Bill Text: IL HB1792 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Illinois Partners for Nutrient Loss Reduction Act. Provides legislative findings. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that moneys in the Partners for Conservation Fund and the Partners for Conservation Projects Fund may be used to implement the State's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, including funding for specified needs. Provides that the State Comptroller shall automatically transfer moneys to the Partners for Conservation Fund through June 30, 2027 (currently, 2021). Specifies the amount of moneys transferred to the Fund from 2022 through 2027 (currently, only for 2021). Specifies amounts and uses for moneys to be used by the Fund through specified years. Provides specified amounts to be transferred from the General Revenue Fund into the Partners for Conservation Fund for each year of 2022 through 2027. Provides that, for years 2022 through 2027, funding from the Partners for Conservation Fund shall be provided to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Natural Resources annually in specified amounts and for specified uses. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-04-11 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB1792 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HB1792-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 HB1792 Introduced , by Rep. Dave Vella SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
30 ILCS 105/6z-32
Creates the Illinois Partners for Nutrient Loss Reduction Act. Provides legislative findings. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that moneys in the Partners for Conservation Fund and the Partners for Conservation Projects Fund may be used to implement the State's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, including funding for specified needs. Provides that the State Comptroller shall automatically transfer moneys to the Partners for Conservation Fund through June 30, 2027 (currently, 2021). Specifies the amount of moneys transferred to the Fund from 2022 through 2027 (currently, only for 2021). Specifies amounts and uses for moneys to be used by the Fund through specified years. Provides specified amounts to be transferred from the General Revenue Fund into the Partners for Conservation Fund for each year of 2022 through 2027. Provides that for years 2022 through 2027 funding from the Partners for Conservation Fund shall be provided to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Natural Resources annually in specified amounts and for specified uses. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. References to Act. This Act may be referred to
as the Illinois Partners for Nutrient Loss Reduction Act.
Section 3. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Excessive levels of nutrients are degrading the
quality of streams, rivers, and lakes within the State of
Illinois and contributing to the dead zone in the Gulf of
Mexico.
(2) The State's Environmental Protection Agency and
Department of Agriculture collaborated with the Policy Working
Group, working with academics, environmental nonprofits,
representatives of federal, State, and local agencies,
wastewater treatment professionals, and the agricultural
community to develop the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction
Strategy in 2015. They continue to collaborate to implement
the Strategy.
(3) The Strategy sets a milestone to reduce nitrogen loads
in Illinois waters that leave the State by 15% and phosphorus
loads by 25% by 2025 from baseline levels of 1980-1996. One
goal is to reduce both nitrogen and phosphorus loads by 45%.
(4) The Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of

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Natural Resources, and the Department of Agriculture require
resources to administer and implement the Strategy in order to
meet the Strategy's 2025 milestone and goal.
(5) Nutrient capture practices cost share grants will
assist Illinois' agricultural economy in meeting the goals of
the Strategy.
(6) Soil and Water Conservation Districts assist Illinois
farmers in implementing nutrient capture practices on their
farmland.
Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by changing
Section 6z-32 as follows:
(30 ILCS 105/6z-32)
Sec. 6z-32. Partners for Planning and Conservation.
(a) The Partners for Conservation Fund (formerly known as
the Conservation 2000 Fund) and the Partners for Conservation
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
of Agriculture for purposes relating to natural resource

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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, and nutrient loss
from farmland, 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, 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,

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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.
(6) To implement the State's Nutrient Loss Reduction
Strategy, including, but not limited to, funding the
resources needed to support the Strategy's Policy Working
Group, cover water quality monitoring in support of
Strategy implementation, prepare a biennial report on the
progress made on the Strategy every 2 years, and provide
cost share funding for nutrient capture projects.
(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, 2027
2021, from the General Revenue Fund to the Partners for
Conservation 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

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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 2011 $14,000,000
2012 $12,200,000
2013 through 2017 $14,000,000
2018 $1,500,000
2019 $14,000,000
2020 $7,500,000
2021 $14,000,000
2022 $18,135,000
2023 $19,900,000
2024 $23,025,000
2025 $25,665,000
2026 $25,680,000
2027 $25,695,000
(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

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the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund to the
Partners for Conservation Fund (formerly known as the
Conservation 2000 Fund).
(d) There shall be deposited into the Partners for
Conservation Projects Fund such bond proceeds and other moneys
as may, from time to time, be provided by law.
(e) For years 2022 through 2027, $1,075,000 from the
Partners for Conservation Fund shall be provided annually to
the Agency and used as follows:
(1) $530,000 for coordination of Strategy
implementation, including, but not limited to, meeting
coordination, reporting, and watershed coordination; and
(2) $545,000 to cover water quality monitoring in
support of Strategy implementation.
(f) For years 2022 through 2027, funding from the Partners
for Conservation Fund shall be provided annually to the
Department of Agriculture:
(1) to be used for Soil and Water Conservation
Districts for personnel, educational, and administrative
expenses;
(2) to fund the Cover Crops Insurance Premium Discount
Program; and
(3) for conservation practices cost share grants and
technical assistance.
Funding provided to the Department of Agriculture under
this subsection shall be in the amount set forth below in each

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of the specified fiscal years:
Fiscal Year Amount
2022 $10,060,000
2023 $11,825,000
2024 $14,950,000
2025 $17,590,000
2026 $17,605,000
2027 $17,620,000
(g) For years 2022 through 2027, $7,000,000 funding from
the Partners for Conservation Fund shall be provided annually
to the Department of Natural Resources and used as follows:
(1) $6,000,000 for personnel, educational,
administrative, and conservation practices expenses; and
(2) $1,000,000 for conservation practices on publicly
owned property of the Department of Natural Resources, and
its surrounding area, that is leased to agricultural
producers.
In this Section, "strategy" means the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency's 2015 Illinois Nutrient Loss
Reduction Strategy and its biennial reports of 2017 and 2019.
(Source: P.A. 100-23, eff. 7-6-17; 101-10, eff. 6-5-19.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.