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91_HJ0010
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1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The importance of preserving Illinois'
3 productive agricultural land has been recognized by the
4 citizens of rural and urban communities of the State and by
5 numerous organizations and public officials of the State; and
6 WHEREAS, Agriculture is Illinois' leading industry,
7 generating tens of billions of dollars in economic activity
8 through agricultural production, input, processing, and
9 marketing, and is vital to the economic diversity of the
10 State; and
11 WHEREAS, Illinois' farmers use the State's superior soil
12 types and favorable climate to commercially produce more than
13 200 different agricultural commodities for domestic and
14 international markets; and
15 WHEREAS, Illinois farmers are the stewards of more land
16 than any other group in the State and use our natural
17 resources to make a living and to feed and clothe our
18 citizenry while maintaining wildlife and providing open
19 space; and
20 WHEREAS, Increased suburbanization and government
21 policies cause severe development pressure on Illinois'
22 agricultural land and its 76,000 farmers; and
23 WHEREAS, Preserving Illinois' prime farmland and
24 protecting it against irreversible conversion to non-farm
25 uses are high State priorities; and
26 WHEREAS, Uncoordinated and unplanned growth poses a
27 threat to the environment, sustainable economic and
28 agricultural development, and the health, safety, and quality
29 of life of the residents of this State; and
30 WHEREAS, It is in the public interest that local
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1 governments and the private sector coordinate with one
2 another in regional planning; and
3 WHEREAS, Farmland preservation requires planning and
4 managed growth to channel new development where adequate
5 public facilities and services already exist; therefore be it
6 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
8 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Illinois
9 Smart Growth Task Force:
10 (a) The Task Force consists of at least 12 members and
11 not more than 22 members chosen according to the following
12 requirements:
13 (1) Six voting members appointed from the House of
14 Representatives, with 3 members appointed by the Speaker
15 and 3 members appointed by the Minority Leader;
16 (2) Six voting members appointed from the Senate,
17 with 3 members appointed by the President and 3 members
18 appointed by the Minority Leader;
19 (3) Up to ten non-voting members appointed from
20 pertinent fields or disciplines by the legislative
21 members of the Task Force, by majority vote, with up to 2
22 individuals appointed from each of the following
23 categories:
24 (A) Agriculture and environment;
25 (B) Academia;
26 (C) County or municipal government;
27 (D) Construction or development and urban or
28 regional planning;
29 (E) Any other field or discipline the
30 legislative members of the Task Force deem
31 necessary;
32 (b) A majority of the legislative appointees shall
33 select a legislative member of the Task Force to serve as
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1 chairperson;
2 (c) The Director of Agriculture, the Director of
3 Commerce and Community Affairs, the Director of Natural
4 Resources, and the Secretary or Transportation, or their
5 designees, may serve as advisory non-voting delegates to the
6 Task Force;
7 (d) The Task Force has the following objectives:
8 (1) Conduct a series of public hearings throughout
9 the State to discuss visions and plans for Illinois in
10 the 21st Century concerning farmland preservation, land
11 use, and transportation needs for different State
12 regions;
13 (2) Identify tools and incentives to preserve and
14 maintain land for agricultural production and open space;
15 (3) Make recommendations and propose enabling
16 legislation to enhance the continued vitality of farming
17 and to retain land in agricultural uses;
18 (4) Strengthen laws that encourage farmland
19 preservation and promote compact development;
20 (5) Review the State budget, revenues, and tax
21 expenditures to see how fiscal policy affects land use
22 and farmland preservation in Illinois;
23 (6) Review State and regional transportation
24 policies and high-priority projects to determine their
25 impact on regional development patterns and farmland
26 preservation;
27 (7) Develop legislative proposals to implement
28 smart growth policies and change policies that foster
29 suburban sprawl and undermine farm preservation;
30 (8) Propose funding amounts and identify revenue
31 sources to implement farmland preservation and land
32 conservation initiatives;
33 (9) Propose formation of a permanent working group
34 or commission to oversee farmland preservation and smart
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1 growth initiatives, including designation of a lead State
2 agency;
3 (10) Recommend action steps to create a statewide
4 smart growth land use plan based on statewide public
5 hearings;
6 (e) The Task Force shall receive the assistance of
7 legislative staff, legislative agencies, and, upon request,
8 private and public organizations;
9 (f) The members of the Task Force shall serve without
10 compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
11 necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose;
12 and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Smart Growth Task Force shall
14 meet as soon as possible after at least 6 legislative members
15 have been appointed, shall hold public hearings, and shall
16 annually report its findings and recommendations concerning
17 the suburbanization and preservation of farmland to the
18 General Assembly by filing copies of its report with the
19 Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate on or
20 before December 31, 1999 and on or before December 31, 2000;
21 and that upon filing its final report the task force is
22 dissolved.