Public Act 094-0996
 		





SB2360 Enrolled
LRB094 17975 RSP 53278 b






    AN ACT concerning State government.

 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:


 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act.
 
    Section 5. Legislative Purpose. The Mississippi River is 
the primary water artery for the economic development of the 
United States.  The restoration and conservation of the 
Mississippi River and its tributaries is in the economic and 
ecological interest of the citizens of this State.  It is 
further in the public interest to establish, implement and 
monitor water management projects run by local, state, federal 
and not-for-profit entities.
 
    Section 10. Mississippi River Coordinating Council. 
    (a)    There is established the Mississippi River 
Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 13 voting 
members to be appointed by the Governor.  One member shall be 
the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and 
as chairperson of the Council.  The agency members of the 
Council shall include the Directors, or their designees, of the 
following:  the Department of Agriculture, the Department of 
Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, and the 
Department of Transportation. In addition, the Council shall 
include one member representing Soil and Water Conservation 
Districts located in the proximity of the Mississippi River and 
its tributaries, and 6 members representing local communities, 
not-for-profit organizations working to protect the 
Mississippi River and its tributaries, businesses, 
agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment.
    (b)   The Governor may appoint, as ex-officio members, 
individuals representing the interests of the states who border 
the Mississippi River and individuals representing federal 
agencies.
    (c)    Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, except 
that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed 
to serve 3-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.
    (d)   The Council shall meet at least quarterly.
    (e)    The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be 
responsible for the operations of the Council, including, 
without limitation, funding and oversight of the Council's 
activities.  The Office may reimburse members of the Council for 
travel expenses.
    (f)     This Section is subject to the provisions of Section 
405-500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law.
 
    Section 15. Duties of the Council. The Council shall:
        (1)   periodically review activities and programs 
    administered by State and federal agencies that directly 
    impact the Mississippi River and its tributaries;
        (2)   work with local communities and organizations to 
    encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and 
    capabilities to address watershed and water resource 
    concerns and to encourage strategies that protect, 
    restore, and expand critical habitats and soil 
    conservation and water quality practices;
        (3)   work with State and federal agencies to optimize 
    the expenditure of funds affecting the Mississippi River 
    and its tributaries;
        (4)   advise and make recommendations to the Governor and 
    State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure 
    of appropriated funds affecting the Mississippi River and 
    its tributaries;
        (5)   encourage local communities to develop water 
    management plans to address stormwater, erosion, flooding, 
    sedimentation, and pollution problems and encourage 
    projects for the natural conveyance and storage of 
    floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and 
    outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery, 
    management, and conservation of the Mississippi River and 
    its tributaries, the preservation of farmland, prairies, 
    and forests, and the use of measurable economic development 
    efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of 
    the State; and
        (6)   help identify possible sources of additional 
    funding for Mississippi River water management projects.


 
    Section 20. Agency duties. State agencies represented on 
the Council shall provide to the Council, on request, 
information concerning agency programs, data, and activities 
that impact the restoration and preservation of the Mississippi 
River and its tributaries.