HB1526 EnrolledLRB103 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

 

 

HB1526 Enrolled- 2 -LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

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 Human Services.
6    "Director" means the Director of Natural Resources.
7    "Fund" means the Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
8    "Secretary" means the Secretary of Human Services.
 
9    Section 15. Outdoor Rx Program; Department rules.
10    (a) Subject to appropriation, the Outdoor Rx Program is
11created to provide grants for outdoor environmental,
12ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based or
13outdoor-based therapy programs serving the citizens of the
14State of Illinois. The Department shall establish, implement,
15and administer the Outdoor Rx Program to provide grants for
16natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs.
17    (b) The Department shall adopt any rules necessary for the
18implementation and administration of this Act.
 
19    Section 20. Advisory committee.
20    (a) The Department of Natural Resources shall establish an
21advisory committee to assist and advise the Department in the
22development and administration of the Outdoor Rx Program. The
23advisory committee shall consist of at least 7 members,

 

 

HB1526 Enrolled- 3 -LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

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

 

 

HB1526 Enrolled- 4 -LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

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

 

 

HB1526 Enrolled- 5 -LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

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

 

 

HB1526 Enrolled- 6 -LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

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

 

 

HB1526 Enrolled- 7 -LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

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

 

 

HB1526 Enrolled- 8 -LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

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

 

 

HB1526 Enrolled- 9 -LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

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

 

 

HB1526 Enrolled- 10 -LRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b

1        (3) recipients of grants from the Fund;
2        (4) the amount awarded to each grant recipient;
3        (5) the purposes for which grants were awarded; and
4        (6) a summary financial plan for Fund moneys, which
5    shall include estimates of all receipts and all
6    disbursements for the current and succeeding fiscal years,
7    along with the actual results from the prior fiscal year.
 
8    Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
9Section 5.990 as follows:
 
10    (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
11    Sec. 5.990. The Outdoor Rx Program Fund.