2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 30 - FINANCE › 30 ILCS 738/ - Urban Weatherization Initiative Act. › Article 40 - The Urban Weatherization Initiative Act

(30 ILCS 738/Art. 40 heading)
Article 40.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-1)
Sec. 40-1. Short title.  This Article may be cited as the Urban Weatherization Initiative Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-5)
Sec. 40-5. Definitions.   As used in this Article:
"Board" means the Weatherization Initiative Board.
"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
"Initiative" means the Urban Weatherization Initiative.
"Urban metropolitan area" means a municipality with a population of 5,000 or more  or a township with a population of 5,000 or more.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-10)
Sec. 40-10. Urban Weatherization Initiative established; purpose.
(a) The Urban Weatherization Initiative is created. The Initiative shall be administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in consultation with other appropriate State agencies and overseen by the Weatherization Initiative Board.
(b) The purpose of the Urban Weatherization Initiative is to promote the State's interest in reducing the impact of high energy costs on low-income households. The Initiative seeks to increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities through the installation and manufacturing of low-cost weatherization materials. In particular, the Initiative is intended to weatherize owner-occupied, single family homes and multi-family (6 units or fewer) housing in census tracts with high rates of unemployment, underemployment, and poverty and to ensure that residents of those communities are able to access the work as a local employment engine. The Initiative also seeks to implement outreach strategies to increase awareness of cost savings and job training services associated with the program.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-15)
Sec. 40-15. Grants.  The Department is authorized to make payments for grants awarded pursuant to this Article. These grants shall be paid out of moneys appropriated for that purpose from the Build Illinois Bond Fund.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-20)
Sec. 40-20. Award of grants.
(a) The Department shall award grants under this Article using a competitive request-for-proposal process administered by the Department and overseen by the Board. No more than 2% of funds used for grants may be retained by the Department for administrative costs, program evaluation, and technical assistance activities.
(b) The Department must award grants competitively in accordance with the priorities described in this Article. Grants must be awarded in support of the implementation, expansion, or implementation and expansion  of weatherization and job training programs consistent with the priorities described in this Article. Strategies for grant use include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Repair or replacement of inefficient heating and     cooling units.
(2) Addressing of air infiltration with weather     stripping, caulking, thresholds, minor repairs to walls, roofs, ceilings, and floors, and window and door replacement.
(3) Repair or replacement of water heaters.
(4) Pipe, duct, or pipe and duct  insulation.
(c) Portions of grant funds may be used for:
(1) Work-aligned training in weatherization skill     sets, including skills necessary for career advancement in the energy efficiency field.
(2) Basic skills training, including soft-skill     training, and other workforce development services, including mentoring, job development, support services, transportation assistance, and wage subsidies tied to training and employment in weatherization.
(c-5) Portions of grant funds may also be used for any purpose for which bonds are issued under Section 4 of the Build Illinois Bond Act.
(d) All grant applicants must include a comprehensive plan for local community engagement. Grant recipients may devote a portion of awarded funds to conduct outreach activities designed to assure that eligible households and relevant workforce populations are made aware of the opportunities available under this Article. A portion of outreach activities must occur in convenient, local intake centers, including but not limited to churches, local schools, and community centers.
(e) Any private, public, and non-profit entities that provide, or demonstrate desire and ability to provide, weatherization services that act to decrease the impact of energy costs on low-income areas and incorporate an effective local employment strategy are eligible grant applicants.
(f) For grant recipients, maximum per unit expenditure shall not exceed $6,500.
(g) A grant recipient may not be awarded grants totaling more than $500,000 per fiscal year.
(h) A grant recipient may not use more than 15% of its  total grant amount for administrative  expenses.
(Source: P.A. 101-10, eff. 6-5-19.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-25)
Sec. 40-25. Targets.  The Department shall award grants under this Article using the following target areas and populations, and the Board shall monitor the application of these targets to the awarding of grants:
(1) Census tracts in urban metropolitan areas where     20% or more of the population is living in poverty and that suffer from disproportionately high rates of unemployment, underemployment, and poverty as defined by the 2000 Census.
(2) Areas with high concentrations of families with     income equal to or less than 60% of the Area Median Income.
(3) Areas with the highest energy costs in relation     to income.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-30)
Sec. 40-30. Priority grants.  In awarding grants, the Department must give priority to grant applications that demonstrate collaboration among local weatherization agencies, educational institutions, workforce stakeholders, and community organizations, especially those located in communities with high rates of unemployment, underemployment, and poverty.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-35)
Sec. 40-35. Quarterly reports.   Grant recipients must submit quarterly reports of their grant activities to the Department in accordance with rules adopted under this Article.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-40)
Sec. 40-40. Weatherization Initiative Board.
(a) The Weatherization Initiative Board is created within the Department. The Board must  approve or deny all grants from the Fund.
(a-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the Board has the authority to direct the Department to authorize the awarding of grants to applicants serving areas or populations not included in the target areas and populations set forth in Section 40-25 if the Board determines that there are special circumstances involving the areas or populations served by the applicant.
(b) The Board shall consist of 5 voting members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The initial members shall have terms as follows as designated by the Governor: one for one year, one for 2 years, one for 3 years, one for 4 years, and one for 5 years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified. Thereafter, members shall serve 5-year terms or until a successor is appointed and qualified. The voting members shall elect a voting member to serve as chair for a one-year term. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner for the balance of a term.
(c) The Board shall also have 4 non-voting ex officio members appointed as follows: one Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House, one Representative appointed by the House Minority Leader, one Senator appointed by the President of the Senate, and one Senator appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, each to serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
(d) Members shall receive no compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses from appropriations to the Department available for that purpose.
(e) The Board may adopt rules under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
(f) A quorum of the Board is at least 3 voting members, and the affirmative vote of at least 3 voting members is required for Board decisions and adoption of rules.
(g) The Department shall provide staff and administrative assistance to the Board.
(h) By December 31 of each year, the Board shall file an annual report with the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the Initiative, grants awarded, and grantees and making recommendations for any changes needed to enhance the effectiveness of the Initiative.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 738/40-45)
Sec. 40-45. Emergency rules.  The Department and the Board  shall exercise emergency rulemaking authority under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to adopt necessary emergency rules for the implementation of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)