Public Act 102-0618
 
HB3928 EnrolledLRB102 13920 KMF 19271 b

    AN ACT concerning conservation.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Findings. The State of Illinois finds that:
    (1) rapid land development in Illinois has led to the loss
of forestlands, farmlands, wildlife habitats, biodiversity,
outstanding natural areas, beaches, and public areas for
outdoor recreation and has impacted the health of the State's
lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands, all of which impacts the
quality of life of the State's current and future citizens and
may jeopardize the well-being of the State's environment and
economy if not addressed appropriately;
    (2) this same rapid land development has also led to the
loss of historical and archaeological sites that embody the
heritage of the State;
    (3) this same rapid land development is occurring across
the United States and across the world;
    (4) scientists have documented this rapid loss of natural
area and wildlife, including the loss of 1,500,000 acres of
natural area in the United States per year; the loss of
2,900,000,000, or twenty-nine percent of, North American birds
since 1970; threats to approximately 12,000 plant and animal
species in the United States, all of which are in need of
proactive conservation efforts; and the loss of one-half of
freshwater and saltwater wetlands in the contiguous
forty-eight states;
    (5) scientists have recommended conserving and protecting
thirty percent of the land and thirty percent of the ocean in
each country by 2030 in order to address this deterioration of
natural systems, loss of biodiversity, and rapid land
development;
    (6) national leaders have introduced measures to commit
the United States to protecting thirty percent of its lands
and oceans by 2030; and
    (7) in order to support national efforts and provide state
leadership to address the deterioration of natural systems,
loss of biodiversity, and rapid land development, Illinois
must establish a bold goal for the amount of land to be
protected by the year 2030.
 
    Section 5. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Illinois Thirty-by-Thirty Conservation Task Force Act.
 
    Section 10. Thirty-by-Thirty Task Force. There is hereby
created the Illinois Thirty-By-Thirty Conservation Task Force.
The Task Force shall have 23 members, comprised as follows:
    (1) the Director of Natural Resources or the Director's
designee, who shall serve as chairperson;
    (2) two members from the House of Representatives,
appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the House
Minority Leader;
    (3) two members of the Senate, appointed one each by the
President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader;
    (4) one member appointed by the Director or the Director's
designee of the Department of Agriculture;
    (5) one member appointed by the Director or the Director's
designee of The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency;
    (6) one member appointed by the Director or the Director's
designee of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity;
    (7) one member appointed by the Director or the Director's
designee of the Illinois Department of Transportation;
    (8) one environmentalist appointed by the Department of
Natural Resources;
    (9) one member from a State agriculture association
appointed by the chairperson;
    (10) two environmental science teachers appointed by the
chairperson;
    (11) four environmental science students appointed by the
chairperson;
    (12) three members of a private sector environmental
organization appointed by the chairperson;
    (13) one higher education professional working with crop
science, appointed by the chairperson;
    (14) one chemical fertilizer professional appointed by
chairperson;
    (15) one seed producer appointed by the chairperson; and
    (16) one representative of a statewide outdoor sportsman
organization appointed by the chairperson.
 
    Section 15. Duties of the Task Force. The Task Force shall
hold listening sessions regarding ways in which Illinois can
protect 30% of its land and water resources by 2030. The Task
Force shall hold a minimum of three separate listening
sessions in geographically distinct areas of the State.
    (1) The meetings should at a minimum seek to explore the
following focus areas:
        (A) identify resources that the State has and how they
    are being utilized to protect land and water resources;
        (B) identify tools, resources, and incentives for
    landowners and the private sector to restore degraded
    natural areas and to manage their resources sustainably;
        (C) identify financial resources from the private
    sector, philanthropy, and public sources to expand
    protections and to help manage lands and waters for
    conservation;
        (D) the ability of the State to manage more public
    lands for the benefit of future generations; and
        (E) strategies to conserve and protect 30% of
    Illinois' land and water by 2030.
    (2) The Task Force shall observe the sovereignty of tribal
nations through meaningful consultation with indigenous tribal
leaders, and shall help indigenous tribal communities fulfill
their visions and priorities for the stewardship of natural,
cultural, and historic resources.
    (3) The Task Force members shall serve without
compensation.
 
    Section 20. Administration. The Department of Natural
Resources shall provide administrative and other support to
the Task Force.
 
    Section 25. Report. The Task Force shall prepare a report
that summarizes the information gathered during the listening
sessions and submit the report to the Governor and General
Assembly on or before July 1, 2022.
 
    Section 30. Repeal. The Task Force is dissolved, and this
Act is repealed on July 1, 2023.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 8/27/2021