HJ0079 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0079 LRB097 21042 GRL 68356 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The National Research Center for Career and Technical Education has identified a very strong correlation between students taking 3 or more Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses and being far more likely to enroll in college; and

WHEREAS, Students taking 3 or more CTE courses are 28% more likely to graduate from high school; and

WHEREAS, A commitment to career and technical education helps to ensure that Illinois has a strong, well-trained workforce that enhances productivity in business and industry, and solidifies the State's leadership in the national and international marketplaces; and

WHEREAS, Providing citizens with career and technical education can stimulate the growth and vitality of businesses and industries by preparing workers for the occupations forecasted to experience the largest and fastest growth in the next decade; and

WHEREAS, Career and technical education institutions strive to provide rigorous and relevant curricula that integrate academics, utilize technology, partner with community colleges through dual credit programs, and prepare students for 21st century skills; and

WHEREAS, The first area career/vocational centers in Illinois began operations in 1967 with 837 students; and

WHEREAS, There are presently 24 area career/vocational centers, which offer skilled training to over 10,000 11th and 12th grade students; and

WHEREAS, Section 17-2.4 of the School Code established a maximum tax rate by referendum of 0.5% for not more than 5 years for the purpose of establishing or constructing an area career/vocational center, with the levy sun-setting after a 5-year period; and

WHEREAS, Area career/vocational centers have been subsequently funded through tuition, the State Career and Technical Education Improvement Grant, and, in some cases, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act; and

WHEREAS, Many buildings housing area career/vocational centers are over 40 years old and in desperate need of repairs, renovations, and even expansion; and

WHEREAS, In the face of the present recession and reductions in member districts' equalized assessed valuations, districts who are members of career/vocational centers are unable to increase the present tuition charges to cover said costs further; unless a funding mechanism is established, career/vocational centers may have to either reduce the number of students they can accept or reduce entire programs; and

WHEREAS, Unlike a school district, area career/vocational centers have no direct taxing authority; and

WHEREAS, Transportation is an essential component for students to access career and technical education programs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Area Career and Technical Education and Vocational Centers Task Force, consisting of the following members:

(1) one member, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(2) one member, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) one member, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(4) one member, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(5) one member, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(6) one member, of the Governor's staff, appointed by the Governor;

(7) 2 members, appointed by the Illinois Career and Technical Administrators;

(8) one career center director, appointed by the Governor;

(9) one education for employment system director, appointed by the Governor;

(10) one member, appointed by the Illinois State Board of Education; and

(11) one superintendent of a school district whose district is a member of an area career/vocational cooperative, appointed by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That all appointments shall be made no later than 45 days following the adoption of this resolution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet no later than 90 days following the adoption of this resolution at the call of the members appointed by the Speaker and the President; the members of the Task Force shall select a chair person at the initial meeting; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet at the call of the chair; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Office of the Governor shall provide administrative support to the Task Force to the fullest extent of its abilities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study the issue of funding of area career/vocational centers and career and technical education programs, including transportation for said programs, and shall consider the possibility of enacting legislation to make changes to said funding; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold a minimum of 7 public hearings in the State, one-half of which shall be held at an area career/vocational center; the Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly before February 1, 2013, at which time the Task Force shall disband; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives, the President and Minority Leader of the Illinois Senate, the Governor, the State Superintendent of Education, and the Illinois Career and Technical Administrators.