"Prohibited source." The act follows this broad prohibition with 23 exceptions. Currently, the act does not apply to appointed or elected local officials who are not compensated. Copies of the State Gift Ban Act are available at the IAPD offices upon request.

NATIONAL FRONT
Final congressional action on FY99 spending totaled $14.1 billion for the Department of Interior and related agencies, including $328.5 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), all for federal land systems. Wide-ranging efforts in support of LWCF state assistance and urban park funds failed in the face of support for acquisitions of specific federal projects and continuing opposition by the House interior appropriations subcommittee and the Clinton administration to the federal-state partnership. The Interior bill was abruptly pulled from the Senate floor before a vote on a proposal to provide $30 million for LWCF grants was considered. About $170 million appropriated from LWCF last year remains available for allocation and some of these funds could yet go to state and local governments if congressional leaders and the administration agree.

Permanent LWCF Urged
Key members of the Senate and House have introduced legislation that would create a "permanent appropriation" of funds for LWCF and for urban park restoration. Introduced shortly before the shortly before the 105th Congress adjourned, each proposal is expected to be reintroduced when the 106th Congress convenes in January.

The proposed Reinvestment and Environmental Restoration Act (S. 2566) was introduced by senators Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Frank Murkowski (W Alaska). The bill would return 50 percent of all OCS annual receipts to the U.S. treasury, 27 percent to coastal states, 16 percent or an estimated $768 million would go to local, state and federal agencies from the LWCF ($345 million each) and (10 percent or $76.8 million) to the urban park program. The proposed Conservation and Reinvestment Act was introduced by representatives Don Young (R-Alaska), John Dingell (D-Mich.) and others on Oct. 7 (H.R. 4717). It would cap LWCF and urban park funds at $900 annually (about 23 percent of estimated receipts). The LWCF state program would receive 42 percent or about $378 million. Federal land agencies would also receive 42 percent. Sixteen percent or about $144 million would go to the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program.

House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) introduced the proposed Open Space Protection Act (H.R. 4467) on August 6. H.R. 4467 would also authorize a permanent appropriation, providing $450 million for federal lands, $250 million for LWCF state aid, $150 million for urban parks and $50 million a year for five years for "American Battlefields" protection. These efforts are a positive step in the fight to re-establish federal funding for local park acquisition and development.

From ISTEA to TEA-2
The President on June 9 signed the "Transportation Equity Act for the 21 "Century" to reauthorize federal transportation programs, which had expired under ISTEA. The move secured billions of dollars over the next six years for transportation enhancements, recreational trails, scenic byways and other investments, which increase recreation and leisure opportunities easier opportunities. Illinois will receive $127,318,381 as a six-year total, which is an increase in dollars over the prior ISTEA program. The following summary highlights major changes to programs of interest to park and recreation agencies. Transportation Enhancements Program Funding will increase to $3.6 billion over six years (ISTEA provided $2.6 billion). This translates into an annual average of $630 million, an increase of 40 percent over ISTEA.