|
Illinois Arborist Association |
|
|
|
IAA members pose for a photo with Governor Quinn
No, this is not an April Fool’s joke, the IAA and IFA visited Springfield to become a “Voice for the Trees”. Wow, what a day!. It began with a long and arduous drive from the Oak Lawn train station before a single rooster call (5:45am) to arriving at the capitol 4-hours later. Once at the capitol, we met up with our lobbyist Jenni Purdue, where we all changed into our “Trees Pay You Back” t-shirts and got down to business. We couldn’t be happier with Jenni, for she was a wonderful guide with a great personality and plenty of suggestions. Since we arrived a little early, we spent a few minutes in a conference room, where as you can see from the photo to the right (Photo Caption) a heated discussion broke out about whether or not Edith Makra should run for governor. Now that was an April Fool’s joke. We were just having a little fun with setting. Shortly after that, we moved to our reserved conference room to begin orientation and hear from our bill sponsor Senator Sullivan. It was nice to hear one of legislators speaking our language. After that, we were off to meet with other legislators armed with literature expressing our views on pending bills in both the house and senate. Somewhere along the way, we happened to run into Governor Quinn, who gladly agreed to take a picture with us. In all, the day was a total success. All in attendance were brought up to speed as to the legislative process in Illinois. Hope to see you all there next year.
Price tags were hung on Springfield's street trees to show the estimated value that the tree brings to the community annually. Senator Dillard- a sponsor for the IAA specialty license plate "Healthy Trees, Happy Homes, poses with April Toney and Wilma Schroeder.
Wilma Schroeder, Jenni Purdue, April Toney, Paula Purdue IAA Review of Proposed BillsSB 1659 Title: Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act Sponsor: Dillard (R) Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. Creates the “Healthy Trees, Happy Home” Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides for the issuance of “Happy Trees, Healthy Homes” plates. Provides that in addition to the appropriate registration fees, an applicant for the special plate shall be charged a fee of $40 at original issuance and $27 at renewal. Position - Support HB 1087 Sponsor: Reitz (D) Title: Illinois Forestry Development Act Amends the Illinois Forestry Development Act. Changes “forestry management” to “forest management”. Makes other name changes and revisions. Makes changes concerning cost share amounts and eligibility. Makes other changes. Creates the Forestry Development Council. Specifies the Council’s membership duties. Position - Support HB 1295 Title: Natural Resources Act Sponsor: Cavaletto (R) Creates the Natural Resources Congress Act. Creates the Natural Resources 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 or the present and future citizens of Illinois. Position - Support SB 1413 Title: Illinois Forestry Development Act Sponsor: Sullivan J (D) Amends the Illinois Forestry Development Act. Changes “forestry management” to “forest management”. Makes other name changes and revisions. Makes changes concerning cost share amounts and eligibility. Makes other changes. Creates the Forestry Development Council. Specifies the Council’s membership duties. Position - Support Note: Since this bill is identical to HB 1087 and is further along in the process, we will put our support behind this bill. HB 477 Title: Downstate Forest Preserve District Act Sponsor: Winters (R) Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Provides that, if the boundaries of a district are co-extensive with the boundaries of a county having a population of more than 200,000 but less than 800,000, bordering the State of Wisconsin but not adjoining any county with a population of over 2,000,000, then all commissioners of the forest preserve district shall be elected at large. Provides for the election of 7 commissioners. Position - Support HB 1328 Title: Illinois Lottery Law Sponsor: Boland (D) Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Requires the Department of Revenue to offer a special instant scratch-off game to support State parks and State historic sites, to commence on July 1, 2009 and to be discontinued on December 31, 2014. Provides that the net revenue from the game shall be deposited into the State Parks and Historic Sites Endowment Fund for appropriation by the General Assembly to the Department of Natural Resources. Position - Support SB 176 Sponsor: Harmon (D) Title: Cook County Forest Preserve District Act Amends the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act. Changes the definition of "Board". Provides that the commissioners of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County shall be elected in a countywide election . Provides the election procedures and terms of office for commissioners. Specifies the procedure for selecting a president of the board. Provides that the president, with the advice and consent of the board of commissioners, may appoint officers. Position - Support SB 919 Sponsor: Cullerton (D) Title: Illinois Forestry Development Act Amends the Illinois Forestry Development Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Position - Monitor SB 1201 Title: General Revenue Appropriation Sponsor: Sullivan J (D) Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for its FY 10 ordinary and contingent expenses. Position - Monitor HB 494 Sponsor: Fritchey (D) Title: Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act Amends the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to make land and water areas available for recreational or conservation purposes by limiting liability to others. Provides that the definition of land used for recreational or conservation purposes does not include residential buildings. Position - Monitor HB 622 Title: Department of Natural Resources Sponsor: Phelps (D) Amends the Department of Natural Resources Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Position - Monitor HB 1120 Title: Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act Sponsor: Coulson (R) Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title of the Act. Position - Monitor HB 2740 Title: Forestry Development Act Sponsor: Cross (R) Amends the Illinois Forestry Development Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Position - Monitor HB 3601 Title: Illinois Forestry Development Act Sponsor: Cross (R) Amends the Illinois Forestry Development Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Position - Monitor SB 16 Title: Agricultural Areas Conservations and Protection Act Sponsor: Cullerton (D) Amends the Agricultural Areas Conservation and Protection Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Position - Monitor SB 394 Title: Department of Natural Resources Act Sponsor: Cullerton (D) Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions. Position - Monitor
|
|
© 2009 Illinois Arborist Association All Rights Reserved. |
|
