Section 3085.10  Definitions

 

"Act" means the Youth and Young Adult Conservation Education Act [525 ILCS 60].

 

"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources. [525 ILCS 60/10]

 

"Entity" means a unit of local government or a non-profit organization that is located in the State of Illinois and that provide conservation education and employment opportunities for youth and young adults of this State.

 

"Grant" means the allocation of money to units of local government or non-profit entities to provide conservation education and employment opportunities for youth and young adults of this State.

 

"Grant Agreement" means a written document executed between the grantee and the Department setting forth the terms and conditions of the grant and is in compliance with the requirements of the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act [30 ILCS 708].

 

"Grantee" means an entity that has been selected by the Department and awarded a grant in accordance with the Act and this Part.

 

"Non-Profit Organization" means an entity recognized and/or incorporated in Illinois as not-for-profit under the provisions of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 [805 ILCS 105] and must possess current status as exempt from taxation under section 501(c) or 501(d) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

 

"Program" means the Youth and Young Adult Conservation and Education Pilot Program created by the Youth and Young Adult Conservation Education Act. [525 ILCS 60/5]

 

Section 3085.20  Purpose

 

a)         The purpose of this Part is to provide rules pertaining to the allocation of grants to units of local government or non-profit entities selected by the Department that currently provide a conservation education or conservation internship program to the youth and young adults. Such grants shall be designed to have the Department work with the grant recipient to learn about and help to create a Department run conservation education and internship program for the youth and young adults of this State.  Additionally, this Part shall provide requirements for job training and employment opportunities if such programs are implemented by the Department.

 

b)         The Department may enter into contracts, intergovernmental agreements, grants, cooperative agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other instruments as necessary to implement the Program. [525 ILCS 60/25(d)]

 

Section 3085.30  Selection of Grantees

 

a)         The Department will award grants to entities to provide conservation education and employment opportunities for youth and young adults of this State. The Department will select grantees based on the grantee's ability to meet the goals of the Act and the criteria established in this Section, as determined by the Department.

 

b)         To be eligible for a grant, an entity must:

 

1)         be a unit of local government or a non-profit entity;

 

2)         be located in the State of Illinois;

 

3)         demonstrate a commitment to providing conservation education and employment opportunities for youth and young adults;

 

4)         work with the Department to demonstrate and provide guidance to the Department in the creation of a Department run conservation education and internship program for the youth and young adults of this State; and

 

5)         submit a Uniform Grant Accountability and Transparency Act application.

 

c)         When selecting a grantee, the Department shall also consider:

 

1)         the information and requirements that are provided on a completed Uniform Grant Accountability and Transparency Act application that has been submitted by the applicant to the Department;

 

2)         the entity's documented commitment to addressing the barriers to employment and education for youth and young adults from disadvantaged communities as defined in 42 U.S.C. 18795(d) (January 1, 2025).

 

3)         the entity's commitment to environmental stewardship and civic responsibility;

 

4)         the entity's ability to enhance public lands owned, leased or managed by the Department or develop or enhance projects or initiatives undertaken in whole or part by the Department; and

 

5)         the entity's geographic service area, so that grant funds are, to the extent possible, distributed in a manner that will impact as many regions of the State as possible.

 

Section 3085.40  Eligible Costs

 

a)         Grant funding may be used for costs associated with providing conservation education and employment opportunities for youth and young adults of this State as set forth in the grant agreement.  [525 ILCS 60/25]

 

b)         Costs shall be evaluated and a budget must be approved by the Department before the issuance of a grant.  Modifications to an approved budget may only occur after a review and written approval by the Department.  Such adjustments may occur at the time grantees submit claims and during any monitoring activities. To be eligible for reimbursement, costs must meet the following criteria:

 

1)         Be necessary and reasonable to accomplish the Program work;

 

2)         Be in compliance with the approved uniform budget and scope of work statement in the executed grant agreement;

 

3)         Be adequately documented; and

 

4)         Be incurred during the approved period of performance.

 

Section 3085.50  Compliance Requirements

 

a)         Grantees must retain all financial records associated with implementation of the Program, in accordance with the Grant Funds Recovery Act [30 ILCS 705] and the State Records Act [5 ILCS 160] for possible State audit after final grant payment is made by the Department.

 

b)         Grantees shall comply with all Grant Accountability and Transparency Act [30 ILCS 705] and 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000 requirements as outlined in the grant agreement.

 

Section 3085.60  Conservation Education and Employment Opportunities

 

a)         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.  [525 ILCS 60/25]

 

b)         The Conservation Education and Employment Opportunities Programs 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;

 

4)         improving the habitat of fauna and flora of the State;

 

5)         improving water quality of the State;

 

6)         any combination of the purposes described in this Section; or

 

7)         any other project deemed by the Department to improve the environmental, economic, and recreational quality of the State's natural resources. [525 ILCS 602/65]

 

c)         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 1½ hours of commuting time to a project or a designated area, but an intern may agree to spend more than 1½ hours of commuting time to a project or a designated area. [525 ILCS 60/25]

 

d)         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. [525 ILCS 60/25(c)]