103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2781

 

Introduced 1/17/2024, by Sen. Rachel Ventura

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
20 ILCS 801/1-15
30 ILCS 105/5.990 new

    Creates the Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall prepare and maintain a comprehensive Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant plan for the preservation and enhancement of forests, prairies, and wetlands in Illinois. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to the comprehensive plan and subject to appropriation, shall establish and administer a Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program to restore degraded forest lands and native prairies, and to promote the growth of native vegetation that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help to mitigate the impact of climate change. Provides that units of local government are eligible to submit a grant proposal in a format and at a time prescribed by the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that grants may be used by units of local government to fund: (1) local projects restoring or expanding forests, wetlands, prairies, or other natural landscapes demonstrated to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; (2) education and marketing regarding local projects or steps community members may take to promote the growth of native vegetation that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; and (3) any other purpose approved by the Department of Natural Resources that advances the State goal that there be no overall net loss of the State's existing forest, prairie, or wetland acres or their functional value due to State-supported activities. Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act and the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.


LRB103 37263 JAG 67384 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2781LRB103 37263 JAG 67384 b

1    AN ACT concerning conservation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds it is in
7the interest of the State to encourage natural solutions as
8one component of the State's efforts to reduce and remediate
9the impacts of climate change. Natural solutions must include
10planting native trees and other vegetation demonstrated to
11reduce carbon dioxide. To accomplish this, the State must
12offer assistance to other units of local government that are
13taking steps to fight climate change by restoring forests,
14wetlands, prairies, and other landscapes native to Illinois
15and demonstrated to have a positive environmental impact.
 
16    Section 10. State goal. It is the goal of the State that
17there be no overall net loss of the State's existing forest,
18prairie, or wetland acres or their functional value due to
19State-supported activities. Further, the State and units of
20local government shall preserve, enhance, and create forests,
21prairies, and wetlands where practical in order to mitigate
22the impact of climate change and reduce carbon dioxide from

 

 

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1the atmosphere.
 
2    Section 15. Receipt of federal moneys. The Department of
3Natural Resources may receive federal moneys to administer a
4Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program.
 
5    Section 20. Establishment of the Healthy Forests,
6Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program.
7    (a) The Department of Natural Resources, subject to
8appropriation, shall establish and administer a Healthy
9Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Program to restore
10degraded forest lands and native prairies, and to promote the
11growth of native vegetation that remove carbon dioxide from
12the atmosphere and help to mitigate the impact of climate
13change.
14    (b) Eligible entities for the Healthy Forests, Wetlands,
15and Prairies Grant Program include:
16        (1) units of State and local government, including,
17    but not limited to, State agencies, municipalities,
18    townships, counties, forest preserves, and park districts;
19        (2) conservation land trusts;
20        (3) not-for-profit entities with conservation
21    missions, including, but not limited to, climate change
22    mitigation, preservation of natural lands, and
23    conservation of the State's natural resources; and
24        (4) other entities to be determined by the Department

 

 

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1    as eligible recipients of the grants under this Act.
2    (c) The Department may use an amount not to exceed 25% of
3the funds appropriated for the Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and
4Prairies Grant Program for administrative costs and for the
5purposes described in subsection (e).
6    (d) The Department shall adopt any rules necessary for the
7implementation of this Act, including requirements and
8timeframes for the submittal of grant applications by eligible
9entities.
10    (e) Grants under this Act may be used by eligible entities
11for the purpose of:
12        (1) matching funds for federal or private dollars for
13    projects that forward the goal of climate change
14    mitigation through the promotion of the management,
15    planting, maintaining, and preserving of native grasses,
16    plants, and trees;
17        (2) projects along roadways and in parks and forest
18    preserves on public or private lands to plant native trees
19    and prairie grasses demonstrated to absorb carbon;
20        (3) projects promoting the stewardship of existing
21    public and private urban forests and natural lands,
22    including the removal of invasive or non-native plant
23    species;
24        (4) funding regional teams tasked with planting native
25    prairie grasses and trees, prescribed burning for the
26    maintenance of natural lands, removing invasive plant

 

 

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1    species, and educational outreach;
2        (5) education and marketing regarding local projects
3    or steps community members may take to promote the growth
4    of native vegetation that removes carbon dioxide from the
5    atmosphere; and
6        (6) other projects to be determined by the Department
7    as eligible projects under the grant program established
8    under this Act.
 
9    Section 25. Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant
10Fund. The Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Grant Fund
11is created in the State treasury. The fund shall be
12administered by the Department of Natural Resources. The fund
13may receive moneys appropriated by the General Assembly or
14from the federal government, private donations, or any other
15legal source.
 
16    Section 90. The Department of Natural Resources Act is
17amended by changing Section 1-15 as follows:
 
18    (20 ILCS 801/1-15)
19    Sec. 1-15. General powers and duties.
20    (a) It shall be the duty of the Department to investigate
21practical problems, implement studies, conduct research and
22provide assistance, information and data relating to the
23technology and administration of the natural history,

 

 

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1entomology, zoology, and botany of this State; the geology and
2natural resources of this State; the water and atmospheric
3resources of this State; and the archeological and cultural
4history of this State.
5    (b) The Department (i) shall obtain, store, and process
6relevant data; recommend technological, administrative, and
7legislative changes and developments; cooperate with other
8federal, state, and local governmental research agencies,
9facilities, or institutes in the selection of projects for
10study; cooperate with the Board of Higher Education and with
11the public and private colleges and universities in this State
12in developing relevant interdisciplinary approaches to
13problems; and evaluate curricula at all levels of education
14and provide assistance to instructors and (ii) may sponsor an
15annual conference of leaders in government, industry, health,
16and education to evaluate the state of this State's
17environment and natural resources.
18    (c) The Director, in accordance with the Personnel Code,
19shall employ such personnel, provide such facilities, and
20contract for such outside services as may be necessary to
21carry out the purposes of the Department. Maximum use shall be
22made of existing federal and state agencies, facilities, and
23personnel in conducting research under this Act.
24    (c-5) The Department may use the services of, and enter
25into necessary agreements with, outside entities for the
26purpose of evaluating grant applications and for the purpose

 

 

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1of administering or monitoring compliance with grant
2agreements. Contracts under this subsection shall not exceed 5
32 years, without an executed extension in length.
4    (d) In addition to its other powers, the Department has
5the following powers:
6        (1) To obtain, store, process, and provide data and
7    information related to the powers and duties of the
8    Department under this Act. This subdivision (d)(1) does
9    not give authority to the Department to require reports
10    from nongovernmental sources or entities.
11        (2) To cooperate with and support the Illinois Science
12    and Technology Advisory Committee and the Illinois
13    Coalition for the purpose of facilitating the effective
14    operations and activities of such entities. Support may
15    include, but need not be limited to, providing space for
16    the operations of the Committee and the Illinois
17    Coalition.
18    (e) The Department is authorized to make grants to local
19not-for-profit organizations for the purposes of development,
20management, maintenance, and study of wetland areas, forests,
21prairies, and other landscapes demonstrated to reduce the
22impact of climate change.
23    (f) The Department has the authority to accept, receive
24and administer on behalf of the State any gifts, bequests,
25donations, income from property rental and endowments. Any
26such funds received by the Department shall be deposited into

 

 

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1the DNR Special Projects Fund, a trust fund in the State
2treasury, and used for the purposes of this Act or, when
3appropriate, for such purposes and under such restrictions,
4terms and conditions as are predetermined by the donor or
5grantor of such funds or property. Any accrued interest from
6money deposited into the DNR Special Projects Fund shall be
7reinvested into the Fund and used in the same manner as the
8principal. The Director shall maintain records which account
9for and assure that restricted funds or property are disbursed
10or used pursuant to the restrictions, terms or conditions of
11the donor.
12    (g) The Department shall recognize, preserve, and promote
13our special heritage of recreational hunting and trapping by
14providing opportunities to hunt and trap in accordance with
15the Wildlife Code.
16    (h) Within 5 years after the effective date of this
17amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Department
18shall fly a United States Flag, an Illinois flag, and a POW/MIA
19flag at all State parks. Donations may be made by groups and
20individuals to the DNR Special Projects Fund for costs related
21to the implementation of this subsection.
22(Source: P.A. 102-388, eff. 1-1-22; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22;
23103-363, eff. 7-28-23.)
 
24    Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
25Section 5.990 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
2    Sec. 5.990. The Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies
3Grant Fund.