Public Act 095-0657
 		





SB0046 Enrolled
LRB095 06824 CMK 26940 b






    AN ACT concerning government.

 
    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 Green 
Governments Illinois Act.
 
    Section 5. Findings and purpose. Daily government 
operations have an impact on environmental quality and use of 
natural resources, including the energy and water consumed, the 
solid waste generated, the buildings constructed, and the goods 
and services purchased.  The purpose of this Act is to 
demonstrate the State's commitment to reducing negative 
environmental impacts, reducing greenhouse gases, and 
preserving resources for current and future generations.  This 
Act will also strengthen the capacity of units of local 
government and educational institutions to transition to a more 
environmentally sustainable future.
 
    Section 10. Green Governments Coordinating Council; 
established. The Green Governments Coordinating Council is 
established.  The purpose of the Council is to integrate more 
fully into the ongoing management systems, long-range 
planning, and daily operations of State agencies a number of 
cost-effective environmental sustainability measures that 
enhance health and safety, reduce the consumption of energy and 
fuels, conserve water, minimize emissions and reduce solid and 
hazardous wastes.  The Council will also serve as a resource for 
units of local government and educational institutions, which 
includes all public and private school districts, regional 
offices of education, universities, and colleges.
 
    Section 15. Composition of the Council. The Council shall 
be comprised of representatives from various State agencies 
with specific fiscal, procurement, educational, and 
environmental policy expertise.  The Lieutenant Governor is the 
chair of the Council. The director of each of the following 
State agencies,  or his or her designee, is a member of the 
Council: the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, 
the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural 
Resources, the Department of Natural Resources Waste 
Management and Research Center, the Department of Central 
Management Services, the Governor's Office of Management and 
Budget, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of 
Transportation, the Department of Corrections, the Department 
of Human Services, the Department of Public Health, the State 
Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and the 
Capital Development Board. The Office of the Lieutenant 
Governor shall provide administrative support to the Council. A 
minimum of one staff position in the Office of the Lieutenant 
Governor shall be dedicated to the Green Governments Illinois 
program.
 
    Section 20. Responsibilities of the Council.  The Council is 
responsible for the development and dissemination of programs, 
plans, and policies to reduce the environmental footprint of 
State government and for improving the implementation of 
greening the government initiatives in other institutions, 
thereby reducing costs to taxpayers and improving efficiency in 
operations.  The Council shall convene on a quarterly basis and 
shall be responsible for the following:
        (a) Establishing long-term environmental 
    sustainability goals that the State will strive to achieve 
    within a period of 3, 5, and 10 years to improve the energy 
    and environmental performance of State buildings, 
    consistent with efficiency and economic objectives.  These 
    goals shall, at a minimum, include the following: 
    broad-based performance goals for energy efficiency; use 
    of renewable fuels; water conservation; green purchasing; 
    paper consumption; and solid waste generation.  These goals 
    can be met through increased efficiency, operational 
    changes, and improved maintenance and use of 
    cost-effective alternative technologies, raw materials, 
    and fuels.  
        The Council shall: 
            (1) communicate the environmental sustainability 
        goals to all State agencies; 
            (2) establish an electronic system to track and 
        report on environmental progress; 
            (3) monitor improvement activities; and 
            (4) propose new goals as appropriate.
        (b) Coordinating an awards program that recognizes 
    units of State and local government and educational 
    institutions for developing, adopting, and implementing 
    innovative or exemplary environmental sustainability plans 
    in conformance with this Act.
        (c) Creating specific guidance materials for State 
    agencies, educational institutions, and units of local 
    government on how to integrate environmental 
    sustainability into existing management systems, planning, 
    and operational practices, while still providing necessary 
    services and ensuring efficient and effective operations.   
    These guidance materials must include a list of 
    environmental and energy best practices, case studies, 
    policy language, model plans, and other resource 
    information.  These materials must be made available on a 
    website devoted to the Green Governments Illinois program.


        (d) Developing and implementing, to the extent 
    fiscally feasible, training programs designed to instill 
    the importance and value of environmental sustainability.

        (e) Providing new ways for State government to build 
    markets for environmentally preferable products and 
    services without compromising price, competition, and 
    availability.   The Council shall initially focus on 
    integrated pest management, bio-based products, recycled 
    content paper, energy efficiency, renewable energy, 
    alternative fuel vehicles, and green cleaning supplies.  
    Within existing resources, the Department of Central 
    Management Services shall designate a single point of 
    contact for State agencies, suppliers, and other 
    interested parties to contact regarding environmentally 
    preferable purchasing issues.
        (f) Working collaboratively with State agencies, units 
    of local government, educational institutions, and the 
    legislative branches of government to promote 
    benchmarking, commissioning, and retro-commissioning to 
    make government and institutional buildings more 
    resource-efficient, energy efficient, and healthful public 
    places.
        (g) Reviewing budgetary policy and making 
    recommendations to the Governor on incentives for State 
    agencies to undertake environmental improvements that 
    result in long-term cost-savings, productivity 
    enhancements, or other outcomes deemed appropriate to the 
    State's sustainability goals.
        (h) Reporting annually to the Governor and the General 
    Assembly  on the results of environmental sustainability 
    actions taken by State agencies, educational institutions 
    and units of local government during the prior calendar 
    year. The report must include the environmental and 
    economic benefits of the environmental sustainability 
    actions, where feasible, the consumption of those actions, 
    and provide recommendations for future environmental 
    improvement activities during the following year.  The 
    report shall be filed by September 1, 2008, and September 1 
    of each subsequent year.
        (i) The chairman of the Council shall determine whether 
    or not the I-Cycle program is operating effectively and 
    make recommendations concerning management of the I-Cycle 
    program.  The chairman has the authority to dissolve the 
    I-Cycle program if the program is found to be ineffective.
 
    Section 25. Authority of the Council. To fulfill its 
functions, the Council has the authority to:
        (1) Solicit and receive grants.
        (2) Solicit, use, and publish advice and information 
    from non-governmental entities and experts to assist in the 
    Council's  duties.
 
    Section 30. Voluntary participation. Participation in the 
provisions of this Act by units of local government and 
educational institutions is voluntary.
 
    Section 35. Environmental Plans and Reporting. 
    (a) Each State agency shall submit an adopted environmental 
sustainability plan to the chairman of the Council for review 
and approval on or before   November 1, 2007.   
    On or before August 1, 2007, the Council shall prepare a 
downloadable plan template designed to provide a simple 
framework for the development of an environmental 
sustainability plan as required by this Act.  The Council shall 
adopt procedures for reviewing and approving the plans, and 
make staff available during preparation of the plans to assist 
State agencies with their plan-writing efforts.  The Council 
shall complete its plan review process on or before January 1, 
2008.  The sustainability plans shall be reviewed and updated 
periodically, but at least once every 3 years.  To the extent 
feasible and cost-effective, units of local government, 
educational institutions, and State agencies are encouraged to 
adopt and implement similar sustainability plans.  
Environmental sustainability plans may be submitted to the 
chairman of the Council, by request, for review and approval.
    (b) On or before August 1, 2007, each State agency, using 
existing resources, shall form an internal environmental 
sustainability committee.   The environmental sustainability 
committee shall (i) assess the environmental and resource use 
impacts of its major operational activities  making 
environmental improvements, conserving resources, and reducing 
health risks; (ii) develop an environmental sustainability 
plan as required under this Act; and (iii) establish an ongoing 
process through which their sustainability efforts can be 
reviewed and improved upon.   The committee shall focus on the 
most significant environmental and resource use impacts, 
examine the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of addressing 
these impacts, and prioritize their actions accordingly.   
    Where feasible, the committee shall quantify the specific 
impacts of major operational activities such as gallons of 
water used, pounds of solid waste generated, gallons of 
gasoline consumed, and dollars spent per year on electricity.   
The committee shall consist of representatives from different 
departments and program areas, including purchasing, 
maintenance, and facility management.   A senior member of 
management shall be designated to coordinate environmental 
sustainability efforts of each committee.   The coordinator 
shall provide information to agency facilities and staff, 
coordinate planning and reporting activities, and act as 
liaison to the Council.   Where appropriate, State agencies may 
appoint facility coordinators in addition to the agency 
coordinator.  Coordinators shall be given full management 
support and provided with the necessary resources to meet the 
goals of this Act.
    (c) On or before April 1, 2008 and on or before April 1 of 
each subsequent year, each State agency shall submit to the 
chairman of the Council a report summarizing the progress made 
in implementing its environmental sustainability plan, 
including sustainability measures adopted and goals achieved.  
The information in this report shall encompass the previous 
calendar year.    
    On or before January 1, 2008, the Council shall develop and 
adopt a reporting form to be used to comply with the provisions 
of this Section.  Participating units of local government, State 
agencies, and educational institutions must submit an annual 
progress report on or before June 1, 2008 and on or before June 
1 of each subsequent year.
    (d) State agencies shall be invited to participate in the 
Council's efforts to foster environmental sustainability 
practices throughout State government.
    (e) The Council shall provide technical assistance to State 
agencies, units of local government, and educational 
institutions for the purpose of implementing the environmental 
sustainability planning requirement.
    (f) The Council may establish criteria for exempting select 
State agencies from the environmental sustainability planning  
based on staff size, probable environmental impacts, and scope 
of operations.
 
    Section 40. Inter-agency cooperation. The Council shall be 
entitled to and shall receive the cooperation of every 
administrator and employee of every State agency in fulfilling 
the Council's purpose and functions.
 
    Section 45. Green Governments Illinois website. 
    (a) The Green Governments Illinois staff member of the 
Lieutenant Governor's Office shall be responsible for 
establishing and maintaining an Internet website devoted to the 
Green Governments Illinois program.
    (b) The content and capabilities of the website shall, at a 
minimum, include:
        (1) the ability to receive submitted plans and reports;
        (2) a downloadable template for preparing reports;
        (3) viewable and downloadable plans and reports 
    submitted by the participating units of State and local 
    government and educational institutions;
        (4) a listing of sources of information on developing 
    environmental programs and Internet links, if available, 
    to those sources;
        (5) a listing of sources of funding for environmental 
    programs and Internet links, if available, to those 
    sources;
        (6) information on forming intergovernmental 
    agreements for the purpose of developing collaborative 
    environmental plans between units of local government; and
        (7) guidance materials to assist State agencies, units 
    of local government, and educational institutions in 
    identifying environmental impacts and evaluating practical 
    actions to prevent pollution and conserve resources.
 

    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.