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| [ Introduced ] | [ House Amendment 001 ] |
92_HB3319eng HB3319 Engrossed LRB9207082TAtmA 1 AN ACT to create the Rural Illinois Technology Program 2 Act. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 6 Rural Illinois Technology Program Act. 7 Section 5. Policy. It is necessary and desirable to 8 provide technical assistance, planning support, and funding 9 in the form of grants to encourage technology planning and 10 development in rural communities. It is also necessary to 11 provide funding in the form of grants to rural communities 12 for business development, social services development, and 13 medical support systems technology to promote rural 14 economies. 15 Section 10. Definitions. In this Act: 16 "Committee" means a local committee established under 17 this Act. 18 "Institute" means the Illinois Institute for Rural 19 Affairs at Western Illinois University. 20 "Program" means the Rural Illinois Technology and 21 Innovations Program. 22 "Technology Plan" means an integrated document that 23 includes goals, policies, strategies, and procedures for 24 developing business, social services, and telemedicine 25 networks and medical support systems and is adopted as 26 provided in Section 30 of this Act. 27 Section 15. The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs. 28 The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois 29 University, in conjunction with the Governor's Rural Affairs HB3319 Engrossed -2- LRB9207082TAtmA 1 Council and the Governor's Office of Technology, shall 2 administer the Program under this Act. The Governor's Rural 3 Affairs Council and the Governor's Office of Technology must 4 each furnish technical support to the Institute. 5 The Institute must submit a report to the Rural Affairs 6 Council by January 1, 2003 and every 2 years thereafter 7 regarding progress made towards accomplishing the purposes of 8 this Act. 9 Section 20. Rural Illinois Technology and Innovations 10 Program. The Rural Illinois Technology and Innovations 11 Program is created. The Institute shall determine the 12 eligibility of rural community partnerships for funding under 13 the Program with the assistance of a Representative of the 14 Governor's Rural Affairs Council. The purpose of the Program 15 is to provide grants and technical assistance to rural 16 communities to (i) inventory their technology, social 17 services, telemedicine and distance learning networks, and 18 technological resources; (ii) develop Technology Plans; and 19 (iii) create new strategies for and promote the development 20 of advanced technology in business, social services, and 21 medical support systems in rural communities. 22 In addition to awarding grants under this Act, the 23 Program shall: 24 (1) Work with the Mapping the Future of your 25 Community Program at Western Illinois University, and 26 with the Cooperative Extension Service at the University 27 of Illinois, to provide rural communities with technical 28 assistance and planning support needed to develop 29 Technology Plans under this Act. 30 (2) Assist rural business and economic leaders who 31 have innovative strategies for the use of technology to 32 promote the development of new high-tech businesses in 33 their communities. HB3319 Engrossed -3- LRB9207082TAtmA 1 (3) Work with private sector organizations on the 2 development of new strategies for the delivery of 3 services in rural communities. 4 (4) Work with the Center for Rural Health within 5 the Illinois Department of Public Health and with rural 6 hospitals and clinics to create new strategies in the 7 development of telemedicine and distance learning 8 networks for rural communities. 9 (5) Obtain additional State and federal funding and 10 resources to equip rural hospitals and clinics with new 11 technology, including the development of telemedicine and 12 distance learning networks. 13 (6) Expand the Program as necessary to promote the 14 objectives of this Act. 15 The Institute, in conjunction with the Governor's Rural 16 Affairs Council and the Governor's Office of Technology, 17 shall coordinate and administer these and any additional 18 aspects of the Program. 19 Section 25. Local committees. A local committee, 20 consisting of local community leaders, shall work with a 21 professional planner or other technology resource specialist 22 to develop criteria for prioritizing technology needs and 23 resources. When prioritizing technology needs and resources, 24 the committee shall analyze the specific needs for technology 25 in business and business development, social services, 26 telemedicine and distance learning networks, and medical 27 support systems. The committee shall recommend that the 28 county, municipality, regional board, or other unit of local 29 government adopt a Technology Plan. 30 Section 30. Funding. Subject to appropriation, the 31 Institute shall award grants and attempt to apportion funds 32 evenly between the goals of business development, promotion HB3319 Engrossed -4- LRB9207082TAtmA 1 of social services, and development of telemedicine networks 2 and medical support systems. 3 Section 35. Rules. The Institute, in conjunction with a 4 representative of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council, may 5 adopt any rules necessary to implement this Act. 6 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 7 becoming law.