96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB3974

 

Introduced 11/18/2010, by Sen. John M. Sullivan

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 4003/10
20 ILCS 4003/15
20 ILCS 4003/17 new
20 ILCS 4003/20

    Amends the Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act. Provides that the Mississippi River Coordinating Council shall include a standing subcommittee called the Mississippi River Parkway Subcommittee, which shall consist of 6 public members residing in counties in the State that are adjacent to the Mississippi River and ex-officio members from the State with specific knowledge of the Mississippi River. Provides that the chairperson of the Council shall appoint the Subcommittee members and that the Subcommittee members shall be non-voting members of the Council. Sets forth the duties of the Subcommittee. Effective January 1, 2011.


LRB096 24306 RLJ 43786 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3974LRB096 24306 RLJ 43786 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act
5is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, and 20 and adding
6Section 17 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 4003/10)
8    Sec. 10. Mississippi River Coordinating Council.
9    (a) There is established the Mississippi River
10Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 13 voting
11members to be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be
12the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and
13as chairperson of the Council. The agency members of the
14Council shall include the Directors, or their designees, of the
15following: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of
16Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental
17Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, and the
18Department of Transportation. In addition, the Council shall
19include one member representing Soil and Water Conservation
20Districts located in the proximity of the Mississippi River and
21its tributaries, and 6 members representing local communities,
22not-for-profit organizations working to protect the
23Mississippi River and its tributaries, businesses,

 

 

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1agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment.
2Additionally, the Council shall include a standing
3subcommittee called the Mississippi River Parkway Subcommittee
4(Subcommittee). The Subcommittee shall consist of 6 public
5members residing in counties in the State that are adjacent to
6the Mississippi River and ex-officio members from the State
7with specific knowledge of the Mississippi River. The
8Subcommittee members, including the chairperson, shall be
9appointed by the chairperson of the Council. The Subcommittee
10members shall be non-voting members of the Council. The
11chairperson of the Subcommittee shall also serve as the
12Illinois representative to the National Mississippi River
13Parkway Commission.
14    (b) The Governor may appoint, as ex-officio members,
15individuals representing the interests of the states who border
16the Mississippi River and individuals representing federal
17agencies.
18    (c) Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, except
19that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed
20to serve 3-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.
21    (d) The Council shall meet at least quarterly.
22    (e) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be
23responsible for the operations of the Council, including,
24without limitation, funding and oversight of the Council's
25activities. The Office may reimburse members of the Council for
26travel expenses.

 

 

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1    (f) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section
2405-500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law.
3(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
4    (20 ILCS 4003/15)
5    Sec. 15. Duties of the Council. The Council shall:
6        (1) periodically review activities and programs
7    administered by State and federal agencies that directly
8    impact the Mississippi River and its tributaries;
9        (2) work with local communities and organizations to
10    encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and
11    capabilities to address watershed and water resource
12    concerns and to encourage strategies that protect,
13    restore, and expand critical habitats and soil
14    conservation and water quality practices;
15        (3) work with State and federal agencies to optimize
16    the expenditure of funds affecting the Mississippi River
17    and its tributaries;
18        (4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and
19    State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure
20    of appropriated funds affecting the Mississippi River and
21    its tributaries;
22        (5) encourage local communities to develop water
23    management plans to address stormwater, erosion, flooding,
24    sedimentation, and pollution problems and encourage
25    projects for the natural conveyance and storage of

 

 

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1    floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and
2    outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery,
3    management, and conservation of the Mississippi River and
4    its tributaries, the preservation of farmland, prairies,
5    and forests, and the use of measurable economic development
6    efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of
7    the State; and
8        (6) help identify possible sources of additional
9    funding for Mississippi River water management projects;
10    and .
11        (7) receive, review, and analyze information submitted
12    by the Subcommittee under Section 17 and issue reports
13    concerning that information as it deems appropriate.
14(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
15    (20 ILCS 4003/17 new)
16    Sec. 17. Duties of the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee
17shall:
18        (1) Analyze the programs established by or associated
19    with interstate compacts, planning groups, commissions,
20    State agencies, local agencies, and any other related
21    entities that are involved in air, water, and land use
22    activities along the Mississippi River to determine their
23    relationship to the objectives of the Subcommittee.
24        (2) Submit reports to the Council detailing the
25    Subcommittee's progress in meeting the requirements of

 

 

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1    paragraph (1) including without limitation observations,
2    conclusions, and recommendations concerning specific State
3    and local agencies. The reports must be submitted to the
4    Council at least twice a year.
5        (3) Advise the Department of Transportation, the
6    Department of Natural Resources, the Department of
7    Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of
8    Agriculture, counties, townships, municipalities, and road
9    districts concerning projects and activities related to
10    the Great River Road, a national scenic and recreational
11    highway.
12        (4) Cooperate with and provide assistance to the
13    National Mississippi River Parkway Commission in promoting
14    the development and use of the Great River Road and its
15    facilities. Subject to appropriation, the Subcommittee may
16    pay an annual fee for its participation in the programs of
17    the National Mississippi River Parkway Commission.
 
18    (20 ILCS 4003/20)
19    Sec. 20. Agency duties. State agencies represented on the
20Council shall provide to the Council, on request, information
21concerning agency programs, data, and activities that impact
22the restoration and preservation of the Mississippi River and
23its tributaries. The Secretary of Transportation, the Director
24of Agriculture, the Director of Historic Preservation, the
25Director of Natural Resources, and the Director of Commerce and

 

 

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1Economic Opportunity shall each designate at least one employee
2from his or her respective agency to assist the Subcommittee in
3the performance of its functions and duties.
4(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
5    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
61, 2011.