SB3421 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 17612 CPF 67037 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB3421

Introduced 2/14/2020, by Sen. Melinda Bush

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Creates the Executive Order 3 (2017) Implementation Act. Implements and supersedes the provisions of Executive Order 3 (2017) concerning transfers from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Environmental Protection Agency. Transfers various powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities of the Office of Energy and Recycling under the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Environmental Protection Agency. Makes corresponding changes throughout the statutes. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Executive Order 3 (2017) Implementation Act.

Section 5. Effect. This Act, including all of the amendatory provisions of this Act, implements and supersedes the provisions of Executive Order 3 (2017) concerning the transfer of rights, powers, duties, responsibilities, employees, property, funds, and functions from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Section 10. Functions transferred. Except as provided in Section 15, on the effective date of this Act or as soon thereafter as practical, those powers, duties, rights, responsibilities, and functions of the Office of Energy and Recycling under the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that are referenced in this Act are transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency as provided in this Act. All of the general powers reasonably necessary and convenient to implement and administer those functions of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred by this Act are vested in and shall be exercised by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Section 15. Functions not transferred. The functions associated with the Office of Energy and Recycling that are transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency under Section 10 do not include any one or more of the following:

(1) electric energy efficiency programs administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under Section 8-103 of the Public Utilities Act;

(2) natural gas efficiency programs administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under Section 8-104 of the Public Utilities Act; or

(3) any functions of the Office of Energy and Recycling not transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency by this Act.

Section 20. Representation on boards or other entities. With respect to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the transfers under this Act shall not affect:

(1) the composition of any multi-member board, commission, or authority, unless otherwise provided in this Act;

(2) the manner in which any official is appointed, except that when any provision of an Executive Order or Act provides for the membership of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on any council, commission, board, or other entity in relation to any function of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency under this Act, the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her designee shall serve in that place; if more than one such person is required by law to serve on any council, commission, board, or other entity, then an equivalent number of representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency shall so serve;

(3) whether the nomination or appointment of any official is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate;

(4) any eligibility or qualification requirements pertaining to service as an official; or

(5) the service or term of any incumbent official serving as of the effective date of this Act.

Section 25. Personnel transferred. Personnel and positions within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that are engaged in the performance of functions of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency under this Act are transferred to and shall continue their service within the Environmental Protection Agency. The status and rights of those employees under the Personnel Code shall not be affected by this Act. The rights of the employees and the State of Illinois and its agencies under the Personnel Code and applicable collective bargaining agreements or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by this Act.

Section 30. Books and records transferred. All books, records, papers, documents, property (real and personal), contracts, causes of action, and pending business, pertaining to the powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency under this Act, including, but not limited to, material in electronic or magnetic format and necessary computer hardware and software, shall be transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Section 35. Successor agency; unexpended moneys transferred. With respect to the functions of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred under this Act, the Environmental Protection Agency is the successor agency to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under the Successor Agency Act and Section 9b of the State Finance Act. All unexpended appropriations and balances and other funds available for use by the Office of Energy and Recycling shall, pursuant to the direction of the Governor, be transferred for use by the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with this Act. Unexpended balances so transferred shall be expended by the Environmental Protection Agency only for the purpose for which the appropriations were originally made.

Section 40. Reports, notices, or papers. Whenever reports or notices are required to be made or given or papers or documents furnished or served by any person to or upon the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in connection with any of the powers, duties, rights, or responsibilities transferred by this Act to the Environmental Protection Agency, the same shall instead be made, given, furnished, or served in the same manner to or upon the Environmental Protection Agency.

Section 45. Rules.

(a) Any rules that (1) relate to the functions of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency by this Act, (2) are in full force on the effective date of this Act, and (3) have been duly adopted by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall become the rules of the Environmental Protection Agency. This Act does not affect the legality of any such rules in the Illinois Administrative Code.

(b) Any proposed rule filed with the Secretary of State by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that pertains to the functions of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency by this Act, and that is pending in the rulemaking process on the effective date of this Act shall be deemed to have been filed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

(c) On and after the effective date of this Act, the Environmental Protection Agency may propose and adopt, under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, other rules that relate to the functions of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred to the Environmental Protection Agency by this Act.

Section 50. Rights, obligations, and duties unaffected by transfer. The transfer of powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities to the Environmental Protection Agency under this Act does not affect any person's rights, obligations, or duties, including any civil or criminal penalties applicable thereto, arising out of those transferred powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities.

Section 55. Acts and actions unaffected by transfer.

(a) This Act does not affect any act done, ratified, or canceled, or any right accruing or established, before the effective date of Executive Order 3 (2017) in connection with any function of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred under this Act.

This Act does not affect any action or proceeding had or commenced before the effective date of Executive Order 3 (2017) in an administrative, civil, or criminal cause regarding a function of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, but any such action or proceeding may be defended, prosecuted, or continued by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Section 60. Exercise of transferred powers; savings provisions. The powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities related to the functions of the Office of Energy and Recycling transferred under this Act are vested in and shall be exercised by the Environmental Protection Agency. Each act done in the exercise of those powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities shall have the same legal effect as if done by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or its divisions, officers, or employees.

Section 900. The Electric Vehicle Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

(20 ILCS 627/15)

Sec. 15. Electric Vehicle Coordinator. The Governor shall appoint a person within the Environmental Protection Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to serve as the Electric Vehicle Coordinator for the State of Illinois. This person may be an existing employee with other duties. The Coordinator shall act as a point person for electric vehicle related policies and activities in Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 97-89, eff. 7-11-11.)

Section 910. The Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997 is amended by changing Sections 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 6-5.5, and 6-6 as follows:

(20 ILCS 687/6-3)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 6-3. Renewable energy resources program.

(a) The Environmental Protection Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, to be called the "Agency" "Department" hereinafter in this Law, shall administer the Renewable Energy Resources Program to provide grants, loans, and other incentives to foster investment in and the development and use of renewable energy resources.

(b) The Agency may, by administrative rule, Department shall establish and adjust eligibility criteria for grants, loans, and other incentives to foster investment in and the development and use of renewable energy resources. These criteria shall be reviewed annually and adjusted as necessary. The criteria should promote the goal of fostering investment in and the development and use, in Illinois, of renewable energy resources.

(c) The Agency may Department shall accept applications for grants, loans, and other incentives to foster investment in and the development and use of renewable energy resources.

(d) To the extent that funds are available and appropriated, the Agency Department shall provide grants, loans, and other incentives to applicants that meet the criteria specified by the Agency Department.

(e) (Blank). The Department shall conduct an annual study on the use and availability of renewable energy resources in Illinois. Each year, the Department shall submit a report on the study to the General Assembly. This report shall include suggestions for legislation which will encourage the development and use of renewable energy resources.

(f) As used in this Law, "renewable energy resources" includes energy from wind, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic cells and panels, dedicated crops grown for energy production and organic waste biomass, hydropower that does not involve new construction or significant expansion of hydropower dams, and other such alternative sources of environmentally preferable energy. "Renewable energy resources" does not include, however, energy from the incineration or burning of waste wood, tires, garbage, general household, institutional and commercial waste, industrial lunchroom or office waste, landscape waste, or construction or demolition debris.

(g) There is created the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury, to be administered by the Agency Department to support the development of technologies for wind, biomass, and solar power in Illinois. The Agency Department may accept private and public funds, including federal funds, for deposit into the Fund.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06; 95-913, eff. 1-1-09.)

(20 ILCS 687/6-4)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 6-4. Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund.

(a) A fund to be called the Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury.

(b) The Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund shall be administered by the Agency Department to provide grants, loans, and other incentives to foster investment in and the development and use of renewable energy resources as provided in Section 6-3 of this Law or pursuant to the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act.

(c) All funds used by the Agency Department for the Renewable Energy Resources Program shall be subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 94-839, eff. 6-6-06.)

(20 ILCS 687/6-5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 6-5. Renewable Energy Resources and Coal Technology Development Assistance Charge.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 16-111 of the Public Utilities Act but subject to subsection (e) of this Section, each public utility, electric cooperative, as defined in Section 3.4 of the Electric Supplier Act, and municipal utility, as referenced in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act, that is engaged in the delivery of electricity or the distribution of natural gas within the State of Illinois shall, effective January 1, 1998, assess each of its customer accounts a monthly Renewable Energy Resources and Coal Technology Development Assistance Charge. The delivering public utility, municipal electric or gas utility, or electric or gas cooperative for a self-assessing purchaser remains subject to the collection of the fee imposed by this Section. The monthly charge shall be as follows:

(1) $0.05 per month on each account for residential electric service as defined in Section 13 of the Energy Assistance Act;

(2) $0.05 per month on each account for residential gas service as defined in Section 13 of the Energy Assistance Act;

(3) $0.50 per month on each account for nonresidential electric service, as defined in Section 13 of the Energy Assistance Act, which had less than 10 megawatts of peak demand during the previous calendar year;

(4) $0.50 per month on each account for nonresidential gas service, as defined in Section 13 of the Energy Assistance Act, which had distributed to it less than 4,000,000 therms of gas during the previous calendar year;

(5) $37.50 per month on each account for nonresidential electric service, as defined in Section 13 of the Energy Assistance Act, which had 10 megawatts or greater of peak demand during the previous calendar year; and

(6) $37.50 per month on each account for nonresidential gas service, as defined in Section 13 of the Energy Assistance Act, which had 4,000,000 or more therms of gas distributed to it during the previous calendar year.

(b) The Renewable Energy Resources and Coal Technology Development Assistance Charge assessed by electric and gas public utilities shall be considered a charge for public utility service.

(c) Fifty percent of the moneys collected pursuant to this Section shall be deposited in the Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund by the Department of Revenue. From those funds, $2,000,000 may be used annually by the Environmental Protection Agency Department to provide grants to the Illinois Green Economy Network for the purposes of funding education and training for renewable energy and energy efficiency technology and for the operation and services of the Illinois Green Economy Network. The remaining 50 percent of the moneys collected pursuant to this Section shall be deposited in the Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund by the Department of Revenue for the exclusive purposes of (1) capturing or sequestering carbon emissions produced by coal combustion; (2) supporting research on the capture and sequestration of carbon emissions produced by coal combustion; and (3) improving coal miner safety.

(d) By the 20th day of the month following the month in which the charges imposed by this Section were collected, each utility and alternative retail electric supplier collecting charges pursuant to this Section shall remit to the Department of Revenue for deposit in the Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund and the Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund all moneys received as payment of the charge provided for in this Section on a return prescribed and furnished by the Department of Revenue showing such information as the Department of Revenue may reasonably require.

If any payment provided for in this Section exceeds the utility or alternate retail electric supplier's liabilities under this Act, as shown on an original return, the utility or alternative retail electric supplier may credit the excess payment against liability subsequently to be remitted to the Department of Revenue under this Act.

(e) The charges imposed by this Section shall only apply to customers of municipal electric or gas utilities and electric or gas cooperatives if the municipal electric or gas utility or electric or gas cooperative makes an affirmative decision to impose the charge. If a municipal electric or gas utility or an electric or gas cooperative makes an affirmative decision to impose the charge provided by this Section, the municipal electric or gas utility or electric or gas cooperative shall inform the Department of Revenue in writing of such decision when it begins to impose the charge. If a municipal electric or gas utility or electric or gas cooperative does not assess this charge, its customers shall not be eligible for the Renewable Energy Resources Program.

(f) The Department of Revenue may establish such rules as it deems necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 100-402, eff. 8-25-17; 100-1171, eff. 1-4-19.)

(20 ILCS 687/6-5.5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 6-5.5. Renewable energy grants.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Agency may Department shall establish and operate a renewable energy grant program to assist public schools and community colleges with engineering studies and feasibility studies and in training green economy technology and in the installation, acquisition, construction, and improvement of renewable energy resources, including without limitation smart grid technology, solar energy (such as solar panels), geothermal energy, and wind energy.

(b) Application for a grant under this Section must be in the form and manner established by the Department. The schools and community colleges may accept private funds for their portion of the cost.

(c) The Agency Department may adopt any rules that are necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 96-725, eff. 8-25-09; 97-72, eff. 7-1-11.)

(20 ILCS 687/6-6)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2020)

Sec. 6-6. Energy efficiency program.

(a) For the year beginning January 1, 1998, and thereafter as provided in this Section, each electric utility as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act and each alternative retail electric supplier as defined in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act supplying electric power and energy to retail customers located in the State of Illinois shall contribute annually a pro rata share of a total amount of $3,000,000 based upon the number of kilowatt-hours sold by each such entity in the 12 months preceding the year of contribution. On or before May 1 of each year, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall determine and notify the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity of the pro rata share owed by each electric utility and each alternative retail electric supplier based upon information supplied annually to the Illinois Commerce Commission. On or before June 1 of each year, the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall send written notification to each electric utility and each alternative retail electric supplier of the amount of pro rata share they owe. These contributions shall be remitted to the Department of Revenue on or before June 30 of each year the contribution is due on a return prescribed and furnished by the Department of Revenue showing such information as the Department of Revenue may reasonably require. The funds received pursuant to this Section shall be subject to the appropriation of funds by the General Assembly. The Department of Revenue shall place the funds remitted under this Section in a trust fund, that is hereby created in the State Treasury, called the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund. If an electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier does not remit its pro rata share to the Department of Revenue, the Department of Revenue must inform the Illinois Commerce Commission of such failure. The Illinois Commerce Commission may then revoke the certification of that electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier. The Illinois Commerce Commission may not renew the certification of any electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier that is delinquent in paying its pro rata share.

(b) The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall disburse the moneys in the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund to benefit residential electric customers through projects which the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has determined will promote energy efficiency in the State of Illinois. The Agency may Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish a list of projects eligible for grants from the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund including, but not limited to, supporting energy efficiency efforts for low-income households, replacing energy inefficient windows with more efficient windows, replacing energy inefficient appliances with more efficient appliances, replacing energy inefficient lighting with more efficient lighting, insulating dwellings and buildings, using market incentives to encourage energy efficiency, and such other projects which will increase energy efficiency in homes and rental properties.

(c) The Agency may, by administrative rule, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish criteria and an application process for this grant program.

(d) (Blank). The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall conduct a study of other possible energy efficiency improvements and evaluate methods for promoting energy efficiency and conservation, especially for the benefit of low-income customers.

(e) (Blank). The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly evaluating the effectiveness of the projects and programs provided in this Section, and recommending further legislation which will encourage additional development and implementation of energy efficiency projects and programs in Illinois and other actions that help to meet the goals of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

Section 915. The Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act is amended by changing Sections 5, 10, 15, 25, and 30 as follows:

(20 ILCS 689/5)

Sec. 5. Findings and State policy. The General Assembly recognizes that agriculture is a vital sector of the Illinois economy and that an important growth industry for the Illinois agricultural sector is renewable fuels production. Renewable fuels produced from Illinois agricultural products hold great potential for growing the State's economy, reducing our dependence on foreign oil supplies, and improving the environment by reducing harmful emissions from vehicles. Illinois is the nation's leading producer of ethanol, a clean, renewable fuel with significant environmental benefits. The General Assembly finds that reliable supplies of renewable fuels will be integral to the long term energy security of the United States. The General Assembly declares that it is the public policy of the State of Illinois to promote and encourage the production and use of renewable fuels as a means not only to improve air quality in the State and the nation, but also to grow the agricultural sector of the Illinois economy. To achieve these public policy objectives, the General Assembly hereby authorizes the creation and implementation of the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program within the Agency Department.

(Source: P.A. 93-15, eff. 6-11-03.)

(20 ILCS 689/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Agency" means the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Biodiesel" means a renewable diesel fuel derived from biomass that is intended for use in diesel engines.

"Biodiesel blend" means a blend of biodiesel with petroleum-based diesel fuel in which the resultant product contains no less than 1% and no more than 99% biodiesel.

"Biomass" means non-fossil organic materials that have an intrinsic chemical energy content. "Biomass" includes, but is not limited to, soybean oil, other vegetable oils, and ethanol.

"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Diesel fuel" means any product intended for use or offered for sale as a fuel for engines in which the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and ignited by pressure without electric spark.

"Director" means the Director of the Agency Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Ethanol" means a product produced from agricultural commodities or by-products used as a fuel or to be blended with other fuels for use in motor vehicles.

"Fuel" means fuel as defined in Section 1.19 of the Motor Fuel Tax Law.

"Gasohol" means motor fuel that is no more than 90% gasoline and at least 10% denatured ethanol that contains no more than 1.25% water by weight.

"Gasoline" means all products commonly or commercially known or sold as gasoline (including casing head and absorption or natural gasoline).

"Illinois agricultural product" means any agricultural commodity grown in Illinois that is used by a production facility to produce renewable fuel in Illinois, including, but not limited to, corn, barley, and soy beans.

"Labor Organization" means any organization defined as a "labor organization" under Section 2 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152).

"Majority blended ethanol fuel" means motor fuel that contains no less than 70% and no more than 90% denatured ethanol and no less than 10% and no more than 30% gasoline.

"Motor vehicles" means motor vehicles as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code and watercraft propelled by an internal combustion engine.

"Owner" means any individual, sole proprietorship, limited partnership, co-partnership, joint venture, corporation, cooperative, or other legal entity, including its agents, that operates or will operate a plant located within the State of Illinois.

"Plant" means a production facility that produces a renewable fuel. "Plant" includes land, any building or other improvement on or to land, and any personal properties deemed necessary or suitable for use, whether or not now in existence, in the processing of fuel from agricultural commodities or by-products.

"Renewable fuel" means ethanol, gasohol, majority blended ethanol fuel, biodiesel blend fuel, and biodiesel.

(Source: P.A. 93-15, eff. 6-11-03; 93-618, eff. 12-11-03; 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(20 ILCS 689/15)

Sec. 15. Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program.

(a) The Agency may Department must develop and administer the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program to assist in the construction, modification, alteration, or retrofitting of renewable fuel plants in Illinois. The recipient of a grant under this Section must:

(1) be constructing, modifying, altering, or retrofitting a plant in the State of Illinois;

(2) be constructing, modifying, altering, or retrofitting a plant that has annual production capacity of no less than 5,000,000 gallons of renewable fuel per year; and

(3) enter into a project labor agreement as prescribed by Section 25 of this Act.

(b) Grant applications must be made on forms provided by and in accordance with procedures established by the Agency Department.

(c) The Agency Department must give preference to applicants that use Illinois agricultural products in the production of renewable fuel at the plant for which the grant is being requested.

(Source: P.A. 96-140, eff. 1-1-10.)

(20 ILCS 689/25)

Sec. 25. Project labor agreements.

(a) The project labor agreement must include the following:

(1) provisions establishing the minimum hourly wage for each class of labor organization employee;

(2) provisions establishing the benefits and other compensation for each class of labor organization employee; and

(3) provisions establishing that no strike or disputes will be engaged in by the labor organization employees.

The owner of the plant and the labor organizations shall have the authority to include other terms and conditions as they deem necessary.

(b) The project labor agreement shall be filed with the Director in accordance with procedures established by the Agency Department. At a minimum, the project labor agreement must provide the names, addresses, and occupations of the owner of the plant and the individuals representing the labor organization employees participating in the project labor agreement. The agreement must also specify the terms and conditions required in subsection (a).

(Source: P.A. 93-15, eff. 6-11-03.)

(20 ILCS 689/30)

Sec. 30. Administration of the Act; rules. The Agency may Department shall administer this Act and shall adopt any rules necessary for that purpose.

(Source: P.A. 93-15, eff. 6-11-03.)

Section 920. The Energy Conservation and Coal Development Act is amended by changing Sections 1 and 3 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1105/1) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7401)

Sec. 1. Definitions; transfer of duties.

(a) For the purposes of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Director" means the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

(b) As provided in Section 80-20 of the Department of Natural Resources Act, the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) shall assume the rights, powers, and duties of the former Department of Energy and Natural Resources under this Act, except as those rights, powers, and duties are otherwise allocated or transferred by this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly or any other law.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(20 ILCS 1105/3) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7403)

Sec. 3. Powers and duties.

(a) In addition to its other powers, the Environmental Protection Agency Department has the following powers:

(1) To administer for the State any energy programs and activities under federal law, regulations or guidelines, and to coordinate such programs and activities with other State agencies, units of local government, and educational institutions.

(2) To represent the State in energy matters involving the federal government, other states, units of local government, and regional agencies.

(3) To prepare energy assurance contingency plans for consideration by the Governor and the General Assembly. Such plans may shall include procedures for determining when a foreseeable danger exists of energy shortages, including shortages of petroleum, coal, nuclear power, natural gas, and other forms of energy, and may shall specify the actions to be taken to minimize hardship and maintain the general welfare during such energy shortages.

(4) To cooperate with State colleges and universities and their governing boards in energy programs and activities.

(5) (Blank).

(6) To accept, receive, expend, and administer, including by contracts and grants to other State agencies, any energy-related gifts, grants, cooperative agreement funds, and other funds made available to the Agency Department by the federal government and other public and private sources, as well as any of those funds made available to the Department before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly.

(7) To assist the Department of Central Management Services in establishing and maintaining a system to analyze and report energy consumption of facilities leased by the Department of Central Management Services.

(a-5) In addition to its other powers, the Department has the following powers:

(1) (7) To investigate practical problems, seek and utilize financial assistance, implement studies and conduct research relating to the production, distribution and use of alcohol fuels.

(2) (8) To serve as a clearinghouse for information on alcohol production technology; provide assistance, information and data relating to the production and use of alcohol; develop informational packets and brochures, and hold public seminars to encourage the development and utilization of the best available technology.

(3) (9) To coordinate with other State agencies in order to promote the maximum flow of information and to avoid unnecessary overlapping of alcohol fuel programs. In order to effectuate this goal, the Director of the Department or his representative shall consult with the Directors, or their representatives, of the Departments of Agriculture, Central Management Services, Transportation, and Revenue, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

(4) (10) To operate, within the Department, an Office of Coal Development and Marketing for the promotion and marketing of Illinois coal both domestically and internationally. The Department may use monies appropriated for this purpose for necessary administrative expenses.

The Office of Coal Development and Marketing shall develop and implement an initiative to assist the coal industry in Illinois to increase its share of the international coal market.

(5) (11) To assist the Department of Central Management Services in establishing and maintaining a system to analyze and report energy consumption of facilities leased by the Department of Central Management Services.

(6) (12) To consult with the Department Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of developing methods and standards that encourage the utilization of coal combustion by-products as value added products in productive and benign applications.

(7) (13) To provide technical assistance and information to sellers and distributors of storage hot water heaters doing business in Illinois, pursuant to Section 1 of the Hot Water Heater Efficiency Act.

(b) (Blank).

(c) (Blank).

(d) The Agency Department shall develop a package of educational materials containing information regarding the necessity of waste reduction and recycling to reduce dependence on landfills and to maintain environmental quality. The Agency Department shall make this information available to the public on its website and for schools to access for their development of materials. Those materials shall be suitable for instructional use in grades 3, 4 and 5.

(e) (Blank).

(f) (Blank).

(g) (Blank).

(h) (Blank).

(i) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 98-44, eff. 6-28-13; 98-692, eff. 7-1-14.)

Section 925. The Energy Conservation Act is amended by changing Section 4 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1115/4) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7604)

Sec. 4. Technical Assistance Programs.

(a) The Environmental Protection Agency may Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide to a unit of local government, upon request by the unit, technical assistance in the development of energy efficiency standards, including, but not limited to, thermal efficiency standards and lighting efficiency standards to units of local government, upon request by such unit.

(b) (Blank). The Department shall provide technical assistance in the development of a program for energy efficiency in procurement to units of local government, upon request by such unit.

(c) The Technical Assistance Programs provided in this Section shall be supported by funds provided to the State pursuant to the federal "Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975" or other federal acts that provide funds for energy conservation efforts through the use of building codes.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(20 ILCS 1115/5 rep.)

Section 930. The Energy Conservation Act is amended by repealing Section 5.

Section 935. The Energy Efficient Building Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, 25, and 30 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3125/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions.

"Agency" means the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Board" means the Capital Development Board.

"Building" includes both residential buildings and commercial buildings.

"Code" means the latest published edition of the International Code Council's International Energy Conservation Code as adopted by the Board, including any published supplements adopted by the Board and any amendments and adaptations to the Code that are made by the Board.

"Commercial building" means any building except a building that is a residential building, as defined in this Section.

"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Municipality" means any city, village, or incorporated town.

"Residential building" means (i) a detached one-family or 2-family dwelling or (ii) any building that is 3 stories or less in height above grade that contains multiple dwelling units, in which the occupants reside on a primarily permanent basis, such as a townhouse, a row house, an apartment house, a convent, a monastery, a rectory, a fraternity or sorority house, a dormitory, and a rooming house; provided, however, that when applied to a building located within the boundaries of a municipality having a population of 1,000,000 or more, the term "residential building" means a building containing one or more dwelling units, not exceeding 4 stories above grade, where occupants are primarily permanent.

(Source: P.A. 101-144, eff. 7-26-19.)

(20 ILCS 3125/15)

Sec. 15. Energy Efficient Building Code. The Board, in consultation with the Agency Department, shall adopt the Code as minimum requirements for commercial buildings, applying to the construction of, renovations to, and additions to all commercial buildings in the State. The Board, in consultation with the Agency Department, shall also adopt the Code as the minimum and maximum requirements for residential buildings, applying to the construction of all residential buildings in the State, except as provided for in Section 45 of this Act. The Board may appropriately adapt the International Energy Conservation Code to apply to the particular economy, population distribution, geography, and climate of the State and construction therein, consistent with the public policy objectives of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-778, eff. 8-28-09.)

(20 ILCS 3125/25)

Sec. 25. Technical assistance.

(a) The Agency Department shall make available to builders, designers, engineers, and architects implementation materials and training to explain the requirements of the Code and describe methods of compliance acceptable to Code Enforcement Officials.

(b) The materials shall include software tools, simplified prescriptive options, and other materials as appropriate. The simplified materials shall be designed for projects in which a design professional may not be involved.

(c) The Agency Department shall provide local jurisdictions with technical assistance concerning implementation and enforcement of the Code.

(Source: P.A. 97-1033, eff. 8-17-12.)

(20 ILCS 3125/30)

Sec. 30. Enforcement. The Board, in consultation with the Agency Department, shall determine procedures for compliance with the Code. These procedures may include but need not be limited to certification by a national, State, or local accredited energy conservation program or inspections from private Code-certified inspectors using the Code.

(Source: P.A. 93-936, eff. 8-13-04.)

Section 940. The Green Governments Illinois Act is amended by changing Section 20 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3954/20)

Sec. 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 website 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, and within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the Department of Central Management Services, with the approval of the council, 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 fiscal 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 November 1 of each subsequent year.

(h-5) Participating in the proposal review and subgrant award processes conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to distribute the portion of funds eligible for State government use under the federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, H.R. 6, Title V, Subtitle E (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants). A designee of the Governor shall also participate in these processes, and no subgrant may be awarded unless the Governor's designee first approves that subgrant.

(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.

(Source: P.A. 95-657, eff. 10-10-07; 96-74, eff. 7-24-09.)

Section 945. The School Code is amended by changing Sections 10-20.19c and 34-18.15 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.19c) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.19c)

Sec. 10-20.19c. Recycled paper and paper products and solid waste management.

(a) Definitions. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Deinked stock" means paper that has been processed to remove inks, clays, coatings, binders and other contaminants.

"High grade printing and writing papers" includes offset printing paper, duplicator paper, writing paper (stationery), tablet paper, office paper, note pads, xerographic paper, envelopes, form bond including computer paper and carbonless forms, book papers, bond papers, ledger paper, book stock and cotton fiber papers.

"Paper and paper products" means high grade printing and writing papers, tissue products, newsprint, unbleached packaging and recycled paperboard.

"Postconsumer material" means only those products generated by a business or consumer which have served their intended end uses, and which have been separated or diverted from solid waste; wastes generated during the production of an end product are excluded.

"Recovered paper material" means paper waste generated after the completion of the papermaking process, such as postconsumer materials, envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, printing waste, cutting and other converting waste, butt rolls, and mill wrappers, obsolete inventories, and rejected unused stock. "Recovered paper material", however, does not include fibrous waste generated during the manufacturing process such as fibers recovered from waste water or trimmings of paper machine rolls (mill broke), or fibrous byproducts of harvesting, extraction or woodcutting processes, or forest residues such as bark.

"Recycled paperboard" includes paperboard products, folding cartons and pad backings.

"Tissue products" includes toilet tissue, paper towels, paper napkins, facial tissue, paper doilies, industrial wipers, paper bags and brown papers. These products shall also be unscented and shall not be colored.

"Unbleached packaging" includes corrugated and fiber storage boxes.

(a-5) Each school district shall periodically review its procurement procedures and specifications related to the purchase of products and supplies. Those procedures and specifications must be modified as necessary to require the school district to seek out products and supplies that contain recycled materials and to ensure that purchased products and supplies are reusable, durable, or made from recycled materials, if economically and practically feasible. In selecting products and supplies that contain recycled material, preference must be given to products and supplies that contain the highest amount of recycled material and that are consistent with the effective use of the product or supply, if economically and practically feasible.

(b) Wherever economically and practically feasible, as determined by the school board, the school board, all public schools and attendance centers within a school district, and their school supply stores shall procure recycled paper and paper products as follows:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2008, at least 10% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(2) Beginning July 1, 2011, at least 25% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(3) Beginning July 1, 2014, at least 50% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(4) Beginning July 1, 2020, at least 75% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(5) Beginning upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992, all paper purchased by the board of education, public schools and attendance centers for publication of student newspapers shall be recycled newsprint. The amount purchased shall not be included in calculating the amounts specified in paragraphs (1) through (4).

(c) Paper and paper products purchased from private sector vendors pursuant to printing contracts are not considered paper and paper products for the purposes of subsection (b), unless purchased under contract for the printing of student newspapers.

(d)(1) Wherever economically and practically feasible, the recycled paper and paper products referred to in subsection (b) shall contain postconsumer or recovered paper materials as specified by paper category in this subsection:

(i) Recycled high grade printing and writing paper shall contain at least 50% recovered paper material. Such recovered paper material, until July 1, 2008, shall consist of at least 20% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2008, shall consist of at least 25% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2010, shall consist of at least 30% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2012, shall consist of at least 40% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2014, shall consist of at least 50% deinked stock or postconsumer material.

(ii) Recycled tissue products, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 25% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 30% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material.

(iii) Recycled newsprint, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 60% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 70% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material.

(iv) Recycled unbleached packaging, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 55% postconsumer material.

(v) Recycled paperboard, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 85% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 90% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 95% postconsumer material.

(2) For the purposes of this Section, "postconsumer material" includes:

(i) paper, paperboard, and fibrous waste from retail stores, office buildings, homes and so forth, after the waste has passed through its end usage as a consumer item, including used corrugated boxes, old newspapers, mixed waste paper, tabulating cards, and used cordage; and

(ii) all paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes that are diverted or separated from the municipal waste stream.

(3) For the purposes of this Section, "recovered paper material" includes:

(i) postconsumer material;

(ii) dry paper and paperboard waste generated after completion of the papermaking process (that is, those manufacturing operations up to and including the cutting and trimming of the paper machine reel into smaller rolls or rough sheets), including envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, and other paper and paperboard waste resulting from printing, cutting, forming and other converting operations, or from bag, box and carton manufacturing, and butt rolls, mill wrappers, and rejected unused stock; and

(iii) finished paper and paperboard from obsolete inventories of paper and paperboard manufacturers, merchants, wholesalers, dealers, printers, converters or others.

(e) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to apply to art materials, nor to any newspapers, magazines, text books, library books or other copyrighted publications which are purchased or used by any school board or any public school or attendance center within a school district, or which are sold in any school supply store operated by or within any such school or attendance center, other than newspapers written, edited or produced by students enrolled in the school district, public school or attendance center.

(e-5) Each school district shall periodically review its procedures on solid waste reduction regarding the management of solid waste generated by academic, administrative, and other institutional functions. Those waste reduction procedures must be designed to, when economically and practically feasible, recycle the school district's waste stream, including without limitation landscape waste, computer paper, and white office paper. School districts are encouraged to have procedures that provide for the investigation of potential markets for other recyclable materials that are present in the school district's waste stream. The waste reduction procedures must be designed to achieve, before July 1, 2020, at least a 50% reduction in the amount of solid waste that is generated by the school district.

(f) The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department Departments of Central Management Services and Commerce and Economic Opportunity, may adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to assist districts in carrying out the provisions of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06; 95-741, eff. 7-18-08.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.15) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.15)

Sec. 34-18.15. Recycled paper and paper products and solid waste management.

(a) Definitions. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Deinked stock" means paper that has been processed to remove inks, clays, coatings, binders and other contaminants.

"High grade printing and writing papers" includes offset printing paper, duplicator paper, writing paper (stationery), tablet paper, office paper, note pads, xerographic paper, envelopes, form bond including computer paper and carbonless forms, book papers, bond papers, ledger paper, book stock and cotton fiber papers.

"Paper and paper products" means high grade printing and writing papers, tissue products, newsprint, unbleached packaging and recycled paperboard.

"Postconsumer material" means only those products generated by a business or consumer which have served their intended end uses, and which have been separated or diverted from solid waste; wastes generated during the production of an end product are excluded.

"Recovered paper material" means paper waste generated after the completion of the papermaking process, such as postconsumer materials, envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, printing waste, cutting and other converting waste, butt rolls, and mill wrappers, obsolete inventories, and rejected unused stock. "Recovered paper material", however, does not include fibrous waste generated during the manufacturing process as fibers recovered from waste water or trimmings of paper machine rolls (mill broke), or fibrous byproducts of harvesting, extraction or woodcutting processes, or forest residues such as bark.

"Recycled paperboard" includes paperboard products, folding cartons and pad backings.

"Tissue products" includes toilet tissue, paper towels, paper napkins, facial tissue, paper doilies, industrial wipers, paper bags and brown papers. These products shall also be unscented and shall not be colored.

"Unbleached packaging" includes corrugated and fiber storage boxes.

(a-5) The school district shall periodically review its procurement procedures and specifications related to the purchase of products and supplies. Those procedures and specifications must be modified as necessary to require the school district to seek out products and supplies that contain recycled materials and to ensure that purchased products and supplies are reusable, durable, or made from recycled materials, if economically and practically feasible. In selecting products and supplies that contain recycled material, preference must be given to products and supplies that contain the highest amount of recycled material and that are consistent with the effective use of the product or supply, if economically and practically feasible.

(b) Wherever economically and practically feasible, as determined by the board of education, the board of education, all public schools and attendance centers within the school district, and their school supply stores shall procure recycled paper and paper products as follows:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2008, at least 10% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by the board of education, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(2) Beginning July 1, 2011, at least 25% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by the board of education, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(3) Beginning July 1, 2014, at least 50% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by the board of education, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(4) Beginning July 1, 2020, at least 75% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by the board of education, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(5) Beginning upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992, all paper purchased by the board of education, public schools and attendance centers for publication of student newspapers shall be recycled newsprint. The amount purchased shall not be included in calculating the amounts specified in paragraphs (1) through (4).

(c) Paper and paper products purchased from private sector vendors pursuant to printing contracts are not considered paper and paper products for the purposes of subsection (b), unless purchased under contract for the printing of student newspapers.

(d)(1) Wherever economically and practically feasible, the recycled paper and paper products referred to in subsection (b) shall contain postconsumer or recovered paper materials as specified by paper category in this subsection:

(i) Recycled high grade printing and writing paper shall contain at least 50% recovered paper material. Such recovered paper material, until July 1, 2008, shall consist of at least 20% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2008, shall consist of at least 25% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2010, shall consist of at least 30% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2012, shall consist of at least 40% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2014, shall consist of at least 50% deinked stock or postconsumer material.

(ii) Recycled tissue products, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 25% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 30% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material.

(iii) Recycled newsprint, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 60% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 70% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material.

(iv) Recycled unbleached packaging, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 55% postconsumer material.

(v) Recycled paperboard, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 85% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 90% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 95% postconsumer material.

(2) For the purposes of this Section, "postconsumer material" includes:

(i) paper, paperboard, and fibrous waste from retail stores, office buildings, homes and so forth, after the waste has passed through its end usage as a consumer item, including used corrugated boxes, old newspapers, mixed waste paper, tabulating cards, and used cordage; and

(ii) all paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes that are diverted or separated from the municipal waste stream.

(3) For the purpose of this Section, "recovered paper material" includes:

(i) postconsumer material;

(ii) dry paper and paperboard waste generated after completion of the papermaking process (that is, those manufacturing operations up to and including the cutting and trimming of the paper machine reel into smaller rolls or rough sheets), including envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, and other paper and paperboard waste resulting from printing, cutting, forming and other converting operations, or from bag, box and carton manufacturing, and butt rolls, mill wrappers, and rejected unused stock; and

(iii) finished paper and paperboard from obsolete inventories of paper and paperboard manufacturers, merchants, wholesalers, dealers, printers, converters or others.

(e) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to apply to art materials, nor to any newspapers, magazines, text books, library books or other copyrighted publications which are purchased or used by the board of education or any public school or attendance center within the school district, or which are sold in any school supply store operated by or within any such school or attendance center, other than newspapers written, edited or produced by students enrolled in the school district, public school or attendance center.

(e-5) The school district shall periodically review its procedures on solid waste reduction regarding the management of solid waste generated by academic, administrative, and other institutional functions. Those waste reduction procedures must be designed to, when economically and practically feasible, recycle the school district's waste stream, including without limitation landscape waste, computer paper, and white office paper. The school district is encouraged to have procedures that provide for the investigation of potential markets for other recyclable materials that are present in the school district's waste stream. The waste reduction procedures must be designed to achieve, before July 1, 2020, at least a 50% reduction in the amount of solid waste that is generated by the school district.

(f) The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department Departments of Central Management Services and Commerce and Economic Opportunity, may adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to assist districts in carrying out the provisions of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06; 95-741, eff. 7-18-08.)

Section 950. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by changing Sections 22.15, 22.16b, 55.3, 55.7, 58.14a, and 58.15 as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/22.15) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1022.15)

Sec. 22.15. Solid Waste Management Fund; fees.

(a) There is hereby created within the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Solid Waste Management Fund, to be constituted from the fees collected by the State pursuant to this Section, from repayments of loans made from the Fund for solid waste projects, from registration fees collected pursuant to the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act, and from amounts transferred into the Fund pursuant to Public Act 100-433. Moneys received by either the Agency or the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in repayment of loans made pursuant to the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

(b) The Agency shall assess and collect a fee in the amount set forth herein from the owner or operator of each sanitary landfill permitted or required to be permitted by the Agency to dispose of solid waste if the sanitary landfill is located off the site where such waste was produced and if such sanitary landfill is owned, controlled, and operated by a person other than the generator of such waste. The Agency shall deposit all fees collected into the Solid Waste Management Fund. If a site is contiguous to one or more landfills owned or operated by the same person, the volumes permanently disposed of by each landfill shall be combined for purposes of determining the fee under this subsection. Beginning on July 1, 2018, and on the first day of each month thereafter during fiscal years 2019 and 2020, the State Comptroller shall direct and State Treasurer shall transfer an amount equal to 1/12 of $5,000,000 per fiscal year from the Solid Waste Management Fund to the General Revenue Fund.

(1) If more than 150,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall either pay a fee of 95 cents per cubic yard or, alternatively, the owner or operator may weigh the quantity of the solid waste permanently disposed of with a device for which certification has been obtained under the Weights and Measures Act and pay a fee of $2.00 per ton of solid waste permanently disposed of. In no case shall the fee collected or paid by the owner or operator under this paragraph exceed $1.55 per cubic yard or $3.27 per ton.

(2) If more than 100,000 cubic yards but not more than 150,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall pay a fee of $52,630.

(3) If more than 50,000 cubic yards but not more than 100,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall pay a fee of $23,790.

(4) If more than 10,000 cubic yards but not more than 50,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall pay a fee of $7,260.

(5) If not more than 10,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at a site in a calendar year, the owner or operator shall pay a fee of $1050.

(c) (Blank).

(d) The Agency shall establish rules relating to the collection of the fees authorized by this Section. Such rules shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) necessary records identifying the quantities of solid waste received or disposed;

(2) the form and submission of reports to accompany the payment of fees to the Agency;

(3) the time and manner of payment of fees to the Agency, which payments shall not be more often than quarterly; and

(4) procedures setting forth criteria establishing when an owner or operator may measure by weight or volume during any given quarter or other fee payment period.

(e) Pursuant to appropriation, all monies in the Solid Waste Management Fund shall be used by the Agency and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the purposes set forth in this Section and in the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act, including for the costs of fee collection and administration, and for the administration of (1) the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act and (2) until January 1, 2020, the Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act.

(f) The Agency is authorized to enter into such agreements and to promulgate such rules as are necessary to carry out its duties under this Section and the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act.

(g) On the first day of January, April, July, and October of each year, beginning on July 1, 1996, the State Comptroller and Treasurer shall transfer $500,000 from the Solid Waste Management Fund to the Hazardous Waste Fund. Moneys transferred under this subsection (g) shall be used only for the purposes set forth in item (1) of subsection (d) of Section 22.2.

(h) The Agency is authorized to provide financial assistance to units of local government for the performance of inspecting, investigating and enforcement activities pursuant to Section 4(r) at nonhazardous solid waste disposal sites.

(i) The Agency is authorized to conduct household waste collection and disposal programs.

(j) A unit of local government, as defined in the Local Solid Waste Disposal Act, in which a solid waste disposal facility is located may establish a fee, tax, or surcharge with regard to the permanent disposal of solid waste. All fees, taxes, and surcharges collected under this subsection shall be utilized for solid waste management purposes, including long-term monitoring and maintenance of landfills, planning, implementation, inspection, enforcement and other activities consistent with the Solid Waste Management Act and the Local Solid Waste Disposal Act, or for any other environment-related purpose, including but not limited to an environment-related public works project, but not for the construction of a new pollution control facility other than a household hazardous waste facility. However, the total fee, tax or surcharge imposed by all units of local government under this subsection (j) upon the solid waste disposal facility shall not exceed:

(1) 60¢ per cubic yard if more than 150,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at the site in a calendar year, unless the owner or operator weighs the quantity of the solid waste received with a device for which certification has been obtained under the Weights and Measures Act, in which case the fee shall not exceed $1.27 per ton of solid waste permanently disposed of.

(2) $33,350 if more than 100,000 cubic yards, but not more than 150,000 cubic yards, of non-hazardous waste is permanently disposed of at the site in a calendar year.

(3) $15,500 if more than 50,000 cubic yards, but not more than 100,000 cubic yards, of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at the site in a calendar year.

(4) $4,650 if more than 10,000 cubic yards, but not more than 50,000 cubic yards, of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at the site in a calendar year.

(5) $650 if not more than 10,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous solid waste is permanently disposed of at the site in a calendar year.

The corporate authorities of the unit of local government may use proceeds from the fee, tax, or surcharge to reimburse a highway commissioner whose road district lies wholly or partially within the corporate limits of the unit of local government for expenses incurred in the removal of nonhazardous, nonfluid municipal waste that has been dumped on public property in violation of a State law or local ordinance.

A county or Municipal Joint Action Agency that imposes a fee, tax, or surcharge under this subsection may use the proceeds thereof to reimburse a municipality that lies wholly or partially within its boundaries for expenses incurred in the removal of nonhazardous, nonfluid municipal waste that has been dumped on public property in violation of a State law or local ordinance.

If the fees are to be used to conduct a local sanitary landfill inspection or enforcement program, the unit of local government must enter into a written delegation agreement with the Agency pursuant to subsection (r) of Section 4. The unit of local government and the Agency shall enter into such a written delegation agreement within 60 days after the establishment of such fees. At least annually, the Agency shall conduct an audit of the expenditures made by units of local government from the funds granted by the Agency to the units of local government for purposes of local sanitary landfill inspection and enforcement programs, to ensure that the funds have been expended for the prescribed purposes under the grant.

The fees, taxes or surcharges collected under this subsection (j) shall be placed by the unit of local government in a separate fund, and the interest received on the moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. The monies in the fund may be accumulated over a period of years to be expended in accordance with this subsection.

A unit of local government, as defined in the Local Solid Waste Disposal Act, shall prepare and distribute to the Agency, in April of each year, a report that details spending plans for monies collected in accordance with this subsection. The report will at a minimum include the following:

(1) The total monies collected pursuant to this subsection.

(2) The most current balance of monies collected pursuant to this subsection.

(3) An itemized accounting of all monies expended for the previous year pursuant to this subsection.

(4) An estimation of monies to be collected for the following 3 years pursuant to this subsection.

(5) A narrative detailing the general direction and scope of future expenditures for one, 2 and 3 years.

The exemptions granted under Sections 22.16 and 22.16a, and under subsection (k) of this Section, shall be applicable to any fee, tax or surcharge imposed under this subsection (j); except that the fee, tax or surcharge authorized to be imposed under this subsection (j) may be made applicable by a unit of local government to the permanent disposal of solid waste after December 31, 1986, under any contract lawfully executed before June 1, 1986 under which more than 150,000 cubic yards (or 50,000 tons) of solid waste is to be permanently disposed of, even though the waste is exempt from the fee imposed by the State under subsection (b) of this Section pursuant to an exemption granted under Section 22.16.

(k) In accordance with the findings and purposes of the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act, beginning January 1, 1989 the fee under subsection (b) and the fee, tax or surcharge under subsection (j) shall not apply to:

(1) waste which is hazardous waste;

(2) waste which is pollution control waste;

(3) waste from recycling, reclamation or reuse processes which have been approved by the Agency as being designed to remove any contaminant from wastes so as to render such wastes reusable, provided that the process renders at least 50% of the waste reusable;

(4) non-hazardous solid waste that is received at a sanitary landfill and composted or recycled through a process permitted by the Agency; or

(5) any landfill which is permitted by the Agency to receive only demolition or construction debris or landscape waste.

(Source: P.A. 100-103, eff. 8-11-17; 100-433, eff. 8-25-17; 100-587, eff. 6-4-18; 100-621, eff. 7-20-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-10, eff. 6-5-19.)

(415 ILCS 5/22.16b) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1022.16b)

Sec. 22.16b. (a) Beginning January 1, 1991, the Agency shall assess and collect a fee from the owner or operator of each new municipal waste incinerator. The fee shall be calculated by applying the rates established from time to time for the disposal of solid waste at sanitary landfills under subdivision (b)(1) of Section 22.15 to the total amount of municipal waste accepted for incineration at the new municipal waste incinerator. The exemptions provided by this Act to the fees imposed under subsection (b) of Section 22.15 shall not apply to the fee imposed by this Section.

The owner or operator of any new municipal waste incinerator permitted after January 1, 1990, but before July 1, 1990 by the Agency for the development or operation of a new municipal waste incinerator shall be exempt from this fee, but shall include the following conditions:

(1) The owner or operator shall provide information programs to those communities serviced by the owner or operator concerning recycling and separation of waste not suitable for incineration.

(2) The owner or operator shall provide information programs to those communities serviced by the owner or operator concerning the Agency's household hazardous waste collection program and participation in that program.

For the purposes of this Section, "new municipal waste incinerator" means a municipal waste incinerator initially permitted for development or construction on or after January 1, 1990.

Amounts collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the Municipal Waste Incinerator Tax Fund, which is hereby established as an interest-bearing special fund in the State Treasury. Monies in the Fund may be used, subject to appropriation:

(1) by the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to fund its public information programs on recycling in those communities served by new municipal waste incinerators; and

(2) by the Agency to fund its household hazardous waste collection activities in those communities served by new municipal waste incinerators.

(b) Any permit issued by the Agency for the development or operation of a new municipal waste incinerator shall include the following conditions:

(1) The incinerator must be designed to provide continuous monitoring while in operation, with direct transmission of the resultant data to the Agency, until the Agency determines the best available control technology for monitoring the data. The Agency shall establish the test methods, procedures and averaging periods, as certified by the USEPA for solid waste incinerator units, and the form and frequency of reports containing results of the monitoring. Compliance and enforcement shall be based on such reports. Copies of the results of such monitoring shall be maintained on file at the facility concerned for one year, and copies shall be made available for inspection and copying by interested members of the public during business hours.

(2) The facility shall comply with the emission limits adopted by the Agency under subsection (c).

(3) The operator of the facility shall take reasonable measures to ensure that waste accepted for incineration complies with all legal requirements for incineration. The incinerator operator shall establish contractual requirements or other notification and inspection procedures sufficient to assure compliance with this subsection (b)(3) which may include, but not be limited to, routine inspections of waste, lists of acceptable and unacceptable waste provided to haulers and notification to the Agency when the facility operator rejects and sends loads away. The notification shall contain at least the name of the hauler and the site from where the load was hauled.

(4) The operator may not accept for incineration any waste generated or collected in a municipality that has not implemented a recycling plan or is party to an implemented county plan, consistent with State goals and objectives. Such plans shall include provisions for collecting, recycling or diverting from landfills and municipal incinerators landscape waste, household hazardous waste and batteries. Such provisions may be performed at the site of the new municipal incinerator.

The Agency, after careful scrutiny of a permit application for the construction, development or operation of a new municipal waste incinerator, shall deny the permit if (i) the Agency finds in the permit application noncompliance with the laws and rules of the State or (ii) the application indicates that the mandated air emissions standards will not be reached within six months of the proposed municipal waste incinerator beginning operation.

(c) The Agency shall adopt specific limitations on the emission of mercury, chromium, cadmium and lead, and good combustion practices, including temperature controls from municipal waste incinerators pursuant to Section 9.4 of the Act.

(d) The Agency shall establish household hazardous waste collection centers in appropriate places in this State. The Agency may operate and maintain the centers itself or may contract with other parties for that purpose. The Agency shall ensure that the wastes collected are properly disposed of. The collection centers may charge fees for their services, not to exceed the costs incurred. Such collection centers shall not (i) be regulated as hazardous waste facilities under RCRA nor (ii) be subject to local siting approval under Section 39.2 if the local governing authority agrees to waive local siting approval procedures.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(415 ILCS 5/55.3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1055.3)

Sec. 55.3. (a) Upon finding that an accumulation of used or waste tires creates an immediate danger to health, the Agency may take action pursuant to Section 34 of this Act.

(b) Upon making a finding that an accumulation of used or waste tires creates a hazard posing a threat to public health or the environment, the Agency may undertake preventive or corrective action in accordance with this subsection. Such preventive or corrective action may consist of any or all of the following:

(1) Treating and handling used or waste tires and other infested materials within the area for control of mosquitoes and other disease vectors.

(2) Relocation of ignition sources and any used or waste tires within the area for control and prevention of tire fires.

(3) Removal of used and waste tire accumulations from the area.

(4) Removal of soil and water contamination related to tire accumulations.

(5) Installation of devices to monitor and control groundwater and surface water contamination related to tire accumulations.

(6) Such other actions as may be authorized by Board regulations.

(c) The Agency may, subject to the availability of appropriated funds, undertake a consensual removal action for the removal of up to 1,000 used or waste tires at no cost to the owner according to the following requirements:

(1) Actions under this subsection shall be taken pursuant to a written agreement between the Agency and the owner of the tire accumulation.

(2) The written agreement shall at a minimum specify:

(i) that the owner relinquishes any claim of an ownership interest in any tires that are removed, or in any proceeds from their sale;

(ii) that tires will no longer be allowed to be accumulated at the site;

(iii) that the owner will hold harmless the Agency or any employee or contractor utilized by the Agency to effect the removal, for any damage to property incurred during the course of action under this subsection, except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct; and

(iv) any conditions upon or assistance required from the owner to assure that the tires are so located or arranged as to facilitate their removal.

(3) The Agency may by rule establish conditions and priorities for removal of used and waste tires under this subsection.

(4) The Agency shall prescribe the form of written agreements under this subsection.

(d) The Agency shall have authority to provide notice to the owner or operator, or both, of a site where used or waste tires are located and to the owner or operator, or both, of the accumulation of tires at the site, whenever the Agency finds that the used or waste tires pose a threat to public health or the environment, or that there is no owner or operator proceeding in accordance with a tire removal agreement approved under Section 55.4.

The notice provided by the Agency shall include the identified preventive or corrective action, and shall provide an opportunity for the owner or operator, or both, to perform such action.

For sites with more than 250,000 passenger tire equivalents, following the notice provided for by this subsection (d), the Agency may enter into a written reimbursement agreement with the owner or operator of the site. The agreement shall provide a schedule for the owner or operator to reimburse the Agency for costs incurred for preventive or corrective action, which shall not exceed 5 years in length. An owner or operator making payments under a written reimbursement agreement pursuant to this subsection (d) shall not be liable for punitive damages under subsection (h) of this Section.

(e) In accordance with constitutional limitations, the Agency shall have authority to enter at all reasonable times upon any private or public property for the purpose of taking whatever preventive or corrective action is necessary and appropriate in accordance with the provisions of this Section, including but not limited to removal, processing or treatment of used or waste tires, whenever the Agency finds that used or waste tires pose a threat to public health or the environment.

(f) In undertaking preventive, corrective or consensual removal action under this Section the Agency may consider use of the following: rubber reuse alternatives, shredding or other conversion through use of mobile or fixed facilities, energy recovery through burning or incineration, and landfill disposal. To the extent practicable, the Agency shall consult with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity regarding the availability of alternatives to landfilling used and waste tires, and shall make every reasonable effort to coordinate tire cleanup projects with applicable programs that relate to such alternative practices.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the owner or operator of any site or accumulation of used or waste tires at which the Agency has undertaken corrective or preventive action under this Section shall be liable for all costs thereof incurred by the State of Illinois, including reasonable costs of collection. Any monies received by the Agency hereunder shall be deposited into the Used Tire Management Fund. The Agency may in its discretion store, dispose of or convey the tires that are removed from an area at which it has undertaken a corrective, preventive or consensual removal action, and may sell or store such tires and other items, including but not limited to rims, that are removed from the area. The net proceeds of any sale shall be credited against the liability incurred by the owner or operator for the costs of any preventive or corrective action.

(h) Any person liable to the Agency for costs incurred under subsection (g) of this Section may be liable to the State of Illinois for punitive damages in an amount at least equal to, and not more than 2 times, the costs incurred by the State if such person failed without sufficient cause to take preventive or corrective action pursuant to notice issued under subsection (d) of this Section.

(i) There shall be no liability under subsection (g) of this Section for a person otherwise liable who can establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the hazard created by the tires was caused solely by:

(1) an act of God;

(2) an act of war; or

(3) an act or omission of a third party other than an employee or agent, and other than a person whose act or omission occurs in connection with a contractual relationship with the person otherwise liable.

For the purposes of this subsection, "contractual relationship" includes, but is not limited to, land contracts, deeds and other instruments transferring title or possession, unless the real property upon which the accumulation is located was acquired by the defendant after the disposal or placement of used or waste tires on, in or at the property and one or more of the following circumstances is also established by a preponderance of the evidence:

(A) at the time the defendant acquired the property, the defendant did not know and had no reason to know that any used or waste tires had been disposed of or placed on, in or at the property, and the defendant undertook, at the time of acquisition, all appropriate inquiries into the previous ownership and uses of the property consistent with good commercial or customary practice in an effort to minimize liability;

(B) the defendant is a government entity which acquired the property by escheat or through any other involuntary transfer or acquisition, or through the exercise of eminent domain authority by purchase or condemnation; or

(C) the defendant acquired the property by inheritance or bequest.

(j) Nothing in this Section shall affect or modify the obligations or liability of any person under any other provision of this Act, federal law, or State law, including the common law, for injuries, damages or losses resulting from the circumstances leading to Agency action under this Section.

(k) The costs and damages provided for in this Section may be imposed by the Board in an action brought before the Board in accordance with Title VIII of this Act, except that subsection (c) of Section 33 of this Act shall not apply to any such action.

(l) The Agency shall, when feasible, consult with the Department of Public Health prior to taking any action to remove or treat an infested tire accumulation for control of mosquitoes or other disease vectors. The Agency may by contract or agreement secure the services of the Department of Public Health, any local public health department, or any other qualified person in treating any such infestation as part of an emergency or preventive action.

(m) Neither the State, the Agency, the Board, the Director, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damage or injury arising out of or resulting from any action taken under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(415 ILCS 5/55.7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1055.7)

Sec. 55.7. The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may adopt regulations as necessary for the administration of the grant and loan programs funded from the Used Tire Management Fund, including but not limited to procedures and criteria for applying for, evaluating, awarding and terminating grants and loans. The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may by rule specify criteria for providing grant assistance rather than loan assistance; such criteria shall promote the expeditious development of alternatives to the disposal of used tires, and the efficient use of monies for assistance. Evaluation criteria may be established by rule, considering such factors as:

(1) the likelihood that a proposal will lead to the actual collection and processing of used tires and protection of the environment and public health in furtherance of the purposes of this Act;

(2) the feasibility of the proposal;

(3) the suitability of the location for the proposed activity;

(4) the potential of the proposal for encouraging recycling and reuse of resources; and

(5) the potential for development of new technologies consistent with the purposes of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(415 ILCS 5/58.14a)

Sec. 58.14a. River Edge Redevelopment Zone Site Remediation Tax Credit Review.

(a) Prior to applying for the River Edge Redevelopment Zone site remediation tax credit under subsection (n) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act, a Remediation Applicant must first submit to the Agency an application for review of remediation costs. The Agency shall review the application in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The application and review process must be conducted in accordance with the requirements of this Section and the rules adopted under subsection (g). A preliminary review of the estimated remediation costs for development and implementation of the Remedial Action Plan may be obtained in accordance with subsection (d).

(b) No application for review may be submitted until a No Further Remediation Letter has been issued by the Agency and recorded in the chain of title for the site in accordance with Section 58.10. The Agency shall review the application to determine whether the costs submitted are remediation costs and whether the costs incurred are reasonable. The application must be on forms prescribed and provided by the Agency. At a minimum, the application must include the following:

(1) information identifying the Remediation Applicant, the site for which the tax credit is being sought, and the date of acceptance of the site into the Site Remediation Program;

(2) a copy of the No Further Remediation Letter with official verification that the letter has been recorded in the chain of title for the site and a demonstration that the site for which the application is submitted is the same site as the one for which the No Further Remediation Letter is issued;

(3) a demonstration that the release of the regulated substances of concern for which the No Further Remediation Letter was issued were not caused or contributed to in any material respect by the Remediation Applicant. Determinations as to credit availability shall be made consistent with the Pollution Control Board rules for the administration and enforcement of Section 58.9 of this Act;

(4) an itemization and documentation, including receipts, of the remediation costs incurred;

(5) a demonstration that the costs incurred are remediation costs as defined in this Act and its rules;

(6) a demonstration that the costs submitted for review were incurred by the Remediation Applicant who received the No Further Remediation Letter;

(7) an application fee in the amount set forth in subsection (e) for each site for which review of remediation costs is requested and, if applicable, certification from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity that the site is located in a River Edge Redevelopment Zone; and

(8) any other information deemed appropriate by the Agency.

(c) Within 60 days after receipt by the Agency of an application meeting the requirements of subsection (b), the Agency shall issue a letter to the applicant approving, disapproving, or modifying the remediation costs submitted in the application. If the remediation costs are approved as submitted, then the Agency's letter must state the amount of the remediation costs to be applied toward the River Edge Redevelopment Zone site remediation tax credit. If an application is disapproved or approved with modification of remediation costs, then the Agency's letter must set forth the reasons for the disapproval or modification and must state the amount of the remediation costs, if any, to be applied toward the River Edge Redevelopment Zone site remediation tax credit.

If a preliminary review of a budget plan has been obtained under subsection (d), then the Remediation Applicant may submit, with the application and supporting documentation under subsection (b), a copy of the Agency's final determination accompanied by a certification that the actual remediation costs incurred for the development and implementation of the Remedial Action Plan are equal to or less than the costs approved in the Agency's final determination on the budget plan. The certification must be signed by the Remediation Applicant and notarized. Based on that submission, the Agency is not required to conduct further review of the costs incurred for development and implementation of the Remedial Action Plan, and it may approve the costs as submitted. Within 35 days after the receipt of an Agency letter disapproving or modifying an application for approval of remediation costs, the Remediation Applicant may appeal the Agency's decision to the Board in the manner provided for the review of permits under Section 40 of this Act.

(d) A Remediation Applicant may obtain a preliminary review of estimated remediation costs for the development and implementation of the Remedial Action Plan by submitting a budget plan along with the Remedial Action Plan. The budget plan must be set forth on forms prescribed and provided by the Agency and must include, without limitation, line-item estimates of the costs associated with each line item (such as personnel, equipment, and materials) that the Remediation Applicant anticipates will be incurred for the development and implementation of the Remedial Action Plan. The Agency shall review the budget plan along with the Remedial Action Plan to determine whether the estimated costs submitted are remediation costs and whether the costs estimated for the activities are reasonable.

If the Remedial Action Plan is amended by the Remediation Applicant or as a result of Agency action, then the corresponding budget plan must be revised accordingly and resubmitted for Agency review.

The budget plan must be accompanied by the applicable fee as set forth in subsection (e).

The submittal of a budget plan is deemed to be an automatic 60-day waiver of the Remedial Action Plan review deadlines set forth in this Section and its rules.

Within the applicable period of review, the Agency shall issue a letter to the Remediation Applicant approving, disapproving, or modifying the estimated remediation costs submitted in the budget plan. If a budget plan is disapproved or approved with modification of estimated remediation costs, then the Agency's letter must set forth the reasons for the disapproval or modification.

Within 35 days after receipt of an Agency letter disapproving or modifying a budget plan, the Remediation Applicant may appeal the Agency's decision to the Board in the manner provided for the review of permits under Section 40 of this Act.

(e) Any fee for a review conducted under this Section is in addition to any other fees or payments for Agency services rendered under the Site Remediation Program. The fees under this Section are as follows:

(1) the fee for an application for review of remediation costs is $250 for each site reviewed; and

(2) there is no fee for the review of the budget plan submitted under subsection (d).

The application fee must be made payable to the State of Illinois, for deposit into the Hazardous Waste Fund. Pursuant to appropriation, the Agency shall use the fees collected under this subsection for development and administration of the review program.

(f) The Agency has the authority to enter into any contracts or agreements that may be necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities under this Section.

(g) The Agency shall adopt rules prescribing procedures and standards for its administration of this Section. Prior to the effective date of rules adopted under this Section, the Agency may conduct reviews of applications under this Section. The Agency may publish informal guidelines concerning this Section to provide guidance.

(Source: P.A. 95-454, eff. 8-27-07.)

(415 ILCS 5/58.15)

Sec. 58.15. Brownfields Programs.

(A) Brownfields Redevelopment Loan Program.

(a) The Agency shall establish and administer a revolving loan program to be known as the "Brownfields Redevelopment Loan Program" for the purpose of providing loans to be used for site investigation, site remediation, or both, at brownfields sites. All principal, interest, and penalty payments from loans made under this subsection (A) shall be deposited into the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund and reused in accordance with this Section.

(b) General requirements for loans:

(1) Loans shall be at or below market interest rates in accordance with a formula set forth in regulations promulgated under subdivision (A)(c) of this subsection (A).

(2) Loans shall be awarded subject to availability of funding based on the order of receipt of applications satisfying all requirements as set forth in the regulations promulgated under subdivision (A)(c) of this subsection (A).

(3) The maximum loan amount under this subsection (A) for any one project is $1,000,000.

(4) In addition to any requirements or conditions placed on loans by regulation, loan agreements under the Brownfields Redevelopment Loan Program shall include the following requirements:

(A) the loan recipient shall secure the loan repayment obligation;

(B) completion of the loan repayment shall not exceed 15 years or as otherwise prescribed by Agency rule; and

(C) loan agreements shall provide for a confession of judgment by the loan recipient upon default.

(5) Loans shall not be used to cover expenses incurred prior to the approval of the loan application.

(6) If the loan recipient fails to make timely payments or otherwise fails to meet its obligations as provided in this subsection (A) or implementing regulations, the Agency is authorized to pursue the collection of the amounts past due, the outstanding loan balance, and the costs thereby incurred, either pursuant to the Illinois State Collection Act of 1986 or by any other means provided by law, including the taking of title, by foreclosure or otherwise, to any project or other property pledged, mortgaged, encumbered, or otherwise available as security or collateral.

(c) The Agency shall have the authority to enter into any contracts or agreements that may be necessary to carry out its duties or responsibilities under this subsection (A). The Agency shall have the authority to promulgate regulations setting forth procedures and criteria for administering the Brownfields Redevelopment Loan Program. The regulations promulgated by the Agency for loans under this subsection (A) shall include, but need not be limited to, the following elements:

(1) loan application requirements;

(2) determination of credit worthiness of the loan applicant;

(3) types of security required for the loan;

(4) types of collateral, as necessary, that can be pledged for the loan;

(5) special loan terms, as necessary, for securing the repayment of the loan;

(6) maximum loan amounts;

(7) purposes for which loans are available;

(8) application periods and content of applications;

(9) procedures for Agency review of loan applications, loan approvals or denials, and loan acceptance by the loan recipient;

(10) procedures for establishing interest rates;

(11) requirements applicable to disbursement of loans to loan recipients;

(12) requirements for securing loan repayment obligations;

(13) conditions or circumstances constituting default;

(14) procedures for repayment of loans and delinquent loans including, but not limited to, the initiation of principal and interest payments following loan acceptance;

(15) loan recipient responsibilities for work schedules, work plans, reports, and record keeping;

(16) evaluation of loan recipient performance, including auditing and access to sites and records;

(17) requirements applicable to contracting and subcontracting by the loan recipient, including procurement requirements;

(18) penalties for noncompliance with loan requirements and conditions, including stop-work orders, termination, and recovery of loan funds; and

(19) indemnification of the State of Illinois and the Agency by the loan recipient.

(d) Moneys in the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund may be used as a source of revenue or security for the principal and interest on revenue or general obligation bonds issued by the State or any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof, if the proceeds of those bonds will be deposited into the Fund.

(B) Brownfields Site Restoration Program.

(a) (1) The Agency, with the assistance of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, must establish and administer a program for the payment of remediation costs to be known as the Brownfields Site Restoration Program. The Agency, through the Program, shall provide Remediation Applicants with financial assistance for the investigation and remediation of abandoned or underutilized properties. The investigation and remediation shall be performed in accordance with this Title XVII of this Act.

(2) For each State fiscal year in which funds are made available to the Agency for payment under this subsection (B), the Agency must, subject to the availability of funds, allocate 20% of the funds to be available to Remediation Applicants within counties with populations over 2,000,000. The remaining funds must be made available to all other Remediation Applicants in the State.

(3) The Agency must not approve payment in excess of $750,000 to a Remediation Applicant for remediation costs incurred at a remediation site. Eligibility must be determined based on a minimum capital investment in the redevelopment of the site, and payment amounts must not exceed the net economic benefit to the State of the remediation project. In addition to these limitations, the total payment to be made to an applicant must not exceed an amount equal to 20% of the capital investment at the site.

(4) Only those remediation projects for which a No Further Remediation Letter is issued by the Agency after December 31, 2001 are eligible to participate in the Brownfields Site Restoration Program. The program does not apply to any sites that have received a No Further Remediation Letter prior to December 31, 2001 or for costs incurred prior to the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (formerly Department of Commerce and Community Affairs) approving a site eligible for the Brownfields Site Restoration Program.

(5) Brownfields Site Restoration Program funds shall be subject to availability of funding and distributed based on the order of receipt of applications satisfying all requirements as set forth in this Section.

(b) Prior to applying to the Agency for payment, a Remediation Applicant shall first submit to the Agency its proposed remediation costs. The Agency shall make a pre-application assessment, which is not to be binding upon the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or upon future review of the project, relating only to whether the Agency has adequate funding to reimburse the applicant for the remediation costs if the applicant is found to be eligible for reimbursement of remediation costs. If the Agency determines that it is likely to have adequate funding to reimburse the applicant for remediation costs, the Remediation Applicant may then submit to the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity an application for review of eligibility. The Agency Department must review the eligibility application to determine whether the Remediation Applicant is eligible for the payment. The application must be on forms prescribed and provided by the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. At a minimum, the application must include the following:

(1) Information identifying the Remediation Applicant and the site for which the payment is being sought and the date of acceptance into the Site Remediation Program.

(2) Information demonstrating that the site for which the payment is being sought is abandoned or underutilized property. "Abandoned property" means real property previously used for, or that has the potential to be used for, commercial or industrial purposes that reverted to the ownership of the State, a county or municipal government, or an agency thereof, through donation, purchase, tax delinquency, foreclosure, default, or settlement, including conveyance by deed in lieu of foreclosure; or privately owned property that has been vacant for a period of not less than 3 years from the time an application is made to the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. "Underutilized property" means real property of which less than 35% of the commercially usable space of the property and improvements thereon are used for their most commercially profitable and economically productive uses.

(3) Information demonstrating that remediation of the site for which the payment is being sought will result in a net economic benefit to the State of Illinois. The "net economic benefit" must be determined based on factors including, but not limited to, the capital investment, the number of jobs created, the number of jobs retained if it is demonstrated the jobs would otherwise be lost, capital improvements, the number of construction-related jobs, increased sales, material purchases, other increases in service and operational expenditures, and other factors established by the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Priority must be given to sites located in areas with high levels of poverty, where the unemployment rate exceeds the State average, where an enterprise zone exists, or where the area is otherwise economically depressed as determined by the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

(4) An application fee in the amount set forth in subdivision (B)(c) for each site for which review of an application is being sought.

(c) The fee for eligibility reviews conducted by the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under this subsection (B) is $1,000 for each site reviewed. The application fee must be made payable to the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for deposit into the Brownfields Redevelopment Workforce, Technology, and Economic Development Fund. These application fees shall be used by the Agency Department for administrative expenses incurred under this subsection (B).

(d) Within 60 days after receipt by the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity of an application meeting the requirements of subdivision (B)(b), the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity must issue a letter to the applicant approving the application, approving the application with modifications, or disapproving the application. If the application is approved or approved with modifications, the Agency's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's letter must also include its determination of the "net economic benefit" of the remediation project and the maximum amount of the payment to be made available to the applicant for remediation costs. The payment by the Agency under this subsection (B) must not exceed the "net economic benefit" of the remediation project, as determined by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

(e) An application for a review of remediation costs must not be submitted to the Agency unless the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has determined the Remediation Applicant is eligible under subdivision (B)(d). If the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has determined that a Remediation Applicant is eligible under subdivision (B)(d), the Remediation Applicant may submit an application for payment to the Agency under this subsection (B). Except as provided in subdivision (B)(f), an application for review of remediation costs must not be submitted until a No Further Remediation Letter has been issued by the Agency and recorded in the chain of title for the site in accordance with Section 58.10. The Agency must review the application to determine whether the costs submitted are remediation costs and whether the costs incurred are reasonable. The application must be on forms prescribed and provided by the Agency. At a minimum, the application must include the following:

(1) Information identifying the Remediation Applicant and the site for which the payment is being sought and the date of acceptance of the site into the Site Remediation Program.

(2) A copy of the No Further Remediation Letter with official verification that the letter has been recorded in the chain of title for the site and a demonstration that the site for which the application is submitted is the same site as the one for which the No Further Remediation Letter is issued.

(3) A demonstration that the release of the regulated substances of concern for which the No Further Remediation Letter was issued was not caused or contributed to in any material respect by the Remediation Applicant. The Agency must make determinations as to reimbursement availability consistent with rules adopted by the Pollution Control Board for the administration and enforcement of Section 58.9 of this Act.

(4) A copy of the Agency's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's letter approving eligibility, including the net economic benefit of the remediation project.

(5) An itemization and documentation, including receipts, of the remediation costs incurred.

(6) A demonstration that the costs incurred are remediation costs as defined in this Act and rules adopted under this Act.

(7) A demonstration that the costs submitted for review were incurred by the Remediation Applicant who received the No Further Remediation Letter.

(8) An application fee in the amount set forth in subdivision (B)(j) for each site for which review of remediation costs is requested.

(9) Any other information deemed appropriate by the Agency.

(f) An application for review of remediation costs may be submitted to the Agency prior to the issuance of a No Further Remediation Letter if the Remediation Applicant has a Remedial Action Plan approved by the Agency under the terms of which the Remediation Applicant will remediate groundwater for more than one year. The Agency must review the application to determine whether the costs submitted are remediation costs and whether the costs incurred are reasonable. The application must be on forms prescribed and provided by the Agency. At a minimum, the application must include the following:

(1) Information identifying the Remediation Applicant and the site for which the payment is being sought and the date of acceptance of the site into the Site Remediation Program.

(2) A copy of the Agency letter approving the Remedial Action Plan.

(3) A demonstration that the release of the regulated substances of concern for which the Remedial Action Plan was approved was not caused or contributed to in any material respect by the Remediation Applicant. The Agency must make determinations as to reimbursement availability consistent with rules adopted by the Pollution Control Board for the administration and enforcement of Section 58.9 of this Act.

(4) A copy of the Agency's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's letter approving eligibility, including the net economic benefit of the remediation project.

(5) An itemization and documentation, including receipts, of the remediation costs incurred.

(6) A demonstration that the costs incurred are remediation costs as defined in this Act and rules adopted under this Act.

(7) A demonstration that the costs submitted for review were incurred by the Remediation Applicant who received approval of the Remediation Action Plan.

(8) An application fee in the amount set forth in subdivision (B)(j) for each site for which review of remediation costs is requested.

(9) Any other information deemed appropriate by the Agency.

(g) For a Remediation Applicant seeking a payment under subdivision (B)(f), until the Agency issues a No Further Remediation Letter for the site, no more than 75% of the allowed payment may be claimed by the Remediation Applicant. The remaining 25% may be claimed following the issuance by the Agency of a No Further Remediation Letter for the site. For a Remediation Applicant seeking a payment under subdivision (B)(e), until the Agency issues a No Further Remediation Letter for the site, no payment may be claimed by the Remediation Applicant.

(h) (1) Within 60 days after receipt by the Agency of an application meeting the requirements of subdivision (B)(e) or (B)(f), the Agency must issue a letter to the applicant approving, disapproving, or modifying the remediation costs submitted in the application. If an application is disapproved or approved with modification of remediation costs, then the Agency's letter must set forth the reasons for the disapproval or modification.

(2) If a preliminary review of a budget plan has been obtained under subdivision (B)(i), the Remediation Applicant may submit, with the application and supporting documentation under subdivision (B)(e) or (B)(f), a copy of the Agency's final determination accompanied by a certification that the actual remediation costs incurred for the development and implementation of the Remedial Action Plan are equal to or less than the costs approved in the Agency's final determination on the budget plan. The certification must be signed by the Remediation Applicant and notarized. Based on that submission, the Agency is not required to conduct further review of the costs incurred for development and implementation of the Remedial Action Plan and may approve costs as submitted.

(3) Within 35 days after receipt of an Agency letter disapproving or modifying an application for approval of remediation costs, the Remediation Applicant may appeal the Agency's decision to the Board in the manner provided for the review of permits in Section 40 of this Act.

(i) (1) A Remediation Applicant may obtain a preliminary review of estimated remediation costs for the development and implementation of the Remedial Action Plan by submitting a budget plan along with the Remedial Action Plan. The budget plan must be set forth on forms prescribed and provided by the Agency and must include, but is not limited to, line item estimates of the costs associated with each line item (such as personnel, equipment, and materials) that the Remediation Applicant anticipates will be incurred for the development and implementation of the Remedial Action Plan. The Agency must review the budget plan along with the Remedial Action Plan to determine whether the estimated costs submitted are remediation costs and whether the costs estimated for the activities are reasonable.

(2) If the Remedial Action Plan is amended by the Remediation Applicant or as a result of Agency action, the corresponding budget plan must be revised accordingly and resubmitted for Agency review.

(3) The budget plan must be accompanied by the applicable fee as set forth in subdivision (B)(j).

(4) Submittal of a budget plan must be deemed an automatic 60-day waiver of the Remedial Action Plan review deadlines set forth in this subsection (B) and rules adopted under this subsection (B).

(5) Within the applicable period of review, the Agency must issue a letter to the Remediation Applicant approving, disapproving, or modifying the estimated remediation costs submitted in the budget plan. If a budget plan is disapproved or approved with modification of estimated remediation costs, the Agency's letter must set forth the reasons for the disapproval or modification.

(6) Within 35 days after receipt of an Agency letter disapproving or modifying a budget plan, the Remediation Applicant may appeal the Agency's decision to the Board in the manner provided for the review of permits in Section 40 of this Act.

(j) The fees for reviews conducted by the Agency under this subsection (B) are in addition to any other fees or payments for Agency services rendered pursuant to the Site Remediation Program and are as follows:

(1) The fee for an application for review of remediation costs is $1,000 for each site reviewed.

(2) The fee for the review of the budget plan submitted under subdivision (B)(i) is $500 for each site reviewed.

The application fee and the fee for the review of the budget plan must be made payable to the State of Illinois, for deposit into the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund.

(k) Moneys in the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund may be used for the purposes of this Section, including payment for the costs of administering this subsection (B). Any moneys remaining in the Brownfields Site Restoration Program Fund on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly shall be transferred to the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. Total payments made to all Remediation Applicants by the Agency for purposes of this subsection (B) must not exceed $1,000,000 in State fiscal year 2002.

(l) The Department and the Agency is are authorized to enter into any contracts or agreements that may be necessary to carry out the Agency's their duties and responsibilities under this subsection (B).

(m) Within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 2002, the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) and the Agency must propose rules prescribing procedures and standards for the administration of this subsection (B). Within 9 months after receipt of the proposed rules, the Board shall adopt on second notice, pursuant to Sections 27 and 28 of this Act and the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, rules that are consistent with this subsection (B). Prior to the effective date of rules adopted under this subsection (B), the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) and the Agency may conduct reviews of applications under this subsection (B) and the Agency is further authorized to distribute guidance documents on costs that are eligible or ineligible as remediation costs.

(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

Section 960. The Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act is amended by changing Section 7 as follows:

(415 ILCS 15/7) (from Ch. 85, par. 5957)

Sec. 7. (a) Each county shall begin implementation of its waste management plan, including the recycling program, within one year of adoption of the plan. The county may enter into written agreements with other persons, including a municipality or persons transporting municipal waste on the effective date of this Act, pursuant to which the persons undertake to fulfill some or all of the county's responsibilities under this Act. A person who enters into an agreement shall be responsible with the county for the implementation of such programs.

(b) In implementing the recycling program, consideration for the collection, marketing and disposition of recyclable materials shall be given to persons engaged in the business of recycling within the county on the effective date of this Act, whether or not the persons were operating for profit.

If a township within the county is operating a recycling program on the effective date of the plan which substantially conforms with or exceeds the requirements of the recycling program included in the plan, the township may continue to operate its recycling program, and such operation shall constitute, within the township, implementation of the recycling program included in the plan. A township may at any time adopt and implement a recycling program that is more stringent than that required by the county waste management plan.

(c) The Agency Department shall assist counties in implementing recycling programs under this Act, and may, pursuant to appropriation, make grants and loans from the Solid Waste Management Fund to counties or other units of local government for that purpose, to be used for capital assistance or for the payment of recycling diversion credits or for other recycling program purposes, in accordance with such guidelines as may be adopted by the Agency Department.

(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

Section 970. The Illinois Solid Waste Management Act is amended by changing Sections 2.1, 3, 3.1, 6, 6a, 7, and 8 as follows:

(415 ILCS 20/2.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7052.1)

Sec. 2.1. Definitions. When used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section:

"Agency" means the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Department", when a particular entity is not specified, means (i) in the case of a function to be performed on or after July 1, 1995 (the effective date of the Department of Natural Resources Act) and until the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity), as successor to the former Department of Energy and Natural Resources under the Department of Natural Resources Act; or (ii) in the case of a function required to be performed before July 1, 1995, the former Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources.

"Deinked stock" means paper that has been processed to remove inks, clays, coatings, binders and other contaminants.

"End product" means only those items that are designed to be used until disposal; items designed to be used in production of a subsequent item are excluded.

"High grade printing and writing papers" includes offset printing paper, duplicator paper, writing paper (stationery), office paper, note pads, xerographic paper, envelopes, form bond including computer paper and carbonless forms, book papers, bond papers, ledger paper, book stock and cotton fiber papers.

"Paper and paper products" means high grade printing and writing papers, tissue products, newsprint, unbleached packaging and recycled paperboard.

"Postconsumer material" means only those products generated by a business or consumer which have served their intended end uses, and which have been separated or diverted from solid waste; wastes generated during production of an end product are excluded.

"Recovered paper material" means paper waste generated after the completion of the papermaking process, such as postconsumer materials, envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, printing waste, cutting and other converting waste, butt rolls, and mill wrappers, obsolete inventories, and rejected unused stock. "Recovered paper material", however, does not include fibrous waste generated during the manufacturing process such as fibers recovered from waste water or trimmings of paper machine rolls (mill broke), or fibrous byproducts of harvesting, extraction or woodcutting processes, or forest residues such as bark.

"Recycled paperboard" includes recycled paperboard products, folding cartons and pad backing.

"Recycling" means the process by which solid waste is collected, separated and processed for reuse as either a raw material or a product which itself is subject to recycling, but does not include the combustion of waste for energy recovery or volume reduction.

"Tissue products" includes toilet tissue, paper towels, paper napkins, facial tissue, paper doilies, industrial wipers, paper bags and brown papers.

"Unbleached packaging" includes corrugated and fiber boxes.

"USEPA Guidelines for federal procurement" means all minimum recycled content standards recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(415 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7053)

Sec. 3. State agency materials recycling program.

(a) All State agencies responsible for the maintenance of public lands in the State shall, to the maximum extent feasible, use compost materials in all land maintenance activities which are to be paid with public funds.

(a-5) All State agencies responsible for the maintenance of public lands in the State shall review its procurement specifications and policies to determine (1) if incorporating compost materials will help reduce stormwater run-off and increase infiltration of moisture in land maintenance activities and (2) the current recycled content usage and potential for additional recycled content usage by the Agency in land maintenance activities and report to the General Assembly by December 15, 2015.

(b) The Department of Central Management Services, in coordination with the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall implement waste reduction programs, including source separation and collection, for office wastepaper, corrugated containers, newsprint and mixed paper, in all State buildings as appropriate and feasible. Such waste reduction programs shall be designed to achieve waste reductions of at least 25% of all such waste by December 31, 1995, and at least 50% of all such waste by December 31, 2000. Any source separation and collection program shall include, at a minimum, procedures for collecting and storing recyclable materials, bins or containers for storing materials, and contractual or other arrangements with buyers of recyclable materials. If market conditions so warrant, the Department of Central Management Services, in coordination with the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, may modify programs developed pursuant to this Section.

The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) shall conduct waste categorization studies of all State facilities for calendar years 1991, 1995 and 2000. Such studies shall be designed to assist the Department of Central Management Services to achieve the waste reduction goals established in this subsection.

(c) Each State agency shall, upon consultation with the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, periodically review its procurement procedures and specifications related to the purchase of products or supplies. Such procedures and specifications shall be modified as necessary to require the procuring agency to seek out products and supplies that contain recycled materials, and to ensure that purchased products or supplies are reusable, durable or made from recycled materials whenever economically and practically feasible. In choosing among products or supplies that contain recycled material, consideration shall be given to products and supplies with the highest recycled material content that is consistent with the effective and efficient use of the product or supply.

(d) Wherever economically and practically feasible, the Department of Central Management Services shall procure recycled paper and paper products as follows:

(1) Beginning July 1, 1989, at least 10% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by the Department of Central Management Services shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(2) Beginning July 1, 1992, at least 25% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by the Department of Central Management Services shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(3) Beginning July 1, 1996, at least 40% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by the Department of Central Management Services shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(4) Beginning July 1, 2000, at least 50% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by the Department of Central Management Services shall be recycled paper and paper products.

(e) Paper and paper products purchased from private vendors pursuant to printing contracts are not considered paper products for the purposes of subsection (d). However, the Department of Central Management Services shall report to the General Assembly on an annual basis the total dollar value of printing contracts awarded to private sector vendors that included the use of recycled paper.

(f)(1) Wherever economically and practically feasible, the recycled paper and paper products referred to in subsection (d) shall contain postconsumer or recovered paper materials as specified by paper category in this subsection:

(i) Recycled high grade printing and writing paper shall contain at least 50% recovered paper material. Such recovered paper material, until July 1, 1994, shall consist of at least 20% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall consist of at least 25% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall consist of at least 30% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall consist of at least 40% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall consist of at least 50% deinked stock or postconsumer material.

(ii) Recycled tissue products, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 25% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 30% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material.

(iii) Recycled newsprint, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 60% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 70% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material.

(iv) Recycled unbleached packaging, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 55% postconsumer material.

(v) Recycled paperboard, until July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 85% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 90% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 95% postconsumer material.

(2) For the purposes of this Section, "postconsumer material" includes:

(i) paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes from retail stores, office buildings, homes, and so forth, after the waste has passed through its end usage as a consumer item, including used corrugated boxes, old newspapers, mixed waste paper, tabulating cards, and used cordage; and

(ii) all paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes that are diverted or separated from the municipal solid waste stream.

(3) For the purposes of this Section, "recovered paper material" includes:

(i) postconsumer material;

(ii) dry paper and paperboard waste generated after completion of the papermaking process (that is, those manufacturing operations up to and including the cutting and trimming of the paper machine reel into smaller rolls or rough sheets), including envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, and other paper and paperboard waste resulting from printing, cutting, forming, and other converting operations, or from bag, box and carton manufacturing, and butt rolls, mill wrappers, and rejected unused stock; and

(iii) finished paper and paperboard from obsolete inventories of paper and paperboard manufacturers, merchants, wholesalers, dealers, printers, converters, or others.

(g) The Department of Central Management Services may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Section.

(h) Every State agency shall, in its procurement documents, specify that, whenever economically and practically feasible, a product to be procured must consist, wholly or in part, of recycled materials, or be recyclable or reusable in whole or in part. When applicable, if state guidelines are not already prescribed, State agencies shall follow USEPA guidelines for federal procurement.

(i) All State agencies shall cooperate with the Department of Central Management Services in carrying out this Section. The Department of Central Management Services may enter into cooperative purchasing agreements with other governmental units in order to obtain volume discounts, or for other reasons in accordance with the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act, or in accordance with the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act if governmental units of other states or the federal government are involved.

(j) The Department of Central Management Services shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly concerning its implementation of the State's collection and recycled paper procurement programs. This report shall include a description of the actions that the Department of Central Management Services has taken in the previous fiscal year to implement this Section. This report shall be submitted on or before November 1 of each year.

(k) The Department of Central Management Services, in cooperation with all other appropriate departments and agencies of the State, shall institute whenever economically and practically feasible the use of re-refined motor oil in all State-owned motor vehicles and the use of remanufactured and retread tires whenever such use is practical, beginning no later than July 1, 1992.

(l) (Blank).

(m) The Department of Central Management Services, in coordination with the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity), has implemented an aluminum can recycling program in all State buildings within 270 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997. The program provides for (1) the collection and storage of used aluminum cans in bins or other appropriate containers made reasonably available to occupants and visitors of State buildings and (2) the sale of used aluminum cans to buyers of recyclable materials.

Proceeds from the sale of used aluminum cans shall be deposited into I-CYCLE accounts maintained in the State Surplus Property Revolving Fund and, subject to appropriation, shall be used by the Department of Central Management Services and any other State agency to offset the costs of implementing the aluminum can recycling program under this Section.

All State agencies having an aluminum can recycling program in place shall continue with their current plan. If a State agency has an existing recycling program in place, proceeds from the aluminum can recycling program may be retained and distributed pursuant to that program, otherwise all revenue resulting from these programs shall be forwarded to Central Management Services, I-CYCLE for placement into the appropriate account within the State Surplus Property Revolving Fund, minus any operating costs associated with the program.

(Source: P.A. 99-34, eff. 7-14-15; 99-543, eff. 1-1-17.)

(415 ILCS 20/3.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7053.1)

Sec. 3.1. Institutions of higher learning.

(a) For purposes of this Section "State-supported institutions of higher learning" or "institutions" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, the colleges and universities under the jurisdiction of the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities, the colleges and universities under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of Regency Universities, and the public community colleges subject to the Public Community College Act.

(b) Each State-supported institution of higher learning shall develop a comprehensive waste reduction plan covering a period of 10 years which addresses the management of solid waste generated by academic, administrative, student housing and other institutional functions. The waste reduction plan shall be developed by January 1, 1995. The initial plan required under this Section shall be updated by the institution every 5 years, and any proposed amendments to the plan shall be submitted for review in accordance with subsection (f).

(c) Each waste reduction plan shall address, at a minimum, the following topics: existing waste generation by volume, waste composition, existing waste reduction and recycling activities, waste collection and disposal costs, future waste management methods, and specific goals to reduce the amount of waste generated that is subject to landfill disposal.

(d) Each waste reduction plan shall provide for recycling of marketable materials currently present in the institution's waste stream, including but not limited to landscape waste, corrugated cardboard, computer paper, and white office paper, and shall provide for the investigation of potential markets for other recyclable materials present in the institution's waste stream. The recycling provisions of the waste reduction plan shall be designed to achieve, by January 1, 2000, at least a 40% reduction (referenced to a base year of 1987) in the amount of solid waste that is generated by the institution and identified in the waste reduction plan as being subject to landfill disposal.

(e) Each waste reduction plan shall evaluate the institution's procurement policies and practices to eliminate procedures which discriminate against items with recycled content, and to identify products or items which are procured by the institution on a frequent or repetitive basis for which products with recycled content may be substituted. Each waste reduction plan shall prescribe that it will be the policy of the institution to purchase products with recycled content whenever such products have met specifications and standards of equivalent products which do not contain recycled content.

(f) Each waste reduction plan developed in accordance with this Section shall be submitted to the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for review and approval. The Agency's Department's review shall be conducted in cooperation with the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board.

(g) The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide technical assistance, technical materials, workshops and other information necessary to assist in the development and implementation of the waste reduction plans. The Agency Department shall develop guidelines and funding criteria for providing grant assistance to institutions for the implementation of approved waste reduction plans.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(415 ILCS 20/6) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7056)

Sec. 6. The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall be the lead agency for implementation of this Act and shall have the following powers:

(a) To provide technical and educational assistance for applications of technologies and practices which will minimize the land disposal of non-hazardous solid waste; economic feasibility of implementation of solid waste management alternatives; analysis of markets for recyclable materials and energy products; application of the Geographic Information System to provide analysis of natural resource, land use, and environmental impacts; evaluation of financing and ownership options; and evaluation of plans prepared by units of local government pursuant to Section 22.15 of the Environmental Protection Act.

(b) (Blank).

(c) To provide loans or recycling and composting grants to businesses and not-for-profit and governmental organizations for the purposes of increasing the quantity of materials recycled or composted in Illinois; developing and implementing innovative recycling methods and technologies; developing and expanding markets for recyclable materials; and increasing the self-sufficiency of the recycling industry in Illinois. The Agency Department shall work with and coordinate its activities with existing for-profit and not-for-profit collection and recycling systems to encourage orderly growth in the supply of and markets for recycled materials and to assist existing collection and recycling efforts.

The Agency Department shall develop a public education program concerning the importance of both composting and recycling in order to preserve landfill space in Illinois.

(d) To establish guidelines and funding criteria for the solicitation of projects under this Act, and to receive and evaluate applications for loans or grants for solid waste management projects based upon such guidelines and criteria. Funds may be loaned with or without interest.

(e) To support and coordinate solid waste research in Illinois, and to approve the annual solid waste research agenda prepared by the University of Illinois.

(f) To provide loans or grants for research, development and demonstration of innovative technologies and practices, including but not limited to pilot programs for collection and disposal of household wastes.

(g) To promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the purposes of subsections (c), (d) and (f) of this Section.

(h) (Blank). To cooperate with the Environmental Protection Agency for the purposes specified herein.

The Agency Department is authorized to accept any and all grants, repayments of interest and principal on loans, matching funds, reimbursements, appropriations, income derived from investments, or other things of value from the federal or state governments or from any institution, person, partnership, joint venture, corporation, public or private.

The Agency Department is authorized to use moneys available for that purpose, subject to appropriation, expressly for the purpose of implementing a loan program according to procedures established pursuant to this Act. Those moneys shall be used by the Agency Department for the purpose of financing additional projects and for the Agency's Department's administrative expenses related thereto.

(Source: P.A. 100-621, eff. 7-20-18.)

(415 ILCS 20/6a) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7056a)

Sec. 6a. The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall:

(1) Work with nationally based consumer groups and trade associations to support the development of nationally recognized logos which may be used to indicate whether a container and any other consumer products which are claimed to be recyclable by a product manufacturer are recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable.

(2) Work with nationally based consumer groups and trade associations to develop nationally recognized criteria for determining under what conditions the logos may be used.

(3) Develop and conduct a public education and awareness campaign to encourage the public to look for and buy products in containers which are recyclable or made of recycled materials.

(4) Develop and prepare educational materials describing the benefits and methods of recycling for distribution to elementary schools in Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 99-306, eff. 1-1-16.)

(415 ILCS 20/7) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7057)

Sec. 7. It is the intent of this Act to provide the framework for a comprehensive solid waste management program in Illinois.

The Department shall prepare and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1, 1992, a report evaluating the effectiveness of the programs provided under this Act and Section 22.14 of the Environmental Protection Act; assessing the need for a continuation of existing programs, development and implementation of new programs and appropriate funding mechanisms; and recommending legislative and administrative action to fully implement a comprehensive solid waste management program in Illinois.

The Department shall investigate the suitability and advisability of providing tax incentives for Illinois businesses to use recycled products and purchase or lease recycling equipment and shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 1987 on the results of this investigation.

By July 1, 1989, the Department shall submit to the Governor and members of the General Assembly a waste reduction report:

(a) that describes various mechanisms that could be utilized to stimulate and enhance the reduction of industrial and post-consumer waste in the State, including their advantages and disadvantages. The mechanisms to be analyzed shall include, but not be limited to, incentives for prolonging product life, methods for ensuring product recyclability, taxes for excessive packaging, tax incentives, prohibitions on the use of certain products, and performance standards for products; and

(b) that includes specific recommendations to stimulate and enhance waste reduction in the industrial and consumer sector, including, but not limited to, legislation, financial incentives and disincentives, and public education.

The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, with the cooperation of the State Board of Education, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and others as needed, shall develop, coordinate and conduct an education program for solid waste management and recycling. The program shall include, but not be limited to, education for the general public, businesses, government, educators and students.

The education program shall address, at a minimum, the following topics: the solid waste management alternatives of recycling, composting, and source reduction; resource allocation and depletion; solid waste planning; reuse of materials; pollution prevention; and household hazardous waste.

The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall cooperate with municipal and county governments, regional school superintendents, educational educational service centers, local school districts, and planning agencies and committees to coordinate local and regional education programs and workshops and to expedite the exchange of technical information.

By March 1, 1989, the Department shall prepare a report on strategies for distributing and marketing landscape waste compost from centralized composting sites operated by units of local government. The report shall, at a minimum, evaluate the effects of product quality, assured supply, cost and public education on the availability of compost, free delivery, and public sales composting program. The evaluation of public sales programs shall focus on direct retail sale of bagged compost at the site or special distribution centers and bulk sale of finished compost to wholesalers for resale.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

Section 975. The Recycled Newsprint Use Act is amended by changing Sections 2002.03, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 as follows:

(415 ILCS 110/2002.03 new)

Sec. 2002.03. Agency. "Agency" means the Environmental Protection Agency.

(415 ILCS 110/2004) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9754)

Sec. 2004. Consumer usage certification. Each consumer of newsprint within the State shall, on or before March 1 of each year, certify to the Agency Department the amount in tons of every type of newsprint used by the consumer of newsprint the previous year and the percentage of recycled fibers present in each type of newsprint, so that the Agency Department can calculate the recycled fiber usage for that consumer of newsprint. All Illinois consumers of newsprint shall submit the first consumer usage certificate by March 1, 1992, for the calendar year 1991. Only consumers of newsprint who provide timely usage certificates shall receive credit for recycled fiber usage.

(Source: P.A. 91-583, eff. 1-1-00.)

(415 ILCS 110/2005) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9755)

Sec. 2005. Audit. Every consumer of newsprint who submits recycled fiber usage certification may be subject to an audit by the Agency Department to ensure that the recycled fiber percentage requirement was met.

(Source: P.A. 86-1443.)

(415 ILCS 110/2007) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9757)

Sec. 2007. List identifying consumers and suppliers. For the purposes of implementing and enforcing this Act, the Agency Department shall develop and maintain a list that identifies every consumer of newsprint in Illinois and every person who supplies a consumer of newsprint with newsprint. The Agency Department may use information from local business permits, trade publications, or any other relevant information to develop the list.

(Source: P.A. 86-1443.)

(415 ILCS 110/2008) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9758)

Sec. 2008. Comparable quality standards.

(a) For the purposes of implementing and enforcing this Act, the Agency Department shall set comparable quality standards for each of the grades of newsprint available from all suppliers of newsprint to determine the comparable quality of recycled content newsprint to virgin material. The standards shall be based on the average numerical standards of printing opacity, brightness level, and cross machine tear strength.

(b) The Agency Department shall review its standards at least once every 2 years and determine whether they should be adjusted to reflect changes in industry standards and practices, and if so, the Agency Department shall set new standards.

(Source: P.A. 86-1443.)

(415 ILCS 110/2010) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9760)

Sec. 2010. Content of delivered newsprint. If any person knowingly provides a consumer of newsprint with a false or misleading certificate concerning the recycled fiber percentage of the delivered newsprint, the Agency Department, within 30 days of making this determination, shall refer the false or misleading certificate to the Attorney General for prosecution for fraud.

(Source: P.A. 86-1443.)

(415 ILCS 110/2011) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9761)

Sec. 2011. Consumer use certificate. Any consumer of newsprint who knowingly provides the Agency Department with a false or misleading certificate concerning the percentage of recycled fiber used commits a Class C misdemeanor, and the Agency Department, within 30 days of making this determination, shall refer the false or misleading certificate to the Attorney General for prosecution.

(Source: P.A. 86-1443.)

(415 ILCS 110/2012) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9762)

Sec. 2012. Prices; confidential proprietary information. Specific information on newsprint prices included as part of a certificate submitted to the Agency Department by newsprint consumers or suppliers is proprietary information and shall not be made available to the general public.

(Source: P.A. 86-1443.)

(415 ILCS 110/2013) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 9763)

Sec. 2013. Mandatory recycling.

(a) If the Department determines that the 1993 annual aggregate average of recycled fiber usage does not meet or exceed the goal established in Section 2003 of this Act, the provisions of this Section shall be implemented.

(b) During the year 1994 every consumer of newsprint in Illinois shall be required to ensure that its recycled fiber usage is at least 28%, unless he complies with subsection (c) or (d).

(c) If recycled content newsprint cannot be found that meets quality standards established by the Agency Department, or if recycled content newsprint cannot be found in sufficient quantities to meet recycled fiber usage requirements within a given year, or if recycled newsprint cannot be found at a price comparable to that of newsprint made from 100% virgin fibers, the consumer of newsprint shall so certify to the Agency Department and provide the Agency Department with the specific reasons for failing to meet recycled fiber usage requirements.

(d) A consumer of newsprint who has made previous contracts with newsprint suppliers before January 1, 1991, may be exempt from the requirements of this Act if those requirements are in conflict with the agreements set forth in the contract. The consumer of newsprint must conform to the conditions of this Act immediately upon expiration or nullification of the contract. Contracts may not be entered into or renewed as an attempt to evade the requirements of this Act.

(e) Any consumer of newsprint who knowingly provides the Agency Department with a false or misleading certificate concerning why the consumer of newsprint was unable to obtain the minimum amount of recycled content newsprint needed to achieve the recycled fiber usage requirements, commits a Class C misdemeanor, and the Agency Department, within 30 days of making this determination, shall refer the false or misleading certificate to the Attorney General for prosecution.

(f) Any person who knowingly violates subsection (b) of this Section is guilty of a business offense punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.

(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

Section 980. The Alternate Fuels Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 31, and 32 as follows:

(415 ILCS 120/15)

Sec. 15. Rulemaking. The Agency shall promulgate rules and dedicate sufficient resources to implement the purposes of Section 30 of this Act. Such rules shall be consistent with the provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. The Secretary of State may promulgate rules to implement Section 35 of this Act. The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may promulgate rules to implement Section 25 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(415 ILCS 120/31)

Sec. 31. Alternate Fuel Infrastructure Program. Subject to appropriation, the Agency may Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) shall establish a grant program to provide funding for the building of E85 blend, propane, at least 20% biodiesel blended fuel, and compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling facilities, including private on-site fueling facilities, to be built within the covered area or in Illinois metropolitan areas over 100,000 in population. The Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall be responsible for reviewing the proposals and awarding the grants.

(Source: P.A. 94-62, eff. 6-20-05.)

(415 ILCS 120/32)

Sec. 32. Clean Fuel Education Program. Subject to appropriation, the Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in cooperation with the Agency and Chicago Area Clean Cities, may shall administer the Clean Fuel Education Program, the purpose of which is to educate fleet administrators and Illinois' citizens about the benefits of using alternate fuels. The program shall include a media campaign.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

Section 995. The Prevailing Wage Act is amended by changing Section 2 as follows:

(820 ILCS 130/2) (from Ch. 48, par. 39s-2)

Sec. 2. This Act applies to the wages of laborers, mechanics and other workers employed in any public works, as hereinafter defined, by any public body and to anyone under contracts for public works. This includes any maintenance, repair, assembly, or disassembly work performed on equipment whether owned, leased, or rented.

As used in this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise:

"Public works" means all fixed works constructed or demolished by any public body, or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds. "Public works" as defined herein includes all projects financed in whole or in part with bonds, grants, loans, or other funds made available by or through the State or any of its political subdivisions, including but not limited to: bonds issued under the Industrial Project Revenue Bond Act (Article 11, Division 74 of the Illinois Municipal Code), the Industrial Building Revenue Bond Act, the Illinois Finance Authority Act, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act, or the Build Illinois Bond Act; loans or other funds made available pursuant to the Build Illinois Act; loans or other funds made available pursuant to the Riverfront Development Fund under Section 10-15 of the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act; or funds from the Fund for Illinois' Future under Section 6z-47 of the State Finance Act, funds for school construction under Section 5 of the General Obligation Bond Act, funds authorized under Section 3 of the School Construction Bond Act, funds for school infrastructure under Section 6z-45 of the State Finance Act, and funds for transportation purposes under Section 4 of the General Obligation Bond Act. "Public works" also includes (i) all projects financed in whole or in part with funds from the Environmental Protection Agency Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program Act for which there is no project labor agreement; (ii) all work performed pursuant to a public private agreement under the Public Private Agreements for the Illiana Expressway Act or the Public-Private Agreements for the South Suburban Airport Act; and (iii) all projects undertaken under a public-private agreement under the Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act. "Public works" also includes all projects at leased facility property used for airport purposes under Section 35 of the Local Government Facility Lease Act. "Public works" also includes the construction of a new wind power facility by a business designated as a High Impact Business under Section 5.5(a)(3)(E) of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. "Public works" does not include work done directly by any public utility company, whether or not done under public supervision or direction, or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds. "Public works" also includes any corrective action performed pursuant to Title XVI of the Environmental Protection Act for which payment from the Underground Storage Tank Fund is requested. "Public works" does not include projects undertaken by the owner at an owner-occupied single-family residence or at an owner-occupied unit of a multi-family residence. "Public works" does not include work performed for soil and water conservation purposes on agricultural lands, whether or not done under public supervision or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds, done directly by an owner or person who has legal control of those lands.

"Construction" means all work on public works involving laborers, workers or mechanics. This includes any maintenance, repair, assembly, or disassembly work performed on equipment whether owned, leased, or rented.

"Locality" means the county where the physical work upon public works is performed, except (1) that if there is not available in the county a sufficient number of competent skilled laborers, workers and mechanics to construct the public works efficiently and properly, "locality" includes any other county nearest the one in which the work or construction is to be performed and from which such persons may be obtained in sufficient numbers to perform the work and (2) that, with respect to contracts for highway work with the Department of Transportation of this State, "locality" may at the discretion of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation be construed to include two or more adjacent counties from which workers may be accessible for work on such construction.

"Public body" means the State or any officer, board or commission of the State or any political subdivision or department thereof, or any institution supported in whole or in part by public funds, and includes every county, city, town, village, township, school district, irrigation, utility, reclamation improvement or other district and every other political subdivision, district or municipality of the state whether such political subdivision, municipality or district operates under a special charter or not.

"Labor organization" means an organization that is the exclusive representative of an employer's employees recognized or certified pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act.

The terms "general prevailing rate of hourly wages", "general prevailing rate of wages" or "prevailing rate of wages" when used in this Act mean the hourly cash wages plus annualized fringe benefits for training and apprenticeship programs approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, health and welfare, insurance, vacations and pensions paid generally, in the locality in which the work is being performed, to employees engaged in work of a similar character on public works.

(Source: P.A. 100-1177, eff. 6-1-19.)

Section 9995. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.

Section 9997. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 9999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.