HB4774ham001 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Local Government Committee

Filed: 3/12/2008

09500HB4774ham001 LRB095 17126 HLH 47784 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4774

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 4774 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section 5-1130 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-1130 new)

Sec. 5-1130. Purchase of agricultural conservation easements for farmland preservation. The county board of any county may, by ordinance, acquire one or more agricultural land conservation easements, permanent or definitive, for farmland preservation purposes through the purchase of easements from landowners. The easement rights must limit the use of the land to production agriculture, as defined in Section 3-35 of the Use Tax Act, for a term specified by the ordinance. At least 30 days prior to the purchase of any agricultural land conservation easement under this Section, the county board must notify the corporate authorities of any municipality that is located within 1.5 miles of the easement. The corporate authorities of the municipality may, by ordinance, object to the purchase of the easement within 30 days after the notification is received. If the municipality does not object within 30 days, then the county board may purchase the easement. If the municipality does object, then the county board may not purchase the easement for a period of 5 years after the date of the objection.

Section 10. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by adding Section 11-153-1 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-153-1 new)

Sec. 11-153-1. Purchase of agricultural conservation easements for farmland preservation. The corporate authorities of any municipality may, by ordinance, acquire one or more agricultural land conservation easements, permanent or definitive, for farmland preservation purposes through the purchase of easements from landowners. The easement rights must limit the use of the land to production agriculture, as defined in Section 3-35 of the Use Tax Act, for a term specified by the ordinance. Any ordinance adopted under this Section requires the approval of the county board of the county in which the easement is located by the affirmative vote of 3/4 of its members.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".