Public Act 103-0788
HB0255 EnrolledLRB103 03779 RJT 48785 b HB0255 Enrolled LRB103 03779 RJT 48785 b
HB0255 Enrolled LRB103 03779 RJT 48785 b
AN ACT concerning conservation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Youth
and Young Adult Conservation Education Act.
Section 5. Declaration of intent. The General Assembly
finds that youth, representing all segments of society,
benefit from education and employment in the healthful outdoor
atmosphere of the State's park systems, recreational
facilities, and other public land and water areas and, through
those education and employment opportunities, will develop,
enhance, and maintain the natural resources of the State of
Illinois while gaining an understanding and appreciation of
the State's environment and heritage. The General Assembly,
therefore, creates this Act to establish the Youth and Young
Adult Conservation and Education Pilot Program to provide
education and employment opportunities for the youth and young
adults of this State to further the development and
maintenance of the natural resources by Illinois' youth and,
in so doing, to prepare them for the responsibility of
maintaining and managing these resources.
Section 10. Definitions.
HB0255 Enrolled LRB103 03779 RJT 48785 b
As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise
requires:
"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.
"Program" means the Youth and Young Adult Conservation and
Education Pilot Program created by this Act.
Section 15. Cooperation. The Department shall have the
full cooperation of the Illinois State Board of Education, the
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois
State Job Coordinating Council created by the Federal Job
Training Partnership Act (Public Law 97-300), and the
Department of Employment Security in carrying out the purposes
of this Act.
Section 20. Funding. Funding for the Program shall be from
any State or federal funds or grants or other funding received
by the Department. The Program is subject to appropriation by
the General Assembly.
Section 25. Youth and Young Adult Conservation and
Education Pilot Program.
(a) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall
administer the Program. The Program may consist of any of the
following:
(1) allocation of grants to units of local government
or non-profit entities to provide conservation education
and employment opportunities for youth and young adults of
this State;
(2) development and implementation of conservation
education or job training programs; and
(3) internship opportunities with the Department for
youth and young adults of this State.
(b) The Program's education and employment opportunities
shall be limited to citizens of this State who at the time of
enrollment in the Program are 15 through 25 years of age.
Grants under this Act are limited to units of local government
and non-profit entities that are located in the State of
Illinois and that provide conservation education and
employment opportunities for youth and young adults of this
State.
(c) The Department shall designate suitable grant
opportunities, projects, internships, and educational
curriculum for the purposes of this Act.
Grants, projects, internships, and curriculum so
designated by the Department shall be for the purpose of: (1)
development, enhancement, and maintenance of the natural
resources of the State of Illinois, and offering related
educational opportunities; (2) environmental stewardship and
civic responsibility; (3) enhancement of public lands owned or
leased by the Department or developing and enhancing projects
or initiatives undertaken in whole or part by the Department;
or (4) any combination of the purposes described in items (1)
through (3). Such projects, internships and curriculum shall
include improving the habitat of fauna and flora; improving
utilization of conservation or recreation facilities and lands
by the public; improving water quality; and any other project
deemed by the Department to improve the environmental,
economic, and recreational quality of the State's natural
resources.
All projects and internships designated by the Department
shall be within a reasonable commuting time for each
participant. In no circumstance shall interns be required to
spend more than 1 1/2 hours of commuting time to a project or a
designated area, but an intern may agree to spend more than 1
1/2 hours of commuting time to a project or a designated area.
(c) Interns shall receive at least the standard minimum
wage as set by the State of Illinois, when applicable, and
shall work normal working hours as determined by the
Department. The interns shall not be classified as employees
of the State for purposes of contributions to the State
Employees' Retirement System of Illinois or any other public
employment retirement system of the State.
(d) The Department may enter into contracts,
intergovernmental agreements, grants, cooperative agreements,
memoranda of understanding, or other instruments as necessary
to implement the Program.
(e) The Department shall adopt administrative rules
pertaining to implementation, standards, criteria, and
administration of the Program.