SB3178 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 23106 RJF 32264 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB3178

Introduced 1/13/2022, by Sen. Scott M. Bennett

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
20 ILCS 3967/Act rep.
20 ILCS 4003/Act rep.
20 ILCS 4060/Act rep.

Creates the Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council Act. Provides for the codification of the Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council. Provides that the Council is the successor to: (i) the Illinois River Coordinating Council; (ii) the Mississippi River Coordinating Council; and (iii) the Wabash and Ohio River Coordinating Council. Provides for the consolidation and transfer of powers to the Council. Establishes the Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council as consisting of 20 voting members to be appointed by the Governor. Specifies the membership of the Council. Provides for membership terms and meetings. Provides that 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. Provides that members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but the Office of the Lieutenant Governor may reimburse members of the Council for travel expenses. Provides for duties of the Council and duties of State agencies represented on the Council. Repeals the Illinois River Watershed Restoration Act, the Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act, and the Wabash and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council Act.

A BILL FOR

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 Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council was created by Executive Order 2013-5. This Act is the implementation of Part III of that Executive Order, together with additional provisions to ensure that the Council is able to function as intended under that Executive Order. The intent of this Act is to ensure that the Council is able to fulfill its duties and purpose under that Executive Order. If there is a conflict between the provisions of the Executive Order and this Act, this Act shall be controlling.

Section 10. Transfer and consolidation of powers.

(a) The Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council created by Executive Order 2013-5 and implemented by this Act is the successor to: (i) the Illinois River Coordinating Council; (ii) the Mississippi River Coordinating Council; and (iii) the Wabash and Ohio River Coordinating Council.

(b) All rights, powers, duties, and functions vested by law in the entities specified under subsection (a), or any office, division, council, committee, bureau, board, commission, officer, employee, or associated individual, person, or entity thereof, and all rights, powers, and duties incidental to those entities, including funding mechanisms, are consolidated in and transferred to the Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council.

Section 15. Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council.

(a) There is established the Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council consisting of 20 voting members to be appointed by the Governor as provided in this Section. The Governor may, at his or her discretion, also appoint individuals to serve as additional non-voting members of the Council.

(b) The Council shall include the following members:

(1) One member shall be the Lieutenant Governor, who shall serve as a voting member and as Chairperson of the Council.

(2) The State agency members of the Council shall include the head, or his or her designee, of each of the following State agencies or divisions thereof: (A) the Department of Agriculture; (B) the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; (C) the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; (D) the Department of Natural Resources; (E) the Department of Transportation; and (F) the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources.

(3) The head, or his or her designee, of the: (A) Army Corp of Engineers; (B) the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC); (C) the Illinois State Water Survey; and (D) the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD).

(4) Nine members representing local communities and not-for-profit organizations working to protect the rivers, business, agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment.

(c) Members of the Council appointed under paragraph (4) of subsection (b) shall serve 2-year terms, except that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed to serve 2-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.

(d) Members of the Council shall meet at least quarterly, and meetings may be held in-person, by videoconference, or by telephone conference at the discretion of the Chairperson.

(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 the Office of the Lieutenant Governor may reimburse members of the Council for travel expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose.

Section 20. Duties of the Council.

(a) The Council shall do the following:

(1) periodically review activities and programs administered by State and federal agencies that directly impact the Illinois River Watershed, the Mississippi River, and the Wabash and Ohio Rivers;

(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 Illinois River Watershed and rivers;

(4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure of appropriated funds affecting the Illinois River Watershed and rivers;

(5) advise and make recommendations to the Governor on funds and the priority of projects;

(6) encourage local communities to develop watershed management plans to address storm water, 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 rivers, 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

(7) help identify possible sources of additional funding for rivers and watershed management projects.

(b) To the extent practical, the Council shall perform its duties in accordance with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's Integrated Management Plan for the Illinois River Watershed Technical Report.

Section 25. State agency duties. State agencies represented on the Council shall provide to the Council, upon request, information concerning agency programs and activities that impact the Illinois River Watershed and the rivers.

(20 ILCS 3967/Act rep.)

Section 100. The Illinois River Watershed Restoration Act is repealed.

(20 ILCS 4003/Act rep.)

Section 105. The Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act is repealed.

(20 ILCS 4060/Act rep.)

Section 110. The Wabash and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council Act is repealed.