HB3928eng 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3928 Engrossed LRB102 13920 KMF 19271 b

AN ACT concerning conservation.

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

Section 1. Findings. The State of Illinois finds that:

(1) rapid land development in Illinois has led to the loss of forestlands, farmlands, wildlife habitats, biodiversity, outstanding natural areas, beaches, and public areas for outdoor recreation and has impacted the health of the State's lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands, all of which impacts the quality of life of the State's current and future citizens and may jeopardize the well-being of the State's environment and economy if not addressed appropriately;

(2) this same rapid land development has also led to the loss of historical and archaeological sites that embody the heritage of the State;

(3) this same rapid land development is occurring across the United States and across the world;

(4) scientists have documented this rapid loss of natural area and wildlife, including the loss of 1,500,000 acres of natural area in the United States per year; the loss of 2,900,000,000, or twenty-nine percent of, North American birds since 1970; threats to approximately 12,000 plant and animal species in the United States, all of which are in need of proactive conservation efforts; and the loss of one-half of freshwater and saltwater wetlands in the contiguous forty-eight states;

(5) scientists have recommended conserving and protecting thirty percent of the land and thirty percent of the ocean in each country by 2030 in order to address this deterioration of natural systems, loss of biodiversity, and rapid land development;

(6) national leaders have introduced measures to commit the United States to protecting thirty percent of its lands and oceans by 2030; and

(7) in order to support national efforts and provide state leadership to address the deterioration of natural systems, loss of biodiversity, and rapid land development, Illinois must establish a bold goal for the amount of land to be protected by the year 2030.

Section 5. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Thirty-by-Thirty Conservation Task Force Act.

Section 10. Thirty-by-Thirty Task Force. There is hereby created the Illinois Thirty-By-Thirty Conservation Task Force. The Task Force shall have 23 members, comprised as follows:

(1) the Director of Natural Resources or the Director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

(2) two members from the House of Representatives, appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the House Minority Leader;

(3) two members of the Senate, appointed one each by the President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader;

(4) one member appointed by the Director or Director Designee of the Department of Agriculture;

(5) one member appointed by the Director or Director Designee of The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency;

(6) one member appointed by the Director or Director Designee of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;

(7) one member appointed by the Director or Director Designee of the Illinois Department of Transportation;

(8) one environmentalist appointed by the Department of Natural Resources;

(9) one member from a State agriculture association appointed by the chairperson;

(10) two environmental science teachers appointed by the chairperson;

(11) four environmental science students appointed by the chairperson;

(12) three members of a private sector environmental organization appointed by the chairperson;

(13) one higher education professional working with crop science, appointed by the chairperson;

(14) one chemical fertilizer professional appointed by the chairperson; and

(15) one seed producer appointed by the chairperson.

Section 15. Duties of the Task Force. The Task Force shall hold listening sessions regarding ways in which Illinois can protect 30% of its land and water resources by 2030. The Task Force shall hold a minimum of three separate listening sessions in geographically distinct areas of the State.

(1) The meetings should at a minimum seek to explore the following focus areas:

(A) identify resources that the State has and how they are being utilized to protect land and water resources;

(B) identify tools, resources, and incentives for landowners and the private sector to restore degraded natural areas and to manage their resources sustainably;

(C) identify financial resources from the private sector, philanthropy, and public sources to expand protections and to help manage lands and waters for conservation;

(D) the ability of the State to manage more public lands for the benefit of future generations; and

(E) strategies to conserve and protect 30% of Illinois' land and water by 2030.

(2) The Task Force shall observe the sovereignty of tribal nations through meaningful consultation with indigenous tribal leaders, and shall help indigenous tribal communities fulfill their visions and priorities for the stewardship of natural, cultural, and historic resources.

(3) The Task Force members shall serve without compensation.

Section 20. Administration. The Department of Natural Resources shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force.

Section 25. Report. The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes the information gathered during the listening sessions and submit the report to the Governor and General Assembly on or before July 1, 2022.

Section 30. Repeal. The Task Force is dissolved, and this Act is repealed on July 1, 2023.

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