SB3974 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 24306 RLJ 43786 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB3974

Introduced 11/18/2010, by Sen. John M. Sullivan

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 4003/10
20 ILCS 4003/15
20 ILCS 4003/17 new
20 ILCS 4003/20

Amends the Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act. Provides that the Mississippi River Coordinating Council shall include a standing subcommittee called the Mississippi River Parkway Subcommittee, which shall consist of 6 public members residing in counties in the State that are adjacent to the Mississippi River and ex-officio members from the State with specific knowledge of the Mississippi River. Provides that the chairperson of the Council shall appoint the Subcommittee members and that the Subcommittee members shall be non-voting members of the Council. Sets forth the duties of the Subcommittee. Effective January 1, 2011.

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 5. The Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, and 20 and adding Section 17 as follows:

(20 ILCS 4003/10)

Sec. 10. Mississippi River Coordinating Council.

(a) There is established the Mississippi River Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 13 voting members to be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and as chairperson of the Council. The agency members of the Council shall include the Directors, or their designees, of the following: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Transportation. In addition, the Council shall include one member representing Soil and Water Conservation Districts located in the proximity of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, and 6 members representing local communities, not-for-profit organizations working to protect the Mississippi River and its tributaries, businesses, agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment. Additionally, the Council shall include a standing subcommittee called the Mississippi River Parkway Subcommittee (Subcommittee). The Subcommittee shall consist of 6 public members residing in counties in the State that are adjacent to the Mississippi River and ex-officio members from the State with specific knowledge of the Mississippi River. The Subcommittee members, including the chairperson, shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Council. The Subcommittee members shall be non-voting members of the Council. The chairperson of the Subcommittee shall also serve as the Illinois representative to the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission.

(b) The Governor may appoint, as ex-officio members, individuals representing the interests of the states who border the Mississippi River and individuals representing federal agencies.

(c) Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, except that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed to serve 3-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.

(d) The Council shall meet at least quarterly.

(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. The Office may reimburse members of the Council for travel expenses.

(f) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section 405-500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law.

(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)

(20 ILCS 4003/15)

Sec. 15. Duties of the Council. The Council shall:

(1) periodically review activities and programs administered by State and federal agencies that directly impact the Mississippi River and its tributaries;

(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 Mississippi River and its tributaries;

(4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure of appropriated funds affecting the Mississippi River and its tributaries;

(5) encourage local communities to develop water management plans to address stormwater, 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 Mississippi River and its tributaries, 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

(6) help identify possible sources of additional funding for Mississippi River water management projects; and .

(7) receive, review, and analyze information submitted by the Subcommittee under Section 17 and issue reports concerning that information as it deems appropriate.

(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)

(20 ILCS 4003/17 new)

Sec. 17. Duties of the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee shall:

(1) Analyze the programs established by or associated with interstate compacts, planning groups, commissions, State agencies, local agencies, and any other related entities that are involved in air, water, and land use activities along the Mississippi River to determine their relationship to the objectives of the Subcommittee.

(2) Submit reports to the Council detailing the Subcommittee's progress in meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) including without limitation observations, conclusions, and recommendations concerning specific State and local agencies. The reports must be submitted to the Council at least twice a year.

(3) Advise the Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Agriculture, counties, townships, municipalities, and road districts concerning projects and activities related to the Great River Road, a national scenic and recreational highway.

(4) Cooperate with and provide assistance to the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission in promoting the development and use of the Great River Road and its facilities. Subject to appropriation, the Subcommittee may pay an annual fee for its participation in the programs of the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission.

(20 ILCS 4003/20)

Sec. 20. Agency duties. State agencies represented on the Council shall provide to the Council, on request, information concerning agency programs, data, and activities that impact the restoration and preservation of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. The Secretary of Transportation, the Director of Agriculture, the Director of Historic Preservation, the Director of Natural Resources, and the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall each designate at least one employee from his or her respective agency to assist the Subcommittee in the performance of its functions and duties.

(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2011.