103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5081

 

Introduced 2/8/2024, by Rep. Lance Yednock

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
35 ILCS 5/241 new

    Creates the Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act. Creates an income tax credit for a taxpayer that makes a qualified contribution to a scholarship granting organization for which the taxpayer has received a certificate of receipt from the organization. Effective immediately.


LRB103 36429 HLH 66531 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5081LRB103 36429 HLH 66531 b

1    AN ACT concerning revenue.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7    "Authorized contribution" means the contribution amount
8that is listed on the contribution authorization certificate
9issued to the taxpayer.
10    "Board" means the State Board of Education.
11    "Contribution" means a donation made by the taxpayer
12during the taxable year for providing scholarships as provided
13in this Act.
14    "Custodian" means, with respect to eligible students, an
15Illinois resident who is a parent or legal guardian of the
16eligible student or students.
17    "Department" means the Department of Revenue.
18    "Eligible student" means a child who:
19        (1) is a member of a household whose federal adjusted
20    gross income in the year before the child initially
21    receives a scholarship under this Act does not exceed 300%
22    of the federal poverty level and, once the child receives
23    a scholarship under this Act, does not exceed 400% of the

 

 

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1    federal poverty level;
2        (2) is eligible to attend a public elementary school
3    or high school in Illinois in the semester immediately
4    before the semester during which he or she first receives
5    a scholarship under this Act or is starting school in
6    Illinois for the first time when he or she first receives a
7    scholarship under this Act; and
8        (3) resides in Illinois while receiving a scholarship
9    under this Act.
10    "Family member" means a parent, child, or sibling, whether
11by whole blood, half blood, or adoption; a spouse; or a
12stepchild.
13    "Jointly administered CTE program" means a program or set
14of programs within a qualified school located in Illinois, as
15determined by the State Board of Education under Section 7.5
16of this Act.
17    "Necessary costs and fees" includes the customary charge
18for instruction and use of facilities in general and the
19additional fixed fees charged for specified purposes that are
20required generally of non-scholarship recipients for each
21academic period for which the scholarship applicant actually
22enrolls, including costs associated with student assessments.
23"Necessary cost and fees" does not include fees payable only
24once or other contingent deposits that are refundable in whole
25or in part. The Board may prescribe, by rules consistent with
26this Act, detailed provisions concerning the computation of

 

 

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1necessary costs and fees.
2    "Qualified contribution" means the authorized contribution
3made by a taxpayer to a scholarship granting organization for
4which the taxpayer has received a certificate of receipt from
5such organization.
6    "Qualified school" means a technical academy in the State.
7    "Scholarship" means an educational scholarship awarded to
8an eligible student to attend a qualified school of their
9custodians' choice in an amount not exceeding the necessary
10costs and fees to attend that school.
11    "Scholarship granting organization" means an entity that:
12        (1) is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of
13    the Internal Revenue Code;
14        (2) uses at least 95% of the qualified contributions
15    received during a taxable year for scholarships;
16        (3) provides scholarships to students in accordance
17    with this Act;
18        (4) deposits and holds qualified contributions and any
19    income derived from qualified contributions in an account
20    that is separate from the organization's operating fund or
21    other funds until such qualified contributions or income
22    is withdrawn for use; and
23        (5) is approved to issue certificates of receipt.
24    "Taxpayer" means any individual, corporation, partnership,
25trust, or other entity subject to the Illinois income tax. For
26the purposes of this Act, spouses filing a joint return shall

 

 

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1be considered one taxpayer.
2    "Technical academy" means a nonpublic school located in
3Illinois that:
4        (1) registers with the Board under Section 2-3.25o of
5    the School Code;
6        (2) operates or will operate a jointly administered
7    CTE program as the primary focus of the academy; and
8        (3) partners with the United States Department of
9    Labor's Office of Apprenticeship, or its successor
10    organization.
11    To maintain its status as a technical academy, the academy
12must obtain recognition from the Board under Section 2-3.25o
13of the School Code within 2 calendar years of its registration
14with the Board.
 
15    Section 7.5. Determination of jointly administered CTE
16programs.
17    (a) Upon its own motion, or upon petition from a qualified
18school, the State Board of Education shall determine whether a
19program or set of programs offered or proposed by a qualified
20school provides coursework and training in career and
21technical education pathways aligned to industry-recognized
22certifications and credentials. The State Board of Education
23shall make that determination based upon whether the
24industry-recognized certifications or credentials that are the
25focus of a qualified school's coursework and training program

 

 

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1or set of programs (i) are associated with an occupation
2determined to fall under the LEADING or EMERGING priority
3sectors as determined through Illinois' Workforce Innovation
4and Opportunity Act Unified State Plan and (ii) provide wages
5that are at least 70% of the average annual wage in the State,
6as calculated by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
7    (b) The State Board of Education shall publish a list of
8approved jointly administered CTE programs on its website and
9otherwise make that list available to the public. A qualified
10school may petition the State Board of Education to obtain a
11determination that a proposed program or set of programs that
12it seeks to offer qualifies as a jointly administered CTE
13program under subsection (a) of this Section. A petitioner
14shall file one original petition in the form provided by the
15State Board of Education and in the manner specified by the
16State Board of Education. The petitioner may withdraw his or
17her petition by submitting a written statement to the State
18Board of Education indicating the petitioner's intent to
19withdraw. The State Board of Education shall approve or deny a
20petition within 180 days of its submission and, upon approval,
21shall proceed to add the program or set of programs to the list
22of approved jointly administered CTE programs. The approval or
23denial of any petition is a final decision of the Board,
24subject to judicial review under the Administrative Review
25Law. Jurisdiction and venue are vested in the circuit court.
26    (c) The State Board of Education shall evaluate the

 

 

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1approved jointly administered CTE programs once every 5 years.
2During each evaluation, the State Board of Education shall
3determine whether these programs continue to meet the
4requirements of subsection (a) of this Section.
 
5    Section 10. Credit awards.
6    (a) The Department shall award credits against the tax
7imposed under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 of the
8Illinois Income Tax Act to taxpayers who make qualified
9contributions. For contributions made under this Act, the
10credit shall be equal to 100% of the total amount of qualified
11contributions made by the taxpayer during a taxable year, not
12to exceed a credit of $1,000,000 per taxpayer.
13    (b) The aggregate amount of all credits the Department may
14award under this Act in any calendar year may not exceed
15$75,000,000.
16    (c) Contributions made by corporations (including
17Subchapter S corporations), partnerships, and trusts under
18this Act may not be directed to a particular subset of
19qualified schools, a particular qualified school, a particular
20group of students, or a particular student. Contributions made
21by individuals under this Act may be directed to a particular
22subset of qualified schools or a particular qualified school
23but may not be directed to a particular group of students or a
24particular student.
25    (d) No credit shall be taken under this Act for any

 

 

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1qualified contribution for which the taxpayer claims a federal
2income tax deduction.
3    (e) Credits shall be awarded in a manner that the
4Department determines is geographically proportionate to
5enrollment in recognized nonpublic qualified schools in
6Illinois. If the cap on the aggregate credits that may be
7awarded by the Department is not reached by June 1 of a given
8year, the Department shall award the remaining credits on a
9first-come, first-served basis, without regard to the
10limitation of this subsection.
 
11    Section 15. Approval to issue certificates of receipt.
12    (a) A scholarship granting organization shall submit an
13application for approval to issue certificates of receipt in
14the form and manner prescribed by the Department, provided
15that each application shall include:
16        (1) documentary evidence that the scholarship granting
17    organization has been granted an exemption from taxation
18    under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
19        (2) certification that all qualified contributions and
20    any income derived from qualified contributions are
21    deposited and held in an account that is separate from the
22    scholarship granting organization's operating or other
23    funds until such qualified contributions or income are
24    withdrawn for use;
25        (3) certification that the scholarship granting

 

 

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1    organization will use at least 95% of its annual revenue
2    from qualified contributions for scholarships;
3        (4) certification that the scholarship granting
4    organization will provide scholarships to eligible
5    students;
6        (5) a list of the names and addresses of all members of
7    the governing board of the scholarship granting
8    organization; and
9        (6) a copy of the most recent financial audit of the
10    scholarship granting organization's accounts and records
11    conducted by an independent certified public accountant in
12    accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in
13    the United States, government auditing standards, and
14    rules adopted by the Department.
15    (b) A scholarship granting organization whose owner or
16operator has, in the 7 years immediately preceding the date of
17the application, filed for personal bankruptcy or corporate
18bankruptcy involving a corporation in which the owner owned
19more than 20% shall not be eligible to provide scholarships.
20    (c) A scholarship granting organization must not have an
21owner or operator who owns or operates a qualified school or
22has a family member who is a paid staff member or board member
23of a participating qualified school.
24    (d) A scholarship granting organization shall comply with
25the anti-discrimination provisions of 42 U.S.C. 2000d.
26    (e) The Department shall review and either approve or deny

 

 

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1each application to issue certificates of receipt under this
2Act. Approval or denial of an application shall be made on a
3periodic basis. Applicants shall be notified of the
4Department's determination within 30 business days after the
5application is received.
6    (f) No scholarship granting organization shall issue any
7certificate of receipt without first being approved to issue
8certificates of receipt.
 
9    Section 20. Annual review.
10    (a) Each scholarship granting organization that receives
11approval to issue certificates of receipt shall file an
12application for recertification on an annual basis. Such
13application for recertification shall be in the form and
14manner prescribed by the Department and shall include:
15        (1) a certification from the Director or Chief
16    Executive Officer of the organization that the
17    organization has complied with and continues to comply
18    with the requirements of this Act, including evidence of
19    that compliance; and
20        (2) a copy of the organization's current financial
21    statements.
22    (b) The Department may revoke the approval of a
23scholarship granting organization to issue certificates of
24receipt upon a finding that the organization has violated this
25Act or any rules adopted under this Act. These violations

 

 

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1shall include, but need not be limited to, any of the
2following:
3        (1) failure to meet the requirements of this Act;
4        (2) failure to maintain full and adequate records with
5    respect to the receipt of qualified contributions;
6        (3) failure to supply such records to the Department;
7    or
8        (4) failure to provide notice to the Department of the
9    issuance of certificates of receipt under Section 35 of
10    this Act.
11    (c) Within 5 days after the determination to revoke
12approval, the Department shall provide notice of the
13determination to the scholarship granting organization and
14information regarding the process to request a hearing to
15appeal the determination.
 
16    Section 25. Contribution authorization certificates.
17    (a) A taxpayer shall not be allowed a credit under this Act
18for any contribution to a scholarship granting organization
19that was made before the Department issues to the taxpayer a
20contribution authorization certificate for the contribution.
21    (b) Before making a contribution to a scholarship granting
22organization, the taxpayer shall apply to the Department for a
23contribution authorization certificate.
24    (c) A taxpayer who makes more than one contribution to a
25scholarship granting organization must make a separate

 

 

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1application for each contribution authorization certificate.
2The application shall be in the form and manner prescribed by
3the Department, provided that the application includes:
4        (1) the taxpayer's name and address;
5        (2) the amount the taxpayer will contribute; and
6        (3) any other information the Department deems
7    necessary.
8    (d) The Department may allow taxpayers to make multiple
9applications on the same form, provided that each application
10shall be treated as a separate application.
11    (e) The Department shall issue credit authorization
12certificates on a first-come, first-served basis based upon
13the date that the Department received the taxpayer's
14application for the certificate subject to the provisions of
15subsection (e) of Section 10 of this Act.
16    (f) A taxpayer's aggregate authorized contribution amount,
17as listed on one or more authorized contribution certificates
18issued to the taxpayer, shall not exceed the aggregate of the
19amounts listed on the taxpayer's applications submitted in
20accordance with this Section.
21    (g) Each contribution authorization certificate shall
22state:
23        (1) the date the certificate was issued;
24        (2) the date by which the authorized contributions
25    listed in the certificate must be made, which shall be 60
26    days from the date of the issuance of a credit

 

 

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1    authorization certificate;
2        (3) the total amount of authorized contributions; and
3        (4) any other information the Department deems
4    necessary.
5    (h) Credit authorization certificates shall be mailed to
6the appropriate taxpayers within 3 business days after their
7issuance.
8    (i) A taxpayer may rescind all or part of an authorized
9contribution approved under this Act by providing written
10notice to the Department. Amounts rescinded shall no longer be
11deducted from the cap prescribed in Section 10 of this Act.
12    (j) The Department shall maintain on its website a running
13total of the amount of credits for which taxpayers may make
14applications for contribution authorization certification. The
15running total shall be updated every business day.
 
16    Section 30. Certificates of receipt.
17    (a) No scholarship granting organization shall issue a
18certificate of receipt for any qualified contribution made by
19a taxpayer under this Act unless that scholarship granting
20organization has been approved to issue certificates of
21receipt under Section 15 of this Act.
22    (b) No scholarship granting organization shall issue a
23certificate of receipt for a contribution made by a taxpayer
24unless the taxpayer has been issued a credit authorization
25certificate by the Department.

 

 

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1    (c) If a taxpayer makes a contribution to a scholarship
2granting organization before the date by which the authorized
3contribution shall be made, the scholarship granting
4organization shall, within 30 days of receipt of the
5authorized contribution, issue to the taxpayer a written
6certificate of receipt.
7    (d) If a taxpayer fails to make all or a portion of a
8contribution before the date by which the authorized
9contribution is required to be made, the taxpayer shall not be
10entitled to a certificate of receipt for the portion of the
11authorized contribution not made.
12    (e) Each certificate of receipt shall state:
13        (1) the name and address of the issuing scholarship
14    granting organization;
15        (2) the taxpayer's name and address;
16        (3) the date for each qualified contribution;
17        (4) the amount of each qualified contribution;
18        (5) the total qualified contribution amount; and
19        (6) any other information that the Department may deem
20    necessary.
21    (f) Upon the issuance of a certificate of receipt, the
22issuing scholarship granting organization shall, within 10
23days after issuing the certificate of receipt, provide the
24Department with notification of the issuance of the
25certificate in the form and manner prescribed by the
26Department, provided that the notification shall include:

 

 

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1        (1) the taxpayer's name and address;
2        (2) the date of the issuance of a certificate of
3    receipt;
4        (3) the qualified contribution date or dates and the
5    amounts contributed on those dates;
6        (4) the total qualified contribution listed on the
7    certificates;
8        (5) the issuing scholarship granting organization's
9    name and address; and
10        (6) any other information the Department may deem
11    necessary.
12    (g) Any portion of a contribution that a taxpayer fails to
13make by the date indicated on the authorized contribution
14certificate shall no longer be deducted from the cap
15prescribed in Section 10 of this Act.
 
16    Section 35. Reports.
17    (a) Within 180 days after the end of its fiscal year, each
18scholarship granting organization must provide to the
19Department a copy of a financial audit of its accounts and
20records conducted by an independent certified public
21accountant in accordance with auditing standards generally
22accepted in the United States, government auditing standards,
23and rules adopted by the Department. The audit must include a
24report on financial statements presented in accordance with
25generally accepted accounting principles. The audit must

 

 

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1include evidence that no less than 95% of qualified
2contributions received were used to provide scholarships to
3eligible students. The Department shall review all audits
4submitted under this subsection. The Department shall request
5any significant items that were omitted in violation of a rule
6adopted by the Department. The items must be provided within
745 days after the date of request. If a scholarship granting
8organization does not comply with the Department's request,
9the Department may revoke the scholarship granting
10organization's ability to issue certificates of receipt.
11    (b) A scholarship granting organization that is approved
12to receive qualified contributions shall report to the
13Department, on a form prescribed by the Department, by January
1431 of each calendar year. The report shall include:
15        (1) the total number of certificates of receipt issued
16    during the immediately preceding calendar year;
17        (2) the total dollar amount of qualified contributions
18    received, as set forth in the certificates of receipt
19    issued during the immediately preceding calendar year;
20        (3) the total number of eligible students using
21    scholarships for the immediately preceding calendar year
22    and the academic year in progress and the total dollar
23    value of the scholarships;
24        (4) the name and address of each qualified school for
25    which scholarships using qualified contributions were
26    issued during the immediately preceding calendar year,

 

 

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1    detailing the number, grade, race, gender, income level,
2    and residency by zip code of eligible students and the
3    total dollar value of scholarships being used at each
4    qualified school by priority group, as identified in
5    subsection (d) of Section 40 of this Act; and
6        (5) any additional information requested by the
7    Department.
8    (c) On or before the last day of March for each calendar
9year, for the immediately preceding calendar year, the
10Department shall submit a written report to the Governor, the
11President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
12Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the
13Minority Leader of the House of Representatives regarding this
14Act. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the
15following information:
16        (1) the names and addresses of all scholarship
17    granting organizations approved to issue certificates of
18    receipt;
19        (2) the number and aggregate total of certificates of
20    receipt issued by each scholarship granting organization;
21    and
22        (3) the information reported to the Department
23    required by subsection (b) of this Section.
24    (d) The sharing and reporting of student data under this
25Section must be in accordance with the requirements of the
26federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the

 

 

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1Illinois School Student Records Act. All parties must preserve
2the confidentiality of such information as required by law.
3Data reported by the Department under subsection (c) of this
4Section must not disaggregate data to a level that will
5disclose demographic data of individual students.
 
6    Section 40. Scholarship granting organization
7responsibilities.
8    (a) Before granting a scholarship for an academic year,
9each scholarship granting organization shall assess and
10document each student's eligibility for the academic year.
11    (b) A scholarship granting organization shall grant
12scholarships only to eligible students.
13    (c) A scholarship granting organization shall allow an
14eligible student to attend any qualified school of the
15student's choosing, subject to the availability of funds.
16    (d) In granting scholarships, a scholarship granting
17organization shall give priority to eligible students who
18received a scholarship from a scholarship granting
19organization during the previous qualified school year. Second
20priority shall be given to the following priority groups:
21        (1) eligible students who are members of a household
22    whose previous year's total annual income does not exceed
23    185% of the federal poverty level; and
24        (2) eligible students who are siblings of students
25    currently receiving a scholarship.

 

 

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1    (d-5) A scholarship granting organization shall begin
2granting scholarships no later than the February 1 preceding
3the academic year for which the scholarship is sought. Each
4priority group identified in subsection (d) of this Section
5shall be eligible to receive scholarships on a first-come,
6first-served basis until the April 1 immediately preceding the
7academic year for which the scholarship is sought, starting
8with the first priority group identified in subsection (d) of
9this Section. Applications for scholarships for eligible
10students meeting the qualifications of one or more priority
11groups that are received before April 1 must be either
12approved or denied within 10 business days after receipt.
13Beginning April 1, all eligible students shall be eligible to
14receive scholarships without regard to the priority groups
15identified in subsection (d) of this Section.
16    (e) Except as provided in subsection (e-5) of this
17Section, scholarships shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the
18statewide average operational expense per student among public
19schools or (ii) the necessary costs and fees for attendance at
20the qualified school. A qualified school may set a lower
21maximum scholarship amount for eligible students whose family
22income falls within paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection
23(e); that amount may not exceed the necessary costs and fees
24for attendance at the qualified school and is subject to the
25limitations on average scholarship amounts set forth in
26paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, as applicable. The

 

 

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1qualified school shall notify the scholarship granting
2organization of its necessary costs and fees as well as any
3maximum scholarship amount set by the qualified school.
4Scholarships shall be awarded as follows:
5        (1) for eligible students whose household income is
6    less than 185% of the federal poverty level, the
7    scholarship shall be 100% of the amount determined under
8    this subsection (e) and subsection (e-5) of this Section;
9        (2) for eligible students whose household income is
10    185% or more of the federal poverty level but less than
11    250% of the federal poverty level, the average of
12    scholarships shall be 75% of the amount determined under
13    this subsection (e) and subsection (e-5) of this Section;
14    and
15        (3) for eligible students whose household income is
16    250% or more of the federal poverty level, the average of
17    scholarships shall be 50% of the amount determined under
18    this subsection (e) and subsection (e-5) of this Section.
19    (e-5) The statewide average operational expense per
20student among public schools shall be multiplied by the
21following factors: (1) for students determined eligible to
22receive services under the federal Individuals with
23Disabilities Education Act, 2; (2) for students who are
24English learners, as defined in subsection (d) of Section
2514C-2 of the School Code, 1.2; and (3) for students who are
26gifted and talented children, as defined in Section 14A-20 of

 

 

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1the School Code, 1.1.
2    (f) A scholarship granting organization shall distribute
3scholarship payments to the participating qualified school
4where the student is enrolled.
5    (g) Each scholarship granting organization shall expend
6all qualified contributions received during the calendar year
7in which the qualified contributions were received. No
8qualified contributions may be carried forward to the
9following calendar year.
10    (h) A scholarship granting organization shall allow an
11eligible student to transfer a scholarship during the academic
12year to any other participating qualified school of the
13custodian's choice. Such scholarships shall be prorated.
14    (i) With the prior approval of the Department, a
15scholarship granting organization may transfer funds to
16another scholarship granting organization if additional funds
17are required to meet scholarship demands at the receiving
18scholarship granting organization. All transferred funds must
19be deposited by the receiving scholarship granting
20organization into its scholarship accounts. All transferred
21amounts received by any scholarship granting organization must
22be separately disclosed to the Department.
23    (j) If the approval of a scholarship granting organization
24is revoked as provided in Section 20 of this Act or the
25scholarship granting organization is dissolved, all remaining
26qualified contributions of the scholarship granting

 

 

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1organization shall be transferred to another scholarship
2granting organization. All transferred funds must be deposited
3by the receiving scholarship granting organization into its
4scholarship accounts.
5    (k) Scholarship granting organizations shall make
6reasonable efforts to advertise the availability of
7scholarships to eligible students.
 
8    Section 45. State Board responsibilities.
9    (a) Students who have been granted a scholarship under
10this Act shall be annually assessed at the qualified school
11where the student attends qualified school in the same manner
12in which students that attend public schools are annually
13assessed under Section 2-3.64a-5 of the School Code. Such
14qualified school shall pay costs associated with this
15requirement.
16    (b) The Board shall select an independent research
17organization, which may be a public or private entity or
18university, to which the participating qualified school must
19report the scores of students who are receiving scholarships
20and are assessed under subsection (a) of this Section. Costs
21associated with the independent research organization shall be
22paid by the scholarship granting organizations on a per-pupil
23basis or by gifts, grants, or donations received by the Board
24under subsection (d) of this Section, as determined by the
25Board. The independent research organization must annually

 

 

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1report to the Board on the year-to-year learning gains of
2students receiving scholarships on a statewide basis. The
3report shall also include, to the extent possible, a
4comparison of these learning gains to the statewide learning
5gains of public school students with socioeconomic backgrounds
6similar to those of students receiving scholarships. The
7annual report shall be delivered to the Board and published on
8its website.
9    (c) Beginning within 120 days after the Board first
10receives the annual report by the independent research
11organization as provided in subsection (b) of this Section and
12on an annual basis thereafter, the Board shall submit a
13written report to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
14the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority
15Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of
16Representatives regarding this Act. The report shall include
17an evaluation of the academic performance of students
18receiving scholarships and recommendations for improving
19student performance.
20    (d) Subject to the State Officials and Employees Ethics
21Act, the Board may receive and expend gifts, grants, and
22donations of any kind from any public or private entity to
23carry out the purposes of this Section, subject to the terms
24and conditions under which the gifts are given, provided that
25all such terms and conditions are permissible under law.
26    (e) The sharing and reporting of student learning gain

 

 

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1data under this Section must be in accordance with
2requirements of the federal Family Educational Rights and
3Privacy Act and the Illinois School Student Records Act. All
4parties must preserve the confidentiality of such information
5as required by law. The annual report must not disaggregate
6data to a level that will disclose the academic level of
7individual students.
 
8    Section 50. Qualified school responsibilities. A qualified
9school that accepts scholarship students must do all of the
10following:
11        (1) provide to a scholarship granting organization,
12    upon request, all documentation required for the student's
13    participation, including the qualified school cost and
14    student's fee schedules;
15        (2) be academically accountable to the custodian for
16    meeting the educational needs of the student by:
17            (A) at a minimum, annually providing to the
18        custodian a written explanation of the student's
19        progress; and
20            (B) annually administering assessments required by
21        subsection (a) of Section 45 of this Act in the same
22        manner in which they are administered at public
23        schools under Section 2-3.64a-5 of the School Code;
24        the Board shall bill participating qualified schools
25        for all costs associated with administering

 

 

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1        assessments required by this paragraph; the
2        participating qualified schools shall ensure that all
3        test security and assessment administration procedures
4        are followed; participating qualified schools must
5        report individual student scores to the custodians of
6        the students; the independent research organization
7        described in subsection (b) of Section 45 of this Act
8        shall be provided all student score data in a secure
9        manner by the participating qualified school.
10        The inability of a qualified school to meet the
11    requirements of this Section shall constitute a basis for
12    the ineligibility of the qualified school to participate
13    in the scholarship program as determined by the Board.
 
14    Section 55. Custodian and student responsibilities.
15    (a) The custodian must select a qualified school and apply
16for the admission of his or her child.
17    (b) The custodian shall ensure that the student
18participating in the scholarship program takes the assessment
19required by subsection (a) of Section 45 of this Act.
20    (c) Each custodian and each student has an obligation to
21comply with the published policies of the qualified school.
22    (d) The custodian shall authorize the scholarship granting
23organization to access information needed for income
24eligibility determinations.
 

 

 

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1    Section 60. Recordkeeping; rulemaking; violations.
2    (a) Each taxpayer shall, for each taxable year for which
3the tax credit provided for under this Act is claimed,
4maintain records of the following information: (i)
5contribution authorization certificates obtained under Section
625 of this Act and (ii) certificates of receipt obtained under
7Section 30 of this Act.
8    (b) The Board and the Department may adopt rules
9consistent with and necessary for the implementation of this
10Act.
11    (c) Violations of State laws or rules and complaints
12relating to program participation shall be referred to the
13Attorney General.
 
14    Section 65. Credit period; repeal. A taxpayer may take a
15credit under this Act for tax years beginning on or after
16January 1, 2025. This Act is exempt from the provisions of
17Section 250 of the Illinois Income Tax Act.
 
18    Section 70. Inseverability. The provisions of this Act are
19mutually dependent and inseverable. If any provision is held
20invalid other than as applied to a particular person or
21circumstance, then this entire Act is invalid.
 
22    Section 75. Saving clause. Any repeal or amendment made by
23this Act shall not affect or impair any of the following: suits

 

 

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1pending or rights existing at the time this Act takes effect;
2any grant or conveyance made or right acquired or cause of
3action now existing under any Section, Article, or Act
4repealed or amended by this Act; the validity of any bonds or
5other obligations issued or sold and constituting valid
6obligations of the issuing authority at the time this Act
7takes effect; the validity of any contract; the validity of
8any tax levied under any law in effect prior to the effective
9date of this Act; or any offense committed, act done, penalty,
10punishment, or forfeiture incurred or any claim, right, power,
11or remedy accrued under any law in effect prior to the
12effective date of this Act.
 
13    Section 900. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by
14adding Section 241 as follows:
 
15    (35 ILCS 5/241 new)
16    Sec. 241. Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act.
17    (a) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1,
182025, each taxpayer for whom a tax credit has been awarded by
19the Department under the Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act
20is entitled to a credit against the tax imposed under
21subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 as provided in that Act.
22    (b) Partners and shareholders of subchapter S corporations
23are entitled to a credit under this Section as provided in
24Section 251.

 

 

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1    (c) This Section is exempt from the provisions of Section
2250.
 
3    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
4becoming law.