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90_HR0365
LRB9011875PTbd
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The importance of preserving Illinois'
3 productive agricultural land has been recognized by the
4 citizens of rural and urban communities of the State and by
5 numerous organizations and public officials of the State; and
6 WHEREAS, Agriculture is Illinois' leading industry,
7 generating tens of billions of dollars in economic activity
8 through agricultural production, input, processing, and
9 marketing, and is vital to the economic diversity of the
10 State; and
11 WHEREAS, Illinois' farmers use the State's superior soil
12 types and favorable climate to commercially produce more than
13 200 different agricultural commodities for domestic and
14 international markets; and
15 WHEREAS, Illinois farmers are the stewards of more land
16 than any other group in the State and use our natural
17 resources to make a living and to feed and clothe our
18 citizenry while maintaining wildlife and providing open
19 space; and
20 WHEREAS, Increased urbanization, government policies, and
21 environmental trends are resulting in more pressure upon our
22 agricultural lands and Illinois' 76,000 farms; and
23 WHEREAS, It is a priority to preserve Illinois'
24 productive agricultural land and protect against the
25 unnecessary and irretrievable conversion to non-agricultural
26 uses; therefore, be it
27 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
28 NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
29 there is created the Illinois Smart Growth Task Force:
30 (a) The Task Force shall consist of 21 members, who shall
31 be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Speaker and
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1 the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives according
2 to the following requirements:
3 (1) Seven members shall be appointed from the House
4 of Representatives, with 4 members being appointed by the
5 Speaker and 3 members being appointed by the Minority
6 Leader;
7 (2) Fourteen members shall be appointed from
8 pertinent fields or disciplines with the Speaker and the
9 Minority Leader each appointing one individual from each
10 of the following categories:
11 (A) Agriculture;
12 (B) Environment;
13 (C) Academia;
14 (D) County or municipal government;
15 (E) Construction or development;
16 (F) Urban or regional planning;
17 (G) Any other field or discipline the Speaker
18 or Minority Leader deems necessary;
19 (b) The Speaker shall select 2 members who are House
20 appointees to serve as co-chairpersons of the Task Force;
21 (c) The Task Force shall have the following objectives:
22 (1) Examine historical trends, causes, and
23 consequences of the conversion of agricultural land to
24 non-agricultural uses;
25 (2) Identify voluntary methods and incentives for
26 preserving and maintaining land for agricultural
27 production;
28 (3) Provide recommendations for enhancing the
29 continued vitality of agricultural activity, protecting
30 private property rights, and retaining land in
31 agricultural use;
32 (d) The Task Force shall receive the assistance of
33 legislative staff, legislative agencies, and, upon request,
34 private and public organizations;
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1 (e) The members of the Task Force shall serve without
2 compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
3 necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose;
4 and be it further
5 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Smart Growth Task Force shall
6 meet at the call of the co-chairpersons, shall hold public
7 hearings, and shall report its findings and recommendations
8 concerning the urbanization and preservation of farm land to
9 the House by filing copies of its report with the Clerk of
10 the House on or before January 1, 1999; and that upon filing
11 its report the task force is dissolved.