(525 ILCS 50/1)

(from Ch. 48, par. 2551)

Sec. 1.

This Article II shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Youth and Young Adult Employment Act of 1986".

(Source: P.A. 84‑1430.)

(525 ILCS 50/2)

(from Ch. 48, par. 2552)

Sec. 2.

Declaration of Intent.

The General Assembly finds that the level of unemployment among the youths of this State, particularly those age 16 through 18, and young adults, age 18 through 25, is unsatisfactory. This situation is not conducive to the development of the youth and young adults of Illinois as the future of the State. The General Assembly further finds that the availability of recreational programs for youth in parks and recreational facilities operated by the State, by units of local government, and by other local not‑for‑profit entities is severely limited, decreasing the variety of constructive activities available to the children of this State during those months when they are not in school. The General Assembly therefore creates the Illinois Youth and Young Adult Employment Act to establish (a) the Illinois Conservation Corps to provide temporary summer employment for youth and year around employment for young adults of this State for the purpose of rehabilitation, protection and enhancement of the State's public land and (b) the Illinois Youth Recreation Corps to provide temporary summer employment for the youth of this State for the purpose of administering and operating recreational programs for youth at parks or recreational facilities operated by the State, units of local government or other local not‑for‑profit entities.

(Source: P.A. 84‑1430.)

(525 ILCS 50/3)

(from Ch. 48, par. 2553)

Sec. 3.

Continuation of Existing Program.

It is the intent of the General Assembly to preserve the form and substance of existing programs relating to the Illinois Conservation Corps operated by the Department of Natural Resources on the effective date of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 89‑445, eff. 2‑7‑96.)

(525 ILCS 50/4)

(from Ch. 48, par. 2554)

Sec. 4.

Definition of Terms.

For the purposes of this Act:

(a) "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.

(b) "Director" means the Director of Natural Resources.

(c) "Local sponsor" means any unit of local government or not‑for‑profit entity that can make available for a summer recreation program park lands, recreational lands or facilities, equipment, materials, administration, supervisory personnel, etc.

(Source: P.A. 89‑445, eff. 2‑7‑96.)

(525 ILCS 50/5)

(from Ch. 48, par. 2555)

Sec. 5.

Cooperation.

The Department of Natural Resources shall have the full cooperation of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, the Illinois State Job Coordinating Council created by the Federal Job Training Partnership Act (Public Law 97‑300), and the Department of Employment Security to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 89‑445, eff. 2‑7‑96.)

(525 ILCS 50/6)

(from Ch. 48, par. 2556)

Sec. 6.

Funding.

Funding for the Illinois Youth and Young Adult Employment Act shall be from any State funds so appropriated by the General Assembly and any matching funds required by the Department from local sponsors that choose to participate in the Illinois Youth Recreation Corps program.

(Source: P.A. 84‑1430.)

(525 ILCS 50/7)

(from Ch. 48, par. 2557)

Sec. 7.

Illinois Conservation Corps.

With respect to the Illinois Conservation Corps program:

(a) Enrollment. The Illinois Conservation Corps Youth Component shall be limited to citizens of this State who at the time of enrollment are 16 through 18 years of age inclusive and who are unemployed. The Illinois Conservation Corps Young Adult Component shall be limited to citizens of this State who at the time of enrollment are 18 through 25 years of age inclusive and who are unemployed.

The Department shall make public notification of the availability of jobs for eligible youths and young adults in the Illinois Conservation Corps by the means of newspapers, electronic media, educational facilities, units of local government and the Department of Employment Security offices.

The Department shall promulgate reasonable rules pertaining to application for jobs with the Illinois Conservation Corps.

Any applicant who knowingly and purposely provides wrongful information regarding age, employment or educational records shall be deemed ineligible to participate in the program. Any applicant who successfully gains employment in the program and is later proven to have falsified his or her application shall be dismissed immediately from the program.

(b) Terms of Employment. The enrollment period for any successful applicant of the Illinois Conservation Corps Youth Component shall not be longer than 60 working days during the months of June, July and August. Once enrolled in the program, each enrollee shall receive at least the standard minimum wage as set by the State of Illinois and shall work normal working hours as determined by the Department. The enrollees shall not be classified as employees of the State for purposes of contributions to the State Employees' Retirement System or any other public employment retirement system of the State.

(c) Permissible Activities. The Director shall designate suitable projects in which enrollees of the program shall participate. No project designated for enrollee participation shall result in the displacement of individuals currently employed or positions currently existing, either directly or under contract with any private contractor, by the Department through the reduction of overtime or nonovertime hours, wages or employment benefits.

Projects so designated by the Director shall be for the purpose of enhancing public lands owned or leased by the Department. Such projects shall include improving the habitat of fauna and flora; improving utilization of recreation facilities by the public; improving water quality; and any other project deemed by the Department to improve the environmental, economic and recreational quality of the State owned or leased lands.

All projects designated for activity by the Director shall be within a reasonable commuting time for each enrollee. To the extent possible, the Director shall designate areas where a pool of enrollees may work. In no circumstance shall enrollees be required to spend more than 1 1/2 hours of commuting time to a project or a designated area; provided, an enrollee, or an enrollee who is a minor with the express concurrence of his parent or guardian, may agree to spend more than 1 1/2 hours of commuting time to a project or a designated area.

(Source: P.A. 84‑1430.)

(525 ILCS 50/8)

(from Ch. 48, par. 2558)

Sec. 8.

Illinois Youth Recreation Corps.

With respect to the Illinois Youth Recreation Corps:

(a) Purpose. The Illinois Youth Recreation Corps is established for the purpose of making grants to local sponsors to provide wages to youth operating and instructing in recreational programs for the benefit of other youth. Such programs shall provide recreational opportunities for local children of all age levels and shall include, but are not limited to, the coordination and teaching of physical activities, arts and handicraft, and learning activities. Such programs may charge user fees, but such fees shall be designed to promote as much involvement as possible by the children of the community, as determined by the Department.

(b) Application. Local sponsors who can provide necessary facilities, materials and management for summer recreational activities for youth within the community and who desire a grant under this Act for the purpose of hiring eligible youth as supervisors, instructors, instructional aides or maintenance personnel for such recreational programs may make application to the Department of Natural Resources. Applications shall be evaluated on the basis of program content, location, need, local commitment of resources, and consistency with the purposes of this Act.

(c) Enrollment. The Illinois Youth Recreation Corps shall be limited to citizens of this State who at the time of enrollment are 16 through 19 years of age inclusive and who have skills that can be utilized in the summer recreational program.

The local sponsors shall make public notification of the availability of jobs for eligible youth in the Illinois Youth Recreation Corps by the means of newspapers, electronic media, educational facilities, units of local government and Department of Employment Security offices. Application for employment shall be made directly to the local sponsor.

(d) Terms of Employment. The enrollment period for any successful applicant of the program shall not be longer than 60 working days during the months of June, July and August. Once enrolled in the program, each enrollee shall receive a reasonable wage as set by the Department and shall work hours as required by the recreation program but not in excess of a maximum number of hours as determined by the Department. The enrollees shall not be classified as employees of the State or the local sponsor for purposes of contributions to the State Employees' Retirement System or any other public employee retirement system.

(Source: P.A. 89‑445, eff. 2‑7‑96.)