HB0437eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0437 Engrossed LRB096 05847 NHT 15928 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Public Community College Act is amended by changing Section 3-20.3.01 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/3-20.3.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 103-20.3.01)

Sec. 3-20.3.01. Whenever, as a result of any lawful order of any agency, other than a local community college board, having authority to enforce any law or regulation designed for the protection, health or safety of community college students, employees or visitors, or any law or regulation for the protection and safety of the environment, pursuant to the "Environmental Protection Act", any local community college district, including any district to which Article VII of this Act applies, is required to alter or repair any physical facilities, or whenever any district determines that it is necessary for energy conservation, health or safety, environmental protection or handicapped accessibility purposes that any physical facilities should be altered or repaired and that such alterations or repairs will be made with funds not necessary for the completion of approved and recommended projects for fire prevention and safety, or whenever after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1984 any district, including any district to which Article VII applies, provides for alterations or repairs determined by the local community college board to be necessary for health and safety, environmental protection, resource efficiency or sustainability, handicapped accessibility or energy conservation purposes, such district may, by proper resolution which specifically identifies the project and which is adopted pursuant to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, levy a tax for the purpose of paying for such alterations or repairs, or survey by a licensed architect or engineer, upon the equalized assessed value of all the taxable property of the district at a rate not to exceed .05% per year for a period sufficient to finance such alterations or repairs, upon the following conditions:

(a) When in the judgment of the local community college board of trustees there are not sufficient funds available in the operations and maintenance fund of the district to permanently pay for such alterations or repairs so ordered, determined as necessary.

(b) When a certified estimate of a licensed architect or engineer stating the estimated amount of not less than $25,000 that is necessary to make the alterations or repairs so ordered or determined as necessary has been secured by the local community college district and the project and estimated amount have been approved by the Executive Director of the State Board.

The filing of a certified copy of the resolution or ordinance levying the tax when accompanied by the certificate of approval of the Executive Director of the State Board shall be the authority of the county clerk or clerks to extend such tax; provided, however, that in no event shall the extension for the current and preceding years, if any, under this Section be greater than the amount so approved, and interest on bonds issued pursuant to this Section and in the event such current extension and preceding extensions exceed such approval and interest, it shall be reduced proportionately.

The county clerk of each of the counties in which any community college district levying a tax under the authority of this Section is located, in reducing raised levies, shall not consider any such tax as a part of the general levy for community college purposes and shall not include the same in the limitation of any other tax rate which may be extended. Such tax shall be levied and collected in like manner as all other taxes of community college districts.

The tax rate limit hereinabove specified in this Section may be increased to .10% upon the approval of a proposition to effect such increase by a majority of the electors voting on that proposition at a regular scheduled election. Such proposition may be initiated by resolution of the local community college board and shall be certified by the secretary of the local community college board to the proper election authorities for submission in accordance with the general election law.

Each local community college district authorized to levy any tax pursuant to this Section may also or in the alternative by proper resolution or ordinance borrow money for such specifically identified purposes not in excess of $4,500,000 in the aggregate at any one time when in the judgment of the local community college board of trustees there are not sufficient funds available in the operations and maintenance fund of the district to permanently pay for such alterations or repairs so ordered or determined as necessary and a certified estimate of a licensed architect or engineer stating the estimated amount of not less than $25,000 has been secured by the local community college district and the project and the estimated amount have been approved by the State Board, and as evidence of such indebtedness may issue bonds without referendum. However, Community College District No. 522 and Community College District No. 536 may or in the alternative by proper resolution or ordinance borrow money for such specifically identified purposes not in excess of $20,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time when in the judgment of the community college board of trustees there are not sufficient funds available in the operations and maintenance fund of the district to permanently pay for such alterations or repairs so ordered or determined as necessary and a certified estimate of a licensed architect or engineer stating the estimated amount has been secured by the community college district and the project and the estimated amount have been approved by the State Board, and as evidence of such indebtedness may issue bonds without referendum. Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates authorized by "An Act to authorize public corporations to issue bonds, other evidences of indebtedness and tax anticipation warrants subject to interest rate limitations set forth therein", approved May 26, 1970, as now or hereafter amended, shall mature within 20 years from date, and shall be signed by the chairman, secretary and treasurer of the local community college board.

In order to authorize and issue such bonds the local community college board shall adopt a resolution fixing the amount of bonds, the date thereof, the maturities thereof and rates of interest thereof, and the board by such resolution, or in a district to which Article VII applies the city council upon demand and under the direction of the board by ordinance, shall provide for the levy and collection of a direct annual tax upon all the taxable property in the local community college district sufficient to pay the principal and interest on such bonds to maturity. Upon the filing in the office of the county clerk of each of the counties in which the community college district is located of a certified copy of such resolution or ordinance it is the duty of the county clerk or clerks to extend the tax therefor without limit as to rate or amount and in addition to and in excess of all other taxes heretofore or hereafter authorized to be levied by such community college district.

The State Board shall prepare and enforce regulations and specifications for minimum requirements for the construction, remodeling or rehabilitation of heating, ventilating, air conditioning, lighting, seating, water supply, toilet, handicapped accessibility, fire safety and any other matter that will conserve, preserve or provide for the protection and the health or safety of individuals in or on community college property and will conserve the integrity of the physical facilities of the district.

This Section is cumulative and constitutes complete authority for the issuance of bonds as provided in this Section notwithstanding any other statute or law to the contrary.

(Source: P.A. 90-468, eff. 8-17-97.)