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90_HB1628eng
New Act
Creates the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum Act to
provide for the continuing conservation, operation, and
maintenance of the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum. Creates
the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Foundation as a means through
which funds may be raised, invested, and disbursed to
accomplish the purposes of the Act. Creates the Illinois
Wildlife Prairie Museum Commission to govern the Foundation.
Provides that the Foundation shall seek the guidance of and
consult with the Board of the Illinois State Museum on all
matters relating to the operation of the Illinois Wildlife
Prairie Museum. Creates the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum
Fund. Provides that before January 1, 1998, the Comptroller
shall order the Treasurer to transfer $10,000,000 from the
General Revenue Fund into the Fund for maintenance,
operating, and development costs incurred by the Foundation.
Provides that the Foundation may use the moneys in the Fund,
subject to appropriation, for the purpose of administering
the conservation, operation, and maintenance of the Illinois
Wildlife Prairie Museum. Provides that the State of Illinois
accepts the conveyance of the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Park
along with its appurtenances in trust as provided in the deed
of conveyance, subject to lease with an affiliate of the Paul
Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the Buffalo Prairie Gang
Camp, and the Peoria Area Historical Drama, Inc. and subject
to the condition that the property is forever used for the
conservation of natural resources, including the propagation
of wild flowers and plants, a habitat for native fauna.
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1 AN ACT concerning the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Park.
2 WHEREAS, The Illinois Wildlife Prairie Park (the "Park")
3 is an approximately 1,200 acre park that is located in
4 Peoria County and contains woodlands, grasslands, hiking
5 trails, educational exhibits, miniature trains, and museum,
6 banquet, food service, and lodging accommodations; and
7 WHEREAS, The Park is home to several species of animals
8 that are all native to the State of Illinois, many of which
9 can be found only in this Park; and further, these animals
10 are kept in large free-roaming areas so that people can
11 observe them in their natural habitats; and
12 WHEREAS, The mission of the Park is to promote
13 conservation, education, recreation, and tourism; and
14 WHEREAS, The owner of the Park wishes to give the Park to
15 a public body that will oversee its operations and continue
16 to maintain the Park with the same standard in which it was
17 created; therefore
18 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
19 represented in the General Assembly:
20 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
21 Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum Act.
22 Section 5. Purpose. The Illinois State Museum, in
23 cooperation with the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum
24 Commission and the Wildlife Prairie Park Foundation, shall be
25 responsible for providing for the continuing conservation,
26 operation, and maintenance of the Illinois Wildlife Prairie
27 Museum.
28 Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless
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1 the context otherwise requires:
2 "Board" means the Board of the Illinois State Museum.
3 "Commission" means the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum
4 Commission created by this Act.
5 "Foundation" means the Wildlife Prairie Park
6 Not-For-Profit Illinois Corporation having its principal
7 place of business in Peoria, Illinois.
8 "Forest Park Foundation" means the Not-For-Profit
9 Illinois Corporation having its principal place of business
10 in Peoria, Illinois, that is the owner of the Wildlife
11 Prairie Museum and that will convey title of the Wildlife
12 Prairie Museum to the State of Illinois.
13 "Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum" means the Wildlife
14 Prairie Park located in Peoria, Illinois.
15 Section 15. Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum Commission.
16 The Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum Commission is created to
17 accept moneys from the State and other private or public
18 entities on behalf of the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum
19 and to oversee the financial management of any such moneys
20 used for the benefit of the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Museum.
21 The Commission shall be composed of 5 members. Membership of
22 the Commission shall be composed of the Director of the
23 Board of the Illinois State Museum, who shall be the
24 ex-officio chairman of the Commission, the Lieutenant
25 Governor, and 3 other persons appointed by the Governor, with
26 the advice and consent of the Senate, who have demonstrated
27 an interest in the conservation of natural resources,
28 including the propagation of wild flowers and plants and the
29 habitat for native fauna. All members shall be ex-officio
30 directors of the board of the Foundation or the Foundation's
31 successor. Members of the Commission appointed by the
32 Governor shall be appointed for terms of 4 years and until
33 their successors are appointed; provided that of the
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1 Commissioners first appointed, one shall serve a term of 2
2 years, one shall serve a term of 3 years, and one shall serve
3 a term of 4 years as determined by drawing lots. Members of
4 the Commission shall receive no compensation for their
5 services, except for their actual and necessary expenses
6 incurred in the performance of their official duties. Three
7 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum to do
8 business, and the concurrence of at least 3 members shall be
9 necessary for a decision. The Commission shall hold regular
10 quarterly meetings. Special meetings may be called by the
11 chairperson and shall be called on the request of a majority
12 of members, as may be required.
13 The Commission shall provide for the proper and safe
14 keeping of its permanent records. It shall keep a system of
15 accounts showing a true and accurate record of its receipts
16 and disbursements, and it shall cause an audit to be made of
17 its books, records, and accounts.
18 The records of the Commission shall be subject to public
19 inspection at all reasonable hours and under such
20 regulations as the members may prescribe.
21 The Commission, in cooperation with the Foundation,
22 shall annually make a full and complete report to the
23 Governor, the General Assembly, and the Board of the
24 transactions and operations of the Foundation for the
25 preceding year. The report shall contain a full statement of
26 the Commission's receipts and disbursements and the program
27 of work for the period covered, and may include such
28 recommendations as may be deemed advisable.
29 Section 50. Acceptance of conveyance. On or before 30
30 days after execution of the lease set forth in Section 55,
31 the State of Illinois shall accept a deed of conveyance of
32 the Illinois Wildlife Prairie Park along with its
33 appurtenances in trust as provided in the deed of conveyance,
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1 subject only to (1) a lease with the affiliate of Paul
2 Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the Buffalo Prairie Gang
3 Camp, (2) a lease with Peoria Area Historical Drama, Inc.,
4 and (3) the condition that the property is forever used for
5 the fulfillment of the mission of the Illinois Wildlife
6 Prairie Museum, including conservation of natural resources,
7 the propagation of wild flowers and plants, and habitat for
8 native fauna.
9 Section 55. Lease of property. On or before 6 months
10 after the effective date of this Act, the State shall use its
11 best efforts to enter into a lease, as lessor of the Illinois
12 Wildlife Prairie Park, with the Foundation subject to the
13 conveyance set forth herein in Section 50.
14 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15 becoming law.