SB0545 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB0545

Introduced 1/28/2015, by Sen. John J. Cullerton

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

415 ILCS 5/5

from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1005

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Pollution Control Board.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

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

Section 5. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1005)

Sec. 5. Pollution Control Board.

(a) There is hereby created an independent board to be known as the the Pollution Control Board.

Until July 1, 2003 or when all of the new members to be initially appointed under this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly have been appointed by the Governor, whichever occurs later, the Board shall consist of 7 technically qualified members, no more than 4 of whom may be of the same political party, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The term of each appointed member of the Board who is in office on June 30, 2003 shall terminate at the close of business on that date or when all of the new members to be initially appointed under this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly have been appointed by the Governor, whichever occurs later.

Beginning on July 1, 2003 or when all of the new members to be initially appointed under this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly have been appointed by the Governor, whichever occurs later, the Board shall consist of 5 technically qualified members, no more than 3 of whom may be of the same political party, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Members shall have verifiable technical, academic, or actual experience in the field of pollution control or environmental law and regulation.

Of the members initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, one shall be appointed for a term ending July 1, 2004, 2 shall be appointed for terms ending July 1, 2005, and 2 shall be appointed for terms ending July 1, 2006. Thereafter, all members shall hold office for 3 years from the first day of July in the year in which they were appointed, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. In case of a vacancy in the office when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate, when he or she shall nominate some person to fill such office; and any person so nominated, who is confirmed by the Senate, shall hold the office during the remainder of the term.

Members of the Board shall hold office until their respective successors have been appointed and qualified. Any member may resign from office, such resignation to take effect when a successor has been appointed and has qualified.

Board members shall be paid $37,000 per year or an amount set by the Compensation Review Board, whichever is greater, and the Chairman shall be paid $43,000 per year or an amount set by the Compensation Review Board, whichever is greater. Each member shall devote his or her entire time to the duties of the office, and shall hold no other office or position of profit, nor engage in any other business, employment, or vocation. Each member shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred and shall make a financial disclosure upon appointment.

Each Board member may employ one secretary and one assistant, and the Chairman one secretary and 2 assistants. The Board also may employ and compensate hearing officers to preside at hearings under this Act, and such other personnel as may be necessary. Hearing officers shall be attorneys licensed to practice law in Illinois.

The Board may have an Executive Director; if so, the Executive Director shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The salary and duties of the Executive Director shall be fixed by the Board.

The Governor shall designate one Board member to be Chairman, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

The Board shall hold at least one meeting each month and such additional meetings as may be prescribed by Board rules. In addition, special meetings may be called by the Chairman or by any 2 Board members, upon delivery of 24 hours written notice to the office of each member. All Board meetings shall be open to the public, and public notice of all meetings shall be given at least 24 hours in advance of each meeting. In emergency situations in which a majority of the Board certifies that exigencies of time require the requirements of public notice and of 24 hour written notice to members may be dispensed with, and Board members shall receive such notice as is reasonable under the circumstances.

If there is no vacancy on the Board, 4 members of the Board shall constitute a quorum to transact business; otherwise, a majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum to transact business, and no vacancy shall impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the Board. Every action approved by a majority of the members of the Board shall be deemed to be the action of the Board. The Board shall keep a complete and accurate record of all its meetings.

(b) The Board shall determine, define and implement the environmental control standards applicable in the State of Illinois and may adopt rules and regulations in accordance with Title VII of this Act.

(c) The Board shall have authority to act for the State in regard to the adoption of standards for submission to the United States under any federal law respecting environmental protection. Such standards shall be adopted in accordance with Title VII of the Act and upon adoption shall be forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency for submission to the United States pursuant to subsections (l) and (m) of Section 4 of this Act. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the discretion of the Governor to delegate authority granted to the Governor under any federal law.

(d) The Board shall have authority to conduct proceedings upon complaints charging violations of this Act, any rule or regulation adopted under this Act, any permit or term or condition of a permit, or any Board order; upon administrative citations; upon petitions for variances or adjusted standards; upon petitions for review of the Agency's final determinations on permit applications in accordance with Title X of this Act; upon petitions to remove seals under Section 34 of this Act; and upon other petitions for review of final determinations which are made pursuant to this Act or Board rule and which involve a subject which the Board is authorized to regulate. The Board may also conduct other proceedings as may be provided by this Act or any other statute or rule.

(e) In connection with any proceeding pursuant to subsection (b) or (d) of this Section, the Board may subpoena and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence reasonably necessary to resolution of the matter under consideration. The Board shall issue such subpoenas upon the request of any party to a proceeding under subsection (d) of this Section or upon its own motion.

(f) The Board may prescribe reasonable fees for permits required pursuant to this Act. Such fees in the aggregate may not exceed the total cost to the Agency for its inspection and permit systems. The Board may not prescribe any permit fees which are different in amount from those established by this Act.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)