Bill Text: IL HB0027 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Creates the Vocational Academy Opportunity Act. Creates 2 vocational academies, one located in Cook County and the other in a downstate 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.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-23 - House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB0027 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB0027-Engrossed.html

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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Vocational Academy Opportunity Act.
Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "Board" means the Board
of Trustees created by this Act.
Section 10. Establishment, funding, and location.
(a) There are initially created 2 vocational academies, one
located in Cook County and the other in a downstate county
designated by the Board of Higher Education as downstate, which
shall be residential institutions. Each academy shall be
located within 5 linear miles of a major interstate in a
community where the average income of a household of 3 people
is no greater than 100% of the poverty guidelines updated
periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C.
9902(2). The land value of the community in which each academy
is located may not exceed $7.50 per square foot.
(b) Each academy shall be a State agency, funded by State
appropriations, private contributions, and endowments. Minimal
fees for residential students may be charged. Each academy may

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admit those students who have completed the academic equivalent
of the 9th grade and shall offer a program of secondary
coursework that is appropriate for students in the 10th, 11th,
and 12th grades and that offers courses that meet the
prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma under Section
27-22 of the School Code. Admission shall be determined by
competitive examination.
(c) In order to be eligible for State appropriations, each
academy shall submit to the Board of Higher Education no later
than the 1st day of October of each year its budget proposal
for the operation and capital needs of the academy for its next
fiscal year.
Section 15. Board of Trustees. The academies shall be
governed by a single Board of Trustees for the collective
operation and oversight of the academies, which shall consist
of the following members:
(1) ex officio, nonvoting members who shall be: the
State Superintendent of Education, the Executive Director
of the Illinois Community College Board, the Executive
Director of the Board of Higher Education, and the
superintendent of schools of the school district where each
academy is to be located;
(2) 3 representatives of secondary education,
appointed by the State Superintendent of Education;
(3) the 2 mayors of the municipalities where the

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academies are to be located;
(4) the president of a statewide labor federation
representing more than one international union, or his or
her designee, appointed by the State Superintendent of
Education; and
(5) 2 members representative of the general public,
appointed by the Governor.
With the exception of the initial appointments, the
members' terms of office shall be for 6 years. At the first
meeting, members shall draw lots for appointments of 2, 4, or
6-year initial terms. A vacancy shall be filled for the
unexpired portion of the term by appointment of the person who
appointed the member causing such vacancy. The initial terms
shall commence upon appointment, and, upon expiration of a
term, a member shall continue serving until a successor is
appointed. The Board shall select a chair from among its
members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair. Members shall
receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for all ordinary and
necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as
members of the Board.
Section 20. Powers of the Board. The Board of Trustees is
authorized to:
(1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of
financial assistance for educational purposes from any
public or private person or agency and comply with rules

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governing grants from the federal government or from any
other person or agency that are not in contravention of the
Illinois Constitution or the laws of the State of Illinois.
(2) Purchase equipment and make improvements to
facilities necessary for the use of the academies, in
accordance with applicable law.
(3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules and policies
necessary for the conduct of the business of the Board.
(4) Award certificates and issue diplomas to students
for successful completion of programs of study, provided
that a high school diploma may be issued to a student if
the student has, at a minimum, satisfied the requirements
of Section 27-22 of the School Code.
(5) Enter into agreements with institutions of higher
education for dual credit in accordance with the
requirements of the Dual Credit Quality Act.
(6) Select a Director, who shall be the chief
administrative officer of the academies and who shall
administer the rules and policies adopted by the Board of
the Trustees under this Section. The Director shall also be
the chief administrative officer of the Board and shall be
responsible for all of the Board's administrative
functions, duties, and needs.
(7) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
for the efficient operation of the academies and select
personnel for the positions.

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(8) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary for
the continued operation of the academies.
(9) Enter into contracts and agreements, which have
been recommended by the Director, to the extent that funds
are specifically appropriated for that purpose, with other
public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises
and undertakings related to or associated with an
educational purpose or program affecting education in an
academy. This power does not preclude the Board from
entering into other contracts and agreements that it may
deem necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
(10) Perform other functions as are necessary for the
supervision and control of those phases of education under
the Board's supervision and control.
(11) Delegate to the Director any administrative
powers and duties that the Board deems appropriate to aid
the Director in the efficient administration of his or her
responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
the Board.
(12) Adopt rules and policies necessary for the
efficient operation of an academy.
(13) Establish criteria to be used in determining the
eligibility of applicants for enrollment in an academy. The
criteria shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual, and
ethnic representation.
(14) Determine subjects and extracurricular activities

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to be offered by an academy.
(15) Pay salaries and expenses, including, but not
limited to, facilities, equipment, and supplies of the
faculty and staff of an academy, out of funds appropriated
or otherwise made available for the operating and
administrative expenses of the Board and an academy.
(16) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate
for expenditure by an academy and programs under the
academy's jurisdiction all moneys appropriated or
otherwise made available for purposes of the Board and of
the academy.
(17) Prescribe and select for use in an academy free
school books and other materials of instruction for
children enrolled in the academy and programs under the
academy's jurisdiction for which the General Assembly
provides funds.
(18) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study and
rules and bylaws for the conduct of students and for the
government of an academy and programs under the academy's
jurisdiction.
(19) Employ personnel as may be needed, establish
policies governing their employment and dismissal, and fix
the amount of their compensation. In the employment,
establishment of policies, and fixing of compensation, the
Board may make no discrimination on account of sex, race,
creed, color, or national origin.

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Section 25. Academy property. Each academy shall be
empowered to lease or purchase real and personal property on
commercially reasonable terms for the use by the academy. Any
leases or purchases of real or personal property and any
disposition of the property by an academy shall be in
compliance with the provisions of the Civil Administrative Code
of Illinois and the State Property Control Act. Personal
property acquired for use by an academy shall be inventoried
and disposed of in accordance with the State Property Control
Act.
Section 30. Indemnification. Each academy, the Board, and
the academy's or Board's officers and employees shall be
represented and indemnified in certain civil lawsuits in
accordance with the State Employee Indemnification Act. An
academy, the Board, or the academy's or Board's officers or
employees may not participate in the creation of any
corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or other
organizational entity that exercises, expands, or enhances the
powers, duties, or responsibilities of the academy, unless
specifically authorized by the General Assembly. This Section
does not restrict an academy from creating any organizational
entity that is within or a part of the academy.