Public Act 095-0139
 
HB1780 Enrolled LRB095 09446 RCE 29644 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by changing
Sections 5.411, 5.412, and 6z-32 as follows:
 
    (30 ILCS 105/5.411)
    Sec. 5.411. The Partners for Conservation 2000 Fund.
(Source: P.A. 89-49, eff. 6-29-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
 
    (30 ILCS 105/5.412)
    Sec. 5.412. The Partners for Conservation 2000 Projects
Fund.
(Source: P.A. 89-49, eff. 6-29-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
 
    (30 ILCS 105/6z-32)
    Sec. 6z-32. Partners for Planning and Conservation
Conservation 2000.
    (a) The Partners for Conservation 2000 Fund (formerly known
as the Conservation 2000 Fund) and the Partners for
Conservation 2000 Projects Fund (formerly known as the
Conservation 2000 Projects Fund) are created as special funds
in the State Treasury. These funds shall be used to establish a
comprehensive program to protect Illinois' natural resources
through cooperative partnerships between State government and
public and private landowners. Moneys in these Funds may be
used, subject to appropriation, by the Department of Natural
Resources, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department
Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and
Transportation for purposes relating to natural resource
protection, planning, recreation, tourism, and compatible
agricultural and economic development activities. Without
limiting these general purposes, moneys in these Funds may be
used, subject to appropriation, for the following specific
purposes:
        (1) To foster sustainable agriculture practices and
    control soil erosion and sedimentation, including grants
    to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for conservation
    practice cost-share grants and for personnel, educational,
    and administrative expenses.
        (2) To establish and protect a system of ecosystems in
    public and private ownership through conservation
    easements, incentives to public and private landowners,
    natural resource restoration and preservation, water
    quality protection and improvement, land use and watershed
    planning, including technical assistance and grants, and
    land acquisition provided these mechanisms are all
    voluntary on the part of the landowner and do not involve
    the use of eminent domain.
        (3) To develop a systematic and long-term program to
    effectively measure and monitor natural resources and
    ecological conditions through investments in technology
    and involvement of scientific experts.
        (4) To initiate strategies to enhance, use, and
    maintain Illinois' inland lakes through education,
    technical assistance, research, and financial incentives.
        (5) To partner with private landowners and with units
    of State, federal, and local government and with
    not-for-profit organizations in order to integrate State
    and federal programs with Illinois' natural resource
    protection and restoration efforts and to meet
    requirements to obtain federal and other funds for
    conservation or protection of natural resources. To
    conduct an extensive review of existing Illinois water
    laws.
    (b) The State Comptroller and State Treasurer shall
automatically transfer on the last day of each month, beginning
on September 30, 1995 and ending on June 30, 2021 2009, from
the General Revenue Fund to the Partners for Conservation 2000
Fund, an amount equal to 1/10 of the amount set forth below in
fiscal year 1996 and an amount equal to 1/12 of the amount set
forth below in each of the other specified fiscal years:
Fiscal Year Amount
1996$ 3,500,000
1997$ 9,000,000
1998$10,000,000
1999$11,000,000
2000$12,500,000
2001 through 2004$14,000,000
2005 $7,000,000
2006 $11,000,000
2007 $0
2008 through 2021 2009.................. $14,000,000
    (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary and in addition to any other transfers that may be
provided for by law, on the last day of each month beginning on
July 31, 2006 and ending on June 30, 2007, or as soon
thereafter as may be practical, the State Comptroller shall
direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer $1,000,000 from
the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund to the
Conservation 2000 Fund.
    (d) There shall be deposited into the Partners for
Conservation 2000 Projects Fund such bond proceeds and other
moneys as may, from time to time, be provided by law.
(Source: P.A. 93-839, eff. 7-30-04; 94-91, eff. 7-1-05; 94-839,
eff. 6-6-06.)