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91_HR0336
LRB9106906PTpk
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Illinois' 76,000 farmers are the stewards of
3 much of our land base and grow the crops and livestock we all
4 rely on for food, while maintaining open space, scenic views,
5 and wildlife habitat and together comprise Illinois' leading
6 industry; and
7 WHEREAS, In many parts of Illinois prime farmland faces
8 intense development pressure; and
9 WHEREAS, It is critically important for Illinois to
10 develop sound and balanced public policies that address
11 farmland and open space needs while preserving the
12 availability and affordability of housing for our citizens;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, The development of sound land use, housing, and
15 transportation policies would be enhanced by bringing
16 together public officials and private organizations who are
17 dedicated to dealing effectively with these issues; and
18 WHEREAS, Better planning could guide new development to
19 locations where public infrastructure is already in place or
20 nearby, thus reducing damage to the environment and helping
21 sustain our rural heritage; therefore, be it
22 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
23 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
24 there is created the Illinois Growth Task Force:
25 (a) The Task Force consists of at least 8 members and
26 not more than 20 members chosen according to the following
27 requirements:
28 (1) Eight voting members appointed from the House
29 of Representatives, with 4 members appointed by the
30 Speaker and 4 members appointed by the Minority Leader;
31 (2) Up to 12 non-voting members appointed from
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1 pertinent fields or disciplines by the legislative
2 members of the Task Force, by majority vote, from the
3 following categories:
4 (A) Agriculture;
5 (B) Environment;
6 (C) Local government;
7 (D) Real estate;
8 (E) Regional planning;
9 (F) Building trades and construction;
10 (G) Business;
11 (b) A majority of the legislative appointees shall
12 select a legislative member of the Task Force to serve as
13 chairperson;
14 (c) The Lieutenant Governor, the Director of
15 Agriculture, the Director of Commerce and Community Affairs,
16 the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, the
17 Director of Natural Resources, the Secretary of
18 Transportation, and the Chairman of the Illinois Housing
19 Development Authority, or their designees, shall serve as
20 advisory non-voting delegates to the Task Force;
21 (d) The Task Force has the following objectives:
22 (1) Conduct a series of public hearings throughout
23 the State to discuss with citizens in different regions
24 their visions and plans for Illinois in the 21st
25 Century with respect to land use, housing and
26 transportation priorities, and the preservation of open
27 space, farmland, and natural areas;
28 (2) Develop a set of statewide land use, housing,
29 and transportation goals, based on the testimony of
30 citizens at the task force hearings around Illinois;
31 (3) Propose enabling legislation and identify
32 revenue sources and incentives to meet the goals of the
33 Task Force;
34 (4) Review existing State statutes affecting
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1 farmland and development to identify gaps and
2 duplications;
3 (5) Review State and regional land use and
4 transportation policies and priorities to determine their
5 impact on regional development patterns, farmland,
6 agriculture, open space, and housing, and recommend
7 appropriate changes in policy and funding priorities;
8 (6) Review State and regional land use, planning,
9 and zoning policies to determine their impact on
10 agriculture, open space, and housing, and recommend
11 appropriate changes in policy and funding priorities to
12 promote balanced growth;
13 (7) Review the policies and programs of other
14 states to identify successful legislative and policy
15 initiatives that could be adapted for Illinois to ensure
16 sustainable growth in the 21st century;
17 (8) Discuss formation of a permanent working group
18 or commission on growth issues, including designation of
19 a lead State agency;
20 (e) The Task Force shall receive the assistance of
21 legislative staff, legislative agencies, and, upon request,
22 private and public organizations;
23 (f) The members of the Task Force shall serve without
24 compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable
25 and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that
26 purpose; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Growth Task Force shall meet
28 as soon as possible after at least 6 legislative members have
29 been appointed, shall hold public hearings, and shall
30 report its findings and recommendations to the House of
31 Representatives by filing a copy of its report with the
32 Clerk of the House on or before the second Tuesday of January
33 2001; and that upon filing its report the Task Force is
34 dissolved.