(105 ILCS 5/2-3.151)

Sec. 2-3.151. Green career and technical education programs.

(a) As used in this Section, "green industries" means industries that contribute directly to preserving or enhancing environmental quality by reducing waste and pollution or producing sustainable products using sustainable processes and materials and that provide opportunities for advancement along a career track of increasing skills and wages. Green industries include any of the following:

(1) Energy system retrofits to increase energy efficiency and conservation.

(2) The production and distribution of biofuels and vehicle retrofits for biofuels.

(3) Building design and construction that meet the equivalent of the best available technology in energy and environmental design standards.

(4) Organic and community food production.

(5) The manufacture of products from non-toxic, environmentally certified or recycled materials.

(6) The manufacture and production of sustainable technologies, including, but not limited to, solar panels, wind turbines, and fuel cells.

(7) Solar technology installation and maintenance.

(8) Recycling, green composting, and large-scale reuse of construction and demolition materials and debris.

(9) Water system retrofits to increase water efficiency and conservation.

(10) Horticulture.

(b) It is the purpose and intent of this Section to establish a State grant program that develops secondary programs that introduce students to developing green industries.

(c) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish a State grant program that develops, through a competitive process, 2-year pilot programs to assist in the creation and promotion of green career and technical education programs in public secondary schools in this State. Preference must be given to proposals that include the integration of academic and career and technical education content, arranged in sequences of courses that lead to post-secondary completion.

(d) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of this Section.

(e) The State Board of Education may use up to 5% of the funds appropriated for the purposes of this Section for administrative costs, including the hiring of positions for the implementation and administration of the grant program, provided that if no appropriation is made to the State Board for a given fiscal year for the purposes of the grant program, then the State Board is not required to make any expenditures in support of the program during that fiscal year.

(Source: P.A. 96-659, eff. 8-25-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)