100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4495

 

Introduced , by Rep. André Thapedi

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Vocational Academy Opportunity Act. Creates 2 vocational academies, one located in Cook County and the other in St. Clair County, which shall be residential institutions. Provides that each academy shall be a State agency, funded by State appropriations, private contributions, and endowments. Provides that the academies shall be governed by a single Board of Trustees for the collective operation and oversight of the academies. Provides for the membership of the Board. Specifies the duties and powers of the Board. Provides that each academy shall be empowered to lease or purchase real and personal property on commercially reasonable terms for the use by the academy.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Vocational Academy Opportunity Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "Board" means the Board
7of Trustees created by this Act.
 
8    Section 10. Establishment, funding, and, location.
9    (a) There is created 2 vocational academies, one located in
10Cook County and the other in St. Clair County, which shall be
11residential institutions. Each academy shall be located within
12one linear mile of a major interstate in a community where the
13average income of a household of 3 people is no greater than
14100% of the federal poverty level. The land value of the
15community in which the academy is located may not exceed $7.50
16per square foot.
17    (b) Each academy shall be a State agency, funded by State
18appropriations, private contributions, and endowments. Minimal
19fees for residential students may be charged. Each academy may
20admit those students who have completed the academic equivalent
21of the 9th grade and may offer a program of secondary and
22postsecondary course work. Admission shall be determined by

 

 

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1competitive examination.
2    (c) In order to be eligible for State appropriations, each
3academy shall submit to the Board of Higher Education no later
4than the 1st day of October of each year its budget proposal
5for the operation and capital needs of the academy for its next
6fiscal year.
 
7    Section 15. Board of Trustees. The academies shall be
8governed by a single Board of Trustees for the collective
9operation and oversight of the academies, which shall consist
10of the following members:
11        (1) ex officio nonvoting members who shall be: the
12    State Superintendent of Education, the Executive Director
13    of the Illinois Community College Board, the Executive
14    Director of the Board of Higher Education, and the
15    superintendent of schools of the school district where each
16    campus is located;
17        (2) three Representatives of secondary education,
18    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education;
19        (3) two Representatives of higher education, appointed
20    by the Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education;
21        (4) the Mayor of Chicago, or his or her designee;
22        (5) the Mayor of East St. Louis, or his or her
23    designee;
24        (6) the President of the American Federation of Labor
25    and Congress of Industrial Organizations, or his or her

 

 

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1    designee; and
2        (7) two members representative of the general public,
3    appointed by the Governor.
4    With the exception of the initial appointments, the members
5terms of office shall be for 6 years. At the first meeting,
6members shall draw lots for appointments of 2, 4, or 6 year
7initial terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired
8portion of the terms by appointment of the officer who
9appointed the person causing such vacancy. The initial terms
10shall commence upon appointment and upon expiration of a term,
11the member shall continue serving until a successor is
12appointed. The Board shall select a chair from among its
13members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair. Members shall
14receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for all ordinary and
15necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as
16members of the Board.
 
17    Section 20. Powers of the Board. The Board of Trustees is
18authorized to:
19        (1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of
20    financial assistance for educational purposes from any
21    public or private person or agency and comply with rules
22    and regulations governing grants from the federal
23    government or from any other person or agency, which are
24    not in contravention of the Illinois Constitution or the
25    laws of the State of Illinois.

 

 

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1        (2) Purchase equipment and make improvements to
2    facilities necessary for the use of the academies, in
3    accordance with applicable law.
4        (3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and
5    policies necessary for the conduct of the business of the
6    Board.
7        (4) Award certificates and issue diplomas for
8    successful completion of programs of study requirements.
9        (5) Select a Director who shall be the chief
10    administrative officer of the academies and who shall
11    administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted by
12    the Board of the Trustees under this Section. The Director
13    shall also be the chief administrative officer of the Board
14    and shall be responsible for all of the Board's
15    administrative functions, duties, and needs.
16        (6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
17    for the efficient operation of the academies and select
18    personnel for the positions.
19        (7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary for
20    the continued operation of the academies.
21        (8) Enter into contracts and agreements which have been
22    recommended by the Director, to the extent that funds are
23    specifically appropriated for that purpose, with other
24    public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises
25    and undertakings related to or associated with an
26    educational purpose or program affecting education in an

 

 

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1    academy. This shall not preclude the Board from entering
2    into other contracts and agreements that it may deem
3    necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
4        (9) Perform other functions as are necessary to the
5    supervision and control of those phases of education under
6    its supervision and control.
7        (10) Delegate to the Director any administrative
8    powers and duties as it deems appropriate to aid the
9    Director in the efficient administration of his or her
10    responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
11    the Board.
12        (11) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies necessary
13    for the efficient operation of an academy.
14        (12) Establish criteria to be used in determining
15    eligibility of applicants for enrollment in an academy. The
16    criteria shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual, and
17    ethnic representation.
18        (13) Determine subjects and extracurricular activities
19    to be offered by an academy.
20        (14) Pay salaries and expenses, including, but not
21    limited to, facilities, equipment, and supplies of the
22    faculty and staff of an academy out of funds appropriated
23    or otherwise made available for the operating and
24    administrative expenses of the Board and an academy.
25        (15) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate
26    for expenditure by an academy and programs under its

 

 

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1    jurisdiction and all moneys appropriated or otherwise made
2    available for purposes of the Board and of the academy.
3        (16) Prescribe and select for use in an academy free
4    school books and other materials of instruction for
5    children enrolled in the academy and programs under its
6    jurisdiction for which the General Assembly provides
7    funds.
8        (17) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study and
9    rules, bylaws, and regulations for the conduct of students
10    and for the government of the school and programs under its
11    jurisdiction.
12        (18) Employ personnel as may be needed, establish
13    policies governing their employment and dismissal, and fix
14    the amount of their compensation. In the employment,
15    establishment of policies, and fixing of compensation, the
16    Board may make no discrimination on account of sex, race,
17    creed, color, or national origin.
 
18    Section 25. Academy property. Each academy shall be
19empowered to lease or purchase real and personal property on
20commercially reasonable terms for the use by the academy. Any
21leases or purchases of real or personal property, and any
22disposition of the property, by an academy shall be in
23compliance with the provisions of the Civil Administrative Code
24of Illinois and the State Property Control Act. Personal
25property acquired for use by an academy shall be inventoried

 

 

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1and disposed of in accordance with the State Property Control
2Act.
 
3    Section 30. Indemnification. Each academy, the Board, and
4its employees shall be represented and indemnified in certain
5civil law suits in accordance with the State Employee
6Indemnification Act. An academy or its officers or employees
7and the Board may not participate in the creation of any
8corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or other
9organizational entity which exercises, expands, or enhances
10the powers, duties, or responsibilities of the academy, unless
11specifically authorized by the General Assembly. This Section
12does not restrict an academy from creating any organization
13entity that is within or a part of the academy.