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Legal/Legislative Scene Legislature convenes to active election-year session By Peter M. Murphy Legal/Legislative Counsel
The Illinois General Assembly will be facing a very busy legislative year in 1988. The initial focus for this year, of course, will be the general primary on March 15, and that focus will then rapidly change to many budget concerns which will be facing the State. The Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) will be faced with many challenges as well in their continuing efforts to seek a stabilized source of funding for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act (OSLAD). This program has been funded over the past three years by "Build Illinois"; however, the funding levels have been decreasing. The focal point of our legislative efforts this year will be to join with the Illinois Department of Conservation (DOC) in seeking a designated source of funding, not only for the State portion of the DOC budget, but also for that portion of its budget which represents grants to units of local government. Park districts, forest preserve districts, conservation districts, municipal recreation departments, municipalities, and various conservation and sportsmen's organizations will need to combine their energies to make this goal a reality. To coordinate the efforts of these various groups, the Steering Committee of the Partners In Conservation group has planned a special conference for this year which will take place on May 18 and 19. Legislative Events Calendar The Joint Legislative Committee of both Associations has already been actively working on your behalf to plan such events as the upcoming Legislative Conference and Reception for Legislators to be held in Springfield on April 20, the Legislative Golf Outing to be held at the Bensenville Park District's White Pines Golf Course on July 22, and the annual Legislative Tailgate to be held in Champaign on September 3 when the University of Illinois plays Washington State University. Hotline Once again this year will again be a legislatively active one for the Illinois park and recreation movement, and it is important for every member district to respond when they receive a Hotline notification. Legislative video
Last year more than 75 agencies had an opportunity to view the video tape which the JLC developed on Legislative Advocacy — The Grassroots Commitment. This tape is an excellent educational tool for your park district board, staff, and other advisory groups that you would like to involve in supporting the legislative activities of our Associations. It is available for viewing free of charge from either the IAPD or IPRA offices, and runs approximately 14 minutes. Legislative platform If you, your staff, or your park district's legal counsel have any recommendations for items to be included in the IAPD/IPRA Legislative Platform, please do not hesitate to contact me. It is your initiative and enthusiasm at the local leval that makes the Illinois system of parks and recreation the strongest in the nation. I hope you will join me in working to increase our opportunities for growth and service to the citizens of Illinois in 1988. Illinois Parks and Recreation 24 January/February 1988 Legal/Legislative Scene The President has signed House Joint Resolution 395 making appropriations for the remainder of fiscal year 1988. House Joint Res. 395, passed by the House and Senate on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1987, combines all 13 separate appropriation bills into a single measure. The Department of Interior's portion of the bill included only $20 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund stateside grants program. Other appropriations include: • Federal LWCF - $152 million • Historic Preservation — $28.25 million • Urban Park Recreation Fund — $1.9 million (rescission) The Department of Education's portion included $2.47 million for Special Recreation Grants authorized by Section 316 of The Rehabilitation Act. Also passed was the reconciliation bill, H.R. 3545, adjusting taxes and spending authorizations to conform with budget directives, and the deficit reduction agreement negotiated between the President and the Congress. The reconciliation included a renewal of the Land and Water Conservation Fund for 25 years and new permanent park entrance fees. The Congress has concluded the first session of the 100th Congress and stands in recess until Monday, Jan. 25, 1988.
Illinois Parks and Recreation 28 January/February 1988 |
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