(70 ILCS 1816/5)

Sec. 5. Creation; membership; administrative support.

(a) The Illinois Waterway Ports Commission is hereby created. The Commission shall exercise jurisdiction with respect to the duties and powers delegated to it under this Act within the following port districts and counties: the Seneca Regional Port District, the Ottawa Port District, the Illinois Valley Regional Port District, the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District, and the Havana Port District and Fulton, Mason, Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, LaSalle, and Grundy counties.

(b) The Commission shall consist of the following 9 appointed members:

(1) a member of the Board of the Seneca Regional Port District, appointed by the Chairperson of the Board;

(2) a member of the Board of the Ottawa Port District, appointed by the Chairperson of the Board;

(3) a member of the Board of the Illinois Valley Regional Port District, appointed by the Chairperson of the Board;

(4) a member of the Board of the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District, appointed by the Chairperson of the Board;

(5) a member of the Board of the Havana Regional Port District, appointed by the Chairperson of the Board;

(6) a member from a not-for-profit organization that assists with local government planning within the northern territory of the Commission, appointed by the majority vote of the chairpersons of the Seneca Regional Port District, Ottawa Port District, Illinois Valley Regional Port District, Heart of Illinois Regional Port District, and Havana Regional Port District;

(7) a member appointed by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission from the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission;

(8) a member from a not-for-profit organization that assists with local government planning within the southern territory of the Commission, appointed by the majority vote of the chairpersons of the Seneca Regional Port District, Ottawa Port District, Illinois Valley Regional Port District, Heart of Illinois Regional Port District, and Havana Regional Port District;

(9) a member that is recommended by the Chairperson of the Board of the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District and appointed by the majority vote of the chairpersons of the Seneca Regional Port District, Ottawa Port District, Illinois Valley Regional Port District, Heart of Illinois Regional Port District, and Havana Regional Port District.

The members shall be appointed no later than 90 days after the effective date of this Act. The members shall hold office for a period of 6 years, or until a successor has been appointed, and the members shall serve without compensation. At the expiration of the term of an appointed member, the person, organization, chairperson, or chairpersons who appointed the member shall appoint a successor who shall hold office for 6 years or until a successor has been appointed.

(c) The members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson of the Commission for a 2-year term after all the members are selected. A member of the Commission shall not serve more than 2 terms as chairperson.

(d) If a vacancy occurs in the Commission membership, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(e) The Commission shall meet no less than once a year.

(f) The Heart of Illinois Regional Port District shall provide administrative support and other support to the Commission.

(Source: P.A. 103-214, eff. 6-30-23.)