SB3023eng 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3023 Engrossed LRB099 19654 NHT 44051 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Higher Education Cooperation Act is amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 and by adding Section 2.5 as follows:

(110 ILCS 220/2) (from Ch. 144, par. 282)

Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Board" means the Board of Higher Education. ;

"Nonpublic institution of higher education" means a nonpublic college or university that (i) has been authorized to operate within the State of Illinois pursuant to the Private College Act or the Academic Degree Act, (ii) has been in continuous operation and has granted degrees within the State of Illinois since before the effective date of both the Private College Act and the Academic Degree Act and has not modified the business entity since the effective date of both the Private College Act and the Academic Degree Act, or (iii) has been authorized pursuant to the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012. an educational organization, other than a public institution of higher education, which provides a minimum of an organized 2 year program at the private junior college level or higher and which operates not-for-profit and in conformity with standards substantially equivalent to those of the public institutions of higher education;

"Private partner" means a private business, industry, labor organization, not-for-profit organization, association, foundation, or corporation that partners with one or more public institutions of higher education or with one or more nonpublic institutions of higher education or with both public and nonpublic institutions of higher education pursuant to an agreement under this Act.

"Private resources" means support, whether financial or in-kind assistance, from a private partner that may be used to provide matching support under this Act.

"Public institution of higher education" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, the public community colleges of this State, and any other public universities, colleges and community colleges now or hereafter established or authorized by the General Assembly.

"Public-private partnership" means an agreement pursuant to this Act between one or more public institutions of higher education and a nonpublic institution of higher education, a private partner, or a combination of both that leverages resources from all parties to improve higher education outcomes.

"Public resources" means support, whether financial or in-kind assistance, from a public entity that may be used to provide matching support under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96.)

(110 ILCS 220/2.5 new)

Sec. 2.5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to promote interinstitutional cooperation and public-private partnerships in order to leverage the use of public and private resources to provide workforce-valuable postsecondary education to improve outcomes for the higher educational system in this State.

(110 ILCS 220/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 283)

Sec. 3. Any public institution of higher education may participate in the establishment and operation of programs of interinstitutional cooperation with other public institutions of higher education, or with nonpublic institutions of higher education, or with both public and nonpublic institutions of higher education, or with private partners. Such participation may be by contract or by other means, including, but not limited to, the designation of representatives of the institution as directors of not-for-profit corporations organized for the governance or administration of any such program. Public institutions of higher education may participate in programs of interinstitutional cooperation or public-private partnerships that programs which involve institutions or private partners based outside this State.

(Source: P.A. 77-2813.)

(110 ILCS 220/4) (from Ch. 144, par. 284)

Sec. 4. A program of financial assistance to programs of interinstitutional cooperation and public-private partnerships , in higher education is established to implement the policy of encouraging such cooperation in order to achieve an efficient use of educational resources, an equitable distribution of educational services, the development of innovative concepts and applications, and other public purposes.

The Board of Higher Education shall administer this program of financial assistance and shall distribute the funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this purpose in the form of grants to not-for-profit corporations organized to administer programs of interinstitutional cooperation in higher education or to public or nonpublic institutions of higher education participating in such programs.

In awarding grants to interinstitutional programs and public-private partnerships under this Act, the Board shall consider in relation to each such program whether it serves the public purposes expressed in this Act, whether the local community is substantially involved, whether its function could be performed better by a single existing institution, whether the program is consistent with the Illinois master plan for higher education, and such other criteria as it determines to be appropriate.

No grant may be awarded under this Section for any program of sectarian instruction or for any program designed to serve a sectarian purpose.

As a part of its administration of this Act, the Board may require audits or reports in relation to the administrative, fiscal, and academic aspects of any program of interinstitutional cooperation or public-private partnership program for which a grant is awarded under this Act. The Board may require the contribution of matching resources. The Board shall annually submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a budgetary recommendation for grants under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 85-244.)

(110 ILCS 220/5) (from Ch. 144, par. 285)

Sec. 5. Any not-for-profit corporation organized to administer a program of an interinstitutional cooperation program of higher education or public-private partnership may be recognized under this Section if it has been in existence for 3 years or longer, it is structured for continuing operation, it is substantial in scope, it is oriented to and supported by the community in which it is located, and it is consistent with the Illinois master plan for higher education.

In each request of the Board of Higher Education to the General Assembly for the appropriation of funds for the purpose of making grants under this Act the Board shall specify the amount of the grant proposed for each not-for-profit corporation recognized under this Section.

The following not-for-profit corporations are recognized for the purposes of this Section:

The Quad Cities Graduate Study Center.

(Source: P.A. 77-2813.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2016.