Illinois Statutes Chapter 220. Utilities § 5/7-213. Limitations on the transfer of water systems

(a) In the event of a sale, purchase, or any other transfer of ownership, including, without limitation, the acquisition by eminent domain, of a water system, as defined under Section 11-124-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code, operated by a privately held public water utility, the water utility's contract or agreements with the acquiring entity (or, in the case of an eminent domain action, the court order) must require that the acquiring entity hire a sufficient number of non-supervisory employees to operate and maintain the water system by initially making offers of employment to the non-supervisory workforce of the water system at no less than the wage rates, and substantially equivalent fringe benefits and terms and conditions of employment that are in effect at the time of transfer of ownership of the water system. The wage rates and substantially equivalent fringe benefits and terms and conditions of employment must continue for at least 30 months after the time of the transfer of ownership unless the parties mutually agree to different terms and conditions of employment within that 30-month period.

(b) The privately held public water utility shall offer a transition plan to those employees who are not offered jobs by the acquiring entity because that entity has a need for fewer workers. The transition plan shall mitigate employee job losses to the extent practical through such means as offers of voluntary severance, retraining, early retirement, out placement, or related benefits. Before any reduction in the workforce during a water system transaction, the privately held public water utility shall present to the employees, or their representatives, a transition plan outlining the means by which the utility intends to mitigate the impact of the workforce reduction of its employees.