(a) A person commits the offense of causing a catastrophe if he or she knowingly causes a catastrophe by explosion, fire, flood, collapse of a building, or release of poison, radioactive material, bacteria, virus, or other dangerous and difficult to confine force or substance.
     (b) As used in this Section, “catastrophe” means serious physical injury to 5 or more persons, substantial damage to 5 or more buildings or inhabitable structures, or substantial damage to a vital public facility that seriously impairs its usefulness or operation; and “vital public facility” means a facility that is necessary to ensure or protect the public health, safety, or welfare, including, but not limited to, a hospital, a law enforcement agency, a fire department, a private or public utility company, a national defense contractor, a facility of the armed forces, or an emergency services agency.

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Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-15.1

  • Person: has the meaning given in Section 2-15 of this Code and, in addition to that meaning, includes, without limitation, any charitable organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, any professional fund raiser, professional solicitor, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, association, trust, trustee, or any group of people formally or informally affiliated or associated for a common purpose, and any officer, director, partner, member, or agent of any person. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10
  • Substantial damage: means monetary damage greater than $100,000. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 720 ILCS 5/29D-10

     (c) Sentence. Causing a catastrophe is a Class X felony.