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)]