State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Engrossed ][ Enrolled ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]
[ Senate Amendment 002 ]

90_SB0815

      415 ILCS 5/Title IV-A heading
      415 ILCS 5/19.1           from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.1
      415 ILCS 5/19.2           from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.2
      415 ILCS 5/19.3           from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.3
      415 ILCS 5/19.4           from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.4
      415 ILCS 5/19.5           from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.5
      415 ILCS 5/19.6           from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.6
      415 ILCS 5/19.8           from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.8
          Amends the Environmental  Protection  Act.   Creates  the
      Public  Water  Supply  Loan Program to be administered by the
      Environmental  Protection   Agency   to   provide   financial
      assistance  to local government units in their development of
      public water supplies.  Provides that this Program, the Water
      Pollution Control Loan Program, and the Loan Support  Program
      comprise  the Water Revolving Fund (formerly, Water Pollution
      Control Revolving Fund). Expands the uses of the Loan Support
      Program to include, among others, financing costs incurred by
      the Agency to provide technical and administrative assistance
      relating to public water systems.  Vests the Agency with  the
      authority to set by rule special loan terms for disadvantaged
      communities  and  maximum  limits  on annual distributions of
      funds to loan applicants.  Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9000167DPdv
                                               LRB9000167DPdv
 1        AN ACT to  amend  the  Environmental  Protection  Act  by
 2    changing  the  heading of Title IV-A and Sections 19.1, 19.2,
 3    19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, and 19.8.
 4        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 5    represented in the General Assembly:
 6        Section  5.   The Environmental Protection Act is amended
 7    by changing the heading of  Title  IV-A  and  Sections  19.1,
 8    19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, and 19.8 as follows:
 9        (415 ILCS 5/Title IV-A heading)
10                 TITLE IV-A: WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
11                      AND PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES
12        (415 ILCS 5/19.1) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.1)
13        Sec.  19.1.   Legislative findings.  The General Assembly
14    finds:
15        (a)  that local government units  require  assistance  in
16    financing  the  construction of wastewater treatment works in
17    order to comply with the  State's  program  of  environmental
18    protection and federally mandated requirements; and
19        (b)  that  the federal Water Quality Act of 1987 provides
20    an  important  source  of  grant  awards  to  the  State  for
21    providing assistance to local government  units  through  the
22    Water Pollution Control Loan Program; Revolving Fund.
23        (c)  that  local  government  units require assistance in
24    financing the construction of their public water supplies  to
25    comply  with  State  and  federal  drinking  water  laws  and
26    regulations; and
27        (d)  that  the  federal Safe Drinking Water Act ("SDWA"),
28    P.L.  93-532,  as  now  or  hereafter  amended,  provides  an
29    important source of capitalization grant awards to the  State
30    to  provide  assistance to local government units through the
                            -2-                LRB9000167DPdv
 1    Public Water Supply Loan Program.
 2    (Source: P.A. 85-1135.)
 3        (415 ILCS 5/19.2) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.2)
 4        Sec. 19.2.  As used in this  Title,  unless  the  context
 5    clearly requires otherwise:
 6        (a)  "Agency" means the Illinois Environmental Protection
 7    Agency.
 8        (b)  "Fund"  means  the Water Pollution Control Revolving
 9    Fund created pursuant to this Title, consisting of the  Water
10    Pollution  Control Loan Program, the Public Water Supply Loan
11    Program, and the Loan Support Program.
12        (c)  "Loan" means a loan made from  the  Water  Pollution
13    Control  Loan Program or the Public Water Supply Loan Program
14    to an eligible  local  government  unit  as  a  result  of  a
15    contractual agreement between the Agency and such unit.
16        (d)  "Construction"   means   any  one  or  more  of  the
17    following  which  is  undertaken  for   a   public   purpose:
18    preliminary  planning  to  determine  the  feasibility of the
19    treatment  works  or  public   water   supply,   engineering,
20    architectural,  legal,  fiscal  or economic investigations or
21    studies,   surveys,   designs,   plans,   working   drawings,
22    specifications,  procedures  or  other   necessary   actions,
23    erection,   building,  acquisition,  alteration,  remodeling,
24    improvement or extension of treatment works or  public  water
25    supplies,  or  the  inspection  or  supervision of any of the
26    foregoing items.  "Construction" also includes implementation
27    of source water quality protection measures and establishment
28    and  implementation  of  wellhead  protection   programs   in
29    accordance  with  Section  1452(k)(1)  of  the  federal  Safe
30    Drinking Water Act.
31        (e)  "Intended  use  plan"  means a plan which includes a
32    description of the short and long term goals  and  objectives
33    of  the  Water  Pollution Control Loan Program and the Public
                            -3-                LRB9000167DPdv
 1    Water Supply  Loan  Program,  project  categories,  discharge
 2    requirements,   terms   of   financial   assistance  and  the
 3    communities to be served.
 4        (f)  "Treatment works"  means  any  devices  and  systems
 5    owned  by  a  local  government unit and used in the storage,
 6    treatment, recycling,  and  reclamation  of  or  sewerage  or
 7    industrial  wastes of a liquid nature, including intercepting
 8    sewers, outfall sewers, sewage  collection  systems,  pumping
 9    power   and   other   equipment,   and  their  appurtenances;
10    extensions,   improvements,   remodeling,   additions,    and
11    alterations thereof; elements essential to provide a reliable
12    recycled  supply,  such  as standby treatment units and clear
13    well facilities; and any works, including site acquisition of
14    the land that will be  an  integral  part  of  the  treatment
15    process for wastewater facilities.
16        (g)  "Local    government    unit"    means   a   county,
17    municipality,  township,  municipal  or  county  sewerage  or
18    utility authority, sanitary district, public water  district,
19    improvement  authority  or  any  other  political subdivision
20    whose primary purpose is to construct, operate  and  maintain
21    wastewater   treatment  facilities  or  public  water  supply
22    facilities or both.
23    (Source: P.A. 89-27, eff. 1-1-96.)
24        (415 ILCS 5/19.3) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.3)
25        Sec. 19.3.  Water Revolving Fund.
26        (a) There is hereby created within the State  Treasury  a
27    an  interest  bearing  special  fund to be known as the Water
28    Pollution   Control   Revolving   Fund,   consisting   of   3
29    interest-bearing special 2 programs to be known as the  Water
30    Pollution  Control Loan Program, the Public Water Supply Loan
31    Program, and the Loan Support Program, which  shall  be  used
32    and administered by the Agency.
33        (b) (a-1)  The Water Pollution Control Loan Program shall
                            -4-                LRB9000167DPdv
 1    be  used and administered by the Agency to provide assistance
 2    to local government units for the following public purposes:
 3             (1)  to accept and retain funds from  grant  awards,
 4        appropriations,  transfers,  and payments of interest and
 5        principal;
 6             (2)  to  make  direct  loans  at  or  below   market
 7        interest  rates  to any eligible local government unit to
 8        finance the construction of wastewater treatments works;
 9             (3)  to  make  direct  loans  at  or  below   market
10        interest  rates  to any eligible local government unit to
11        buy or refinance debt  obligations  for  treatment  works
12        work incurred after March 7, 1985;
13             (4)  to  guarantee  or  purchase insurance for local
14        obligations where such action would improve credit market
15        access or reduce interest rates;
16             (5)  as a source of  revenue  or  security  for  the
17        payment  of  principal and interest on revenue or general
18        obligation bonds issued by the State, if the proceeds  of
19        such bonds will be deposited in the Fund; and
20             (6)  to finance the reasonable costs incurred by the
21        Agency in the administration of the Fund; and.
22             (7)  to  transfer  funds  to the Public Water Supply
23        Loan Program.
24        (c) (a-2)  The Loan Support Program  shall  be  used  and
25    administered by the Agency for the following purposes:
26             (1)  to  accept  and  retain funds from grant awards
27        and appropriations;
28             (2) (1)  to finance the reasonable costs incurred by
29        the Agency in the administration of the  Fund,  including
30        activities  under  Title  III  of this Act, including the
31        administration of the State construction grant program;
32             (3) (2)  to transfer funds to  the  Water  Pollution
33        Control  Loan  Program  and  the Public Water Supply Loan
34        Program;
                            -5-                LRB9000167DPdv
 1             (4) (3)  to accept and retain a portion of the  loan
 2        repayments; and
 3             (5)  (4)  to  finance  the  development  of  the low
 4        interest loan program for public water supply projects;.
 5             (6)  to finance the reasonable costs incurred by the
 6        Agency to provide technical assistance for  public  water
 7        supplies; and
 8             (7)  to finance the reasonable costs incurred by the
 9        Agency  for  public water system supervision programs, to
10        administer or provide for  technical  assistance  through
11        source   water   protection   programs,  to  develop  and
12        implement a capacity development strategy,  to  delineate
13        and  assess  source  water  protection  areas, and for an
14        operator certification program in accordance with Section
15        1452 of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
16        (d)  The Public Water Supply Loan Program shall  be  used
17    and administered by the Agency to provide assistance to local
18    government  units for public water supplies for the following
19    public purposes:
20             (1)  to accept and retain funds from  grant  awards,
21        appropriations,  transfers,  and payments of interest and
22        principal;
23             (2)  to  make  direct  loans  at  or  below   market
24        interest  rates  to any eligible local government unit to
25        finance the construction of public water supplies;
26             (3)  to buy or refinance the debt  obligation  of  a
27        local  government unit for costs incurred on or after the
28        effective date of this amendatory Act of 1996;
29             (4)  to  guarantee  local  obligations  where   such
30        action  would  improve  credit  market  access  or reduce
31        interest rates;
32             (5)  as a source of  revenue  or  security  for  the
33        payment  of  principal and interest on revenue or general
34        obligation bonds issued by the State, if the proceeds  of
                            -6-                LRB9000167DPdv
 1        such bonds will be deposited into the Fund; and
 2             (6)  to   transfer  funds  to  the  Water  Pollution
 3        Control Loan Program.
 4        (e) (b)  The Agency is designated  as  the  administering
 5    agency  of the Fund.  The Agency shall submit to the Regional
 6    Administrator of the United States  Environmental  Protection
 7    Agency  an  intended use plan which outlines the proposed use
 8    of funds available to the State.  The Agency shall  take  all
 9    actions  necessary to secure to the State the benefits of the
10    federal Water Pollution Control  Act  and  the  federal  Safe
11    Drinking Water Act, as now or hereafter amended.
12    (Source: P.A. 89-27, eff. 1-1-96.)
13        (415 ILCS 5/19.4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.4)
14        Sec.  19.4.   The  Agency  shall  have  the  authority to
15    promulgate regulations to set forth procedures  and  criteria
16    concerning  loan applications, assurance of payment, interest
17    rates,  loan  support  rates,   impact   on   user   charges,
18    eligibility  of proposed construction, and priority of needs,
19    special loan terms for disadvantaged communities, and maximum
20    limits on annual distributions  of  funds  to  applicants  or
21    groups  of applicants.  The Agency shall develop and maintain
22    a priority list of loan applicants as  categorized  by  need.
23    Priority  in  making  loans  from the Water Pollution Control
24    Loan Program Fund must first be  given  to  local  government
25    units  which  need  to  make  capital improvements to achieve
26    compliance  with  National  Pollutant  Discharge  Elimination
27    System permit requirements  pursuant  to  the  federal  Water
28    Quality  Act  of  1987 and this Act. Priority in making loans
29    from the Public Water Supply Loan Program must first be given
30    to  local  government  units  that  need  to   make   capital
31    improvements   to   protect   human  health  and  to  achieve
32    compliance with the State and federal primary drinking  water
33    standards  adopted  pursuant to this Act and the federal Safe
                            -7-                LRB9000167DPdv
 1    Drinking Water Act, as now and hereafter amended.
 2    (Source: P.A. 89-27, eff. 1-1-96.)
 3        (415 ILCS 5/19.5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.5)
 4        Sec. 19.5.  Loans; repayment.
 5        (a)  The Agency shall have the authority  to  make  loans
 6    for  a  public  purpose  to  local  government  units for the
 7    construction of treatment works  and  public  water  supplies
 8    pursuant to the regulations promulgated under Section 19.4.
 9        (b)  Loans made from the Fund shall provide for:
10             (1)  a schedule of disbursement of proceeds;
11             (2)  a  fixed  rate  that includes interest and loan
12        support based upon priority, but the  loan  support  rate
13        shall  not  exceed one-half of the fixed rate established
14        for each loan;
15             (3)  a schedule of repayment not to exceed 20 years;
16             (4)  initiation of principal repayments  within  one
17        year after the project is operational; and
18             (5)  a confession of judgment upon default.
19        (c) (b-1)  The Agency may amend existing loans to include
20    a  loan  support  rate  only  if the overall cost to the loan
21    recipient is not increased.
22        (d) (c)  A local government unit shall secure the payment
23    of its obligations to the  Fund  by  a  dedicated  source  of
24    repayment,  including revenues derived from the imposition of
25    rates, fees and charges.  In the event of a delinquency as to
26    payments to the Fund, the local government unit shall  revise
27    its rates, fees and charges to meet its obligations.
28    (Source: P.A. 89-27, eff. 1-1-96.)
29        (415 ILCS 5/19.6) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.6)
30        Sec. 19.6.  Delinquent loan repayment.
31        (a)  In  the event that a timely payment is not made by a
                            -8-                LRB9000167DPdv
 1    local government unit  according  to  the  loan  schedule  of
 2    repayment,  the local government unit shall notify the Agency
 3    in writing within 15 days after the payment  due  date.   The
 4    notification  shall  include  a  statement of the reasons the
 5    payment was not  timely  tendered,  the  circumstances  under
 6    which  the  late  payments  will  be  satisfied,  and binding
 7    commitments to assure future payments.  After receipt of this
 8    notification,  the  Agency  shall  confirm  in  writing   the
 9    acceptability  of  the plan or take action in accordance with
10    subsection (b) of this Section.
11        (b)  In the event that a local government unit  fails  to
12    comply  with subsection (a) of this Section, the Agency shall
13    promptly  issue  a  notice  of  delinquency  to   the   local
14    government unit which shall require a written response within
15    30  days.   The  notice of delinquency shall require that the
16    local government unit revise its rates, fees and  charges  to
17    meet  its  obligations  pursuant  to  subsection  (d)  (c) of
18    Section 19.5 or  take  other  specified  actions  as  may  be
19    appropriate  to  remedy  the delinquency and to assure future
20    payments.
21        (c)  In the event that the local government unit fails to
22    timely or adequately respond to a notice of  delinquency,  or
23    fails  to  meet  its obligations made pursuant to subsections
24    (a) and (b) of this Section,  the  Agency  shall  pursue  the
25    collection  of  the  amounts  past  due, the outstanding loan
26    balance and the costs thereby incurred,  either  pursuant  to
27    the  Illinois  State  Collection  Act of 1986 or by any other
28    reasonable means as may be provided by law.
29    (Source: P.A. 85-1135.)
30        (415 ILCS 5/19.8) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1019.8)
31        Sec. 19.8.  The Director  of  the  Agency  shall  appoint
32    committees  a  Committee  to advise the Agency concerning the
33    financial structure of the  Programs  Fund.   The  committees
                            -9-                LRB9000167DPdv
 1    Committee  shall  consist of representatives from appropriate
 2    State  agencies,   the   financial   community,   engineering
 3    societies  and  other  interested  parties.   The  committees
 4    Committee  shall  meet  periodically  at  least  annually and
 5    members shall be reimbursed for their ordinary and  necessary
 6    expenses  incurred  in the performance of their committee the
 7    Committee's duties.
 8    (Source: P.A. 85-1135.)
 9        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
10    becoming law.

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