THERE IS ALWAYS a great deal of activity in the closing days of a legislative session. This year was no exception due in large part to the need to pass a balanced budget in a year when state revenues fell below the previous fiscal year for the first time in more than 50 years.

From January through April of this year, Illinois' general funds revenues were down $365 million from the same period a year ago. Then, Illinois' May revenues were down by an additional $224 million. The Bureau of the Budget now expects Illinois' revenue decline to continue through June—when the state could lose another $125 million—before stabilizing at or near projected levels in July and August.

It is important to recognize that these statistics are not unique to Illinois. They reflect national trends. In the United States, individual income tax collections in the first three months of this calendar year dropped 14 percent from the same period in 2001.

Ultimately, the state's $53 billion budget was passed on June 2 with more than $500 million in excess spending, which resulted in Governor Ryan calling the first special session of the 92nd General Assembly on June 10 and 11. In that special session the General Assembly considering more than 224 individual budgetary line items that the governor vetoed.

In all, more than $500 million was trimmed from the budget and approximately $53 million restored (mostly in education cuts). In this tough fiscal year, which began July 1, 2002, there were no winners. Across the board cuts took place in every state agency and those departments with large fund balances were targeted. One such large fund balance was held by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as obligated but undistributed OSLAD dollars. House Bill 5686, the Budget Implementation Act (see page 13), transferred $29 million from the $64,348,900 million being reappropriated to the OSLAD fund.

This year's OSLAD appropriation stands as introduced at $22 million. This good news is tempered with the fact that the Real Estate Transfer Tax, which is OSLAD's funding source, has been cut from $21 million to $12 million. The $9 million was transferred to the state's General Revenue Fund. Efforts to sunset this realloca-tion of OSLAD funding are already under way (see HB6294 on page 13).

Following is a brief overview of the most recent legislative activity impacting park districts, forest preserves and conservation districts.

Bonding Authority

SB1171 (Senate sponsors: Philip-Link; House sponsors: Saviano-Beaubien-McGuire-Schoenberg)
Hopes for the passage of Senate Bill 1171 which restores the non-referendum bonding authority to the 16 districts affected by the tax cap—were raised briefly in the closing days of the legislative session, but the bill was never called for a vote. Work will continue in order to seek approval for this legislation during the veto session. Last action: referred to Senate Rules.

Cigarette Tax Increase

HB539 (House Sponsors: Madigan, MJ-Currie-Feigenhotz-Hamos; Senate Sponsors: Rauschenberger)
This legislation was passed into law on June 1 and has been approved by the Governor as Public Act 92-536. This public act increased the cigarette tax by 40 cents per pack and provides that the revenue from the Real Estate Transfer Tax shall be deposited as follows: 50% into the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund (same as now); 20% into the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund (now 35%); 5% into the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (now 15%); and 25% into the General Revenue Fund (now none). Effective immediately, P.A. 92-536.

Liquor Sales

SB 1282 (Senate sponsors: Roskam; House sponsors: O'Brien-McCarthy)

The First Conference Committee Report on Senate Bill 1282 was notable because it was

12 Illinois Parks and Recreation

ISSUES AND INSIGHTS FROM THE LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE SCENE

the last bill passed out of the House before their adjournment on Sunday evening, June 2 at 11:30 p.m. It provides that alcoholic liquor may be delivered to and sold in any building or on any golf course owned by a park district organized under the Park District Code subject to the approval of the governing board of the district. Last action: 6/26/02, PA. 92-583.

Open Meetings Act

SB1756 (Senate sponsors: Cullerton; House sponsors: Feigenholtz]

As introduce, this bill requires that a public body post its agenda at least 72, rather than 48, hours before a regular meeting. If a public body has a Web site, it requires that the public body post meeting notices, agendas, and minutes on that Web site. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Restores the posting deadline to 48 hours before the meeting. Applies the Web site posting requirement to those public bodies whose staff maintains the Web site. Last action: 6/ 5/02, sent to Governor.

OSLAD Sunset Bill

House Bill 6294 (House sponsors: Hamos-May-Winters-Slone-Garrett-Bassi-Burke-
Coulson-Currie-Dart-Delgado-Erwin-Feigenholtz-
Hoffman-Kurze-Lang-Lindner-Mendoza-
Novak-Osterman-Pankau-Soto-Tenhouse-
Turner, Art-Yarbrough)

Changes made to the OSLAD funding formula are restored under this legislation as follows: (a) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly and through June 30, 2003, of the moneys collected under Section 31-15, 50% shall be deposited into the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, 20% into the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund, 5% into the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund, and 25% into the General Revenue Fund.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2003, of the moneys collected under Section 31-15, 50% shall be deposited into the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, 35% into the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund, and 15% into the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund. Last action: 6/2/02, filed with Clerk.

State Budget

HB5686(House sponsors: Madigan, MJ-Hannig-Burke-Daniels-Davis, Monique; Senate sponsors: Rauschenberger)

Creates the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Implementation Act which in part authorizes and limits various appropriations and transfers for specific purposes including a $29 million transfer from existing balances of the OSLAD Fund, $8 million from the Conservation 2000, $2 million from the Park and Conservation Fund, and $2 million from the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund. Last action 6/6/02, sent to Governor.

SB2393 (Senate sponsors: Rauschenberger; House sponsors: Madigan, MJ-Daniels-Hannig-Tenhouse-Schoenberg)

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes everything. Makes omnibus appropriations for State fiscal Year 2003. Effective July 1, 2002. This is the appropriations bill for the operation of state government, Last action: 6/11/02, P. A. 92-0538.

Youth Umpires

HB5996 (House sponsors: Lyons, Eileen-Bellock-Lindner-Hultgren-Mathias-Davis, Steve-Parke; Senate Sponsors: Radogno-Parker-Lauzen-Walsh, T-Dillard)

The First Conference Committee Report on House Bill 5996 was approved by the Illinois Senate and House on May 31. This legislation permits children who are 12 or 13 years of age to officiate at youth sports activities for not-for-profit youth clubs, park districts, and municipal parks and recreation departments subject to the following restrictions:

1) The parent or guardian of the minor who is officiating shall be responsible for being present at the youth sports activity while the minor is officiating.

2) The employer must obtain an employment certificate.

3) The minor may work as a sports official for a maximum of 3 hours per day on school days and a maximum of 4 hours a day on non school days, but, not exceed 10 hours of officiating in any week and may not work later than 9:00 p.m.

4) The participants in the youth sports activity

July/August 2002 13

STATE HOUSE INSIDER

must be at least 3 years younger than the officiating minor or an adult must be officiating the same youth sports activity. P.A. 92-592

RESOURCES YOU CAN USE

From the Illinois Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation

• Catalog of State Assistance to Local Governments

The ninth edition of this biennial catalog provides information on state assistance and federal pass-through aid provided to local governments by state agencies in Illinois. It is organized by program description and includes aggregate data on awards made for the latest three years, as well as information on whom to contact for further information. The catalog is intended to help local officials locate grants or technical assistance available from state agencies. This report can be accessed online from the Commission's Web site under "Local Government Information," http/www.legis.state.il.us/commission/igcc/igcc_home.htm.

• Grant Alerts

The Grant Alerts newsletter is a monthly compilation of information on federal grants available to state and local governments and community agencies. The grant notices are available on the Commissions Web page under "Grant Alerts."

• Federal Funds to State Agencies, FY2001-2002

This annual report provides a comprehensive reference on federal funds received by state agencies. It includes brief descriptions of 350 federal programs, dollar amounts awarded for the last three fiscal years by state agency, and listings of the state programs supported by each grant. The eleventh edition will be printed and distributed in the spring of 2002. Tables are available on the Commission's Web site under "Federal Aid Information/Federal Funds to State Agencies."

To obtain a copy of these resources, contact the Illinois Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation at 217.782.6924. There will be a first-time postage fee to get on the mailing list for the two catalogs.

NEW MAP, NEW LEGISLATORS

To find out what new legislative district you currently reside in go to the Illinois State Board of Elections Web site at http://www.elections.state.il.us/dls/
pages/DLSNewAddressCrit.asp. Just fill in your address and your new legislative districts will come up. These districts will take effect in January 2003.

RECREATION ACCESS ILLINOIS

The Office of the Attorney General, in cooperation with the Illinois Association of Park Districts, has launched a new initiative to heighten awareness of recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. Called Recreation Access Illinois, the program is pursuing a variety of strategies to tell people with disabilities how, when and where to "Get Out and Get Into Living."

"People with Disabilities need exercise, recreation and social interaction as much or more than the general population," says James Rimmer, director of the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.

"Our goal is to make them aware of what's available so they can make choices for their good health and to also encourage fitness and recreation professionals to make their facilities more disability friendly."

The primary resource of Recreation Access Illinois is its Web site, www.RecreationAccessIllinois.org. Visitors can search a database created and maintained by the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability. Among the many resources of the database are listings of accessible programs and facilities in Illinois. Owners and operators of health ad recreation facilities can also find resources to assist in evaluating their facilities and help them comply with accessibility laws.

Recreation Access Illinois is a program made possible with funds from a Vitamin Anti-Trust Settlement. Funds are administered by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

NATIONAL ISSUES

House Interior Markup Yields $154 Million for LWCF/ Stateside

On June 25 the House Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations marked up the FY03 Interior spending bill. The subcommittee allocated $154 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund/State assistance, a $10 million increase from FY02.

While there were zero funds requested for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program in the President's proposed budget, park and recreation advocates and other allied organizations prevailed in maintaining $30 million for the program which restores existing recreation and park facilities located in economically distressed urban neighborhoods.

The Senate was expected to markup the Senate Interior spend ing bill on June 27.

CORRECTION: Congratulations to the Canton Park District for passing its referendum for sale of real estate, 1,565 yes-votes to 603 no-votes!

14 Illinois Parks and Recreation