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SB 3493

$DCEO-CONSERVATION CORPS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Adriane Johnson and 3 co-sponsors

The bill provides a $780,000 General Revenue Fund grant to the Cook County Forest Preserve District for administering Greencorps Chicago and the Forest Preserve Experience Program

Rule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 22, 2026
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Bill Summary · SB 3493

Summary of SB 3493 (Illinois, 104th General Assembly)

Bill Overview

  • Title: $DCEO-CONSERVATION CORPS
  • Introduced: February 5, 2026
  • Sponsor: Sen. Willie Preston
  • Co-sponsors: Sen. Mike Simmons-Gessesse, Sen. Emil Jones III, Sen. Adriane Johnson
  • Jurisdiction: Illinois
  • Session: 104th General Assembly
  • Committee Assignment: Appropriations
  • Effective Date: July 1, 2026

Purpose and Intent

SB 3493 seeks to appropriate funding from the General Revenue Fund to support the administration and operation of a specific environmental youth and community programs initiative in Cook County. The bill targets strengthening hands-on conservation and forest-preservation experiences for residents through two programs administered by the Cook County Forest Preserve District, with funding provided via the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

Key Provisions

  • Funding: Appropriates $780,000 (General Revenue Fund) to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
  • Use of Funds: The appropriation is designated for a grant to the Cook County Forest Preserve District for:
    • Greencorps Chicago: An initiative focused on conservation career development and related programming.
    • Forest Preserve Experience Program: Aims to provide experiential learning and engagement with forest preserve resources.
  • Administration: The funds are to be used for the administration and operation of the two programs, under DCEO oversight.

Impact and Beneficiaries

  • Primary Beneficiaries: Residents of Cook County who participate in or are served by Greencorps Chicago and the Forest Preserve Experience Program.
  • Institutions Involved:
    • Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (administrative conduit for the grant)
    • Cook County Forest Preserve District (program implementer and grant recipient)
  • Potential Outcomes:
    • Expansion of conservation-focused employment opportunities for youth and young adults.
    • Increased access to forest preserve resources and conservation education for community members.
    • Enhanced workforce development within the environmental sector in the Chicago area.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Effective Date of Act: July 1, 2026.
  • Financial Year Consideration: The appropriation is tied to the 2025-2026 or subsequent state fiscal year, contingent on enactment and gubernatorial approval as part of the FY planning cycle.
  • Status: Introduced and assigned to Appropriations; multiple sponsors added as co-sponsors during the 2026 session.

Additional Notes

  • The bill is narrowly scoped to a specific funding appropriation for two programs within Cook County.
  • No new program authorities beyond the grant appropriation are created; implementation standards and grant administration would follow existing processes within DCEO and the Cook County Forest Preserve District.

If you’d like, I can compare SB 3493 to prior years’ appropriations for Greencorps Chicago or similar programs to provide context on funding levels and program milestones.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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