HB3414enr 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3414 Enrolled LRB097 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.