1. (a) Any local unit of government serving 500 or more residents operating a fire department organized under the provisions of the Municipal Code may cease the operation and maintenance of the fire department or fire departments by submitting a referendum to the voters served by the fire department or departments. The referendum proposing the dissolution of the fire department or departments shall be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the requirements provided by subsection (a) of this Section, except that the ballot for such election shall be in substantially the following form:

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   Shall the (name of fire

   department) serving the citizens with YES

   (list local unit(s) of government) cease ----------------------------------------------------------------

   to provide emergency services and be NO

   dissolved and discontinued?

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   If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of such dissolution, the court shall enter an order discontinuing the fire department or departments.

   The rights of the employees of the dissolved fire department or departments provided by the Personnel Code, any applicable collective bargaining agreements, or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly.

2. (b) A municipality that is a home rule or non-home rule unit may not dissolve a fire department or fire departments in a manner that is inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of the powers and functions exercised by the State.

(Source: P.A. 98-666, eff. 1-1-15.)