HB2966ham001 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl

Filed: 3/14/2025

10400HB2966ham001 LRB104 11974 JDS 23890 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2966

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2966 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.206 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)

Sec. 2-3.206. School district reorganization feasibility studies; grant program.

(a) The State Board of Education may award grants to elementary districts in the State and high school districts in the State for the purpose of incentivizing those districts to conduct reorganization feasibility studies.

(b) To be eligible for a grant under this Section, the board of the elementary or high school district that is applying for the grant shall:

(1) negotiate a proposed agreement to secure the services of an approved disinterested consultant who will conduct the reorganization feasibility study;

(2) adopt a resolution that is signed by the superintendent of the district and calls for the initiation of a school district reorganization feasibility study in accordance with the terms of the proposed agreement and any rules adopted by the State Board of Education; and

(3) submit the completed agreement form, the signed board resolution, and such other information as the State Board of Education may, by administrative rule, require, to the regional office of education or the executive director of the intermediate service center for the district for approval.

(c) Upon receipt of a complete application from a district, the regional office of education or the executive director of the intermediate service center shall either (i) approve the agreement and send the agreement to the State Board of Education or (ii) disapprove the agreement and return the agreement to the district with a letter of explanation.

(d) From funds appropriated to it for that purpose, the State Board of Education may award grants under this Section to districts for which it receives an approved agreement under subsection (c) for costs incurred by those districts to conduct a reorganization feasibility study.

(e) To ensure that eligible districts are aware of the grant-funding opportunities provided under this Section, the State Board of Education shall annually notify the board and superintendent of each elementary district in the State and each high school district in the State of the availability of grant funds for the purpose of conducting school district reorganization feasibility studies and shall provide with that notice all of the following information:

(1) information concerning the procedures for applying for grant funding under this Section during the next award cycle;

(2) a description of the total dollar value of grant funds that are available to be awarded during the next award cycle; and

(3) a list of approved disinterested consultants who the State Board of Education has determined have the knowledge, skills, and ability to conduct an impartial and independent reorganization feasibility analysis for grant recipients under this Section.

(f) Every 2 years, each board that receives a notice under subsection (e) shall include the question of whether to pursue grant funding under this Section as an action item on the agenda at one of its meetings.

(g) When issuing grants under this Section, the State Board of Education may cover all or part of the costs borne by a district to conduct a reorganization feasibility study. In awarding grants under this Section, the State Board of Education shall prioritize the awarding of grants to districts that are contiguous with one another, districts that have similar property tax rates, and districts with similar per-pupil adequacy funding.

(h) No elementary district or high school district may be awarded a grant under this Section in any 2 consecutive award cycles.

(i) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules it deems necessary to implement and administer the program of grant funding established under this Section, including, but not limited to, rules establishing the criteria that must be met by the disinterested consultants who will perform the feasibility studies described in this Section and rules describing minimum criteria to be included in agreements executed with the disinterested consultants who will perform the feasibility studies described in this Section.

(j) As used in this Section:

"Elementary district" means a school district organized and established for purposes of providing instruction up to and including grade 8. "Elementary district" includes common elementary school districts, consolidated elementary school districts, community consolidated school districts, combined elementary districts, and charter elementary districts. "High school district" means a school district organized and established for purposes of providing instruction in grades 9 through 12.

"High school district" includes charter high school districts, township high school districts, consolidated high school districts, community high school districts, and non-high school districts.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".