Public Act 097-0573
 
HB3414 EnrolledLRB097 08433 HLH 48560 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    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
Illinois Main Street Act.
 
    Section 5. Legislative purpose. The General Assembly makes
the following findings:
        (1) The continued economic vitality of downtown and
    neighborhood commercial districts in our municipalities is
    essential to community preservation, social cohesion, and
    economic growth.
        (2) Municipalities need to maintain their local
    economies so that business owners will be able to provide
    goods and services to the community, to provide employment
    opportunities, to avoid disinvestment and economic
    dislocations, and to develop and sustain downtown and
    neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs
    to address these problems.
 
    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
    "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity.
    "Director" means the Director of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity.
    "Program" means the Illinois Main Street Program.
 
    Section 15. Illinois Main Street Program. The Illinois Main
Street Program is created within the Department. In order to
implement the Illinois Main Street Program, the Department
shall do all of the following:
        (1) Provide assistance to municipalities designated as
    Main Street Communities, municipalities interested in
    becoming designated through the program, and businesses,
    property owners, organizations, and municipalities
    undertaking a comprehensive downtown or neighborhood
    commercial district revitalization initiative and
    management strategy. Assistance may include, but is not
    limited to, initial site evaluations and assessments,
    training for local programs, training for local program
    staff, site visits and assessments by technical
    specialists, local program design assistance and
    evaluation, and continued local program on-site
    assistance.
        (2) To the extent funds are made available, provide
    financial assistance to municipalities or local
    organizations to assist in initial downtown or
    neighborhood commercial district revitalization program
    specialized training, specific project feasibility
    studies, market studies, and design assistance.
        (3) Operate the Illinois Main Street Program in
    accordance with the plan developed by the Department.
        (4) Consider other factors the Department deems
    necessary for the implementation of this Act.
 
    Section 20. Main Street Community designation.
    (a) The Department shall adopt criteria for the designation
of a Main Street Community. In establishing the criteria, the
Department shall consider all of the following:
        (1) The degree of interest and commitment to
    comprehensive downtown or neighborhood commercial district
    revitalization and, where applicable, historic
    preservation by both the public and private sectors.
        (2) The evidence of potential private sector
    investment in the downtown or neighborhood commercial
    district.
        (3) Where applicable, a downtown or neighborhood
    commercial district with sufficient historic fabric to
    become a foundation for an enhanced community image.
        (4) The capacity of the organization to undertake a
    comprehensive program and the financial commitment to
    implement a long-term downtown or neighborhood commercial
    district revitalization program that includes a commitment
    to employ a professional program manager.
        (5) The National Main Street Center's criteria for
    designating official main street municipalities.
        (6) Other factors the Department deems necessary for
    the designation of a local program.
    (b) Illinois Main Street shall designate local downtown or
neighborhood commercial district revitalization programs and
official local main street programs.
    (c) The Department must approve all local downtown or
neighborhood commercial district revitalization program
boundaries. The boundaries of a local downtown or neighborhood
commercial district revitalization program are typically
defined using the pedestrian core of a traditional commercial
district.
 
    Section 25. Illinois Main Street Plan. The Department
shall, in consultation with the Lieutenant Governor, develop a
plan for the Illinois Main Street Program. The plan shall
describe:
        (1) the objectives and strategies of the Illinois Main
    Street Program;
        (2) how the Illinois Main Street Program will be
    coordinated with existing federal, state, local, and
    private sector business development and historic
    preservation efforts;
        (3) the means by which private investment will be
    solicited and employed;
        (4) the methods of selecting and providing assistance
    to participating local programs; and
        (5) a means to solicit private contributions for State
    and local operations of the Illinois Main Street Program.
 
    Section 30. Role of the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant
Governor shall be the Ambassador of the Illinois Main Street
Program. The Department shall advise and consult with the
Lieutenant Governor on the activities of the Illinois Main
Street Program. The Lieutenant Governor, with the assistance of
the Department, shall promote and encourage the success of the
Illinois Main Street Program.
 
    Section 35. Illinois Main Street Fund. The Illinois Main
Street Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury.
All receipts from private contributions, federal funds,
legislative appropriations, and fees for services, if levied,
must be deposited into the Fund. Subject to appropriation,
expenditures from the Fund may be used only for the benefit of
the Illinois Main Street Program.
 
    Section 90. The Green Governments Illinois Act is amended
by changing Sections 15, 35, and 45 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 3954/15)
    Sec. 15. Composition of the Council. The Council shall be
composed comprised of representatives from various State
agencies and State universities with specific fiscal,
procurement, educational, and environmental policy expertise.
Until the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th
General Assembly, the The Lieutenant Governor is the chair of
the Council. On and after the effective date of this amendatory
Act of the 97th General Assembly, the Governor is the chair of
the Council, and the Lieutenant Governor, or his or her
designee, shall be a member of the council. The director or
President, respectively, of each of the following State
agencies and State universities, or his or her designee, is a
member of the Council: the Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
University of Illinois, the Department of Natural Resources,
the Department of Central Management Services, the Governor's
Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Agriculture,
the Department of Transportation, the Department of
Corrections, the Department of Human Services, the Department
of Public Health, the State Board of Education, the Board of
Higher Education, and the Capital Development Board. The Office
of the Lieutenant Governor shall provide administrative
support to the Council. A minimum of one staff position in the
Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be dedicated to the
Green Governments Illinois program.
(Source: P.A. 95-657, eff. 10-10-07; 95-728, eff. 7-1-08 - See
Sec. 999; 96-74, eff. 7-24-09.)
 
    (20 ILCS 3954/35)
    Sec. 35. Environmental Plans and Reporting.
    (a) Each State agency shall submit an annual adopted
environmental sustainability plan to the chairman of the
Council for review and approval on or before April 1, 2008 and
each April 1 thereafter.
    On or before November 1, 2007, the Council shall prepare a
downloadable plan template designed to provide a simple
framework for the development of an environmental
sustainability plan as required by this Act. The Council shall
adopt procedures for reviewing and approving the plans, and
make staff available during preparation of the plans to assist
State agencies with their plan-writing efforts. The Council
shall complete its plan review process on or before June 1,
2008. The sustainability plans shall be reviewed and updated
periodically, but at least once every 3 years. Units of local
government and educational institutions are encouraged to
submit similar sustainability plans to the chairman of the
Council for review and approval.
    (b) On or before January 1, 2008, each State agency, using
existing resources, shall form an internal environmental
sustainability committee. The environmental sustainability
committee shall (i) assess the environmental and resource use
impacts of its major operational activities making
environmental improvements, conserving resources, and reducing
health risks; (ii) develop an annual environmental
sustainability plan as required under this Act; and (iii)
establish an ongoing process through which their
sustainability efforts can be reviewed and improved upon. The
committee shall focus on the most significant environmental and
resource use impacts, examine the feasibility and
cost-effectiveness of addressing these impacts, and prioritize
their actions accordingly.
    Where feasible, the committee shall quantify the specific
impacts of major operational activities such as gallons of
water used, pounds of solid waste generated, gallons of
gasoline consumed, and dollars spent per year on electricity.
The committee shall consist of representatives from different
departments and program areas, including purchasing,
maintenance, and facility management. A senior member of
management shall be designated to coordinate environmental
sustainability efforts of each committee. The coordinator
shall provide information to agency facilities and staff,
coordinate planning and reporting activities, and act as
liaison to the Council. Where appropriate, State agencies may
appoint facility coordinators in addition to the agency
coordinator. Coordinators shall be given full management
support and provided with the necessary resources to meet the
goals of this Act.
    (c) On or before July 1, 2008 and on or before September 1
of each subsequent year, each State agency shall submit to the
chairman of the Council a report summarizing the progress made
in implementing its annual environmental sustainability plan,
including sustainability measures adopted and goals achieved.
The information in this report shall encompass the previous
fiscal year.
    On or before June 1, 2008, the Council shall develop and
adopt a reporting form to be used to comply with the provisions
of this Section. Participating units of local government and
educational institutions are encouraged to submit an annual
progress report on or before September 1 of each year.
    (d) State agencies shall be invited to participate in the
Council's efforts to foster environmental sustainability
practices throughout State government.
    (e) The Council shall provide technical assistance to State
agencies, units of local government, and educational
institutions for the purpose of implementing the environmental
sustainability planning requirement.
    (f) The Council may establish criteria for exempting select
State agencies from the environmental sustainability planning
based on staff size, probable environmental impacts, and scope
of operations.
(Source: P.A. 95-657, eff. 10-10-07; 96-74, eff. 7-24-09.)
 
    (20 ILCS 3954/45)
    Sec. 45. Green Governments Illinois website.
    (a) The Green Governments Illinois staff member of the
Lieutenant Governor's Office shall be responsible for
establishing and maintaining an Internet website devoted to the
Green Governments Illinois program.
    (b) The content and capabilities of the website shall, at a
minimum, include:
        (1) (blank) the ability to receive submitted plans and
    reports;
        (2) (blank) a downloadable template for preparing
    reports;
        (3) viewable and downloadable plans and reports
    submitted by the participating units of State and local
    government and educational institutions;
        (4) a listing of sources of information on developing
    environmental programs and Internet links, if available,
    to those sources;
        (5) a listing of sources of funding for environmental
    programs and Internet links, if available, to those
    sources;
        (6) information on forming intergovernmental
    agreements for the purpose of developing collaborative
    environmental plans between units of local government; and
        (7) guidance materials to assist State agencies, units
    of local government, and educational institutions in
    identifying environmental impacts and evaluating practical
    actions to prevent pollution and conserve resources.
(Source: P.A. 95-657, eff. 10-10-07.)
 
    Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
Section 5.786 as follows:
 
    (30 ILCS 105/5.786 new)
    Sec. 5.786. The Illinois Main Street Fund.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.