HB1209 Summary

• Renames the "Waste Management and Research Center" to the "Illinois Sustainable Technology Center" throughout multiple state statutes and establishes it as part of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois.

• Creates the Prairie Research Institute to consolidate the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, and Illinois State Archaeological Survey under unified governance by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

• Establishes specific employee positions including State Biologist, State Entomologist, State Geologist, State Climatologist, State Hydrologist, State Archaeologist, and Illinois Pollution Prevention Scientist within the respective surveys and centers.

• Expands the Toxic Pollution Prevention Assistance Program to include sustainability practices and water, energy, and solid waste considerations in comprehensive pollution prevention plans.

• Transfers the Board of Trustees as successor agency to the Department of Natural Resources regarding all functions, property, and duties previously held by the department for the transferred scientific surveys and centers.