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| Public Act 095-0132 |
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AN ACT concerning local 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 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.
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(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
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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
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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.
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