Public Act 097-0178
 
SB0168 EnrolledLRB097 06789 RLJ 46880 b


  
    AN ACT concerning State government.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  


 
    Section 5. The Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act 
is amended  by changing Sections 10, 15, and 20 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 4003/10)

    Sec. 10. Mississippi River Coordinating Council. 
    (a)    There is established the Mississippi River 
Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 16 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, the 
Historic Preservation Agency, 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 8 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, 2 
of which must reside within a county that is adjacent to the 
Mississippi River.
    (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.
    (g) The members of the Council shall appoint one member of 
the Council to serve as the Illinois representative to the 
National Mississippi River Parkway Commission. 

(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
    (20 ILCS 4003/15)

    Sec. 15. Duties of the Council. 
    (a) 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 
    and projects and activities related to the Great River 
    Road, a national scenic and recreational highway.


    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Council may pay for a 
membership to the National Mississippi River Commission. 
(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
    (20 ILCS 4003/20)

    Sec. 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. The Secretary of Transportation, the Director 
of Agriculture, the Director of the Environmental Protection 
Agency, the Director of Historic Preservation, the Director of 
Natural Resources, and the Director of Commerce and Economic 
Opportunity shall each designate at least one employee from his 
or her respective agency to assist the Council.

(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
 

    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.