SB0168 EngrossedLRB097 06789 RLJ 46880 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 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 4003/10)
7    Sec. 10. Mississippi River Coordinating Council.
8    (a) There is established the Mississippi River
9Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 16 13 voting
10members to be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be
11the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and
12as chairperson of the Council. The agency members of the
13Council shall include the Directors, or their designees, of the
14following: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of
15Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental
16Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, the
17Historic Preservation Agency, and the Department of
18Transportation. In addition, the Council shall include one
19member representing Soil and Water Conservation Districts
20located in the proximity of the Mississippi River and its
21tributaries, and 8 6 members representing local communities,
22not-for-profit organizations working to protect the
23Mississippi River and its tributaries, businesses,

 

 

SB0168 Engrossed- 2 -LRB097 06789 RLJ 46880 b

1agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment, 2
2of which must reside within a county that is adjacent to the
3Mississippi River.
4    (b) The Governor may appoint, as ex-officio members,
5individuals representing the interests of the states who border
6the Mississippi River and individuals representing federal
7agencies.
8    (c) Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, except
9that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed
10to serve 3-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.
11    (d) The Council shall meet at least quarterly.
12    (e) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be
13responsible for the operations of the Council, including,
14without limitation, funding and oversight of the Council's
15activities. The Office may reimburse members of the Council for
16travel expenses.
17    (f) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section
18405-500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law.
19    (g) The members of the Council shall appoint one member of
20the Council to serve as the Illinois representative to the
21National Mississippi River Parkway Commission.
22(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
23    (20 ILCS 4003/15)
24    Sec. 15. Duties of the Council.
25    (a) The Council shall:

 

 

SB0168 Engrossed- 3 -LRB097 06789 RLJ 46880 b

1        (1) periodically review activities and programs
2    administered by State and federal agencies that directly
3    impact the Mississippi River and its tributaries;
4        (2) work with local communities and organizations to
5    encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and
6    capabilities to address watershed and water resource
7    concerns and to encourage strategies that protect,
8    restore, and expand critical habitats and soil
9    conservation and water quality practices;
10        (3) work with State and federal agencies to optimize
11    the expenditure of funds affecting the Mississippi River
12    and its tributaries;
13        (4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and
14    State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure
15    of appropriated funds affecting the Mississippi River and
16    its tributaries;
17        (5) encourage local communities to develop water
18    management plans to address stormwater, erosion, flooding,
19    sedimentation, and pollution problems and encourage
20    projects for the natural conveyance and storage of
21    floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and
22    outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery,
23    management, and conservation of the Mississippi River and
24    its tributaries, the preservation of farmland, prairies,
25    and forests, and the use of measurable economic development
26    efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of

 

 

SB0168 Engrossed- 4 -LRB097 06789 RLJ 46880 b

1    the State; and
2        (6) help identify possible sources of additional
3    funding for Mississippi River water management projects
4    and projects and activities related to the Great River
5    Road, a national scenic and recreational highway.
6    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Council may pay for a
7membership to the National Mississippi River Commission.
8(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
9    (20 ILCS 4003/20)
10    Sec. 20. Agency duties. State agencies represented on the
11Council shall provide to the Council, on request, information
12concerning agency programs, data, and activities that impact
13the restoration and preservation of the Mississippi River and
14its tributaries. The Secretary of Transportation, the Director
15of Agriculture, the Director of the Environmental Protection
16Agency, the Director of Historic Preservation, the Director of
17Natural Resources, and the Director of Commerce and Economic
18Opportunity shall each designate at least one employee from his
19or her respective agency to assist the Council.
20(Source: P.A. 94-996, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
21    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22becoming law.