HB4279 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 16475 SLF 31604 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4279

Introduced , by Rep. Jerry Costello, II

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 801/1-15
30 ILCS 105/5.886 new

Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources has the authority to accept, receive, and administer on behalf of the State, federal grant funds associated with the development or preservation of recreational boating infrastructure on this State's waterways and distribute those funds as prescribed by the appropriate federal agency. Provides that funds received by the Department shall be deposited into the Natural Resources Federal Boating Infrastructure Grant Dollars Fund and used for these purposes. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources Act is amended by changing Section 1-15 as follows:

(20 ILCS 801/1-15)

Sec. 1-15. General powers and duties.

(a) It shall be the duty of the Department to investigate practical problems, implement studies, conduct research and provide assistance, information and data relating to the technology and administration of the natural history, entomology, zoology, and botany of this State; the geology and natural resources of this State; the water and atmospheric resources of this State; and the archeological and cultural history of this State.

(b) The Department (i) shall obtain, store, and process relevant data; recommend technological, administrative, and legislative changes and developments; cooperate with other federal, state, and local governmental research agencies, facilities, or institutes in the selection of projects for study; cooperate with the Board of Higher Education and with the public and private colleges and universities in this State in developing relevant interdisciplinary approaches to problems; and evaluate curricula at all levels of education and provide assistance to instructors and (ii) may sponsor an annual conference of leaders in government, industry, health, and education to evaluate the state of this State's environment and natural resources.

(c) The Director, in accordance with the Personnel Code, shall employ such personnel, provide such facilities, and contract for such outside services as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Department. Maximum use shall be made of existing federal and state agencies, facilities, and personnel in conducting research under this Act.

(d) In addition to its other powers, the Department has the following powers:

(1) To obtain, store, process, and provide data and information related to the powers and duties of the Department under this Act. This subdivision (d)(1) does not give authority to the Department to require reports from nongovernmental sources or entities.

(2) To cooperate with and support the Illinois Science and Technology Advisory Committee and the Illinois Coalition for the purpose of facilitating the effective operations and activities of such entities. Support may include, but need not be limited to, providing space for the operations of the Committee and the Illinois Coalition.

(e) The Department is authorized to make grants to local not-for-profit organizations for the purposes of development, maintenance and study of wetland areas.

(f) The Department has the authority to accept, receive and administer on behalf of the State any gifts, bequests, donations, income from property rental and endowments. Any such funds received by the Department shall be deposited into the Natural Resources Fund, a special fund which is hereby created in the State treasury, and used for the purposes of this Act or, when appropriate, for such purposes and under such restrictions, terms and conditions as are predetermined by the donor or grantor of such funds or property. Any accrued interest from money deposited into the Natural Resources Fund shall be reinvested into the Fund and used in the same manner as the principal. The Director shall maintain records which account for and assure that restricted funds or property are disbursed or used pursuant to the restrictions, terms or conditions of the donor.

(g) The Department shall recognize, preserve, and promote our special heritage of recreational hunting and trapping by providing opportunities to hunt and trap in accordance with the Wildlife Code.

(h) The Department has the authority to accept, receive, and administer on behalf of the State, federal grant funds associated with the development or preservation of recreational boating infrastructure on this State's waterways and distribute those funds as prescribed by the appropriate federal agency. Funds received by the Department shall be deposited into the Natural Resources Federal Boating Infrastructure Grant Dollars Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury and used for the purposes of this subsection (h). Interest or income earned on moneys deposited into the fund shall be retained in the fund to be used by the Department in accordance with this subsection (h).

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99; 91-582, eff. 8-14-99; 92-326, eff. 8-9-01.)

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.886 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.886 new)

Sec. 5.886. The Natural Resources Federal Boating Infrastructure Grant Dollars Fund.