HB5488 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 37550 JAG 67674 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5488

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Maura Hirschauer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Legacy Tree Program Task Force Act. Provides that the Legacy Tree Program Task Force shall establish recommendations to promote the identification, awareness, commemoration, and preservation of significant trees within the State. Sets forth provisions concerning the membership of the Task Force, compensation of members, support to the Task Force, and responsibilities of the Task Force. Provides that the Act is repealed on June 30, 2034.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning conservation.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Legacy Tree Program Task Force Act.

Section 5. Findings; purpose.

(a) The General Assembly finds that:

(1) Trees are essential to ecological, cultural, and economic life on Earth.

(2) Trees support species diversity, food webs, habitats, and numerous ecological processes, such as water and air purification.

(3) Trees assist in regulating climate and soil fertility.

(4) The State must commit to preserving and celebrating our legacy and heritage trees and must develop pathways for the public to advocate for the preservation of trees in communities.

(b) The General Assembly intends this Act to help create a Statewide legacy tree program to promote the identification, awareness, commemoration, and preservation of significant trees within the State.

Section 10. Legacy Tree Program Task Force.

(a) The Legacy Tree Program Task Force is created.

(b) The Legacy Tree Program Task Force shall establish recommendations to promote the identification, awareness, commemoration, and preservation of significant trees within the State.

(c) The Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) one representative of the Illinois Environmental Coalition, appointed by the Governor;

(2) one representative of the Morton Arboretum, appointed by the Governor;

(3) the director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency or a representative of their choosing;

(4) one representative of the Illinois Forestry Development Council, appointed by the Governor;

(5) one representative of the Shawnee National Forest, appointed by the Governor;

(6) one representative of the Southern Illinois University Department of Forestry, appointed by the Governor;

(7) one representative of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Forestry, appointed by the Governor;

(8) one representative of the Sierra Club, appointed by the Governor;

(9) one representative of the Chicago Urban Forestry Board, appointed by the Governor;

(10) one representative of a forest preserve district in a county that is adjacent to Cook County, appointed by the Governor;

(11) one representative of a forest preserve district located south of Interstate 80, appointed by the Governor;

(12) one representative of the Illinois Park District Association, appointed by the Governor;

(13) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(14) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(15) one member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(16) one member of the Senate, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(d) Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation.

(e) The Department of Natural Resources shall provide staff and administrative support services to the Task Force.

Section 15. Responsibilities. The Task Force shall establish recommendations for the following:

(1) criteria for definition of legacy tree and legacy tree standards;

(2) which State agency a Legacy Tree Program may be housed;

(3) procedures for nominating trees on public and private property;

(4) how legacy tree applications may be evaluated, how the trees themselves may be evaluated;

(5) a public awareness program, including website, digital, and print marketing;

(6) a procedure for withdrawing trees from program;

(7) procedures for legacy tree assessment;

(8) procedures for how a tree would be designated or honored physically;

(9) procedures for mapping trees on a searchable website; and

(10) procedures for delisting a healthy designated legacy tree.

Section 90. Repeal. This Act is repealed on June 30, 2034.