94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB2360

 

Introduced 1/18/2006, by Sen. James F. Clayborne, Jr.

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act. Authorizes the creation of the Mississippi River Coordinating Council consisting of 13 voting members to be appointed by the Governor. Sets forth provisions relating to the composition of the Council. Provides that the Council shall: (1) periodically review activities and programs administered by State and federal agencies that directly impact the Mississippi River and its tributaries; (2) work with local communities and organizations to encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and capabilities to address watershed and water resource concerns and to encourage strategies that protect, restore, and expand critical habitats and soil conservation and water quality practices; (3) work with State and federal agencies to optimize the expenditure of funds affecting the Mississippi River and its tributaries; (4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure of appropriated funds affecting the Mississippi River and its tributaries; (5) encourage local communities to develop water management plans to address stormwater, erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and pollution problems and encourage projects for the natural conveyance and storage of floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery, management and conservation of the Mississippi river and its tributaries, the preservation of farmland, prairies, and forests, and the use of measurable economic development efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of the State; and (6) help identify possible sources of additional funding for Mississippi River water management projects.


LRB094 17975 RSP 53278 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2360 LRB094 17975 RSP 53278 b

1     AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act.
 
6     Section 5. Legislative Purpose. The Mississippi River is
7 the primary water artery for the economic development of the
8 United States. The restoration and conservation of the
9 Mississippi River and its tributaries is in the economic and
10 ecological interest of the citizens of this State. It is
11 further in the public interest to establish, implement and
12 monitor water management projects run by local, state, federal
13 and not-for-profit entities.
 
14     Section 10. Mississippi River Coordinating Council.
15     (a) There is established the Mississippi River
16 Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 13 voting
17 members to be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be
18 the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and
19 as chairperson of the Council. The agency members of the
20 Council shall include the Directors, or their designees, of the
21 following: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of
22 Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental
23 Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, and the
24 Department of Transportation. In addition, the Council shall
25 include one member representing Soil and Water Conservation
26 Districts located in the proximity of the Mississippi River and
27 its tributaries, and 6 members representing local communities,
28 not-for-profit organizations working to protect the
29 Mississippi River and its tributaries, businesses,
30 agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment.
31     (b) The Governor may appoint, as ex-officio members,

 

 

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1 individuals representing the interests of the states who border
2 the Mississippi River and individuals representing federal
3 agencies.
4     (c) Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, except
5 that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed
6 to serve 3-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.
7     (d) The Council shall meet at least quarterly.
8     (e) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be
9 responsible for the operations of the Council. The Office may
10 reimburse members of the Council for travel expenses.
11     (f) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section
12 405-500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law.
 
13     Section 15. Duties of the Council. The Council shall:
14         (1) periodically review activities and programs
15     administered by State and federal agencies that directly
16     impact the Mississippi River and its tributaries;
17         (2) work with local communities and organizations to
18     encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and
19     capabilities to address watershed and water resource
20     concerns and to encourage strategies that protect,
21     restore, and expand critical habitats and soil
22     conservation and water quality practices;
23         (3) work with State and federal agencies to optimize
24     the expenditure of funds affecting the Mississippi River
25     and its tributaries;
26         (4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and
27     State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure
28     of appropriated funds affecting the Mississippi River and
29     its tributaries;
30         (5) encourage local communities to develop water
31     management plans to address stormwater, erosion, flooding,
32     sedimentation, and pollution problems and encourage
33     projects for the natural conveyance and storage of
34     floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and
35     outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery,

 

 

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1     management, and conservation of the Mississippi river and
2     its tributaries, the preservation of farmland, prairies,
3     and forests, and the use of measurable economic development
4     efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of
5     the State; and
6         (6) help identify possible sources of additional
7     funding for Mississippi River water management projects.
 
8     Section 20. Agency duties. State agencies represented on
9 the Council shall provide to the Council, on request,
10 information concerning agency programs, data, and activities
11 that impact the restoration and preservation of the Mississippi
12 River and its tributaries.