IL SB3667

Creates unified fire protection districts by allowing contiguous units of local government (municipalities, counties, fire protection districts, townships) to combine services through an intergovernmental agreement approved by referendum.

Requires petition signatures from the lesser of 100 legal voters or 10% of voters in each participating unit, filed in circuit court with a hearing within 4-8 weeks and public notice 21 days prior.

Mandates that unified districts achieve net savings in fire protection and emergency medical services costs through eliminating duplicative administrative staff, equipment, and capital expenditures, unless cost increases justify service quality upgrades.

Limits district taxing authority to prevent net property tax increases on residents; requires 50% of operating cost savings applied to property tax reduction and 50% to firefighters' pension funds or additional tax reduction if no unfunded liabilities exist.

Establishes a Board of 5-7 trustees with proportional voting based on population, requires a single fire chief commanding all shifts, and preserves existing employee contracts and collective bargaining rights while allowing unit consolidation with employee majority approval.