HB2676 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 09851 NHT 20014 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB2676

Introduced 2/24/2009, by Rep. Roger L. Eddy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Creates the Financial Oversight Panel Law of the School Code. Allows a school district (other than the Chicago school district) to petition the State Board of Education for the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel for the district. Allows the State Board to establish a Financial Oversight Panel without a petition from a district. Contains provisions concerning duties of the district; members and meetings of a Panel; powers of a Panel; officers of a Panel; collective bargaining agreements; deposits and investments; cash and bank accounts; the financial, management, and budgetary structure; the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund; grants and loans; the issuance of bonds; a tax levy; a debt service fund; a debt service reserve fund; bond anticipation notes; tax anticipation warrants; reports; a Panel audit; Panel property being exempt from taxation; sanctions; and abolition of a Panel. Makes related changes in the School Code and the Property Tax Code. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing Sections 18-50.1, 18-92, and 18-241 as follows:

(35 ILCS 200/18-50.1)

Sec. 18-50.1. School Finance Authority and Financial Oversight Panel levies. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any levy adopted by a School Finance Authority created under Article 1F of the School Code or a Financial Oversight Panel established under Article 1H of the School Code is valid and shall be extended by the county clerk if it is certified to the county clerk by the Authority or Panel in sufficient time to allow the county clerk to include the levy in the extension for the taxable year.

(Source: P.A. 92-855, eff. 12-6-02.)

(35 ILCS 200/18-92)

Sec. 18-92. Downstate School Finance Authority for Elementary Districts Law and Financial Oversight Panel Law. The provisions of the Truth in Taxation Law are subject to the Downstate School Finance Authority for Elementary Districts Law and the Financial Oversight Panel Law of the School Code.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(35 ILCS 200/18-241)

Sec. 18-241. School Finance Authority and Financial Oversight Panel.

(a) A School Finance Authority established under Article 1E or 1F of the School Code shall not be a taxing district for purposes of this Law. A Financial Oversight Panel established under Article 1H of the School Code shall not be a taxing district for purposes of this Law.

(b) This Law shall not apply to the extension of taxes for a school district for the levy year in which a School Finance Authority for the district is created pursuant to Article 1E or 1F of the School Code. This Law shall not apply to the extension of taxes for a school district for the levy year in which a Financial Oversight Panel for the district is created pursuant to Article 1H of the School Code.

(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02; 93-501, eff. 8-11-03.)

Section 15. The School Code is amended by changing Section 1B-8 and by adding Article 1H as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/1B-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-8)

Sec. 1B-8. There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund (the "Fund"). The School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund shall consist of appropriations, loan repayments, grants from the federal government, and donations from any public or private source. Moneys in the Fund may be appropriated only to the Illinois Finance Authority and the State Board for those purposes authorized under this Article and Articles Article 1F and 1H of this Code. The appropriation may be allocated and expended by the State Board for contractual services as grants to provide technical assistance and consultation consulting services to school districts to assess their financial condition to Financial Oversight Panels that petition for emergency financial assistance grants. The and by the Illinois Finance Authority may provide as loans to school districts which are the subject of an approved petition for emergency financial assistance under Section 1B-4, or 1F-62, or 1H-65 of this Code. Neither the State Board of Education nor the Illinois Finance Authority may collect any fees for providing these services.

From the amount allocated to each such school district under this Article the State Board shall identify a sum sufficient to cover all approved costs of the Financial Oversight Panel established for the respective school district. If the State Board and State Superintendent of Education have not approved emergency financial assistance in conjunction with the appointment of a Financial Oversight Panel, the Panel's approved costs shall be paid from deductions from the district's general State aid.

The Financial Oversight Panel may prepare and file with the State Superintendent a proposal for emergency financial assistance for the school district and for its operations budget. No expenditures shall be authorized by the State Superintendent until he or she has approved the proposal of the Panel, either as submitted or in such lesser amount determined by the State Superintendent.

The maximum amount of an emergency financial assistance loan which may be allocated to any school district under this Article, including moneys necessary for the operations of the Panel, shall not exceed $4,000 times the number of pupils enrolled in the school district during the school year ending June 30 prior to the date of approval by the State Board of the petition for emergency financial assistance, as certified to the local board and the Panel by the State Superintendent. An emergency financial assistance grant shall not exceed $1,000 times the number of such pupils. A district may receive both a loan and a grant.

The payment of an emergency State financial assistance grant or loan shall be subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. Emergency State financial assistance allocated and paid to a school district under this Article may be applied to any fund or funds from which the local board of education of that district is authorized to make expenditures by law.

Any emergency financial assistance proposed by the Financial Oversight Panel and approved by the State Superintendent may be paid in its entirety during the initial year of the Panel's existence or spread in equal or declining amounts over a period of years not to exceed the period of the Panel's existence. All loan payments made from the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund for a school district shall be required to be repaid, with simple interest over the term of the loan at a rate equal to 50% of the one-year Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT) yield as last published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System before the date on which the district's loan is approved by the State Board of Education, not later than the date the Financial Oversight Panel ceases to exist. The Panel shall establish and the Illinois Finance Authority shall approve the terms and conditions, including the schedule, of repayments. The schedule shall provide for repayments commencing July 1 of each year or upon each fiscal year's receipt of moneys from a tax levy for emergency financial assistance. Repayment shall be incorporated into the annual budget of the school district and may be made from any fund or funds of the district in which there are moneys available. Default on repayment is subject to the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. When moneys are repaid as provided herein they shall not be made available to the local board for further use as emergency financial assistance under this Article at any time thereafter. All repayments required to be made by a school district shall be received by the State Board and deposited in the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund.

In establishing the terms and conditions for the repayment obligation of the school district the Panel shall annually determine whether a separate local property tax levy is required. The board of any school district with a tax rate for educational purposes for the prior year of less than 120% of the maximum rate for educational purposes authorized by Section 17-2 shall provide for a separate tax levy for emergency financial assistance repayment purposes. Such tax levy shall not be subject to referendum approval. The amount of the levy shall be equal to the amount necessary to meet the annual repayment obligations of the district as established by the Panel, or 20% of the amount levied for educational purposes for the prior year, whichever is less. However, no district shall be required to levy the tax if the district's operating tax rate as determined under Section 18-8 or 18-8.05 exceeds 200% of the district's tax rate for educational purposes for the prior year.

(Source: P.A. 94-234, eff. 7-1-06.)

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 1H heading new)

ARTICLE 1H. FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT PANELS

(105 ILCS 5/1H-1 new)

Sec. 1H-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Financial Oversight Panel Law.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-5 new)

Sec. 1H-5. Findings; purpose; intent.

(a) The General Assembly finds all of the following:

(1) A fundamental goal of the people of this State, as expressed in Section 1 of Article X of the Illinois Constitution, is the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities. When a board of education faces financial difficulties, continued operation of the public school system is threatened.

(2) A sound financial structure is essential to the continued operation of any school system. It is vital to commercial, educational, and cultural interests that public schools remain in operation. To achieve that goal, public school systems must have effective access to the private market to borrow short and long term funds.

(3) To promote the financial integrity of districts, as defined in this Article, it is necessary to provide for the creation of financial oversight panels with the powers necessary to promote sound financial management and to ensure the continued operation of the public schools.

(b) It is the purpose of this Article to provide a secure financial basis for the continued operation of public schools. The intention of the General Assembly, in creating this Article, is to establish procedures, provide powers, and impose restrictions to ensure the financial and educational integrity of the public schools, while leaving principal responsibility for the educational policies of public schools to the boards of education within the State, consistent with the requirements for satisfying the public policy and purpose set forth in this Article.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-10 new)

Sec. 1H-10. Definitions. As used in this Article:

"Bonds" means bonds authorized to be issued by the Panel under Section 1H-70 of this Code.

"Budget" means the annual budget of the district required under Section 17-1 of this Code, as in effect from time to time.

"Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Panel.

"District" means any school district having a population of not more than 500,000 that has had a Financial Oversight Panel established under this Article.

"Financial plan" means the financial plan of the district to be developed pursuant to this Article, as in effect from time to time.

"Fiscal year" means the fiscal year of the district.

"Obligations" means bonds and notes of the Panel.

"Panel" means a Financial Oversight Panel created under this Article.

"State Board" means the State Board of Education.

"State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of Education.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-15 new)

Sec. 1H-15. Establishment of Financial Oversight Panels; duties of district.

(a) A school district may petition the State Board for the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel for the district. The petition shall cite the reasons why the creation of a Financial Oversight Panel for the district is necessary. The State Board may grant the petition upon determining that the approval of the petition is in the best educational and financial interests of the district. The State Board may establish a Financial Oversight Panel without a petition from a district if the State Board determines that such action is in the best educational and financial interests of the district.

(b) Upon establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel, all of the following shall occur:

(1) There is established a body both corporate and politic to be known as the "(Name of School District) Financial Oversight Panel", which in this name shall exercise all authority vested in a Panel by this Article.

(2) The duties and obligations of the district under Article 1B of this Code shall be transferred and become duties and obligations owed by the district to the Financial Oversight Panel.

(c) In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Article and the provisions of Article 1B of this Code, the provisions of this Article control.

(d) Any school district having a Financial Oversight Panel established under Article 1B of this Code or any Financial Oversight Panel established under Article 1B may petition the State Board for the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel under this Article and concurrent dissolution of the Article 1B Panel. All records, papers, books, funds, or other assets or liabilities belonging to the dissolving Financial Oversight Panel shall be transferred to the newly established Financial Oversight Panel.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-20 new)

Sec. 1H-20. Members of Panel; meetings.

(a) Upon establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel under Section 1H-15 of this Code, the State Superintendent shall within 15 working days thereafter appoint 5 members to serve on a Financial Oversight Panel for the district. Members appointed to the Panel shall serve at the pleasure of the State Superintendent. The State Superintendent shall designate one of the members of the Panel to serve as its Chairperson. In the event of vacancy or resignation, the State Superintendent shall, within 10 days after receiving notice, appoint a successor to serve out that member's term. The State Superintendent may remove a member for incompetence, malfeasance, neglect of duty, or other just cause.

(b) Members of the Panel shall be selected primarily on the basis of their experience and education in financial management, with consideration given to persons knowledgeable in education finance. Two members of the Panel shall be residents of the school district that the Panel serves. A member of the Panel may not be a member of the district's school board or an employee of the district nor may a member have a direct financial interest in the district.

(c) Panel members may be reimbursed by the State Board for travel and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. Unless paid from bonds issued under Section 1H-70 of this Code, the amount reimbursed members for their expenses shall be charged to the school district as part of any emergency financial assistance and incorporated as a part of the terms and conditions for repayment of the assistance or shall be deducted from the district's general State aid as provided in Section 1H-65 of this Code.

(d) With the exception of the chairperson, who shall be designated as provided in subsection (a) of this Section, the Panel may elect such officers as it deems appropriate.

(e) The first meeting of the Panel shall be held at the call of the Chairperson. The Panel shall prescribe the times and places for its meetings and the manner in which regular and special meetings may be called and shall comply with the Open Meetings Act.

(f) Three members of the Panel shall constitute a quorum. When a vote is taken upon any measure before the Panel, a quorum being present, a majority of the votes of the members voting on the measure shall determine the outcome.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-25 new)

Sec. 1H-25. General powers. The purposes of the Panel shall be to exercise financial control over the district and to furnish financial assistance so that the district can provide public education within the district's jurisdiction while permitting the district to meet its obligations to its creditors and the holders of its debt. Except as expressly limited by this Article, the Panel shall have all powers granted to a voluntary or involuntary Financial Oversight Panel and to a Financial Administrator under Article 1B of this Code and all other powers necessary to meet its responsibilities and to carry out its purposes and the purposes of this Article, including without limitation all of the following powers, provided that the Panel shall have no power to terminate any employee without following the statutory procedures for such terminations set forth in this Code:

(1) To sue and to be sued.

(2) To make, cancel, modify, and execute contracts, leases, subleases, and all other instruments or agreements necessary or convenient for the exercise of the powers and functions granted by this Article, subject to Section 1H-45 of this Code. The Panel may at a regular or special meeting find that the district has insufficient or inadequate funds with respect to any contract, other than collective bargaining agreements.

(3) To purchase real or personal property necessary or convenient for its purposes; to execute and deliver deeds for real property held in its own name; and to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of such of its property as, in the judgment of the Panel, is no longer necessary for its purposes.

(4) To appoint officers, agents, and employees of the Panel, including a chief executive officer, a chief fiscal officer, and a chief educational officer; to define their duties and qualifications; and to fix their compensation and employee benefits.

(5) To transfer to the district such sums of money as are not required for other purposes.

(6) To borrow money, including without limitation accepting State loans, and to issue obligations pursuant to this Article; to fund, refund, or advance refund the same; to provide for the rights of the holders of its obligations; and to repay any advances.

(7) To levy all property tax levies that otherwise could be levied by the district, and to make levies pursuant to Section 1H-65 of this Code. This levy or levies shall be exempt from the Truth in Taxation Law.

(8) Subject to the provisions of any contract with or for the benefit of the holders of its obligations, to purchase or redeem its obligations.

(9) To procure all necessary goods and services for the Panel in compliance with the purchasing laws and requirements applicable to the district.

(10) To do any and all things necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers given to it by this Article.

(11) To recommend annexation, consolidation, dissolution, or reorganization of the district, in whole or in part, to the State Board if in the Panel's judgment the circumstances so require. No such proposal for annexation, consolidation, dissolution, or reorganization shall occur unless the Panel and the school boards of all other districts directly affected by the annexation, consolidation, dissolution, or reorganization have each approved by majority vote the annexation, consolidation, dissolution, or reorganization. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, upon approval of the proposal by the State Board, the State Board and all other affected entities shall forthwith implement the proposal. When a dissolution and annexation becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance, the positions of teachers in contractual continued service in the district being dissolved shall be transferred to the annexing district or districts, pursuant to the provisions of Section 24-12 of this Code. In the event that the territory is added to 2 or more districts, the decision on which positions shall be transferred to which annexing districts shall be made by giving consideration to the proportionate percentage of pupils transferred and the annexing districts' staffing needs, and the transfer of teachers in contractual continued service into positions shall be based upon the request of those teachers in contractual continued service in order of seniority in the dissolving district. The status of all teachers in contractual continued service transferred to an annexing district shall not be lost, and the board of the annexing district is subject to this Code with respect to teachers in contractual continued service who are transferred in the same manner as if the person were the annexing district's employee and had been its employee during the time the person was actually employed by the board of the dissolving district from which the position was transferred.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-30 new)

Sec. 1H-30. Chief executive officer. The Panel may appoint a chief executive officer who, under the direction of the Panel, shall supervise the Panel's staff, including the chief educational officer and the chief fiscal officer, and shall have ultimate responsibility for implementing the policies, procedures, directives, and decisions of the Panel. The chief executive officer shall have the authority to determine the agenda and order of business at school board meetings, as needed in order to carry forward and implement the objectives and priorities of the school board and Financial Oversight Panel in the administration and management of the district. The chief executive officer is not required to hold any certificate issued under Article 21 of this Code. The chief executive officer shall have the powers and duties as assigned by the Panel in accordance with this Code.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-35 new)

Sec. 1H-35. Chief educational officer. The Panel may at a regular or special meeting find that cause exists to cancel the contract of the school district's superintendent who is serving at the time the Panel is established. If there is no superintendent, then the Panel may appoint a chief educational officer for the district, who shall have all of the powers and duties of a school district superintendent under this Code and such other duties as may be assigned by the Panel in accordance with this Code. The chief educational officer shall report to the Panel or the chief executive officer appointed by the Panel. The district shall not thereafter employ a superintendent during the period that a chief educational officer is serving in the district. The chief educational officer is not required to hold any certificate issued under Article 21 of this Code.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-40 new)

Sec. 1H-40. Chief fiscal officer. The Panel may appoint a chief fiscal officer who, under the direction of the Panel or the chief executive officer appointed by the Panel, shall have all of the powers and duties of the district's chief school business official and any other duties regarding budgeting, accounting, and other financial matters that are assigned by the Panel, in accordance with this Code. The district may not employ a chief school business official during the period that the chief fiscal officer is serving in the district. The chief fiscal officer is not required to hold a certificate issued under Article 21 of this Code.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-41 new)

Sec. 1H-41. Superintendent. The Panel may employ a superintendent who, under the direction of the Panel or the chief executive officer appointed by the Panel, shall have all of the powers and duties of a school district superintendent under this Code assigned by the Panel and such other duties as may be assigned by the Panel in accordance with this Code. The superintendent shall report to the Panel or the chief executive officer appointed by the Panel. The superintendent shall hold a certificate with a superintendent endorsement issued under Article 21 of this Code.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-42 new)

Sec. 1H-42. Chief school business official. The Panel may employ a chief school business official who, under the direction of the Panel or the chief executive officer appointed by the Panel, shall have all of the powers and duties of a chief school business official under this Code assigned by the Panel and such other duties as may be assigned by the Panel in accordance with this Code. The chief school business official shall report to the Panel or the chief executive officer appointed by the Panel. The chief school business official shall hold a certificate with a chief school business official endorsement issued under Article 21 of this Code.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-45 new)

Sec. 1H-45. Collective bargaining agreements. The Panel shall have the power to negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the district's employees in lieu of and on behalf of the district. Upon concluding bargaining, the district shall execute the agreements negotiated by the Panel, and the district shall be bound by and shall administer the agreements in all respects as if the agreements had been negotiated by the district itself.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-50 new)

Sec. 1H-50. Deposits and investments.

(a) The Panel shall have the power to establish checking and whatever other banking accounts it may deem appropriate for conducting its affairs.

(b) Subject to the provisions of any contract with or for the benefit of the holders of its obligations, the Panel may invest any funds not required for immediate use or disbursement, as provided in the Public Funds Investment Act.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-55 new)

Sec. 1H-55. Cash accounts and bank accounts.

(a) The Panel shall require the district or any officer of the district, including the district's treasurer, to establish and maintain separate cash accounts and separate bank accounts in accordance with such rules, standards, and procedures as the Panel may prescribe.

(b) The Panel shall have the power to assume exclusive administration of the cash accounts and bank accounts of the district, to establish and maintain whatever new cash accounts and bank accounts it may deem appropriate, and to withdraw funds from these accounts for the lawful expenditures of the district.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-60 new)

Sec. 1H-60. Financial, management, and budgetary structure. Upon direction of the Panel, the district shall reorganize the financial accounts, management, and budgetary systems of the district in whatever manner the Panel deems appropriate to achieve greater financial responsibility and to reduce financial inefficiency.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-65 new)

Sec. 1H-65. School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund; grants and loans.

(a) Moneys in the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund established under Section 1B-8 of this Code may be allocated and expended by the State Board for contractual services to provide technical assistance and consultation to school districts to assess their financial condition or to Panels that petition for emergency financial assistance grants and by the Illinois Finance Authority as loans to school districts that are the subject of an approved petition for emergency financial assistance under Section 1B-4, 1F-62, or 1H-65 of this Code. Neither the State Board of Education nor the Illinois Finance Authority may collect any fees for providing these services. From the amount allocated to each such school district, the State Board shall identify a sum sufficient to cover all approved costs of the Panel established for the respective school district. If the State Board and State Superintendent of Education have not approved emergency financial assistance in conjunction with the appointment of a Panel, the Panel's approved costs shall be paid from deductions from the district's general State aid. An emergency financial assistance loan to a Panel or borrowing from sources other than the State shall not be considered as part of the calculation of a district's debt for purposes of the limitation specified in Section 19-1 of this Code.

(b) The Panel may prepare and file with the State Superintendent a proposal for emergency financial assistance for the school district and for its operations budget. No expenditures shall be authorized by the State Superintendent until he or she has approved the proposal of the Panel, either as submitted or in such lesser amount determined by the State Superintendent.

(c) The amount of an emergency financial assistance loan that may be allocated to a Panel under this Article, including (i) moneys necessary for the operations of the Panel and (ii) borrowing from sources other than the State shall not exceed, in the aggregate, $4,000 times the number of pupils enrolled in the district during the school year ending June 30 prior to the date of approval of the petition for emergency financial assistance by the State Board. However, this limitation does not apply to borrowing by the district secured by amounts levied by the district prior to establishment of the Panel. An emergency financial assistance grant shall not exceed $1,000 times the number of such pupils. A district may receive both a loan and a grant.

(d) The payment of a State emergency financial assistance grant or loan is subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. State emergency financial assistance allocated and paid to a Panel under this Article may be applied to any fund or funds from which the Panel is authorized to make expenditures by law.

(e) Any State emergency financial assistance proposed by the Panel and approved by the State Superintendent may be paid in its entirety during the initial year of the Panel's existence or spread in equal or variable amounts over a period of years not to exceed the period of the Panel's existence. The State Superintendent shall not approve any loan to the Panel unless the Panel has been unable to borrow sufficient funds to operate the district.

(f) All loan payments made from the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund to a Panel shall be required to be repaid not later than the date the Panel ceases to exist, with simple interest over the term of the loan at a rate equal to 50% of the one-year Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT) yield as last published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System before the date on which the Financial Oversight Panel's loan is approved by the State Superintendent.

(g) The Panel shall establish and the Illinois Finance Authority shall approve the terms and conditions of the loan, including the schedule of repayments. The schedule shall provide for repayments commencing July 1 of each year or upon each fiscal year's receipt of moneys from a tax levy for emergency financial assistance. Repayment shall be incorporated into the annual budget of the district and may be made from any fund or funds of the district in which there are moneys available. Default on repayment is subject to the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. When moneys are repaid as provided in this Section, they shall not be made available to the Panel for further use as emergency financial assistance under this Article at any time thereafter. All repayments required to be made by a Panel shall be deposited into the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund.

(h) In establishing the terms and conditions for the repayment obligation of the Panel, the Panel shall annually determine whether a separate local property tax levy is required to meet that obligation. The Financial Oversight Panel shall provide for a separate tax levy for emergency financial assistance repayment purposes. This tax levy shall not be subject to referendum approval. The amount of the levy shall not exceed the amount necessary to meet the annual emergency financial repayment obligations of the district, including principal and interest, as established by the Panel, and shall not be subject to the provisions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-70 new)

Sec. 1H-70. Power to issue bonds.

(a) The Panel may incur indebtedness by the issuance of negotiable full faith and credit general obligation bonds of the Panel in an outstanding amount not to exceed at any time, including existing indebtedness, 15% of the district's most recent equalized assessed valuation, excluding Bonds of the Panel that have been refunded, for (i) the purpose of providing the district with moneys for ordinary and necessary expenditures and other operational needs of the district; (ii) payment or refunding of outstanding debt obligations or tax anticipation warrants of the district, the proceeds of which were used to provide financing for the district; (iii) payment of fees for arrangements as provided in subsection (b) of Section 1H-75 of this Code; (iv) payment of interest on Bonds; (v) establishment of reserves to secure Bonds; (vi) the payment of costs of issuance of Bonds; (vii) payment of principal of or interest or redemption premium on any Bonds or notes of the Panel; and (viii) all other expenditures of the Panel incidental to and necessary or convenient for carrying out its corporate purposes and powers.

(b) The Panel may from time to time (i) issue Bonds to refund any outstanding Bonds or notes of the Panel, whether the Bonds or notes to be refunded have or have not matured or become redeemable, and (ii) issue Bonds partly to refund Bonds or notes then outstanding and partly for any other purpose set forth in this Section.

(c) Bonds issued in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section are not subject to any other statutory limitation as to debt, including without limitation that established by the Local Government Debt Limitation Act, and may be issued without referendum.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-75 new)

Sec. 1H-75. Terms of bonds.

(a) Whenever the Panel desires or is required to issue Bonds as provided in this Article, it shall adopt a resolution designating the amount of the Bonds to be issued, the purposes for which the proceeds of the Bonds are to be used, and the manner in which the proceeds shall be held pending the application thereof. The Bonds shall be issued in the corporate name of the Panel and shall bear such date or dates and shall mature at such time or times, not exceeding 20 years from their date, as the resolution may provide. The Bonds may be issued as serial bonds payable in installments, as term bonds with sinking fund installments, or as a combination of these as the Panel may determine in the resolution. The Bonds shall be in such denominations as the Panel may determine. The Bonds shall be in such form, carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption at such redemption prices, including premium, as the resolution may provide. The Bonds shall be sold by the Panel at public or private sale, as determined by the Panel.

(b) In connection with the issuance of its Bonds, the Panel may enter into arrangements to provide additional security and liquidity for the Bonds. These may include without limitation municipal bond insurance, letters of credit, lines of credit by which the Panel may borrow funds to pay or redeem its Bonds, and purchase or remarketing arrangements for ensuring the ability of owners of the Panel's Bonds to sell their Bonds or to have their Bonds redeemed. The Panel may enter into contracts and may agree to pay fees to persons providing the arrangements, including from Bond proceeds, but only under circumstances in which the total interest paid or to be paid on the Bonds, together with the fees for the arrangements (being treated as if interest), would not, taken together, cause the Bonds to bear interest, calculated to their absolute maturity, at a rate in excess of the maximum rate allowed by law.

The resolution of the Panel authorizing the issuance of its Bonds may provide that interest rates may vary from time to time depending upon criteria established by the Panel, which may include without limitation a variation in interest rates as may be necessary to cause the Bonds to be remarketable from time to time at a price equal to their principal amount, and may provide for appointment of a national banking association, bank, trust company, investment banker, or other financial institution to serve as a remarketing agent in that connection. The resolution of the Panel authorizing the issuance of its Bonds may provide that alternative interest rates or provisions shall apply during such times as the Bonds are held by a person providing a letter of credit or other credit enhancement arrangement for those Bonds.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-80 new)

Sec. 1H-80. Tax levy.

(a) Before or at the time of issuing any Bonds, the Panel shall provide by resolution for the levy and collection of a direct annual tax upon all the taxable property located within the district, without limit as to rate or amount, sufficient to pay and discharge the principal thereof at maturity or on sinking fund installment dates and to pay the interest thereon as it falls due. The taxes as levied shall also include additional amounts to the extent that the collections in the prior years were insufficient to pay and discharge the principal thereof at maturity, sinking fund installments, if any, and interest thereon as it fell due, and the amount so collected shall be placed in the debt service reserve fund. The tax shall be in addition to and exclusive of the maximum of all taxes that the Panel or the district is authorized by law to levy for any and all school purposes. The resolution shall be in force upon its adoption.

(b) The levy shall be for the sole benefit of the holders of the Bonds, and the holders of the Bonds shall have a security interest in and lien upon all rights, claims, and interests of the Panel arising pursuant to the levy and all present and future proceeds of the levy until the principal of and sinking fund installments and interest on the Bonds are paid in full. All proceeds from the levy shall be deposited by each county collector directly into the debt service fund established pursuant to Section 1H-85 of this Code, shall be applied solely for the payment of principal of and sinking fund installments and interest on the Bonds, and shall not be used for any other purpose.

(c) Upon the filing in the office of the county clerk of each county where the school district is located of a duly certified copy of the resolution, it shall be the duty of each county clerk to extend the tax provided for in the resolution, including an amount determined by the Panel to cover loss and cost of collection and also deferred collections and abatements in the amount of the taxes as extended on the collectors' books. The tax shall be separate and apart from all other taxes of the Panel or the district and shall be separately identified by the collectors.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-85 new)

Sec. 1H-85. Debt service fund. The Panel shall establish a debt service fund for the Bonds, to be maintained by a paying agent, escrow agent, depository, or corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the power of a trust company within this State, separate and segregated from all other funds and accounts of the Panel and the district. All moneys on deposit in the debt service fund shall be held in trust in the debt service fund for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds, shall be applied solely for the payment of the principal of and sinking fund installment, redemption premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds, and shall not be used for any other purpose. The holders of the Bonds shall have a security interest in and lien upon all such moneys.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-90 new)

Sec. 1H-90. Debt service reserve fund.

(a) The Panel may create and establish a debt service reserve fund to be maintained by a paying agent, escrow agent, depository, or corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the power of a trust company within the State, separate and segregated from all other funds and accounts of the Panel. The Panel may pay the following into the debt service reserve fund:

(1) any proceeds from the sale of Bonds to the extent provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds; and

(2) any other moneys that may be available to the Panel for the purpose of the fund.

(b) The amount to be accumulated in the debt service reserve fund shall be determined by the Panel, but shall not exceed the maximum amount of interest, principal, and sinking fund installments due in any succeeding calendar year.

(c) All moneys on deposit in the debt service reserve fund shall be held in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds, shall be applied solely for the payment of principal of and sinking fund installments and interest on the Bonds to the extent not paid from the debt service fund, and shall not be used for any other purpose.

(d) Any moneys in the debt service reserve fund in excess of the amount determined by the Panel pursuant to a resolution authorizing the issuance of Bonds may be withdrawn by the Panel and used for any of its lawful purposes.

(e) In computing the amount of the debt service reserve fund, investments shall be valued as the Panel provides in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-95 new)

Sec. 1H-95. Bond anticipation notes.

(a) After the issuance of Bonds has been authorized, the Panel shall have power to issue from time to time, pursuant to a resolution or resolutions of the Panel, negotiable bond anticipation notes of the Panel in anticipation of the issuance of Bonds.

(b) Bond anticipation notes shall mature not later than 2 years after the date of issuance, may be made redeemable prior to their maturity, and may be sold in such manner, in such denominations, and at such price or prices and shall bear interest at such rate or rates not to exceed the maximum annual rate authorized by law as a resolution authorizing the issuance of the bond anticipation notes may provide.

(c) The bond anticipation notes may be made payable as to both principal and interest from the proceeds of the Bonds. The Panel may provide for payment of interest on the bond anticipation notes from direct annual taxes upon all of the taxable property located within the district that are authorized to be levied annually for that purpose, without limit as to rate or amount, sufficient to pay the interest as it falls due, in the manner, subject to the security interest and lien, and with the effect provided in Section 1H-80 of this Code.

(d) The Panel is authorized to issue renewal notes in the event it is unable to issue Bonds to pay outstanding bond anticipation notes, on terms the Panel deems reasonable.

(e) A debt service fund shall be established in the manner provided in Section 1H-85 of this Code by the Panel for the bond anticipation notes, and the proceeds of any tax levy made pursuant to this Section shall be deposited into the fund upon receipt.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-100 new)

Sec. 1H-100. Vesting powers in trustee or other authorized agent. The resolution authorizing issuance of the Bonds shall vest in a trustee, paying agent, escrow agent, or depository such rights, powers, and duties in trust as the Panel may determine and may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the holders of the Bonds and limiting such rights and remedies as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the duties of the Panel in relation to the exercise of its corporate powers and the custody, safeguarding, and application of all moneys. The resolution shall provide for the manner in which moneys in the various funds and accounts of the Panel may be invested and the disposition of the earnings on the investments.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-105 new)

Sec. 1H-105. Discharge of bonds.

(a) If the Panel pays or causes to be paid to the holders of all Bonds then outstanding the principal, redemption price, if any, and interest to become due on the Bonds, at the times and in the manner stipulated therein and in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds, then the covenants, agreements, and other obligations of the Panel to the Bondholders shall be discharged and satisfied.

(b) Bonds or interest installments for the payment or redemption of which moneys have been set aside and held in trust by the trustee or other authorized agent provided for in Section 1H-100 of this Code, through deposit by the Panel of funds for the payment, redemption, or otherwise, at the maturity or redemption date, are deemed to have been paid within the meaning and with the effect expressed in subsection (a) of this Section. All outstanding Bonds of any series, prior to the maturity or redemption date, are deemed to have been paid within the meaning and with the effect expressed in subsection (a) of this Section if (1) there has been deposited with the trustee or other authorized agent either (A) moneys in an amount that is sufficient or (B) direct obligations of the United States of America the principal of and the interest on which, when due, will provide moneys that, together with the moneys, if any, deposited with the trustee or other authorized agent at the same time, are sufficient to pay, when due, the principal, sinking fund installment, or redemption price, if applicable, of and interest due and to become due on the Bonds on and prior to the redemption date, sinking fund installment date, or maturity date, as the case may be, and (2) the Panel has given the trustee or other authorized agent, in form satisfactory to it, irrevocable instructions to give notice to the effect and in accordance with the procedures provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds. Neither direct obligations of the United States of America, moneys deposited with the trustee or other authorized agent, or principal or interest payments on the securities shall be withdrawn or used for any purpose other than, and shall be held in trust for, the payment of the principal or redemption price, if applicable, and interest on the Bonds.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-110 new)

Sec. 1H-110. Pledge of the State. The State of Illinois pledges to and agrees with the holders of Bonds that the State will not limit or alter the rights and powers vested in the Panel by this Article with respect to the issuance of obligations so as to impair the terms of any contract made by the Panel with these holders or in any way impair the rights and remedies of these holders until the Bonds, together with interest on the Bonds, interest on any unpaid installments of interest, and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceedings by or on behalf of these holders, are fully met and discharged or provisions made for their payment. The Panel is authorized to include this pledge and agreement of the State in any resolution or contract with the holders of Bonds.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-115 new)

Sec. 1H-115. Statutory lien. Any pledge, assignment, lien, or security interest for the benefit of the holders of Bonds or bond anticipation notes, if any, created pursuant to this Article are valid and binding from the time the Bonds are issued, without any physical delivery or further act, and are valid and binding as against and prior to any claims of all other parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the State, the Panel, the district, or any other person, irrespective of whether the other parties have notice.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-120 new)

Sec. 1H-120. State or district not liable on obligations. Obligations shall not be deemed to constitute (i) a debt or liability of the State, the district, or any political subdivision of the State or district other than the Panel or (ii) a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State, the district, or any political subdivision of the State or district other than the Panel but shall be payable solely from the funds and revenues provided for in this Article. The issuance of obligations shall not directly, indirectly, or contingently obligate the State, the district, or any political subdivision of the State or district other than the Panel to levy any form of taxation therefor or to make any appropriation for their payment. Nothing in this Section shall prevent or be construed to prevent the Panel from pledging its full faith and credit to the payment of obligations. Nothing in this Article shall be construed to authorize the Panel to create a debt of the State or the district within the meaning of the Constitution or laws of Illinois, and all obligations issued by the Panel pursuant to the provisions of this Article are payable and shall state that they are payable solely from the funds and revenues pledged for their payment in accordance with the resolution authorizing their issuance or any trust indenture executed as security therefor. The State or the district shall not in any event be liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on any obligations of the Panel or for the performance of any pledge, obligation, or agreement of any kind whatsoever that may be undertaken by the Panel. No breach of any such pledge, obligation, or agreement may impose any liability upon the State or the district or any charge upon their general credit or against their taxing power.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-125 new)

Sec. 1H-125. Obligations as legal investments. The obligations issued under the provisions of this Article are hereby made securities in which all public officers and bodies of this State, all political subdivisions of this State, all persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks, and savings associations (including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business), and all credit unions, pension funds, administrators, and guardians who are or may be authorized to invest in bonds or in other obligations of the State may properly and legally invest funds, including capital, in their control or belonging to them. The obligations are also hereby made securities that may be deposited with and may be received by all public officers and bodies of the State, all political subdivisions of the State, and public corporations for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the State is authorized.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-130 new)

Sec. 1H-130. Complete authority. This Article, without reference to any other law, shall be deemed full and complete authority for the issuance of Bonds and bond anticipation notes as provided in this Article.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-135 new)

Sec. 1H-135. Tax anticipation warrants. A Panel shall have the same power to issue tax anticipation warrants as a school board under Section 17-16 of this Code. Tax anticipation warrants are considered borrowing from sources other than the State and are subject to Section 1H-65 of this Code.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-140 new)

Sec. 1H-140. Reports.

(a) The Panel, upon taking office and annually thereafter, shall prepare and submit to the Governor, General Assembly, and State Superintendent a report that includes the audited financial statement for the preceding fiscal year, an approved financial plan, and a statement of the major steps necessary to accomplish the objectives of the financial plan.

(b) Annual reports must be submitted on or before March 1 of each year.

(c) The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and by filing additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as required under subdivision (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-145 new)

Sec. 1H-145. Audit of Panel. The State Superintendent may require a separate audit of the Panel, otherwise the activities of the Panel must be included in the scope of the audit of the school district. A copy of the audit report covering the Panel must be submitted to the State Superintendent.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-150 new)

Sec. 1H-150. Assistance by State agencies, units of local government, and school districts. The district shall render such services to and permit the use of its facilities and resources by the Panel at no charge as may be requested by the Panel. Any State agency, unit of local government, or school district may, within its lawful powers and duties, render such services to the Panel as may be requested by the Panel. Upon request of the Panel, any State agency, unit of local government, or school district is authorized and empowered to loan to the Panel such officers and employees as the Panel may deem necessary in carrying out its functions and duties. Officers and employees so transferred shall not lose or forfeit their employment status or rights.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-155 new)

Sec. 1H-155. Property of Panel exempt from taxation. The property of the Panel is exempt from taxation.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-160 new)

Sec. 1H-160. Sanctions.

(a) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the district may commit the district to any contract or other obligation or incur any liability on behalf of the district for any purpose if the amount of the contract, obligation, or liability is in excess of the amount authorized for that purpose then available under the financial plan and budget then in effect.

(b) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the district may commit the district to any contract or other obligation on behalf of the district for the payment of money for any purpose required to be approved by the Panel unless the contract or other obligation has been approved by the Panel.

(c) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the district may take any action in violation of any valid order of the Panel, may fail or refuse to take any action required by any such order, may prepare, present, certify, or report any information, including any projections or estimates, for the Panel or any of its agents that is false or misleading, or, upon learning that any such information is false or misleading, may fail promptly to advise the Panel or its agents.

(d) In addition to any penalty or liability under any other law, any member, officer, employee, or agent of the district who violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this Section is subject to appropriate administrative discipline as may be imposed by the Panel, including, if warranted, suspension from duty without pay, removal from office, or termination of employment.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-165 new)

Sec. 1H-165. Abolition of Panel. The Panel shall be abolished 10 years after its creation or one year after all its obligations issued under the provisions of this Article have been fully paid and discharged, whichever comes later. However, the State Board, upon recommendation of the Panel and if no obligations are outstanding, may abolish the Panel at any time after the Panel has been in existence for 3 years. Upon the abolition of the Panel, all of its records shall be transferred to the State Board and any property of the Panel shall pass to and be vested in the State Board.

(105 ILCS 5/1H-170 new)

Sec. 1H-170. Limitations of actions after abolition; indemnification; legal representation.

(a) Abolition of the Panel pursuant to Section 1H-165 of this Code shall bar any remedy available against the Panel, its members, employees, or agents for any right or claim existing or any liability incurred prior to the abolition, unless the action or other proceeding is commenced prior to the expiration of 2 years after the date of the abolition.

(b) The Panel may indemnify any member, officer, employee, or agent who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she was a member, officer, employee, or agent of the Panel, against expenses (including attorney's fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding) if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Panel and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Panel and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

To the extent that a member, officer, employee, or agent of the Panel has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any such action, suit, or proceeding referred to in this subsection (b) or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith. Any such indemnification shall be made by the Panel only as authorized in the specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the member, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct. The determination shall be made (i) by the Panel by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of members who are not parties to the action, suit, or proceeding or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested members so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.

Reasonable expenses incurred in defending an action, suit, or proceeding shall be paid by the Panel in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, as authorized by the Panel in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the member, officer, employee, or agent to repay the amount, unless it is ultimately determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the Panel as authorized in this Section.

Any member, officer, employee, or agent against whom any action, suit, or proceeding is brought may employ his or her own attorney to appear on his or her behalf.

The right to indemnification accorded by this Section shall not limit any other right to indemnification to which the member, officer, employee, or agent may be entitled. Any rights under this Section shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of any member, officer, employee, or agent of the Panel.

The Panel may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a member, officer, employee, or agent of the Panel against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Panel would have the power to indemnify him or her against liability under the provisions of this Section.

The Panel shall be considered a State agency for purposes of receiving representation by the Attorney General. Members, officers, employees, and agents of the Panel shall be entitled to representation and indemnification under the State Employee Indemnification Act.

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