SB0046 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 06824 CMK 26940 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB0046

Introduced 1/31/2007, by Sen. Susan Garrett

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Green Governments Illinois Act. Provides for the creation of the Green Governments Coordinating Council and sets out the composition and responsibilities of the Council. Gives the Council the authority to solicit and receive grants to fulfill the Council's functions and to solicit, use, and publish advice and information to assist in the Council's duties. Provides that participation in the Green Governments Illinois program by units of State and local government and educational institutions is voluntary. Sets out responsibilities of State agencies under the Act. Provides that a member of the Lieutenant Governor's staff shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a Green Governments Illinois website with specified content. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning 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 Green Governments Illinois Act.

Section 5. Findings and purpose. Daily government operations have an impact on environmental quality and use of natural resources, including the energy and water consumed, the solid waste generated, the buildings constructed, and the goods and services purchased. The purpose of this Act is to demonstrate the State's commitment to reducing negative environmental impacts, reducing greenhouse gasses, and preserving resources for current and future generations. This Act will also strengthen the capacity of units of local government and educational institutions to transition to a more environmentally sustainable future.

Section 10. Green Governments Coordinating Council; established. The Green Governments Coordinating Council is established. The purpose of the Council is to integrate more fully into the ongoing management systems, long-range planning, and daily operations of State agencies a number of cost effective environmental sustainability measures that enhance health and safety, reduce the consumption of energy and fuels, conserve water, minimize emissions and reduce solid and hazardous wastes. The Council will also serve as a resource for units of local government and educational institutions, which includes all public and private school districts, regional offices of education, universities, and colleges.

Section 15. Composition of the Council. The Council shall be comprised of representatives from various State agencies with specific fiscal, procurement, educational, and environmental policy expertise. The Lieutenant Governor is the chair of the Council. The director of each of the following State agencies, or his or her designee, is a member of the Council: the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Natural Resources Waste Management and Research Center, the Department of Central Management Services, the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health, the State Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and the Capital Development Board. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall provide administrative support to the Council. A minimum of one staff position in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be dedicated to the Green Governments Illinois program.

Section 20. Responsibilities of the Council. The Council is responsible for the development and dissemination of programs, plans, and policies to reduce the environmental footprint of State government and for improving the implementation of greening the government initiatives in other institutions, thereby reducing costs to taxpayers and improving efficiency in operations. The Council shall convene on a quarterly basis and shall be responsible for the following:

(a) Establishing long-term environmental sustainability goals that the State will strive to achieve within a period of 3, 5, and 10 years to improve the energy and environmental performance of State buildings, consistent with efficiency and economic objectives. These goals shall, at a minimum, include the following: broad-based performance goals for energy efficiency; use of renewable fuels; water conservation; green purchasing; paper consumption; and solid waste generation. These goals can be met through increased efficiency, operational changes, and improved maintenance and use of cost-effective alternative technologies, raw materials, and fuels.

The Council shall:

(1) communicate the environmental sustainability goals to all State agencies;

(2) establish an electronic system to track and report on environmental progress;

(3) monitor improvement activities; and

(4) propose new goals as appropriate.

(b) Coordinating an awards program that recognizes units of State and local government and educational institutions for developing, adopting, and implementing innovative or exemplary environmental sustainability plans in conformance with this Act.

(c) Creating specific guidance materials for State agencies, educational institutions, and units of local government on how to integrate environmental sustainability into existing management systems, planning, and operational practices, while still providing necessary services and ensuring efficient and effective operations. These guidance materials must include a list of environmental and energy best practices, case studies, policy language, model plans, and other resource information. These materials must be made available on a web site devoted to the Green Governments Illinois program.

(d) Developing and implementing, to the extent fiscally feasible, training programs designed to instill the importance and value of environmental sustainability.

(e) Providing new ways for State government to build markets for environmentally preferable products and services without compromising price, competition, and availability. The Council shall initially focus on integrated pest management, bio-based products, recycled content paper, energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative fuel vehicles, and green cleaning supplies. Within existing resources, the Department of Central Management Services shall designate a single point of contact for State agencies, suppliers, and other interested parties to contact regarding environmentally preferable purchasing issues.

(f) Working collaboratively with State agencies, units of local government, educational institutions, and the legislative branches of government to promote benchmarking, commissioning, and retro-commissioning to make government and institutional buildings more resource-efficient, energy efficient, and healthful public places.

(g) Reviewing budgetary policy and making recommendations to the Governor on incentives for State agencies to undertake environmental improvements that result in long-term cost-savings, productivity enhancements, or other outcomes deemed appropriate to the State's sustainability goals.

(h) Reporting annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on the results of environmental sustainability actions taken by State agencies, educational institutions and units of local government during the prior calendar year. The report must include the environmental and economic benefits of the environmental sustainability actions, where feasible, the consumption of those actions, and provide recommendations for future environmental improvement activities during the following year. The report shall be filed by September 1, 2008, and September 1 of each subsequent year.

(i) The chairman of the Council shall determine whether or not the I-Cycle program is operating effectively and make recommendations concerning management of the I-Cycle Program. The chairman has the authority to dissolve the I-Cycle program if the program is found to be ineffective.

Section 25. Authority of the Council. To fulfill its functions, the Council has the authority to:

(1) Solicit and receive grants.

(2) Solicit, use, and publish advice and information from non-governmental entities and experts to assist in the Council's duties.

Section 30. Voluntary participation. Participation in the provisions of this Act by units of local government and educational institutions is voluntary.

Section 35. Environmental Plans and Reporting.

(a) Each State agency shall submit an adopted environmental sustainability plan to the chairman of the Council for review and approval on or before November 1, 2007.

On or before August 1, 2007, the Council shall prepare a downloadable plan template designed to provide a simple framework for the development of an environmental sustainability plan as required by this Act. The Council shall adopt procedures for reviewing and approving the plans, and make staff available during preparation of the plans to assist State agencies with their plan-writing efforts. The Council shall complete its plan review process on or before January 1, 2008. The sustainability plans shall be reviewed and updated periodically, but at least once every 3 years. To the extent feasible and cost-effective, units of local government, educational institutions, and State agencies are encouraged to adopt and implement similar sustainability plans. Environmental sustainability plans may be submitted to the chairman of the Council, by request, for review and approval.

(b) On or before August 1, 2007, each State agency, using existing resources, shall form an internal environmental sustainability committee. The environmental sustainability committee shall (i) assess the environmental and resource use impacts of its major operational activities making environmental improvements, conserving resources, and reducing health risks; (ii) develop an environmental sustainability plan as required under this Act; and (iii) establish an ongoing process through which their sustainability efforts can be reviewed and improved upon. The committee shall focus on the most significant environmental and resource use impacts, examine the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of addressing these impacts, and prioritize their actions accordingly.

Where feasible, the committee shall quantify the specific impacts of major operational activities such as gallons of water used, pounds of solid waste generated, gallons of gasoline consumed, and dollars spent per year on electricity. The committee shall consist of representatives from different departments and program areas, including purchasing, maintenance, and facility management. A senior member of management shall be designated to coordinate environmental sustainability efforts of each committee. The coordinator shall provide information to agency facilities and staff, coordinate planning and reporting activities, and act as liaison to the Council. Where appropriate, State agencies may appoint facility coordinators in addition to the agency coordinator. Coordinators shall be given full management support and provided with the necessary resources to meet the goals of this Act.

(c) On or before April 1, 2008 and on or before April 1 of each subsequent year, each State agency shall submit to the chairman of the Council a report summarizing the progress made in implementing its environmental sustainability plan, including sustainability measures adopted and goals achieved. The information in this report shall encompass the previous calendar year.

On or before January 1, 2008, the Council shall develop and adopt a reporting form to be used to comply with the provisions of this Section. Participating units of local government, State agencies, and educational institutions must submit an annual progress report on or before June 1, 2008 and on or before June 1 of each subsequent year.

(d) State agencies shall be invited to participate in the Council's efforts to foster environmental sustainability practices throughout State government.

(e) The Council shall provide technical assistance to State agencies, units of local government, and educational institutions for the purpose of implementing the environmental sustainability planning requirement.

(f) The Council may establish criteria for exempting select State agencies from the environmental sustainability planning based on staff size, probable environmental impacts, and scope of operations.

Section 40. Inter-agency cooperation. The Council shall be entitled to and shall receive the cooperation of every administrator and employee of every State agency in fulfilling the Council's purpose and functions.

Section 45. Green Governments Illinois website.

(a) The Green Governments Illinois staff member of the Lieutenant Governor's office shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining an Internet website devoted to the Green Governments Illinois program.

(b) The content and capabilities of the website shall, at a minimum, include:

(1) the ability to receive submitted plans and reports;

(2) a downloadable template for preparing reports;

(3) viewable and downloadable plans and reports submitted by the participating units of State and local government and educational institutions;

(4) a listing of sources of information on developing environmental programs and Internet links, if available, to those sources;

(5) a listing of sources of funding for environmental programs and Internet links, if available, to those sources;

(6) information on forming intergovernmental agreements for the purpose of developing collaborative environmental plans between units of local government; and

(7) guidance materials to assist State agencies, units of local government, and educational institutions in identifying environmental impacts and evaluating practical actions to prevent pollution and conserve resources.

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