Public Act 095-0139
 		





HB1780 Enrolled
LRB095 09446 RCE 29644 b






    AN ACT concerning State government.

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


 
    Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended  by changing 
Sections 5.411, 5.412, and 6z-32 as follows:
 



    (30 ILCS 105/5.411)



    Sec. 5.411. The Partners for Conservation 2000 Fund. 
(Source: P.A. 89-49, eff. 6-29-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)

 



    (30 ILCS 105/5.412)



    Sec. 5.412. The Partners for Conservation 2000 Projects 
Fund. 
(Source: P.A. 89-49, eff. 6-29-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)

 



    (30 ILCS 105/6z-32)


    Sec. 6z-32. Partners for Planning and Conservation

Conservation 2000. 

    (a) The Partners for Conservation 2000 Fund (formerly known 
as the Conservation 2000 Fund) and the Partners for

Conservation 2000 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

Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and

Transportation for purposes relating to natural resource 
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, 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,
including 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, 
    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.
To 
    conduct an extensive review of existing Illinois water 
    laws.

    (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, 2021
2009,
from 
the General Revenue Fund to the Partners for Conservation 2000

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
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 2021
2009..................
$14,000,000

    (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 
the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund to the 
Conservation 2000 Fund.

    (d) There shall be deposited into the Partners for

Conservation 2000 Projects Fund such
bond proceeds and other 
moneys as may, from time to time, be provided by law.

(Source: P.A. 93-839, eff. 7-30-04; 94-91, eff. 7-1-05; 94-839, 
eff. 6-6-06.)