HB1295 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 09668 JDS 19829 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB1295

Introduced 2/18/2009, by Rep. John D. Cavaletto - Jim Watson - David Reis - Ron Stephens

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Natural Resources Congress Act. Creates the Natural Resource Congress in order to protect, conserve, and appropriately use the natural resources of the State; to ensure that opportunities are available for the enjoyment of natural resources; and to enhance the quality of life of all of the present and future citizens of Illinois. Creates the Natural Resources Council, a committee comprised of the Directors of certain natural resource related State agencies. Requires the Natural Resources Congress to make certain recommendations to the Natural Resources Council. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 Natural Resources Congress Act.

Section 5. Natural Resources Congress.

(a) There is established the Natural Resources Congress. The purposes of the Congress are to propose and advocate actions that can be taken by elected and appointed officials to protect, conserve, and appropriately use the natural resources of the State; to ensure that opportunities are available for the enjoyment of natural resources; and to enhance the quality of life of all of the present and future citizens of Illinois.

(b) The Natural Resources Congress shall recommend to the Natural Resources Council long-range goals, strategies, and programs that would balance the protection and use of the natural resources of Illinois while protecting private property rights and ensuring a sustainable, economically viable agriculture and business climate.

(c) The Natural Resources Congress shall be composed of representatives of organizations in Illinois, including but not limited to not-for-profit entities, businesses, or other entities, whose goals and actions are to provide consistency, clarity, and coherence to present and future policies, programs, and strategies affecting Illinois' water and land resources. Members of the Congress shall serve without compensation or reimbursement for expenses.

(d) The Natural Resources Congress shall establish operating bylaws that ensure each member has a voting right on the bylaws and on any recommendation that is forwarded by the Natural Resources Congress to the Natural Resources Council. It shall take a two-thirds vote of the members of the Natural Resources Congress to approve the bylaws and recommendations to the Natural Resources Council. A copy of the bylaws shall be filed with the Natural Resources Council. Recommendations submitted to the Natural Resources Council shall detail the goal and impact of those recommendations on recreation, natural resources, the State's economy, agriculture and business, and property rights.

(e) The Department of Natural Resources shall organize, convene, and provide staff support for the Natural Resources Congress. Caucuses shall be held in each of the 5 administrative regions of the Department of Natural Resources. Seventy delegates shall be elected to represent regional interests at the Department of Natural Resources Congress, and 48 groups shall be invited by the Director of the Department of Natural Resources to name a delegate to represent that group's interests at the Natural Resources Congress, for a total of 118 delegates.

(f) The Natural Resources Congress shall convene, at a minimum, once every 3 years after its initial meeting, and it must submit its initial recommendations to the Natural Resources Council by December 31, 2009.

Section 10. Natural Resources Council.

(a) There is created a Natural Resources Council comprised of the Director or Secretary of each of the following State agencies: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Public Health, and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

(b) The Council shall meet as necessary to receive and evaluate recommendations from the Natural Resources Congress and take appropriate action. Members of the Natural Resources Council may provide in-kind services to the Natural Resources Congress.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.