HB3928 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 13920 KMF 19271 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3928

Introduced 2/22/2021, by Rep. Thomas M. Bennett

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

525 ILCS 30/4.01 new

Amends the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act. Creates the Illinois Thirty-By-Thirty Conservation Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall review and make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding conservation of Illinois land and implementation of strategies to conserve and protect 30% of land in Illinois by 2030. Adds provisions containing membership, meetings, compensation, and administrative support. Abolishes the task force and repeals the provisions on January 1, 2023.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning conservation.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act is amended by adding Section 4.01 as follows:

(525 ILCS 30/4.01 new)

Sec. 4.01. Illinois Thirty-by-Thirty Conservation Task Force.

1. The Illinois Thirty-By-Thirty Conservation Task Force is created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding conservation of State land and implementation of strategies to conserve and protect 30% of State land by 2030.

2. The Task Force shall have the following members:

(a) the Director of Department of Natural Resources or the Director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

(b) two Members from the House of Representatives, appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the House Minority Leader;

(c) two Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader;

(d) one member appointed by the Director or Director Designee of the Department of Agriculture;

(e) one member appointed by the Director or Director Designee of The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency;

(f) one member appointed by the Director or Director Designee of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity;

(g) one member appointed by the Director or Director Designee of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

(h) the following members appointed by the Director of the Department of Natural Resources:

(i) two members from a statewide environmental organization;

(ii) one member from a State agriculture association;

(iii) one high school environmental science teacher;

(iv) two high school environmental science students;

(v) one member from an Illinois institution of higher education; and

(vi) one chemical fertilizer professional.

At the discretion of the chairperson, additional individuals may participate in the meetings of the Task Force. The chairperson may also seek administrative assistance from one high school environmental science teacher and 2 high school environmental science students.

Task Force members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in performing their duties.

The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months beginning July 1, 2021, and at other times as determined by the chairperson.

The Department of Natural Resources shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force.

3. The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2023.

4. The Task Force shall make recommendations, including, but not limited, to:

(a) identifying resources that the State has and how they are being used;

(b) identifying tools, resources, and incentives for landowners and the private sector to restore degraded natural areas and to manage their resources sustainably;

(c) identifying financial resources from the private sector, philanthropy, and public sources to expand protections and to help manage lands and waters for conservation;

(d) managing more State public lands for the benefit of future generations;

(e) working with the sovereignty of tribal nations, which involves meaningful consultation with indigenous tribal leaders, and helping indigenous tribal communities fulfill their visions and priorities for the stewardship of natural, cultural, and historic resources;

(f) identifying strategies to conserve and protect 30% of State land by 2030.

5. The Task Force is dissolved and this Section is repealed on January 1, 2023.