95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
HC0016

 

Introduced 2/13/2007, by Rep. Lou Lang

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
ILCON Art. X, Sec. 1

    Proposes to amend Section 1 of Article X of the Illinois Constitution. Provides that, beginning on the January 1 next occurring 3 years after the Constitutional Amendment takes effect, the State is solely responsible for financing the system of public education and property tax revenue must not be used to finance the system of public education (with an exception). Provides that after the Constitutional Amendment takes effect, the General Assembly shall pass and the Governor shall approve a bill that implements a new funding plan for the system of public education, which plan shall take effect on the January 1 next occurring 3 years after the Constitutional Amendment takes effect. Provides that under the plan (i) no school district may ever receive less from the State in any given school year than the school district received from all local, State, and federal sources for the school year during which the Constitutional Amendment takes effect and (ii) on the January 1 next occurring 3 years after the Constitutional Amendment takes effect, the property tax rate for a school district shall be 0%, which rate may be increased to raise additional funds for the school district if the rate increase is approved by referendum. Effective upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

 
3     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
5 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the
6 electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general
7 election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of
8 this resolution a proposition to amend Section 1 of Article X
9 of the Illinois Constitution as follows:
 
10
ARTICLE X
11
EDUCATION

12     (ILCON Art. X, Sec. 1)
13 SECTION 1. GOAL - FREE SCHOOLS
14     A fundamental goal of the People of the State is the
15 educational development of all persons to the limits of their
16 capacities.
17     The State shall provide for an efficient system of high
18 quality public educational institutions and services.
19 Education in public schools through the secondary level shall
20 be free. There may be such other free education as the General
21 Assembly provides by law.
22     The State has the primary responsibility for financing the
23 system of public education, except that beginning on the

 

 

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1 January 1 next occurring 3 years after this Constitutional
2 Amendment takes effect, the State is solely responsible for
3 financing the system of public education and property tax
4 revenue may not be used to finance the system of public
5 education except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. After
6 this Constitutional Amendment takes effect, the General
7 Assembly shall pass and the Governor shall approve a bill that
8 implements a new funding plan for the system of public
9 education, which plan shall take effect on the January 1 next
10 occurring 3 years after this Constitutional Amendment takes
11 effect. Under the plan, no school district may ever receive
12 less from the State in any given school year than the school
13 district received from all local, State, and federal sources
14 for the school year during which this Constitutional Amendment
15 takes effect. Under the plan, on the January 1 next occurring 3
16 years after this Constitutional Amendment takes effect, the
17 property tax rate for a school district shall be 0%, which rate
18 may be increased to raise additional funds for the school
19 district if the rate increase is approved by referendum.
20 (Source: Illinois Constitution.)
 
21
SCHEDULE
22     This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being
23 declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois
24 Constitutional Amendment Act.