HB4689eng 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4689 Engrossed LRB104 18079 RTM 31518 b

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Regional Planning Act is amended by adding Section 75 as follows:

(70 ILCS 1707/75 new)

Sec. 75. Northeastern Illinois water governance report.

(a) Subject to appropriation, CMAP, in consultation with the Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee created under subsection (d), shall develop and submit to the Governor and General Assembly a report containing a regional planning-level assessment of the sufficiency, management, and governance of water resources and drinking water systems in northeastern Illinois. Additionally, the report shall identify policy options to strengthen long-term water security, reliability, affordability, and coordination within the region.

The report may draw upon existing studies, publicly available data, and stakeholder input to identify regional trends, risks, and opportunities related to water supply, infrastructure, and governance. The report shall include the following topics as they pertain to the region as defined in Section 10:

(1) water supply needs, including any expected changes to water demand and opportunities to conserve or reuse water;

(2) potential climate and environmental risks to water supply and infrastructure in the region;

(3) a planning-level assessment of factors affecting redundancy and reliability of water infrastructure in the region, including whether water service can be maintained if infrastructure fails;

(4) an assessment of technical, managerial, or financial capacity challenges facing water utilities in the region or any combination of those challenges;

(5) regional trends in regulatory compliance and water quality;

(6) data, information, and coordination necessary for utilities and State agencies to better understand and manage water resources effectively;

(7) recommendations for at least 2 governance or collaboration models that could better address water quality, long-term water security, and water affordability in the region, including case studies of examples from other regions and states; and

(8) recommendations on ways State agencies and departments could improve data collection, planning, coordination, and regulation of water in the region.

(b) The assessment described in subsection (a) shall be submitted to the General Assembly and Governor within 24 months of the date of transfer to CMAP of funds appropriated for the purpose of conducting the assessment.

(c) To facilitate the creation of the report described in subsection (a), relevant State agencies, universities, and research institutes, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Public Health, and the Illinois State Water Survey, shall provide relevant data sets, documentation, and information to CMAP upon request, subject to applicable confidentiality requirements and data-sharing restrictions. Such data shall be provided as soon as practicable.

In developing the report, CMAP may request information relevant to this Section from public water systems, utilities, and other stakeholders in the region through surveys, interviews, or other outreach methods to better understand system conditions, infrastructure needs, and operational challenges. Participation in the requests shall be voluntary.

CMAP shall safeguard data obtained during this process to prevent unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or alteration; meet or exceed applicable federal and State security standards; and ensure data integrity, availability, and confidentiality.

(d) The Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee is created. The membership of the Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee shall include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Director's designee;

(2) the Director of Natural Resources or the Director's designee;

(3) the Director of the Illinois State Water Survey or the Director's designee;

(4) the Director of Public Health or the Director's designee;

(5) the Governor or the Governor's designee;

(6) two members who are representatives of municipalities located within Cook County, at least one of which is a member of the south suburban Mayors and Managers Association, appointed by the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners;

(7) one member who is a representative of a municipality located within DuPage County, appointed by the DuPage County Board Chair;

(8) one member who is a representative of a municipality located within Will County, appointed by the Will County Board Chair;

(9) one member who is a representative of a municipality located within Lake County, appointed by the Lake County Board Chair;

(10) one member who is a representative of a municipality located within Kane County, appointed by the Kane County Board Chair;

(11) one member who is a representative of a municipality located within Kendall County, appointed by the Kendall County Board Chair;

(12) one member who is a representative of a municipality located within McHenry County, appointed by the McHenry County Board Chair;

(13) one member who is a representative from the City of Chicago, appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago;

(14) two members representing water commissions formed under the Water Commission Act of 1985, Municipal Joint Action Water Agencies formed under Section 3.1 of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, or regional water commissions formed under Article 11, Division 135.5 of the Illinois Municipal Code, appointed by the Director of CMAP;

(15) one member who is a representative from a public utility, as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act, that provides water service in the State of Illinois, appointed by the Director of CMAP;

(16) one member who is a representative of the Illinois environmental protection and conservation community, appointed by the Director of CMAP;

(17) one member who is a representative from a nonprofit civic organization, appointed by the Director of CMAP;

(18) one member who is a representative from organized labor, appointed by the Director of CMAP;

(19) one member representing an environmental justice organization, appointed by the Director of CMAP;

(20) one member representing a consumer or utility customer advocacy organization, appointed by the Director of CMAP;

(21) one expert in the technical, financial, and managerial capacities of water utilities, appointed by the Director of CMAP; and

(22) one expert in the management of regional drinking water or wastewater utilities, appointed by the Director of CMAP.

(e) Appointments to the Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee shall be made within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

(f) Members of the Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee shall serve without compensation.

(g) The Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee shall be dissolved on the day after submission of the report described in subsection (a) to the General Assembly and Governor.

(h) This Section is repealed on December 31, 2030.