101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2755

 

Introduced , by Rep. Thomas Morrison

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.891 new

    Creates the Illinois District Consolidation Commission Act. Creates the Illinois District Consolidation Commission for the purpose of recommending what school districts in the State to consolidate, with a goal of reducing the total number of school districts in the State by at least 60%. Requires all State agencies to assist the Commission as reasonably necessary, and provides that the State Board of Education shall provide administrative and other support. Sets forth requirements concerning membership and powers. Requires the Commission to issue a report concerning recommended consolidations by November 4, 2019. Requires the Commission to submit proposed legislation to the General Assembly enacting the proposed consolidations by November 4, 2019. Requires the General Assembly to vote on the legislation. Provides that the Commission shall spend no more than $1,000,000 on expenses. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois District Consolidation Commission Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Repeals the Act January 1, 2021. Contains a severability clause. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
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
5Illinois District Consolidation Commission Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definition. As used in this Act, "Commission"
7means the Illinois District Consolidation Commission created
8under this Act.
 
9    Section 10. Illinois District Consolidation Commission.
10    (a) The Illinois District Consolidation Commission is
11created for the purpose of recommending what school districts
12in the State to consolidate, with a goal of reducing the total
13number of school districts in the State by at least 60%.
14    (b) All State agencies shall assist the Commission as
15reasonably necessary to fulfill its goal.
16    (c) The State Board of Education shall provide
17administrative and other support to the Commission as needed.
 
18    Section 15. Members.
19    (a) The Commission shall consist of 9 members, to be
20appointed as follows:
21        (1) Two individuals appointed by the Speaker of the

 

 

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1    House of Representatives.
2        (2) Two individuals appointed by the Minority Leader of
3    the House of Representatives.
4        (3) Two individuals appointed by the President of the
5    Senate.
6        (4) Two individuals appointed by the Minority Leader of
7    the Senate.
8        (5) One individual appointed by the Governor, who shall
9    serve as chairperson.
10    (b) Initial appointments to the Commission must be
11completed no later than 30 days after the effective date of
12this Act.
13    (c) Members shall serve until the completion of the
14Commission's report under this Act.
15    (d) If a vacancy occurs, the vacancy shall be filled in the
16same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of
17the unexpired term.
 
18    Section 20. Powers.
19    (a) The Commission shall have the power to determine its
20own rules, schedules, and agenda.
21    (b) The Commission shall determine the selection criteria
22it uses to determine which districts will be considered
23candidates for consolidation.
24    (c) The Commission shall not have the power to discuss or
25consider the consolidation of specific schools, State-provided

 

 

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1subsidies designed to encourage consolidation, or the
2equalization of employee contracts among affected districts.
 
3    Section 25. Report.
4    (a) The Commission shall first create a preliminary list of
5potential school district consolidations. The Commission shall
6then evaluate that list by taking testimony from interested
7parties and paying visits to the affected districts.
8    (b) Based on the Commission's findings, the Commission
9shall assemble a finalized list of districts to be
10consolidated, along with a comprehensive impact report to be
11submitted to the Governor and members of the General Assembly
12no later than November 4, 2019.
13    (c) Along with the finalized list, the Commission shall
14prepare a report that shall include, but is not limited to, the
15following:
16        (1) a comprehensive report on the impact of the
17    proposed consolidations;
18        (2) policy recommendations on limiting the merger of
19    local bargaining units in newly combined districts; and
20        (3) a list of any and all financial incentives offered
21    by the State to school districts to consolidate, and how
22    much money could be saved by repealing the incentives.
 
23    Section 30. Approval of recommendations.
24    (a) No later than November 4, 2019, the Commission shall

 

 

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1submit proposed legislation to the General Assembly enacting
2the proposed school district consolidations. The Legislative
3Reference Bureau shall assist the Commission as needed in
4creating the legislation.
5    (b) The General Assembly shall vote on the Commission's
6proposed legislation. No amendments to the legislation, except
7for grammatical or technical purposes, shall be allowed.
 
8    Section 35. Illinois District Consolidation Commission
9Fund. There is created the Illinois District Consolidation
10Commission Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. All
11reasonable and necessary expenses for the Commission shall be
12payable out of the Fund. Subject to appropriation, the
13Commission shall spend no more than $1,000,000 in fulfilling
14its goals under this Act.
 
15    Section 40. This Act is repealed on January 1, 2021.
 
16    Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
17Section 5.891 as follows:
 
18    (30 ILCS 105/5.891 new)
19    Sec. 5.891. The Illinois District Consolidation Commission
20Fund. This Section is repealed January 1, 2021.
 
21    Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are

 

 

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1severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3becoming law.