Natural Resources shall develop
regulations, in consultation with the Illinois State Museum, whereby
permits may be issued for the removal of human skeletal remains and grave
artifacts from unregistered graves or the removal of grave markers.
(b) Each permit shall specify all terms and conditions under which the
removal of human skeletal remains, grave artifacts, or grave markers shall
be carried out. All costs accrued in the removal of the aforementioned
materials shall be borne by the permit applicant. Upon completion of the
project, the permit holder shall submit a report of the results to the Department of Natural Resources.

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/14) (from Ch. 127, par. 2674)
Sec. 14.
All human skeletal remains and grave artifacts in
unregistered graves are held in trust for the people of Illinois by the
State and are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources.
All materials collected under this Act shall be maintained, with dignity
and respect, for the people of the State under the care of the Illinois
State Museum.

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/15) (from Ch. 127, par. 2675)
Sec. 15.
The Department of Natural Resources shall promulgate such
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)
 
(20 ILCS 3440/16) (from Ch. 127, par. 2676)
Sec. 16.
Activities reviewed by the Department of Natural Resources
pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16
U.S.C. 470f) and activities permitted pursuant to the Federal Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-87), or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder or any law, rule or regulation adopted
by the State of Illinois thereunder shall be exempt from these permitting
requirements.

(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)

Structure Illinois Compiled Statutes