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90_HR0365enr HR0365 Enrolled LRB9011875PTbd 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 365 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 22 members, who shall 31 be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Speaker and HR0365 Enrolled -2- LRB9011875PTbd 1 the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives according 2 to the following requirements: 3 (1) Eight members shall be appointed from the House 4 of Representatives, with 4 members being appointed by the 5 Speaker and 4 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; HR0365 Enrolled -3- LRB9011875PTbd 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.