SB2309 amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act, which governs certain permits, enforcement actions, and fees administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The bill changes how money collected under the Act is handled by redirecting civil penalties and permit fees into the Water Resources Fund rather than the State Boating Act Fund, and by specifying that those moneys may be used for purposes authorized under Section 59.14 of the Environmental Protection Act.
The bill also preserves the DNR’s authority to issue orders, require remedial action, and assess civil penalties for violations of the Act, while keeping the existing cap of up to $5,000 per violation. It maintains the requirement that permit applications not be processed until the fee is paid, and it clarifies that money deposited into the Water Resources Fund is not subject to administrative charges or chargebacks unless the Act specifically authorizes them. In practical terms, the measure is a funding and fee-allocation change tied to water resources regulation rather than a broad rewrite of permitting standards.
The voting history suggests the bill was generally well received, passing the Senate unanimously and then passing the House with a substantial majority. There is no committee transcript available, so the record does not show detailed floor or committee debate. The broad support indicates the bill was likely viewed as a technical or administrative adjustment to how water-related regulatory revenues are deposited and used.
Because there is no recorded discussion, there are no specific points of contention documented in the provided materials. Based on the text, any disagreement would most likely have centered on the shift in revenue destination and the use of permit and penalty funds, especially the move away from the State Boating Act Fund and toward the Water Resources Fund for environmental and water-management purposes.
Impact
SB2309 amends Sections 26a and 35 of the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act (615 ILCS 5/26a and 35). It changes the destination and permitted use of DNR-collected permit fees and civil penalties, moving them into the Water Resources Fund and tying their use to purposes authorized under Section 59.14 of the Environmental Protection Act. It also clarifies that those funds are not subject to administrative charges or chargebacks unless otherwise authorized, while leaving the DNR’s enforcement and permit-fee authority largely intact.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have had favorable, low-conflict support. It passed the Senate 51-0 and the House 78-36, suggesting broad agreement on the underlying policy even if some members opposed it in the House. With no committee transcripts available, there is no evidence of sustained controversy or organized opposition in the materials provided.
Contention
No specific contention is documented in the available transcripts, but the most likely area of debate would be the reallocation of permit fee and penalty revenue from the State Boating Act Fund to the Water Resources Fund and the related change in how those funds may be used. Stakeholders focused on boating, natural resources administration, or water-resource funding could have differing views on whether the money should support DNR operations or broader water and environmental purposes.