HB1510 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 05651 RLJ 45713 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB1510

Introduced 2/14/2011, by Rep. Monique D. Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
15 ILCS 322/15
30 ILCS 105/5.786 new
30 ILCS 105/6z-34
30 ILCS 105/6z-35

Creates the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission Act. Provides that the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission shall consist of 10 members. Sets forth the appointment of the members. Directs the Commission to study literacy rates throughout the State in order to determine the areas of the State with the highest rates of illiteracy. Requires the Commission to report its findings to the General Assembly and the Governor by December 31, 2012 and each December 31 thereafter. Amends the Illinois Literacy Act and the State Finance Act. Provides that the authority of the Secretary of State to award grants that develop, expand, or support adult literacy programs through community programs administered by education agencies, libraries, or volunteer or community-based organizations is transferred to the Commission on January 1, 2012. Provides that the awarding of grants must be based on documented literacy rate needs in communities. Provides that moneys in the Secretary of State Special Services Fund and the Live and Learn Fund may be transferred to the Reduce Illiteracy Grant Fund (created as a special fund in the State treasury) for use by the Commission for literacy grants. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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 Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission Act.

Section 5. Commission; creation; members.

(a) The Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission is created. The Commission shall consist of 10 members appointed by the Governor. The members must have professional experience and expertise in education.

(b) Of the initial members, 5 members shall serve for a 2-year term and 5 members shall serve for a 4-year term, as determined by lot. Thereafter, all members shall serve for a 4-year term. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as appointments.

(c) The Commission shall be provided assistance and necessary staff support services by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Section 10. Study; grants.

(a) The Commission shall research the literacy rates throughout the State in order to determine the areas of the State with the highest rates of illiteracy. On December 31, 2012, and each December 31 thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report of its findings to the General Assembly and the Governor.

(b) The Commission shall apply for federal grants to develop, expand, or support literacy programs in communities determined to have a high rate of illiteracy based on the report created by the Commission under subsection (a).

(c) Subject to appropriation from the Reduce Illiteracy Grant Fund, the Commission is authorized to award grants that develop, expand, or support literacy programs in this State. The Commission shall award these grants based on documented literacy rate needs in communities determined from the report created by the Commission under subsection (a).

(d) The Reduce Illiteracy Grant Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All money in the Reduce Illiteracy Grant Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission for grants under this Section.

Section 15. Meetings; chairperson. As soon as practical after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, the members of the Commission shall meet for the first time, and shall at that time elect a chair from among the members. The Commission may adopt its own rules of procedure.

Section 20. Compensation; expenses. A member of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but is entitled to reimbursement for the travel expenses incurred by the member while transacting Commission business, as provided in Section 10.

Section 25. The Illinois Literacy Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

(15 ILCS 322/15)

Sec. 15. Grants.

(a) Until January 1, 2012, the The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Literacy Advisory Board created by Section 7.2 of the State Library Act, is authorized to award grants that develop, expand, or support adult literacy programs in Illinois through community programs administered by education agencies, libraries, volunteer or community-based organizations, or a coalition of any of those groups.

With regard to these grants, on January 1, 2012, all powers, duties, assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records, pending business, and unexpended funds of the Secretary of State are transferred to the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission. With regard to the grants, beginning on January 1, 2012, references in statutes, rules, forms, and other documents to the Secretary of State shall, in appropriate contexts, be deemed to refer to the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission. All rules, standards, and procedures adopted by the Secretary of State with regard to the grants that are in effect on January 1, 2012 shall continue in effect as the rules, standards, and procedures of the State Board of Education until they are amended or repealed by the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission.

(b) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Literacy Advisory Board created by Section 7.2 of the State Library Act, is authorized to award grants for workplace programs to public or private employers or entities acting on behalf of a coalition of employers to improve the basic skills of current and prospective employees. Current and prospective employees' lack of basic skills may impede hiring, effective job performance, or eligibility for advancement. Public funds awarded under this grant program must be matched by the business with funds at least equal to the amount of public funds awarded.

(c) The Secretary of State is authorized to make family literacy grants that will assist in breaking the intergenerational cycle of illiteracy. The grants must involve an adult literacy component and an entity working with children at risk of school failure. Programs will focus on parents or guardians and children involved in reciprocal learning and teaching. In addition to other grants authorized in this subsection, the Secretary of State may make family literacy grants, upon his or her approval of application from entities, for innovative programming in the area of parent and child learning activities. The Secretary of State shall establish criteria for awarding the grants by rule. The Secretary of State may expend appropriations statewide for direct purchases of equipment and services that support families learning together.

(Source: P.A. 89-697, eff. 1-6-97; 90-783, eff. 8-14-98.)

Section 30. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.786 and by changing Sections 6z-34 and 6z-35 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.786 new)

Sec. 5.786. The Reduce Illiteracy Grant Fund.

(30 ILCS 105/6z-34)

Sec. 6z-34. Secretary of State Special Services Fund. There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Secretary of State Special Services Fund. Moneys deposited into the Fund may, subject to appropriation, be used by the Secretary of State for any or all of the following purposes:

(1) For general automation efforts within operations of the Office of Secretary of State.

(2) For technology applications in any form that will enhance the operational capabilities of the Office of Secretary of State.

(3) To provide funds for any type of library grants authorized and administered by the Secretary of State as State Librarian.

These funds are in addition to any other funds otherwise authorized to the Office of Secretary of State for like or similar purposes.

On August 15, 1997, all fiscal year 1997 receipts that exceed the amount of $15,000,000 shall be transferred from this Fund to the Statistical Services Revolving Fund; on August 15, 1998 and each year thereafter through 2000, all receipts from the fiscal year ending on the previous June 30th that exceed the amount of $17,000,000 shall be transferred from this Fund to the Statistical Services Revolving Fund; on August 15, 2001 and each year thereafter through 2002, all receipts from the fiscal year ending on the previous June 30th that exceed the amount of $19,000,000 shall be transferred from this Fund to the Statistical Services Revolving Fund; and on August 15, 2003 and each year thereafter, all receipts from the fiscal year ending on the previous June 30th that exceed the amount of $33,000,000 shall be transferred from this Fund to the Statistical Services Revolving Fund.

Beginning with fiscal year 2012, moneys in the Secretary of State Special Services Fund may be transferred to the Reduce Illiteracy Grant Fund for use by the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission for literacy grants under Section of the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission Act.

(Source: P.A. 92-32, eff. 7-1-01; 93-32, eff. 7-1-03.)

(30 ILCS 105/6z-35)

Sec. 6z-35. Live and Learn Fund. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Live and Learn Fund. The Comptroller and the Treasurer shall transfer $1,742,000 from the General Revenue Fund into the Live and Learn Fund each month. The first transfer shall be made 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993, with subsequent transfers occurring on the first of each month. Moneys deposited into the Fund may, subject to appropriation, be used by the Secretary of State for any or all of the following purposes:

(a) An organ donation awareness or education program.

(b) To provide additional funds for all types of library grants as authorized and administered by the Secretary of State as State Librarian.

Beginning with fiscal year 2012, moneys in the Live and Learn Fund may be transferred to the Reduce Illiteracy Grant Fund for use by the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission for literacy grants under Section of the Reduce Illiteracy Advisory Commission Act.

(Source: P.A. 88-78.)

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