Public Act 103-0284
 
HB1526 EnrolledLRB103 25794 CPF 52144 b


  
    AN ACT concerning health.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  


 
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
Outdoor Rx Program Act.
 
    Section 5. Intent. Studies have shown that time outdoors 
can be a valuable adjunct therapy in addition to more 
traditional health care, while also reducing reliance on 
prescription medication. The therapeutic benefits of time 
spent outdoors is clinically proven and known to help reduce 
stress, improve concentration, and promote overall well-being, 
both physical and mental. Natural resource-based and 
outdoor-based therapy programs, including adventure therapy, 
wilderness therapy, horticultural therapy, walk-and-talk 
therapy, and other nature-oriented programs, are currently 
being used by mental health professionals and are shown to 
have benefits, including, but not limited to, reduction of 
stress, restoration of attention, and an improved sense of 
well-being. Such outdoor programs aim to connect people with 
nature, thereby proving to be particularly beneficial to 
individuals undergoing a recovery process. Recognizing the 
healing benefits of natural resource-based or outdoor-based 
therapy programs to residents of the State, particularly 
veterans and individuals recovering from substance abuse or a 
physical or mental trauma, the General Assembly supports the 
establishment of an Outdoor Rx Program.
 
    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
    "Department" means the Department of Human Services.
    "Director" means the Director of Natural Resources.
    "Fund" means the Outdoor Rx Program Fund.
    "Secretary" means the Secretary of Human Services.
 
    Section 15. Outdoor Rx Program; Department rules. 
    (a) Subject to appropriation, the Outdoor Rx Program is 
created to provide grants for outdoor environmental, 
ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based or 
outdoor-based therapy programs serving the citizens of the 
State of Illinois. The Department shall establish, implement, 
and administer the Outdoor Rx Program to provide grants for 
natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs.
    (b) The Department shall adopt any rules necessary for the 
implementation and administration of this Act.
 
    Section 20. Advisory committee. 
    (a) The Department of Natural Resources shall establish an 
advisory committee to assist and advise the Department in the 
development and administration of the Outdoor Rx Program. The 
advisory committee shall consist of at least 7 members, 
appointed as follows:
        (1) at least one member, appointed by the Director;
        (2) at least one member, appointed by the Director of 
    Public Health;
        (3) at least one member, appointed by the Director of 
    Veterans' Affairs;
        (4) at least one member, appointed by the Director of 
    the Environmental Protection Agency;
        (5) at least one member of the business community, 
    appointed by the Director;
        (6) at least 2 members of an outdoor organization, 
    appointed by the Director; and
        (7) any other members the Director deems necessary to 
    ensure a representative cross section of participants.
    (b) The advisory committee shall develop an application 
form that eligible applicants shall complete and submit to be 
considered for a grant under the Outdoor Rx Program.
 
    Section 25. Outdoor Rx Program Fund. 
    (a) The Outdoor Rx Program Fund is created as a special 
fund in the State treasury. Moneys deposited into the Fund 
shall be used solely for the administration of the Outdoor Rx 
Program. The Department may accept gifts, grants, donations, 
or moneys from any source for deposit into the Fund. Any public 
agency in this State may use moneys in the Fund, subject to 
approval by the Director under subsection (c) of Section 35, 
to develop and implement natural resource-based or 
outdoor-based therapy programs. The Department may award 
grants to public agencies and contract with any public or 
private agency or person to develop and implement natural 
resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs under the 
Outdoor Rx Program.
    (b) The Department shall establish limitations on the 
availability and use of Outdoor Rx Program moneys. However, 
any limitations shall be defined in the application package, 
and the Department shall establish the limitations only after 
considering the following:
        (1) consistency with the purpose of the Outdoor Rx 
    Program, as stated in subsection (a) of Section 15; and
        (2) availability of moneys.
    (c) The Department may require applicants to make a 
matching contribution to be eligible for a grant under the 
Act.
    (d) The Department may limit the amount of funding 
available for any element of natural resource-based or 
outdoor-based therapy programs.
    (e) The following conditions are placed on the use of 
moneys from the Fund:
        (1) For every funded program, a contract shall be 
    executed on behalf of the Department and by the grant 
    recipient. The grant recipient shall not be reimbursed for 
    costs incurred prior to the execution of the contract by 
    both parties.
        (2) The grant recipient shall ensure that all natural 
    resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs are in 
    accordance with any technical standards established by the 
    Department.
        (3) The grant recipient shall submit any reports 
    required by the Department as directed in the funding 
    contract.
        (4)  The grant recipient shall agree to and certify 
    compliance with all applicable federal and State laws, 
    rules, regulations, and policies.
        (5) The grant recipient shall maintain accurate 
    accounting records on the expenditure of program moneys, 
    provide the Department with such records consistent with 
    the agreement or upon request, whichever is applicable, 
    and permit the Department to audit the use of moneys in 
    accordance with generally accepted audit practices and 
    standards. The Department shall reserve the right to 
    terminate its participation in any program that fails to 
    perform according to the requirements of this Act.
    (f) The Department may assess fees to grant recipients or 
Outdoor Rx Program participants for Outdoor Rx Program 
services.
    (g) Moneys in the Fund shall be expended only for natural 
resource-based or outdoor-based therapy programs approved by 
the Director. To the extent practicable, the Director shall 
ensure that all moneys received during a fiscal year are 
expended prior to the end of that fiscal year.
 
    Section 30. Eligibility criteria; applications; 
evaluation. 
    (a) The Secretary shall set priorities and develop 
criteria for the award of grants to outdoor environmental, 
ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based or 
outdoor-based therapy programs considering, at a minimum, 
programs that:
        (1) use veterans for at least 50% of the program's 
    implementation or administration;
        (2) contribute to healthy lifestyles through outdoor 
    recreation;
        (3) will commit matching and in-kind resources;
        (4) create partnerships with public and private 
    entities;
        (5) maximize the number of participants who can be 
    served, particularly participants who are veterans or who 
    are recovering from substance abuse or physical or mental 
    trauma;
        (6) use a State park, other natural venue, or 
    Department personnel as a resource;
        (7) use research-based and effective environmental, 
    ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based 
    or outdoor-based therapy;
        (8) provide citizens of the State of Illinois with 
    opportunities to directly experience and understand nature 
    and the natural world; and
        (9) include ongoing program evaluation and assessment 
    and reporting of program effectiveness.
      (b) The Secretary shall select activities eligible for 
the awarding of grants. The activities may include, but need 
not be limited to, the following:
        (1) outdoor recreation;
        (2) outdoor environmental studies;
        (3) agricultural activities;
        (4) natural resource-based activities;
        (5) conservation;
        (6) ecological activities; and
        (7) stewardship or restoration.
    (c) The following activities are ineligible for the 
awarding of grants from the Outdoor Rx Program:
        (1) activities that may be perceived to lobby or 
    advocate for political purposes;
        (2) activities that are not in compliance with local, 
    State, or federal laws; and
        (3) organized youth sports, such as a community league 
    or school team.

    (d) The following criteria shall be used to evaluate 
applications:

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

 
    Section 35. Program selection. 
    (a) Completed applications shall be reviewed by the 
Department to determine eligibility and shall be evaluated in 
accordance with the purposes, eligibility requirements, 
limitations, and evaluation criteria in this Act.
    (b) The Department shall consult with and consider the 
recommendations of the advisory committee and present final 
recommendations to the Secretary.
    (c) The Secretary shall make the final decision on funding 
a natural resource-based or outdoor-based therapy program.
 
    Section 40. Report. On or before February 1 of each year, 
the Department shall issue a report to the General Assembly. 
The report shall state how moneys from the Fund were used 
during the preceding calendar year and shall include:
        (1) the amount of money deposited into the Fund during 
    the preceding calendar year as the result of revenue 
    derived under this Act;
        (2) the amount of money disbursed from the Fund and 
    the process used for such disbursements;
        (3) recipients of grants from the Fund;
        (4) the amount awarded to each grant recipient;
        (5) the purposes for which grants were awarded; and
        (6) a summary financial plan for Fund moneys, which 
    shall include estimates of all receipts and all 
    disbursements for the current and succeeding fiscal years, 
    along with the actual results from the prior fiscal year.
  
 
    Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 
Section 5.990 as follows:
 
    (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
    Sec. 5.990. The Outdoor Rx Program Fund.


Effective Date:  1/1/2024