093_HB2014eng

 
HB2014 Engrossed                     LRB093 06148 BDD 06254 b

 1        AN ACT concerning conservation.

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

 4        Section 5.  The Illinois Open Land Trust Act  is  amended
 5    by changing Section 5 as follows:

 6        (525 ILCS 33/5)
 7        Sec. 5.  Legislative policy. Policy.
 8        (a)  The  provision  of  lands  for  the  conservation of
 9    natural resources and public recreation  promote  the  public
10    health,  prosperity,  and  general  welfare  and  are  proper
11    responsibilities of State government.
12        (b)  Lands  now  dedicated  to  these  purposes  are  not
13    adequate to protect the quality of life and meet the needs of
14    an expanding population.
15        (c)  Natural  areas,  wetlands,  forests,  prairies, open
16    spaces, and greenways provide critical habitat for  fish  and
17    wildlife and are in need of protection.
18        (d)  The  opportunity to acquire lands that are available
19    and appropriate for these purposes will  gradually  disappear
20    as their cost correspondingly increases.
21        (e)  It  is  desirable  to  encourage  partnerships among
22    federal, State,  and  local  governments  and  not-for-profit
23    corporations for the acquisition of land for conservation and
24    recreation purposes.
25        (f)  It  is necessary and desirable to provide assistance
26    in the form of grants and loans to units of local  government
27    to  acquire  lands  that  have  significant  conservation and
28    recreation attributes.
29    (Source: P.A. 91-220, eff. 7-21-99.)