Public Act 099-0285

SB1255 Enrolled LRB099 10391 KTG 30618 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended

by adding Section 8.1 as follows:

(20 ILCS 505/8.1 new)

Sec. 8.1. Foster Youth Summer Internship Pilot Program.

(a) The Department shall adopt rules on the development and

implementation of a Foster Youth Summer Internship Pilot

Program for the purpose of providing foster youth with

professional training and experience through internships. The

Department may collaborate with other appropriate State

agencies to establish the pilot program.

(b) The Department shall adopt rules on the application

process and eligibility requirements under the pilot program,

which shall include, but not be limited to, a rule establishing

that individuals who are at least 15 years old and are current

or former foster youth are eligible to participate in the pilot

program.

(c) The Department shall adopt rules to use the

request-for-proposal process set forth in the Illinois

Procurement Code when soliciting and entering into contractual

agreements with organizations wanting to award internships

under the pilot program.

(d) The pilot program may be established in multiple

regions of the State.

(e) Internships provided under the pilot program may be

paid or unpaid.

(f) Subject to appropriations, beginning January 1, 2016,

the Department shall implement the pilot program. The pilot

program shall operate for a 2-year period. At the end of that

2-year period, the Department shall evaluate the pilot program

and submit a report to the General Assembly with its findings,

including, but not limited to: (i) the number of foster youth

who participated in the pilot program; (ii) the location and

type of internships provided under the pilot program; and (3)

the Department's efforts to recruit eligible individuals to

participate in the pilot program. The report shall state

whether the Department intends to continue the pilot program,

using performance metrics to explain the rationale for its

decision.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

becoming law.