HB2787 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 08150 NHT 32220 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB2787

Introduced 2/26/2007, by Rep. William Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/3-15.17 new
30 ILCS 105/5.675 new

Amends the School Code and the State Finance Act. Authorizes regional superintendents of schools to make grants from the Civic Education Trust Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury, to any public school that enrolls 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade students and that has completed and submitted a Civic Audit for the school, for the purpose of professional development for the school's staff. Provides that grants may be awarded to eligible schools only once every 3 years and that a grant must be no less than $250 and no more than $3,000, unless otherwise authorized. Provides that the State Treasurer shall accept and deposit into the Fund all gifts, grants, transfers, donations, appropriations, and other amounts, from any legal source, public or private, that are designated for deposit into the Fund. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 School Code is amended by adding Section 3-15.17 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/3-15.17 new)

Sec. 3-15.17. Civic education advancement.

(a) The General Assembly finds that civic education and participation is a fundamental element of a healthy democracy, and schools are in need of support to identify civic learning opportunities and to implement new strategies to prepare and sustain high quality citizenship among their student body.

(b) Subject to appropriation, each regional superintendent of schools has the power to make grants from the Civic Education Trust Fund to any public school that enrolls 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade students and that has completed and submitted a Civic Audit for the school, for the purpose of professional development for the school's staff. The Civic Audit form and its content shall be designed and updated as deemed necessary by the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition or any other entity that is designed to carry out such a purpose and that is approved by the State Board of Education.

(c) Schools submitting a Civic Audit under this Section must verify Audit completion with their regional office of education in order to be eligible for a grant under this Section. Data from completed Civic Audits must be processed by the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition or other entity approved by the State Board of Education. Grants authorized under this Section may be awarded to eligible schools only once every 3 years. A grant must be no less than $250 and no more than $3,000, unless otherwise authorized by the State Board of Education.

(d) The Civic Education Trust Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The State Treasurer shall accept and deposit into the Fund all gifts, grants, transfers, donations, appropriations, and other amounts, from any legal source, public or private, that are designated for deposit into the Fund. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by regional superintendents of schools for grants authorized under this Section.

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.675 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.675 new)

Sec. 5.675. The Civic Education Trust Fund.

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