093_SB0917
LRB093 03213 RCE 03230 b
1 AN ACT concerning conservation.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Illinois Open Land Trust Act is amended
5 by changing Section 5 as follows:
6 (525 ILCS 33/5)
7 Sec. 5. Legislative policy.Policy.
8 (a) The provision of lands for the conservation of
9 natural resources and public recreation promote the public
10 health, prosperity, and general welfare and are proper
11 responsibilities of State government.
12 (b) Lands now dedicated to these purposes are not
13 adequate to protect the quality of life and meet the needs of
14 an expanding population.
15 (c) Natural areas, wetlands, forests, prairies, open
16 spaces, and greenways provide critical habitat for fish and
17 wildlife and are in need of protection.
18 (d) The opportunity to acquire lands that are available
19 and appropriate for these purposes will gradually disappear
20 as their cost correspondingly increases.
21 (e) It is desirable to encourage partnerships among
22 federal, State, and local governments and not-for-profit
23 corporations for the acquisition of land for conservation and
24 recreation purposes.
25 (f) It is necessary and desirable to provide assistance
26 in the form of grants and loans to units of local government
27 to acquire lands that have significant conservation and
28 recreation attributes.
29 (Source: P.A. 91-220, eff. 7-21-99.)