Bill
SB 1402
IDNR may enter competitive public-private deals (25–99 years) to develop, finance, operate Sahara Woods campground facilities, allowing private investment and charging user fees.
Status: Referred to Assignments (Introduced)
Primary sponsor (as filed in IL): Sen. Dale Fowler
Companion: HB 1083
Effective date in bill text: Effective immediately
Summary
This bill authorizes the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR or “the Department”) to enter into competitive public‑private agreements to develop, construct, finance, lease, manage and operate campground and related recreational facilities at Sahara Woods State Recreation Area in Carrier Mills, Illinois. The measure creates a statutory framework for soliciting proposals, selecting private contractors, and defining the terms and governance of such public‑private partnerships.
Key provisions
- Definitions: establishes terms such as “Department,” “Director,” “contractor,” “offeror,” “public‑private agreement,” “revenues,” and defines “Sahara Woods State Recreation Area” (≈4,000 acres of vacated strip mine land including the 98‑acre Sahara Lake and ~270 acres of fishable water).
- Authority: IDNR may enter into agreements that grant private parties the right to develop, finance, operate, maintain, manage and collect user fees for campground facilities on behalf of the State.
- Pre‑proposal engagement: the Director may hold discussions with interested parties before issuing an RFP to assess market conditions, but interested parties may not help draft or receive RFPs before public distribution. The Director may issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
- Procurement process: requires use of the competitive request‑for‑proposals process under Article 20 of the Illinois Procurement Code and related rules. RFP evaluations may consider an offeror’s project plans, business practices, and past performance in operating public assets.
- Agreement terms: public‑private agreements must include detailed provisions on responsibilities, payments to the State and contractor, Department access to contractor information, the Department’s authority to direct or countermand contractor decisions, and other oversight rights. The bill specifies long‑term terms (statutory text elsewhere indicates terms not less than 25 years and not more than 99 years).
- Labor and wages: the bill includes provisions addressing payment of prevailing wages and the potential use of project labor agreements (as summarized in the filed text).
- Revenues: broadly defined to include fees, lease payments, grants, appropriations, bond proceeds, equity, and other receipts related to development and operation.
Who is affected
- IDNR and the Director (implementation and oversight)
- Private developers/operators (offerors/contractors bidding to develop and operate campground facilities)
- Local community and visitors (changes in access, amenities, and operations at Sahara Woods)
- State and local governments (potential revenue streams, oversight responsibilities)
- Workers on projects (prevailing wage and project labor provisions)
Potential impacts and considerations
- May attract private capital to rehabilitate and develop underutilized lands, expand public recreational access, and generate revenue for the State.
- Long contract terms (25–99 years) can enable private financing but raise questions about long‑term public control and stewardship.
- Procurement rules and Department oversight language are intended to preserve transparency and state control, but pre‑RFP engagement with potential bidders may raise procurement‑integrity concerns (the bill prohibits those parties from drafting RFPs or receiving RFPs early).
- Prevailing wage and project labor provisions can increase project labor costs but support local wage standards.
- Fiscal effects depend on agreement terms (upfront payments, revenue sharing, maintenance obligations) and will vary by contract.
For more detail, consult the bill text (definitions, Section references, and full RFP/contract requirements) and the companion HB 1083.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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