(20 ILCS 3501/825-95)

Sec. 825-95. Emerald ash borer revolving loan program.

(a) The Illinois Finance Authority may administer an emerald ash borer revolving loan program. The program shall provide low-interest or zero-interest loans to units of local government for the treatment of standing trees and replanting of trees on public lands that are within emerald ash borer quarantine areas as established by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The Authority may make loans based on the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture. For the purposes of this Section, "treatment" means the administration, by environmentally sensitive processes and methods, of products and materials proven by academic research to protect ash trees from the invasive Emerald Ash Borer in order to prevent or reverse the damage and preserve the trees.

(b) The loan funds, subject to appropriation, must be paid out of the Emerald Ash Borer Revolving Loan Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury. The moneys in the Fund consist of any moneys transferred or appropriated into the Fund as well as all repayments of loans made under this program. Moneys in the Fund may be used only for loans to units of local government for the treatment of standing trees and replanting of trees within emerald ash borer quarantine areas established by the Department of Agriculture and for no other purpose. All interest earned on moneys in the Fund must be deposited into the Fund.

(c) A loan for the treatment of standing trees and replanting of trees on public lands within emerald ash borer quarantine areas established by the Department of Agriculture may not exceed $5,000,000 to any one unit of local government. The repayment period for the loan may not exceed 20 years. The unit of local government shall repay, each year, at least 5% of the principal amount borrowed or the remaining balance of the loan, whichever is less. All repayments of loans must be deposited into the Emerald Ash Borer Revolving Loan Fund.

(d) Any loan under this Section to a unit of local government may not exceed the moneys that the unit of local government expends or dedicates for the reforestation project for which the loan is made.

(e) The Department of Agriculture may enter into agreements with a unit of local government under which the unit of local government is authorized to assist the Department in carrying out its duties in a quarantined area, including inspection and eradication of any dangerous insect or dangerous plant disease, and including the transportation, processing, and disposal of diseased material. The Department is authorized to provide compensation or financial assistance to the unit of local government for its costs.

(f) The Authority, with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources, shall adopt rules to administer the program under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 98-90, eff. 7-15-13.)