SB2376 Engrossed LRB094 17269 NHT 52559 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Public Community College Act is amended by
5 adding Section 2-23 as follows:
 
6     (110 ILCS 805/2-23 new)
7     Sec. 2-23. We Want to Learn English Initiative.
8     (a) Subject to Section 7 of the Board of Higher Education
9 Act and subject to appropriation, the State Board shall
10 establish and administer a We Want to Learn English Initiative
11 to provide resources for immigrants and refugees in this State
12 to learn English in order to move towards becoming full members
13 of American society.
14     (b) Each fiscal year, the State Board shall include, as a
15 separate line item, in its budget proposal $25,000,000 in
16 funding for the We Want to Learn English Initiative. The State
17 Board shall disburse this funding. No less than half of the
18 funds appropriated for this Initiative each fiscal year shall
19 be disbursed to community-based, not-for-profit organizations,
20 immigrant social service organizations, faith-based
21 organizations, and on-site job training programs so that
22 immigrants and refugees can learn English where they live,
23 work, pray, and socialize and where their children go to
24 school.
 
25     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
26 becoming law.