(35 ILCS 200/15-35)

Sec. 15-35. Schools. All property donated by the United States for school purposes, and all property of schools, not sold or leased or otherwise used with a view to profit, is exempt, whether owned by a resident or non-resident of this State or by a corporation incorporated in any state of the United States. Also exempt is:

(a) property of schools which is leased to a municipality to be used for municipal purposes on a not-for-profit basis;

(b) property of schools on which the schools are located and any other property of schools used by the schools exclusively for school purposes, including, but not limited to, student residence halls, dormitories and other housing facilities for students and their spouses and children, staff housing facilities, and school-owned and operated dormitory or residence halls occupied in whole or in part by students who belong to fraternities, sororities, or other campus organizations;

(c) property donated, granted, received or used for public school, college, theological seminary, university, or other educational purposes, whether held in trust or absolutely;

(d) in counties with more than 200,000 inhabitants which classify property, property (including interests in land and other facilities) on or adjacent to (even if separated by a public street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other public way) the grounds of a school, if that property is used by an academic, research or professional society, institute, association or organization which serves the advancement of learning in a field or fields of study taught by the school and which property is not used with a view to profit;

(e) property owned by a school district. The exemption under this subsection is not affected by any transaction in which, for the purpose of obtaining financing, the school district, directly or indirectly, leases or otherwise transfers the property to another for which or whom property is not exempt and immediately after the lease or transfer enters into a leaseback or other agreement that directly or indirectly gives the school district a right to use, control, and possess the property. In the case of a conveyance of the property, the school district must retain an option to purchase the property at a future date or, within the limitations period for reverters, the property must revert back to the school district.

(1) If the property has been conveyed as described in this subsection, the property is no longer exempt under this Section as of the date when:

(A) the right of the school district to use, control, and possess the property is terminated;

(B) the school district no longer has an option to purchase or otherwise acquire the property; and

(C) there is no provision for a reverter of the property to the school district within the limitations period for reverters.

(2) Pursuant to Sections 15-15 and 15-20 of this Code, the school district shall notify the chief county assessment officer of any transaction under this subsection. The chief county assessment officer shall determine initial and continuing compliance with the requirements of this subsection for tax exemption. Failure to notify the chief county assessment officer of a transaction under this subsection or to otherwise comply with the requirements of Sections 15-15 and 15-20 of this Code shall, in the discretion of the chief county assessment officer, constitute cause to terminate the exemption, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code.

(3) No provision of this subsection shall be construed to affect the obligation of the school district to which an exemption certificate has been issued under this Section from its obligation under Section 15-10 of this Code to file an annual certificate of status or to notify the chief county assessment officer of transfers of interest or other changes in the status of the property as required by this Code.

(4) The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly are declarative of existing law and shall not be construed as a new enactment; and

(f) in counties with more than 200,000 inhabitants which classify property, property of a corporation, which is an exempt entity under paragraph (3) of Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or its successor law, used by the corporation for the following purposes: (1) conducting continuing education for professional development of personnel in energy-related industries; (2) maintaining a library of energy technology information available to students and the public free of charge; and (3) conducting research in energy and environment, which research results could be ultimately accessible to persons involved in education.

(Source: P.A. 91-513, eff. 8-13-99; 91-578, eff. 8-14-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)