HB5296 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 39025 BDA 69162 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5296

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Laura Faver Dias

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Mobilizing Our Neighborhoods to Adopt Resilient Conservation Habitats (MONARCH) Act. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to provide financial and technical assistance for the planting of native and pollinator-friendly plants. Provides that the Department may prioritize grants based on the presence of certain species. Requires the Department to publish information on its website and design a yard sign. Provides that homeowners associations and common interest communities may not prohibit the planting of a pollinator habitat. Authorizes collaboration. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning conservation.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Mobilizing Our Neighborhoods to Adopt Resilient Conservation Habitats (MONARCH) Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Section:

"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.

"Pollinator habitat" means any lawn, planted area of a lawn, or planter box or pot in which native flowers, native vegetation, or pollinator-friendly forbs and legumes grow.

Section 5. Program created.

(a) The Department may provide financial and technical assistance to plant residential landscapes and community spaces with native vegetation and pollinator-friendly forbs and legumes to:

(1) protect a diversity of pollinators with declining populations; and

(2) provide additional benefits for water management, carbon sequestration, and landscape and climate resiliency.

(b) The Department shall publish on its website information guides or links to information related to:

(1) creating a pollinator habitat;

(2) care and maintenance of a pollinator habitat;

(3) recommended practices for pollinator friendly gardening, landscaping, and landscape maintenance;

(4) native plant selection for each climate zone present in the State of Illinois; and

(5) other community outreach and educational programs related to pollinator habitats identified or created by the Department.

(c) The Department shall design a MONARCH yard sign that shall include a QR Code that provides a link to the Department's webpage regarding pollinator habitats. The yard sign shall be available on the Department's website for the public to download and print for personal use.

(d) The Department may collaborate with and enter into agreements with federal, State, and local agencies, tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, and contractors to implement and promote the program.

(e) This Section is subject to appropriation.

Section 10. Grants awardable.

(a) The Department must establish criteria for grants or payments awarded under this Act. Grants or payments awarded under this Act may give priority consideration for proposals in areas identified by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service as areas in which there is a high potential for rusty patched bumble bees and other priority species to be present.

(b) The Department may collaborate with and enter into agreements with federal, state, and local agencies; tribal nations; nonprofit organizations; and contractors to implement and promote the program.

(c) This Section is subject to appropriation.

Section 15. Rules. The Department shall adopt rules to implement this Act within one year after funds are appropriated for that purpose.

Section 20. No prohibition on pollinator habitats. Homeowners associations and common interest communities shall not prohibit any resident or homeowner from planting a pollinator habitat. Homeowners associations and common interest communities shall not enact or enforce rules or regulations that impair the proper maintenance and care of pollinator habitats.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

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