Public Act 094-0996
 
SB2360 Enrolled LRB094 17975 RSP 53278 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act.
 
    Section 5. Legislative Purpose. The Mississippi River is
the primary water artery for the economic development of the
United States. The restoration and conservation of the
Mississippi River and its tributaries is in the economic and
ecological interest of the citizens of this State. It is
further in the public interest to establish, implement and
monitor water management projects run by local, state, federal
and not-for-profit entities.
 
    Section 10. Mississippi River Coordinating Council.
    (a) There is established the Mississippi River
Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 13 voting
members to be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be
the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and
as chairperson of the Council. The agency members of the
Council shall include the Directors, or their designees, of the
following: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, and the
Department of Transportation. In addition, the Council shall
include one member representing Soil and Water Conservation
Districts located in the proximity of the Mississippi River and
its tributaries, and 6 members representing local communities,
not-for-profit organizations working to protect the
Mississippi River and its tributaries, businesses,
agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment.
    (b) The Governor may appoint, as ex-officio members,
individuals representing the interests of the states who border
the Mississippi River and individuals representing federal
agencies.
    (c) Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, except
that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed
to serve 3-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.
    (d) The Council shall meet at least quarterly.
    (e) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be
responsible for the operations of the Council, including,
without limitation, funding and oversight of the Council's
activities. The Office may reimburse members of the Council for
travel expenses.
    (f) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section
405-500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law.
 
    Section 15. Duties of the Council. 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.
 
    Section 20. Agency duties. State agencies represented on
the Council shall provide to the Council, on request,
information concerning agency programs, data, and activities
that impact the restoration and preservation of the Mississippi
River and its tributaries.

Effective Date: 1/1/2007