Public Act 095-0132
 		





HB0987 Enrolled
LRB095 07654 HLH 27806 b






    AN ACT concerning local 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 Wabash 
and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council Act.
 
    Section 5. Legislative Purpose.  The restoration and 
conservation of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their 
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. Wabash and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council.
     
    (a) There is established the Wabash and Ohio Rivers 
Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 13 voting 
members. One member shall be the Lieutenant Governor who shall 
serve as a voting member and as chairperson of the Council. The 
Directors of the following agencies and departments, or their 
designees, shall serve as ex-officio voting members: 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, appointed by the Governor, representing soil and water 
conservation districts located in the proximity of the Wabash 
and Ohio Rivers and its tributaries, and 6 members, appointed 
by the Governor, representing local communities and 
not-for-profit organizations working to protect the Wabash and 
Ohio Rivers and their tributaries, businesses, agriculture, 
recreation, conservation, and the environment.
    (b) The Governor may appoint, as non-voting members, 
individuals representing the interests of the states that 
border the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and individuals representing 
federal agencies.
    (c) The voting members of the Council who are appointed by 
the Governor shall serve 2-year terms, except that of the 
initial appointments, 3 members shall be appointed to serve 
2-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. Members of the Council shall serve without 
compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary 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 do 
the following:
    (1) periodically review activities and programs
    
administered by State and federal agencies that directly impact 
the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their 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 Wabash and Ohio Rivers and 
their tributaries;
    (4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor
    and 
State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure of 
appropriated funds affecting the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and 
their 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 Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their 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 Wabash and Ohio Rivers 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 Wabash and 
Ohio Rivers and their tributaries.