State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
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91_HB0064

 
                                               LRB9100509JMmb

 1        AN ACT to amend the State Finance Act by changing Section
 2    6z-32.

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

 5        Section 5.  The State Finance Act is amended by  changing
 6    Section 6z-32 as follows:

 7        (30 ILCS 105/6z-32)
 8        Sec. 6z-32. Conservation 2000.
 9        (a)  The Conservation 2000 Fund and the Conservation 2000
10    Projects  Fund  are  created  as  special  funds in the State
11    Treasury.   These  funds  shall  be  used  to   establish   a
12    comprehensive  program to protect Illinois' natural resources
13    through cooperative partnerships between State government and
14    public and private landowners.  Moneys in these Funds may  be
15    used,   subject   to   appropriation,  by  the  Environmental
16    Protection Agency and the Departments of Agriculture, Natural
17    Resources,  and  Transportation  for  purposes  relating   to
18    natural   resource   protection,   recreation,  tourism,  and
19    compatible agricultural and economic development  activities.
20    Without  limiting  these  general  purposes,  moneys in these
21    Funds  may  be  used,  subject  to  appropriation,  for   the
22    following specific purposes:
23             (1)  To foster sustainable agriculture practices and
24        control  soil erosion and sedimentation, including grants
25        to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for conservation
26        practice   cost-share   grants   and    for    personnel,
27        educational, and administrative expenses.
28             (2)  To establish and protect a system of ecosystems
29        in  public  and  private  ownership  through conservation
30        easements, incentives to public and  private  landowners,
31        including  technical  assistance  and  grants,  and  land
 
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 1        acquisition  provided  these mechanisms are all voluntary
 2        on the part of the landowner and do not involve  the  use
 3        of eminent domain.
 4             (3)  To  develop  a systematic and long-term program
 5        to effectively measure and monitor natural resources  and
 6        ecological  conditions  through investments in technology
 7        and involvement of scientific experts.
 8             (4)  To initiate strategies  to  enhance,  use,  and
 9        maintain   Illinois'   inland  lakes  through  education,
10        technical assistance, research, and financial incentives.
11             (5)  To conduct  an  extensive  review  of  existing
12        Illinois water laws.
13             (6)  To   purchase   open   space,  particularly  in
14        high-growth areas of the State.
15        (b)  The State  Comptroller  and  State  Treasurer  shall
16    automatically  transfer  on  the  last  day  of  each  month,
17    beginning  on September 30, 1995 and ending on June 30, 2001,
18    from the General Revenue Fund to the Conservation 2000  Fund,
19    an  amount  equal  to  1/10  of the amount set forth below in
20    fiscal year 1996 and an amount equal to 1/12  of  the  amount
21    set forth below in each of the other specified fiscal years:
22             Fiscal Year              Amount
23               1996                  $ 3,500,000
24               1997                  $ 9,000,000
25               1998                  $10,000,000
26               1999                  $11,000,000
27               2000                  $12,500,000
28               2001                  $14,000,000
29        (c)  There  shall be deposited into the Conservation 2000
30    Projects Fund such bond proceeds and  other  moneys  as  may,
31    from time to time, be provided by law.
32    (Source:  P.A.  89-49,  eff.  6-29-95;  89-626,  eff. 8-9-96;
33    90-14, eff. 7-1-97; 90-490, eff. 8-17-97.)

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