House Sponsors: GRANBERG-NOVAK. Senate Sponsors: MADIGAN,R-WELCH Short description: RIVERS-STREAMS-NO CLEARCUTTING Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Prohibits clear cutting of trees within 40 yards of the State's navigable waters. FISCAL NOTE (Department of Natural Resources) The Department has no way to make a reliable cost estimate. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Changes the bill's prohibition. Prohibits clear cutting of trees on land within 15 yards of the State's navigable waters. Exempts units of local government of more than 500,000 population and exempts clear cutting for certain road and drainage projects. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to advise and assist the Trees Forever Illinois Buffer Initiative. FISCAL NOTE, H-AM 1,2 (Department of Natural Resources) There would be no fiscal impact to the Department. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 205/205-440 new Deletes everything. Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to require the Department of Agriculture to assist the Trees Forever Illinois Buffer Initiative. Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Prohibits clear cutting of trees within 15 yards of the State's navigable waterways. Exempts (i) units of local government with a population of more than 500,000, (ii) certain road and drainage projects under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, road districts, highway commissioners, and drainage districts, (iii) drainage of or on agricultural land, and (iv) certain electricity facility projects. FISCAL NOTE, H-AM 1 (Department of Agriculture) There would be no fiscal impact on the Department. FISCAL NOTE, H-AM 2 (Department of Agriculture) H-am 2 may have a minimal fiscal impact on the Department. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes everything. Reinserts the engrossed bill with the following changes: in the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, changes the Department of Agriculture's duties to (i) giving guidance to organized tree buffer initiatives as to State resources for implementation of programs and (ii) aiding the promotion of tree buffer initiatives. In the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act, exempts from the clear cutting prohibition commercial and industrial facilities under the regulatory jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the U.S. Coast Guard. Includes municipalities and public water facilities among the entities whose road and drainage projects are exempt. Defines clear cutting. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to adopt necessary rules. Requires the Department to adopt rules for municipalities of 500,000 or less population to seek waivers to permit clear cutting for necessary socioeconomic development projects. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Adds reference to: 35 ILCS 200/10-153 new Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that property within 15 yards of navigable waters that has not been clear cut and is not within a unit of local government of greater than 500,000 population shall be assessed at 1/12th of its productivity value as cropland. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 91-0907 Last action date: 00-07-07 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 2 SENATE - 2 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status