HB5165eng 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5165 Engrossed LRB104 20238 BDA 33689 b

AN ACT concerning conservation.

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 Public Waters Access Task Force Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds the following:

(1) Illinois' rivers provide significant ecological, recreational, and economic benefits.

(2) Access to rivers for boating, paddling, angling, and other outdoor recreation is essential to supporting tourism and public enjoyment of natural resources.

(3) Many communities across the State face barriers to safe, legal, and adequate river access.

(4) A coordinated, statewide evaluation is necessary to identify opportunities to expand and improve river access while balancing conservation, landowner interests, and public safety.

(5) A significant number of waterways in Illinois are privately owned and riparian rights must be protected and respected.

Section 10. Public Waters Access Task Force; creation.

(a) The Public Waters Access Task Force is created to study and make recommendations for increasing and improving public access to rivers for boaters, paddlers, and anglers throughout the State.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) one member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(2) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(5) eight members appointed by the Director of Natural Resources, as follows:

(A) three members from organizations representing outdoor recreation interests;

(B) one member from a statewide organization representing cattle farmers in Illinois;

(C) one member who is a landowner in Illinois whose property includes a river;

(D) one member from a statewide organization representing real estate brokers;

(E) one member from the State's largest general agriculture association; and

(F) one member from an association that represents attorneys statewide; and

(6) one member from the Department of Natural Resources designated by the Director of Natural Resources.

(c) The Task Force shall be co-chaired by:

(1) the member appointed under paragraph (6) of subsection (b); and

(2) one of the members appointed under paragraph (5) of subsection (b), selected by a majority vote of the members appointed under paragraph (5) of subsection (b).

Section 15. Duties of the Task Force. The Task Force shall:

(1) evaluate current public access to rivers across Illinois, including boat launches, public rights-of-way, private ownership, easements, and informal access points;

(2) identify barriers to river access, including regulatory, physical, financial, and land-use challenges;

(3) consult with local governments, conservation groups, landowners, recreational users, and other stakeholders;

(4) review best practices from other states for expanding river access while protecting natural resources and respecting private property rights; and

(5) develop recommendations to increase and improve river access, including potential legislative, regulatory, and funding strategies.

Section 20. Support. The Department of Natural Resources shall provide administrative, technical, and logistical support to the Task Force.

Section 25. Report; repeal.

(a) The Task Force shall submit a final report containing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than one year after the effective date of this Act.

(b) Upon submission of the final report, the Task Force is dissolved.

(c) This Act is repealed 2 years after the effective date of this Act.

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