HJ0037 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0037 LRB101 08224 MST 53290 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Although much of America is thriving economically, rural areas have not recovered from the Great Recession of the late 2000s; and

WHEREAS, Georgia, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin have all begun to look into rural concerns through the creation of initiatives, committees, councils, and agencies; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Rural Development Task Force whose purpose is the following:

(1) Study the conditions, needs, issues, and problems in the agriculture industry; and

(2) Evaluate any action or legislation that may be necessary to promote economic development in the rural areas of the State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be composed of the following members, who shall serve without compensation:

(1) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(2) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House;

(3) One member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(5) One member appointed by the Governor;

(6) One member appointed by the Director of the Department of Agriculture;

(7) One member appointed by the Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development;

(8) One member representing the State's largest agricultural association, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

(9) One member representing the State's largest economic development association, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall elect a chairperson from its membership and shall have the authority to determine its own meeting schedule, hearing schedule, and agendas; and be it further

RESOLVED, That any vacancy in the membership of the Task Force shall be filled in the manner in which the original member was appointed; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Agriculture shall provide any necessary administrative support; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit its final report to the Governor and General Assembly no later than December 31, 2019, and upon the filing of its report, is dissolved.