Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB1526 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	Public Act 103-0284
2	1		HB1526 EnrolledLRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b HB1526 Enrolled LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b
3	2		HB1526 Enrolled LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b
4		-	AN ACT concerning health.
5		-	Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
6		-	represented in the General Assembly:
7		-	Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
8		-	Outdoor Rx Program Act.
9		-	Section 5. Intent. Studies have shown that time outdoors
10		-	can be a valuable adjunct therapy in addition to more
11		-	traditional health care, while also reducing reliance on
12		-	prescription medication. The therapeutic benefits of time
13		-	spent outdoors is clinically proven and known to help reduce
14		-	stress, improve concentration, and promote overall well-being,
15		-	both physical and mental. Natural resource-based and
16		-	outdoor-based therapy programs, including adventure therapy,
17		-	wilderness therapy, horticultural therapy, walk-and-talk
18		-	therapy, and other nature-oriented programs, are currently
19		-	being used by mental health professionals and are shown to
20		-	have benefits, including, but not limited to, reduction of
21		-	stress, restoration of attention, and an improved sense of
22		-	well-being. Such outdoor programs aim to connect people with
23		-	nature, thereby proving to be particularly beneficial to
24		-	individuals undergoing a recovery process. Recognizing the
25		-	healing benefits of natural resource-based or outdoor-based
26		-	therapy programs to residents of the State, particularly
	3	+	1 AN ACT concerning health.
	4	+	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
	5	+	3 represented in the General Assembly:
	6	+	4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
	7	+	5 Outdoor Rx Program Act.
	8	+	6 Section 5. Intent. Studies have shown that time outdoors
	9	+	7 can be a valuable adjunct therapy in addition to more
	10	+	8 traditional health care, while also reducing reliance on
	11	+	9 prescription medication. The therapeutic benefits of time
	12	+	10 spent outdoors is clinically proven and known to help reduce
	13	+	11 stress, improve concentration, and promote overall well-being,
	14	+	12 both physical and mental. Natural resource-based and
	15	+	13 outdoor-based therapy programs, including adventure therapy,
	16	+	14 wilderness therapy, horticultural therapy, walk-and-talk
	17	+	15 therapy, and other nature-oriented programs, are currently
	18	+	16 being used by mental health professionals and are shown to
	19	+	17 have benefits, including, but not limited to, reduction of
	20	+	18 stress, restoration of attention, and an improved sense of
	21	+	19 well-being. Such outdoor programs aim to connect people with
	22	+	20 nature, thereby proving to be particularly beneficial to
	23	+	21 individuals undergoing a recovery process. Recognizing the
	24	+	22 healing benefits of natural resource-based or outdoor-based
	25	+	23 therapy programs to residents of the State, particularly
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33		-	veterans and individuals recovering from substance abuse or a
34		-	physical or mental trauma, the General Assembly supports the
35		-	establishment of an Outdoor Rx Program.
36		-	Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
37		-	"Department" means the Department of Human Services.
38		-	"Director" means the Director of Natural Resources.
39		-	"Fund" means the Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
40		-	"Secretary" means the Secretary of Human Services.
41		-	Section 15. Outdoor Rx Program; Department rules.
42		-	(a) Subject to appropriation, the Outdoor Rx Program is
43		-	created to provide grants for outdoor environmental,
44		-	ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based or
45		-	outdoor-based therapy programs serving the citizens of the
46		-	State of Illinois. The Department shall establish, implement,
47		-	and administer the Outdoor Rx Program to provide grants for
48		-	natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs.
49		-	(b) The Department shall adopt any rules necessary for the
50		-	implementation and administration of this Act.
51		-	Section 20. Advisory committee.
52		-	(a) The Department of Natural Resources shall establish an
53		-	advisory committee to assist and advise the Department in the
54		-	development and administration of the Outdoor Rx Program. The
55		-	advisory committee shall consist of at least 7 members,
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	34	+	1 veterans and individuals recovering from substance abuse or a
	35	+	2 physical or mental trauma, the General Assembly supports the
	36	+	3 establishment of an Outdoor Rx Program.
	37	+	4 Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
	38	+	5 "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
	39	+	6 "Director" means the Director of Public Health.
	40	+	7 "Fund" means the Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
	41	+	8 Section 15. Outdoor Rx Program; Department rules.
	42	+	9 (a) Subject to appropriation, the Outdoor Rx Program is
	43	+	10 created to provide grants for outdoor environmental,
	44	+	11 ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based or
	45	+	12 outdoor-based therapy programs serving the citizens of the
	46	+	13 State of Illinois. The Department shall establish, implement,
	47	+	14 and administer the Outdoor Rx Program to provide grants for
	48	+	15 natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs.
	49	+	16 (b) The Department shall adopt any rules necessary for the
	50	+	17 implementation and administration of this Act.
	51	+	18 Section 20. Advisory committee.
	52	+	19 (a) The Department shall establish an advisory committee
	53	+	20 to assist and advise the Department in the development and
	54	+	21 administration of the Outdoor Rx Program. The advisory
	55	+	22 committee shall consist of at least 7 members, appointed as
	56	+	23 follows:
56	57
57	58
58		-	appointed as follows:
59		-	(1) at least one member, appointed by the Director;
60		-	(2) at least one member, appointed by the Director of
61		-	Public Health;
62		-	(3) at least one member, appointed by the Director of
63		-	Veterans' Affairs;
64		-	(4) at least one member, appointed by the Director of
65		-	the Environmental Protection Agency;
66		-	(5) at least one member of the business community,
67		-	appointed by the Director;
68		-	(6) at least 2 members of an outdoor organization,
69		-	appointed by the Director; and
70		-	(7) any other members the Director deems necessary to
71		-	ensure a representative cross section of participants.
72		-	(b) The advisory committee shall develop an application
73		-	form that eligible applicants shall complete and submit to be
74		-	considered for a grant under the Outdoor Rx Program.
75		-	Section 25. Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
76		-	(a) The Outdoor Rx Program Fund is created as a special
77		-	fund in the State treasury. Moneys deposited into the Fund
78		-	shall be used solely for the administration of the Outdoor Rx
79		-	Program. The Department may accept gifts, grants, donations,
80		-	or moneys from any source for deposit into the Fund. Any public
81		-	agency in this State may use moneys in the Fund, subject to
82		-	approval by the Director under subsection (c) of Section 35,
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85		-	to develop and implement natural resource-based or
86		-	outdoor-based therapy programs. The Department may award
87		-	grants to public agencies and contract with any public or
88		-	private agency or person to develop and implement natural
89		-	resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs under the
90		-	Outdoor Rx Program.
91		-	(b) The Department shall establish limitations on the
92		-	availability and use of Outdoor Rx Program moneys. However,
93		-	any limitations shall be defined in the application package,
94		-	and the Department shall establish the limitations only after
95		-	considering the following:
96		-	(1) consistency with the purpose of the Outdoor Rx
97		-	Program, as stated in subsection (a) of Section 15; and
98		-	(2) availability of moneys.
99		-	(c) The Department may require applicants to make a
100		-	matching contribution to be eligible for a grant under the
101		-	Act.
102		-	(d) The Department may limit the amount of funding
103		-	available for any element of natural resource-based or
104		-	outdoor-based therapy programs.
105		-	(e) The following conditions are placed on the use of
106		-	moneys from the Fund:
107		-	(1) For every funded program, a contract shall be
108		-	executed on behalf of the Department and by the grant
109		-	recipient. The grant recipient shall not be reimbursed for
110		-	costs incurred prior to the execution of the contract by
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113		-	both parties.
114		-	(2) The grant recipient shall ensure that all natural
115		-	resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs are in
116		-	accordance with any technical standards established by the
117		-	Department.
118		-	(3) The grant recipient shall submit any reports
119		-	required by the Department as directed in the funding
120		-	contract.
121		-	(4) The grant recipient shall agree to and certify
122		-	compliance with all applicable federal and State laws,
123		-	rules, regulations, and policies.
124		-	(5) The grant recipient shall maintain accurate
125		-	accounting records on the expenditure of program moneys,
126		-	provide the Department with such records consistent with
127		-	the agreement or upon request, whichever is applicable,
128		-	and permit the Department to audit the use of moneys in
129		-	accordance with generally accepted audit practices and
130		-	standards. The Department shall reserve the right to
131		-	terminate its participation in any program that fails to
132		-	perform according to the requirements of this Act.
133		-	(f) The Department may assess fees to grant recipients or
134		-	Outdoor Rx Program participants for Outdoor Rx Program
135		-	services.
136		-	(g) Moneys in the Fund shall be expended only for natural
137		-	resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs approved by
138		-	the Director. To the extent practicable, the Director shall
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	67	+	1 (1) at least one member, appointed by the Director;
	68	+	2 (2) at least one member, appointed by the Director of
	69	+	3 Natural Resources;
	70	+	4 (3) at least one member, appointed by the Director of
	71	+	5 Veterans' Affairs;
	72	+	6 (4) at least one member, appointed by the Director of
	73	+	7 the Environmental Protection Agency;
	74	+	8 (5) at least one member of the business community,
	75	+	9 appointed by the Director;
	76	+	10 (6) at least 2 members of an outdoor organization,
	77	+	11 appointed by the Director; and
	78	+	12 (7) any other members the Director deems necessary to
	79	+	13 ensure a representative cross section of participants.
	80	+	14 (b) The advisory committee shall develop an application
	81	+	15 form that eligible applicants shall complete and submit to be
	82	+	16 considered for a grant under the Outdoor Rx Program.
	83	+	17 Section 25. Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
	84	+	18 (a) The Outdoor Rx Program Fund is created as a special
	85	+	19 fund in the State treasury. Moneys deposited into the Fund
	86	+	20 shall be used solely for the administration of the Outdoor Rx
	87	+	21 Program. The Department may accept gifts, grants, donations,
	88	+	22 or moneys from any source for deposit into the Fund. Any public
	89	+	23 agency in this State may use moneys in the Fund, subject to
	90	+	24 approval by the Director under subsection (c) of Section 35,
	91	+	25 to develop and implement natural resource-based or
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141		-	ensure that all moneys received during a fiscal year are
142		-	expended prior to the end of that fiscal year.
143		-	Section 30. Eligibility criteria; applications;
144		-	evaluation.
145		-	(a) The Secretary shall set priorities and develop
146		-	criteria for the award of grants to outdoor environmental,
147		-	ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based or
148		-	outdoor-based therapy programs considering, at a minimum,
149		-	programs that:
150		-	(1) use veterans for at least 50% of the program's
151		-	implementation or administration;
152		-	(2) contribute to healthy lifestyles through outdoor
153		-	recreation;
154		-	(3) will commit matching and in-kind resources;
155		-	(4) create partnerships with public and private
156		-	entities;
157		-	(5) maximize the number of participants who can be
158		-	served, particularly participants who are veterans or who
159		-	are recovering from substance abuse or physical or mental
160		-	trauma;
161		-	(6) use a State park, other natural venue, or
162		-	Department personnel as a resource;
163		-	(7) use research-based and effective environmental,
164		-	ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based
165		-	or outdoor-based therapy;
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167	95
168		-	(8) provide citizens of the State of Illinois with
169		-	opportunities to directly experience and understand nature
170		-	and the natural world; and
171		-	(9) include ongoing program evaluation and assessment
172		-	and reporting of program effectiveness.
173		-	(b) The Secretary shall select activities eligible for
174		-	the awarding of grants. The activities may include, but need
175		-	not be limited to, the following:
176		-	(1) outdoor recreation;
177		-	(2) outdoor environmental studies;
178		-	(3) agricultural activities;
179		-	(4) natural resource-based activities;
180		-	(5) conservation;
181		-	(6) ecological activities; and
182		-	(7) stewardship or restoration.
183		-	(c) The following activities are ineligible for the
184		-	awarding of grants from the Outdoor Rx Program:
185		-	(1) activities that may be perceived to lobby or
186		-	advocate for political purposes;
187		-	(2) activities that are not in compliance with local,
188		-	State, or federal laws; and
189		-	(3) organized youth sports, such as a community league
190		-	or school team.
191		-	(d) The following criteria shall be used to evaluate
192		-	applications:
193		-	(1) proposals that provide for public or private
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196		-	partnerships;
197		-	(2) proposals that provide for innovative ways to
198		-	increase the availability and use of outdoor recreation
199		-	facilities;
200		-	(3) proposals that show consideration for the
201		-	economics of installation or implementation to provide the
202		-	greatest cost-to-benefit ratio, for example, where private
203		-	parties contribute more than the minimum amount;
204		-	(4) proposals that commit matching and in-kind
205		-	resources;
206		-	(5) proposals that use a State park, other natural
207		-	venue, or Department personnel as a resource;
208		-	(6) proposals that contribute to healthy lifestyles
209		-	through outdoor recreation and sound nutrition;
210		-	(7) proposals that contribute to the statewide network
211		-	of facilities or programs;
212		-	(8) proposals that encourage community involvement;
213		-	(9) proposals that encourage sound environmental
214		-	practices;
215		-	(10) proposals that maximize the number of
216		-	participants who can be served;
217		-	(11) proposals that provide an opportunity to
218		-	experience the outdoors directly and understand nature and
219		-	the natural world;
220		-	(12) proposals that include ongoing program evaluation
221		-	and assessment and reporting of program effectiveness;
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	102	+	1 outdoor-based therapy programs. The Department may award
	103	+	2 grants to public agencies and contract with any public or
	104	+	3 private agency or person to develop and implement natural
	105	+	4 resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs under the
	106	+	5 Outdoor Rx Program.
	107	+	6 (b) The Department shall establish limitations on the
	108	+	7 availability and use of Outdoor Rx Program moneys. However,
	109	+	8 any limitations shall be defined in the application package,
	110	+	9 and the Department shall establish the limitations only after
	111	+	10 considering the following:
	112	+	11 (1) consistency with the purpose of the Outdoor Rx
	113	+	12 Program, as stated in subsection (a) of Section 15; and
	114	+	13 (2) availability of moneys.
	115	+	14 (c) The Department may require applicants to make a
	116	+	15 matching contribution to be eligible for a grant under the
	117	+	16 Act.
	118	+	17 (d) The Department may limit the amount of funding
	119	+	18 available for any element of natural resource-based or
	120	+	19 outdoor-based therapy programs.
	121	+	20 (e) The following conditions are placed on the use of
	122	+	21 moneys from the Fund:
	123	+	22 (1) For every funded program, a contract shall be
	124	+	23 executed on behalf of the Department and by the grant
	125	+	24 recipient. The grant recipient shall not be reimbursed for
	126	+	25 costs incurred prior to the execution of the contract by
	127	+	26 both parties.
222	128
223	129
224		-	(13) proposals that make use of research-based and
225		-	effective environmental, ecological, agricultural, or
226		-	other natural resource-based therapy; and
227		-	(14) proposals that demonstrate innovative approaches
228		-	to outdoor-based therapy.
229		-	Section 35. Program selection.
230		-	(a) Completed applications shall be reviewed by the
231		-	Department to determine eligibility and shall be evaluated in
232		-	accordance with the purposes, eligibility requirements,
233		-	limitations, and evaluation criteria in this Act.
234		-	(b) The Department shall consult with and consider the
235		-	recommendations of the advisory committee and present final
236		-	recommendations to the Secretary.
237		-	(c) The Secretary shall make the final decision on funding
238		-	a natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy program.
239		-	Section 40. Report. On or before February 1 of each year,
240		-	the Department shall issue a report to the General Assembly.
241		-	The report shall state how moneys from the Fund were used
242		-	during the preceding calendar year and shall include:
243		-	(1) the amount of money deposited into the Fund during
244		-	the preceding calendar year as the result of revenue
245		-	derived under this Act;
246		-	(2) the amount of money disbursed from the Fund and
247		-	the process used for such disbursements;
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249	131
250		-	(3) recipients of grants from the Fund;
251		-	(4) the amount awarded to each grant recipient;
252		-	(5) the purposes for which grants were awarded; and
253		-	(6) a summary financial plan for Fund moneys, which
254		-	shall include estimates of all receipts and all
255		-	disbursements for the current and succeeding fiscal years,
256		-	along with the actual results from the prior fiscal year.
257		-	Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
258		-	Section 5.990 as follows:
259		-	(30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
260		-	Sec. 5.990. The Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
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	138	+	1 (2) The grant recipient shall ensure that all natural
	139	+	2 resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs are in
	140	+	3 accordance with any technical standards established by the
	141	+	4 Department.
	142	+	5 (3) The grant recipient shall submit any reports
	143	+	6 required by the Department as directed in the funding
	144	+	7 contract.
	145	+	8 (4) The grant recipient shall agree to and certify
	146	+	9 compliance with all applicable federal and State laws,
	147	+	10 rules, regulations, and policies.
	148	+	11 (5) The grant recipient shall maintain accurate
	149	+	12 accounting records on the expenditure of program moneys,
	150	+	13 provide the Department with such records consistent with
	151	+	14 the agreement or upon request, whichever is applicable,
	152	+	15 and permit the Department to audit the use of moneys in
	153	+	16 accordance with generally accepted audit practices and
	154	+	17 standards. The Department shall reserve the right to
	155	+	18 terminate its participation in any program that fails to
	156	+	19 perform according to the requirements of this Act.
	157	+	20 (f) The Department may assess fees to grant recipients or
	158	+	21 Outdoor Rx Program participants for Outdoor Rx Program
	159	+	22 services.
	160	+	23 (g) Moneys in the Fund shall be expended only for natural
	161	+	24 resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs approved by
	162	+	25 the Director. To the extent practicable, the Director shall
	163	+	26 ensure that all moneys received during a fiscal year are
	164	+
	165	+
	166	+
	167	+
	168	+
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	174	+	1 expended prior to the end of that fiscal year.
	175	+	2 Section 30. Eligibility criteria; applications;
	176	+	3 evaluation.
	177	+	4 (a) The Director shall set priorities and develop criteria
	178	+	5 for the award of grants to outdoor environmental, ecological,
	179	+	6 agricultural, or other natural resource-based or outdoor-based
	180	+	7 therapy programs considering, at a minimum, programs that:
	181	+	8 (1) use veterans for at least 50% of the program's
	182	+	9 implementation or administration;
	183	+	10 (2) contribute to healthy lifestyles through outdoor
	184	+	11 recreation;
	185	+	12 (3) will commit matching and in-kind resources;
	186	+	13 (4) create partnerships with public and private
	187	+	14 entities;
	188	+	15 (5) maximize the number of participants who can be
	189	+	16 served, particularly participants who are veterans or who
	190	+	17 are recovering from substance abuse or physical or mental
	191	+	18 trauma;
	192	+	19 (6) use a State park, other natural venue, or
	193	+	20 Department personnel as a resource;
	194	+	21 (7) use research-based and effective environmental,
	195	+	22 ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based
	196	+	23 or outdoor-based therapy;
	197	+	24 (8) provide citizens of the State of Illinois with
	198	+	25 opportunities to directly experience and understand nature
	199	+
	200	+
	201	+
	202	+
	203	+
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	209	+	1 and the natural world; and
	210	+	2 (9) include ongoing program evaluation and assessment
	211	+	3 and reporting of program effectiveness.
	212	+	4 (b) The Director shall select activities eligible for the
	213	+	5 awarding of grants. The activities may include, but need not
	214	+	6 be limited to, the following:
	215	+	7 (1) outdoor recreation;
	216	+	8 (2) outdoor environmental studies;
	217	+	9 (3) agricultural activities;
	218	+	10 (4) natural resource-based activities;
	219	+	11 (5) conservation;
	220	+	12 (6) ecological activities; and
	221	+	13 (7) stewardship or restoration.
	222	+	14 (c) The following activities are ineligible for the
	223	+	15 awarding of grants from the Outdoor Rx Program:
	224	+	16 (1) activities that may be perceived to lobby or
	225	+	17 advocate for political purposes;
	226	+	18 (2) activities that are not in compliance with local,
	227	+	19 State, or federal laws; and
	228	+	20 (3) organized youth sports, such as a community league
	229	+	21 or school team.
	230	+	22 (d) The following criteria shall be used to evaluate
	231	+	23 applications:
	232	+	24 (1) proposals that provide for public or private
	233	+	25 partnerships;
	234	+	26 (2) proposals that provide for innovative ways to
	235	+
	236	+
	237	+
	238	+
	239	+
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	241	+
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	245	+	1 increase the availability and use of outdoor recreation
	246	+	2 facilities;
	247	+	3 (3) proposals that show consideration for the
	248	+	4 economics of installation or implementation to provide the
	249	+	5 greatest cost-to-benefit ratio, for example, where private
	250	+	6 parties contribute more than the minimum amount;
	251	+	7 (4) proposals that commit matching and in-kind
	252	+	8 resources;
	253	+	9 (5) proposals that use a State park, other natural
	254	+	10 venue, or Department personnel as a resource;
	255	+	11 (6) proposals that contribute to healthy lifestyles
	256	+	12 through outdoor recreation and sound nutrition;
	257	+	13 (7) proposals that contribute to the statewide network
	258	+	14 of facilities or programs;
	259	+	15 (8) proposals that encourage community involvement;
	260	+	16 (9) proposals that encourage sound environmental
	261	+	17 practices;
	262	+	18 (10) proposals that maximize the number of
	263	+	19 participants who can be served;
	264	+	20 (11) proposals that provide an opportunity to
	265	+	21 experience the outdoors directly and understand nature and
	266	+	22 the natural world;
	267	+	23 (12) proposals that include ongoing program evaluation
	268	+	24 and assessment and reporting of program effectiveness;
	269	+	25 (13) proposals that make use of research-based and
	270	+	26 effective environmental, ecological, agricultural, or
	271	+
	272	+
	273	+
	274	+
	275	+
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	277	+
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	281	+	1 other natural resource-based therapy; and
	282	+	2 (14) proposals that demonstrate innovative approaches
	283	+	3 to outdoor-based therapy.
	284	+	4 Section 35. Program selection.
	285	+	5 (a) Completed applications shall be reviewed by the
	286	+	6 Department to determine eligibility and shall be evaluated in
	287	+	7 accordance with the purposes, eligibility requirements,
	288	+	8 limitations, and evaluation criteria in this Act.
	289	+	9 (b) The Department shall consult with and consider the
	290	+	10 recommendations of the advisory committee and present final
	291	+	11 recommendations to the Director.
	292	+	12 (c) The Director shall make the final decision on funding
	293	+	13 a natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy program.
	294	+	14 Section 40. Report. On or before February 1 of each year,
	295	+	15 the Department shall issue a report to the General Assembly.
	296	+	16 The report shall state how moneys from the Fund were used
	297	+	17 during the preceding calendar year and shall include:
	298	+	18 (1) the amount of money deposited into the Fund during
	299	+	19 the preceding calendar year as the result of revenue
	300	+	20 derived under this Act;
	301	+	21 (2) the amount of money disbursed from the Fund and
	302	+	22 the process used for such disbursements;
	303	+	23 (3) recipients of grants from the Fund;
	304	+	24 (4) the amount awarded to each grant recipient;
	305	+
	306	+
	307	+
	308	+
	309	+
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	311	+
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	315	+	1 (5) the purposes for which grants were awarded; and
	316	+	2 (6) a summary financial plan for Fund moneys, which
	317	+	3 shall include estimates of all receipts and all
	318	+	4 disbursements for the current and succeeding fiscal years,
	319	+	5 along with the actual results from the prior fiscal year.
	320	+	6 Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
	321	+	7 Section 5.990 as follows:
	322	+	8 (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
	323	+	9 Sec. 5.990. The Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
	324	+
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	326	+
	327	+
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	329	+	HB1526 Enrolled - 10 - LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b