Public Act 0132 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0987 Enrolled LRB095 07654 HLH 27806 b

Public Act 095-0132

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Wabash and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council Act.

Section 5. Legislative Purpose. The restoration and conservation of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries is in the economic and ecological interest of the citizens of this State. It is further in the public interest to establish, implement, and monitor water management projects run by local, State, federal and not for profit entities.

Section 10. Wabash and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council.

(a) There is established the Wabash and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 13 voting members. One member shall be the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and as chairperson of the Council. The Directors of the following agencies and departments, or their designees, shall serve as ex-officio voting members: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Transportation. In addition, the Council shall include one member, appointed by the Governor, representing soil and water conservation districts located in the proximity of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and its tributaries, and 6 members, appointed by the Governor, representing local communities and not-for-profit organizations working to protect the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries, businesses, agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment.

(b) The Governor may appoint, as non-voting members, individuals representing the interests of the states that border the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and individuals representing federal agencies.

(c) The voting members of the Council who are appointed by the Governor shall serve 2-year terms, except that of the initial appointments, 3 members shall be appointed to serve 2-year terms and 4 members to serve one-year terms.

(d) The Council shall meet at least quarterly.

(e) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be responsible for the operations of the Council, including, without limitation, funding and oversight of the Council's activities. Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses.

(f) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section 405-500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law.

Section 15. Duties of the Council. The Council shall do the following:

(1) periodically review activities and programs administered by State and federal agencies that directly impact the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries;

(2) work with local communities and organizations to encourage partnerships that enhance awareness and capabilities to address watershed and water resource concerns and to encourage strategies that protect, restore, and expand critical habitats and soil conservation and water quality practices;

(3) work with State and federal agencies to optimize the expenditure of funds affecting the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries;

(4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure of appropriated funds affecting the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries;

(5) encourage local communities to develop water management plans to address stormwater, erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and pollution problems and encourage projects for the natural conveyance and storage of floodwaters, the enhancement of wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities, the recovery, management, and conservation of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries, the preservation of farmland, prairies, and forests, and the use of measurable economic development efforts that are compatible with the ecological health of the State; and

(6) help identify possible sources of additional funding for Wabash and Ohio Rivers water management projects.

Section 20. Agency duties. State agencies represented on the Council shall provide to the Council, on request, information concerning agency programs, data, and activities that impact the restoration and preservation of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries.

Effective Date: 1/1/2008