State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_SB0557

 
                                               LRB9105601DHmg

 1        AN ACT to amend the State Finance Act by changing Section
 2    6z-32.

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

 5        Section  5.  The State Finance Act is amended by changing
 6    Section 6z-32 as follows:

 7        (30 ILCS 105/6z-32)
 8        Sec. 6z-32. Conservation 2000.
 9        (a)  The Conservation 2000 Fund and the Conservation 2000
10    Projects Fund are created  as  special  funds  in  the  State
11    Treasury.    These   funds  shall  be  used  to  establish  a
12    comprehensive program to protect Illinois' natural  resources
13    through cooperative partnerships between State government and
14    public  and private landowners.  Moneys in these Funds may be
15    used,  subject  to  appropriation,   by   the   Environmental
16    Protection Agency and the Departments of Agriculture, Natural
17    Resources,   and  Transportation  for  purposes  relating  to
18    natural  resource  protection,   recreation,   tourism,   and
19    compatible  agricultural and economic development activities.
20    Without limiting these  general  purposes,  moneys  in  these
21    Funds   may  be  used,  subject  to  appropriation,  for  the
22    following specific purposes:
23             (1)  To foster sustainable agriculture practices and
24        control soil erosion and sedimentation, including  grants
25        to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for conservation
26        practice    cost-share    grants   and   for   personnel,
27        educational, and administrative expenses.
28             (2)  To establish and protect a system of ecosystems
29        in public  and  private  ownership  through  conservation
30        easements,  incentives  to public and private landowners,
31        including  technical  assistance  and  grants,  and  land
 
                            -2-                LRB9105601DHmg
 1        acquisition provided these mechanisms are  all  voluntary
 2        on  the  part of the landowner and do not involve the use
 3        of eminent domain.
 4             (3)  To develop a systematic and  long-term  program
 5        to  effectively measure and monitor natural resources and
 6        ecological conditions through investments  in  technology
 7        and involvement of scientific experts.
 8             (4)  To  initiate  strategies  to  enhance, use, and
 9        maintain  Illinois'  inland  lakes   through   education,
10        technical assistance, research, and financial incentives.
11             (5)  To  conduct  an  extensive  review  of existing
12        Illinois water laws.
13        (b)  The State  Comptroller  and  State  Treasurer  shall
14    automatically  transfer  on  the  last  day  of  each  month,
15    beginning  on  September 30, 1995 and ending on June 30, 2009
16    2001, from the General Revenue Fund to the Conservation  2000
17    Fund,  an  amount equal to 1/10 of the amount set forth below
18    in fiscal year 1996 and an amount equal to 1/12 of the amount
19    set forth below in each of the other specified fiscal years:
20    Fiscal Year                                Amount
21      1996                                   $ 3,500,000
22      1997                                   $ 9,000,000
23      1998                                   $10,000,000
24      1999                                   $11,000,000
25      2000                                   $12,500,000
26      2001 through 2009                      $14,000,000
27        (c)  There shall be deposited into the Conservation  2000
28    Projects  Fund  such  bond  proceeds and other moneys as may,
29    from time to time, be provided by law.
30    (Source: P.A.  89-49,  eff.  6-29-95;  89-626,  eff.  8-9-96;
31    90-14, eff. 7-1-97; 90-490, eff. 8-17-97.)

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