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| Public Act 094-0996 |
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Mississippi River Coordinating Council Act. | ||||
Section 5. Legislative Purpose. The Mississippi River is | ||||
the primary water artery for the economic development of the | ||||
United States. The restoration and conservation of the | ||||
Mississippi River and its 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. Mississippi River Coordinating Council. | ||||
(a) There is established the Mississippi River | ||||
Coordinating Council (Council), consisting of 13 voting | ||||
members to be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be | ||||
the Lieutenant Governor who shall serve as a voting member and | ||||
as chairperson of the Council. The agency members of the | ||||
Council shall include the Directors, or their designees, of the | ||||
following: 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 representing Soil and Water Conservation | ||||
Districts located in the proximity of the Mississippi River and | ||||
its tributaries, and 6 members representing local communities, | ||||
not-for-profit organizations working to protect the | ||||
Mississippi River and its tributaries, businesses, | ||||
agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment. | ||||
(b) The Governor may appoint, as ex-officio members, | ||||
individuals representing the interests of the states who border | ||
the Mississippi River and individuals representing federal | ||
agencies. | ||
(c) Members of the Council shall serve 2-year terms, except | ||
that of the initial appointments, 5 members shall be appointed | ||
to serve 3-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. The Office may reimburse members of the Council for | ||
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: | ||
(1) periodically review activities and programs | ||
administered by State and federal agencies that directly | ||
impact the Mississippi River and its 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 Mississippi River | ||
and its tributaries; | ||
(4) advise and make recommendations to the Governor and | ||
State agencies on ways to better coordinate the expenditure | ||
of appropriated funds affecting the Mississippi River and | ||
its 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 Mississippi River and | ||
its 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 Mississippi River water management projects.
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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 Mississippi | ||
River and its tributaries.
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