103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1526

 

Introduced 1/31/2023, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.990 new

    Creates the Outdoor Rx Program Act. Creates the Outside Rx Program. Authorizes the Department of Public Health, subject to appropriation, to make grants for outdoor environmental, ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs serving the citizens of the State of Illinois. Requires the Department to establish an advisory committee to assist and advise the Department in the development and administration of the Outdoor Rx Program, including developing the form for an application for receipt of a grant. Provides that the Department shall set priorities and develop criteria for the awarding of grants to natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs. Provides criteria for grant eligibility and selection. Provides that the Director of Public Health shall make the final decision on funding a program. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Outdoor Rx Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.


LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1526LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

1    AN ACT concerning health.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Outdoor Rx Program Act.
 
6    Section 5. Intent. Studies have shown that time outdoors
7can be a valuable adjunct therapy in addition to more
8traditional health care, while also reducing reliance on
9prescription medication. The therapeutic benefits of time
10spent outdoors is clinically proven and known to help reduce
11stress, improve concentration, and promote overall well-being,
12both physical and mental. Natural resource-based and
13outdoor-based therapy programs, including adventure therapy,
14wilderness therapy, horticultural therapy, walk-and-talk
15therapy, and other nature-oriented programs, are currently
16being used by mental health professionals and are shown to
17have benefits, including, but not limited to, reduction of
18stress, restoration of attention, and an improved sense of
19well-being. Such outdoor programs aim to connect people with
20nature, thereby proving to be particularly beneficial to
21individuals undergoing a recovery process. Recognizing the
22healing benefits of natural resource-based or outdoor-based
23therapy programs to residents of the State, particularly

 

 

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1veterans and individuals recovering from substance abuse or a
2physical or mental trauma, the General Assembly supports the
3establishment of an Outdoor Rx Program.
 
4    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
5    "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
6    "Director" means the Director of Public Health.
7    "Fund" means the Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
 
8    Section 15. Outdoor Rx Program; Department rules.
9    (a) Subject to appropriation, the Outdoor Rx Program is
10created to provide grants for outdoor environmental,
11ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based or
12outdoor-based therapy programs serving the citizens of the
13State of Illinois. The Department shall establish, implement,
14and administer the Outdoor Rx Program to provide grants for
15natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs.
16    (b) The Department shall adopt any rules necessary for the
17implementation and administration of this Act.
 
18    Section 20. Advisory committee.
19    (a) The Department shall establish an advisory committee
20to assist and advise the Department in the development and
21administration of the Outdoor Rx Program. The advisory
22committee shall consist of at least 7 members, appointed as
23follows:

 

 

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1        (1) at least one member, appointed by the Director;
2        (2) at least one member, appointed by the Director of
3    Natural Resources;
4        (3) at least one member, appointed by the Director of
5    Veterans' Affairs;
6        (4) at least one member, appointed by the Director of
7    the Environmental Protection Agency;
8        (5) at least one member of the business community,
9    appointed by the Director;
10        (6) at least 2 members of an outdoor organization,
11    appointed by the Director; and
12        (7) any other members the Director deems necessary to
13    ensure a representative cross section of participants.
14    (b) The advisory committee shall develop an application
15form that eligible applicants shall complete and submit to be
16considered for a grant under the Outdoor Rx Program.
 
17    Section 25. Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
18    (a) The Outdoor Rx Program Fund is created as a special
19fund in the State treasury. Moneys deposited into the Fund
20shall be used solely for the administration of the Outdoor Rx
21Program. The Department may accept gifts, grants, donations,
22or moneys from any source for deposit into the Fund. Any public
23agency in this State may use moneys in the Fund, subject to
24approval by the Director under subsection (c) of Section 35,
25to develop and implement natural resource-based or

 

 

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1outdoor-based therapy programs. The Department may award
2grants to public agencies and contract with any public or
3private agency or person to develop and implement natural
4resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs under the
5Outdoor Rx Program.
6    (b) The Department shall establish limitations on the
7availability and use of Outdoor Rx Program moneys. However,
8any limitations shall be defined in the application package,
9and the Department shall establish the limitations only after
10considering the following:
11        (1) consistency with the purpose of the Outdoor Rx
12    Program, as stated in subsection (a) of Section 15; and
13        (2) availability of moneys.
14    (c) The Department may require applicants to make a
15matching contribution to be eligible for a grant under the
16Act.
17    (d) The Department may limit the amount of funding
18available for any element of natural resource-based or
19outdoor-based therapy programs.
20    (e) The following conditions are placed on the use of
21moneys from the Fund:
22        (1) For every funded program, a contract shall be
23    executed on behalf of the Department and by the grant
24    recipient. The grant recipient shall not be reimbursed for
25    costs incurred prior to the execution of the contract by
26    both parties.

 

 

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1        (2) The grant recipient shall ensure that all natural
2    resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs are in
3    accordance with any technical standards established by the
4    Department.
5        (3) The grant recipient shall submit any reports
6    required by the Department as directed in the funding
7    contract.
8        (4) The grant recipient shall agree to and certify
9    compliance with all applicable federal and State laws,
10    rules, regulations, and policies.
11        (5) The grant recipient shall maintain accurate
12    accounting records on the expenditure of program moneys,
13    provide the Department with such records consistent with
14    the agreement or upon request, whichever is applicable,
15    and permit the Department to audit the use of moneys in
16    accordance with generally accepted audit practices and
17    standards. The Department shall reserve the right to
18    terminate its participation in any program that fails to
19    perform according to the requirements of this Act.
20    (f) The Department may assess fees to grant recipients or
21Outdoor Rx Program participants for Outdoor Rx Program
22services.
23    (g) Moneys in the Fund shall be expended only for natural
24resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs approved by
25the Director. To the extent practicable, the Director shall
26ensure that all moneys received during a fiscal year are

 

 

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1expended prior to the end of that fiscal year.
 
2    Section 30. Eligibility criteria; applications;
3evaluation.
4    (a) The Director shall set priorities and develop criteria
5for the award of grants to outdoor environmental, ecological,
6agricultural, or other natural resource-based or outdoor-based
7therapy programs considering, at a minimum, programs that:
8        (1) use veterans for at least 50% of the program's
9    implementation or administration;
10        (2) contribute to healthy lifestyles through outdoor
11    recreation;
12        (3) will commit matching and in-kind resources;
13        (4) create partnerships with public and private
14    entities;
15        (5) maximize the number of participants who can be
16    served, particularly participants who are veterans or who
17    are recovering from substance abuse or physical or mental
18    trauma;
19        (6) use a State park, other natural venue, or
20    Department personnel as a resource;
21        (7) use research-based and effective environmental,
22    ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based
23    or outdoor-based therapy;
24        (8) provide citizens of the State of Illinois with
25    opportunities to directly experience and understand nature

 

 

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1    and the natural world; and
2        (9) include ongoing program evaluation and assessment
3    and reporting of program effectiveness.
4     (b) The Director shall select activities eligible for the
5awarding or grants. The activities may include, but need not
6be limited to, the following:
7        (1) outdoor recreation;
8        (2) outdoor environmental studies;
9        (3) agricultural activities;
10        (4) natural resource-based activities;
11        (5) conservation;
12        (6) ecological activities; and
13        (7) stewardship or restoration.
14    (c) The following activities are ineligible for the
15awarding of grants from the Outdoor Rx Program:
16        (1) activities that may be perceived to lobby or
17    advocate for political purposes;
18        (2) activities that are not in compliance with local,
19    State, or federal laws; and
20        (3) organized youth sports, such as a community league
21    or school team.
22    (d) The following criteria shall be used to evaluate
23applications:
24        (1) proposals that provide for public or private
25    partnerships;
26        (2) proposals that provide for innovative ways to

 

 

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1    increase the availability and use of outdoor recreation
2    facilities;
3        (3) proposals that show consideration for the
4    economics of installation or implementation to provide the
5    greatest cost-to-benefit ratio, for example, where private
6    parties contribute more than the minimum amount;
7        (4) proposals that commit matching and in-kind
8    resources;
9        (5) proposals that use a State park, other natural
10    venue, or Department personnel as a resource;
11        (6) proposals that contribute to healthy lifestyles
12    through outdoor recreation and sound nutrition;
13        (7) proposals that contribute to the statewide network
14    of facilities or programs;
15        (8) proposals that encourage community involvement;
16        (9) proposals that encourage sound environmental
17    practices;
18        (10) proposals that maximize the number of
19    participants who can be served;
20        (11) proposals that provide an opportunity to
21    experience the outdoors directly and understand nature and
22    the natural world;
23        (12) proposals that include ongoing program evaluation
24    and assessment and reporting of program effectiveness;
25        (13) proposals that make use of research-based and
26    effective environmental, ecological, agricultural, or

 

 

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1    other natural resource-based therapy; and
2        (14) proposals that demonstrate innovative approaches
3    to outdoor-based therapy.
 
4    Section 35. Program selection.
5    (a) Completed applications shall be reviewed by the
6Department to determine eligibility and shall be evaluated in
7accordance with the purposes, eligibility requirements,
8limitations, and evaluation criteria in this Act.
9    (b) The Department shall consult with and consider the
10recommendations of the advisory committee and present final
11recommendations to the Director.
12    (c) The Director shall make the final decision on funding
13a natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy program.
 
14    Section 40. Report. On or before February 1 of each year,
15the Department shall issue a report to the General Assembly.
16The report shall state how moneys from the Fund were used
17during the preceding calendar year and shall include:
18        (1) the amount of money deposited into the Fund during
19    the preceding calendar year as the result of revenue
20    derived under this Act;
21        (2) the amount of money disbursed from the Fund and
22    the process used for such disbursements;
23        (3) recipients of grants from the Fund;
24        (4) the amount awarded to each grant recipient;

 

 

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1        (5) the purposes for which grants were awarded; and
2        (6) a summary financial plan for Fund moneys, which
3    shall include estimates of all receipts and all
4    disbursements for the current and succeeding fiscal years,
5    along with the actual results from the prior fiscal year.
 
6    Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
7Section 5.990 as follows:
 
8    (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
9    Sec. 5.990. The Outdoor Rx Program Fund.