Bill Text: IL HB1295 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Natural Resources Congress Act. Creates the Natural Resource Congress in order to protect, conserve, and appropriately use the natural resources of the State; to ensure that opportunities are available for the enjoyment of natural resources; and to enhance the quality of life of all of the present and future citizens of Illinois. Creates the Natural Resources Council, a committee comprised of the Directors of certain natural resource related State agencies. Requires the Natural Resources Congress to make certain recommendations to the Natural Resources Council. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-04-03 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB1295 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HB1295-Introduced.html

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96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2009 and 2010 HB1295 Introduced 2/18/2009, by Rep. John D. Cavaletto - Jim Watson - David Reis - Ron Stephens SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Natural Resources Congress Act. Creates the Natural Resource Congress in order to protect, conserve, and appropriately use the natural resources of the State; to ensure that opportunities are available for the enjoyment of natural resources; and to enhance the quality of life of all of the present and future citizens of Illinois. Creates the Natural Resources Council, a committee comprised of the Directors of certain natural resource related State agencies. Requires the Natural Resources Congress to make certain recommendations to the Natural Resources Council. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning conservation.
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
Natural Resources Congress Act.
Section 5. Natural Resources Congress.
(a) There is established the Natural Resources Congress.
The purposes of the Congress are to propose and advocate
actions that can be taken by elected and appointed officials to
protect, conserve, and appropriately use the natural resources
of the State; to ensure that opportunities are available for
the enjoyment of natural resources; and to enhance the quality
of life of all of the present and future citizens of Illinois.
(b) The Natural Resources Congress shall recommend to the
Natural Resources Council long-range goals, strategies, and
programs that would balance the protection and use of the
natural resources of Illinois while protecting private
property rights and ensuring a sustainable, economically
viable agriculture and business climate.
(c) The Natural Resources Congress shall be composed of
representatives of organizations in Illinois, including but
not limited to not-for-profit entities, businesses, or other
entities, whose goals and actions are to provide consistency,

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clarity, and coherence to present and future policies,
programs, and strategies affecting Illinois' water and land
resources. Members of the Congress shall serve without
compensation or reimbursement for expenses.
(d) The Natural Resources Congress shall establish
operating bylaws that ensure each member has a voting right on
the bylaws and on any recommendation that is forwarded by the
Natural Resources Congress to the Natural Resources Council. It
shall take a two-thirds vote of the members of the Natural
Resources Congress to approve the bylaws and recommendations to
the Natural Resources Council. A copy of the bylaws shall be
filed with the Natural Resources Council. Recommendations
submitted to the Natural Resources Council shall detail the
goal and impact of those recommendations on recreation, natural
resources, the State's economy, agriculture and business, and
property rights.
(e) The Department of Natural Resources shall organize,
convene, and provide staff support for the Natural Resources
Congress. Caucuses shall be held in each of the 5
administrative regions of the Department of Natural Resources.
Seventy delegates shall be elected to represent regional
interests at the Department of Natural Resources Congress, and
48 groups shall be invited by the Director of the Department of
Natural Resources to name a delegate to represent that group's
interests at the Natural Resources Congress, for a total of 118
delegates.

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(f) The Natural Resources Congress shall convene, at a
minimum, once every 3 years after its initial meeting, and it
must submit its initial recommendations to the Natural
Resources Council by December 31, 2009.
Section 10. Natural Resources Council.
(a) There is created a Natural Resources Council comprised
of the Director or Secretary of each of the following State
agencies: the Department of Agriculture, the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Natural
Resources, the Department of Transportation, the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Public
Health, and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
(b) The Council shall meet as necessary to receive and
evaluate recommendations from the Natural Resources Congress
and take appropriate action. Members of the Natural Resources
Council may provide in-kind services to the Natural Resources
Congress.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.