Section 20 ILCS 505/8.1 - 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. Added by P.A. 099-0285,§ 5, eff. 8/5/2015.