SJ0107 LRB096 21318 JDS 37336 r

1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The General Assembly declares that, in order to
3 conserve natural resources, control floods, prevent impairment
4 of dams and reservoirs, assist in maintaining the navigability
5 of rivers and harbors, conserve wildlife and forests, protect
6 the tax base and public lands, and promote the health, safety,
7 and general welfare of the people of this State, it is in the
8 public interest to provide for the conservation of the State's
9 soil, soil resources, water, and water resources in order to
10 control and prevent soil erosion, prevent air and water
11 pollution, and prevent soil erosion and floodwater and sediment
12 damages; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts
14 have been caring for the State's precious natural and
15 environmental resources since 1938; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Soil and Water Conservation Districts have no
17 authority to generate operating revenue through taxation but
18 must rely on the Illinois General Assembly for their
19 operational funds; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Funding levels have steadily fallen over the past
21 several years to the level that many Soil and Water
22 Conservation Districts have been forced to reduce employee

 

 

SJ0107 - 2 - LRB096 21318 JDS 37336 r

1 hours, delay filling vacant positions, lay off employees, and
2 significantly reduce natural resource and environmental
3 protection services to Illinois citizens; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
5 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
6 CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois General Assembly shall
7 convene a Joint Task Force on Soil and Water Conservation
8 Districts, which shall study the history and purpose of Soil
9 and Water Conservation Districts, the administration and
10 organization of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the
11 current and future funding of Soil and Water Conservation
12 Districts, and any other topic regarding Soil and Water
13 Conservation Districts that the Chair of the Task Force sees
14 fit to study; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That the members of the Joint Task Force shall
16 include: one member appointed by the President of the Senate;
17 one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one
18 member appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member
19 appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; the Director of
20 Agriculture or his or her designee, who shall serve as the
21 Chairperson; the Director of the Environmental Protection
22 Agency or his or her designee; and the Director of Natural
23 Resources or his or her designee; additionally, the Director of
24 Agriculture shall appoint the following Task Force Members: one

 

 

SJ0107 - 3 - LRB096 21318 JDS 37336 r

1 Soil and Water Conservation District Association member; two
2 directors of local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, one
3 located in an urban area, one located in a rural area; two Soil
4 and Water Conservation District employees, one located in an
5 urban area, one located in a rural area; one member
6 representing a statewide association of land improvement
7 contractors; two members representing two separate
8 associations of commodity producers; two members of two
9 separate statewide organizations representing farmers; and two
10 members representing two separate statewide environmental
11 organizations; and be it further
 
12     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be facilitated by the
13 Department of Agriculture; and be it further
 
14     RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve
15 without compensation; and be it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That the Joint Task Force shall report its
17 findings and legislative recommendations to the Governor and
18 the General Assembly by January 1, 2011; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to
20 the Director of Agriculture, the Director of Natural Resources,
21 and the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency.