15 ILCS 322/ Illinois Literacy Act.

(15 ILCS 322/1)

Sec. 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Literacy Act.

(Source: P.A. 87-992.)

(15 ILCS 322/5)

Sec. 5. Legislative findings, purpose.

(a) The General Assembly finds that:

(1) one in 5 Illinois citizens is unable to read, write, and speak in English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals, and develop one's knowledge and potential;

(2) Illinois ranks 34th among the states in the literacy level of its citizens;

(3) literacy problems are intergenerational and the cycle must be broken to stem further growth of illiteracy;

(4) less than 5% of the Illinois population in need of basic skills is now being served;

(5) one in 8 workers nationwide reads below the sixth grade level, yet the materials they are required to use are written between the ninth and twelfth grade levels;

(6) one-half of all new jobs between now and the year 2000 will require some education beyond high school and one-third will be filled by college graduates; and

(7) fully one-half of the incarcerated persons in Illinois read below the eighth grade level.

(b) The General Assembly declares that this Act is created to ensure the improvement of literacy and basic skill levels of Illinois citizens by coordinating, integrating, and investing in adult and family literacy programs in Illinois communities. This Act will facilitate the implementation of the objectives of the National Education Goals and the National Literacy Act which state that, by the year 2000, all children will start school ready to learn and every adult will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

(Source: P.A. 87-992.)

(15 ILCS 322/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. For purposes of this Act:

"Basic skills" means the ability of an individual to read, write, and speak in English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals, and develop one's knowledge and potential.

"Community based organization" means a private or public not-for-profit organization, including volunteer organizations, located in an Illinois community that provides services to citizens within that community and the surrounding area.

"Council" means the Illinois Literacy Council.

"Literacy Office" means the Literacy Office of the Secretary of State.

(Source: P.A. 87-992.)

(15 ILCS 322/15)

Sec. 15. Grants.

(a) 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.

(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.)

(15 ILCS 322/20)

Sec. 20. Illinois Literacy Council.

(a) The Council shall facilitate the improvement of literacy levels of Illinois citizens by providing a forum from which representatives from throughout the State can promote literacy, share expertise, and recommend policy.

(b) The Council shall be appointed by and be responsible to the Governor. The Secretary of State shall serve as chairman. The Council shall advise the Governor and other agencies on strategies that address the literacy needs of the State, especially with respect to the needs of workplace literacy, family literacy, program evaluation, public awareness, and public and private partnerships.

(c) The Council will determine its own procedures and the number, time, place, and conduct of its meetings. It shall meet at least 4 times a year. The Council may be assisted in its activities by the Literacy Office. Council members shall not receive compensation for their services.

(d) The Council's membership shall consist of representatives of public education, public and private sector employment, labor organizations, community literacy organizations, libraries, volunteer organizations, the Office of the Secretary of State, the Illinois Community College Board, the Department of Employment Security, the Department of Human Services, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Corrections.

(e) The Council members representing State agencies shall act as an interagency coordinating committee to improve the system for delivery of literacy services, provide pertinent information and agency comments to Council members, and implement the recommendations forwarded by the Council and approved by the Governor.

(f) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Council, shall expend moneys to perform Council functions as authorized by this Act from the Literacy Advancement Fund, a special fund hereby created in the State Treasury. All moneys received from an income tax checkoff for the Literacy Advancement Fund as provided in Section 507I of the Illinois Income Tax Act shall be deposited into the Fund.

(Source: P.A. 102-276, eff. 8-6-21.)

(15 ILCS 322/25)

Sec. 25. Technical assistance.

(a) The Literacy Office of the State Library shall provide technical assistance to public and private efforts for the purpose of facilitating the elimination of illiteracy. Assistance to those entities shall include:

(1) dissemination of information on model programs and exemplary practices;

(2) development of a universal system for evaluation and assessment that ensures public funds are being used in the best possible manner;

(3) provision of program and technical assistance in order to improve the effectiveness of literacy programs;

(4) provision of literacy materials and information, capitalizing on the resources and delivery network available through the State Library System, which will foster better coordination of literacy efforts throughout the State;

(5) provision of training for those education agencies or organizations who wish to work with employers to provide literacy services and certifying those who have participated in the training as qualified to deliver literacy services.

(b) The Literacy Office may receive funds and collect fees to provide these services and may accept funds for these purposes from the federal government, its agencies or officers, to provide any or all of these services. All funds received under this subsection shall be deposited into the Literacy Services Fund, a special fund hereby created in the State treasury.

(Source: P.A. 87-992.)

(15 ILCS 322/30)

Sec. 30. Coordinated efforts.

(a) In the interest of interagency coordination, this Act directs State agencies involved in the delivery of literacy services, education or training programs, related support services, and economic development activities, to cooperate, under the auspices of the Illinois Literacy Council, in the consolidation and improvement of the delivery of literacy services. Pilot programs funded by multiple agencies are encouraged.

(b) In order to facilitate the delivery of basic skills that may need to precede training or more advanced education programs, the Literacy Office may receive funds for the administration of those basic skills programs that act as initial components of training or educational programs established in and funded through other State agencies.

(Source: P.A. 87-992.)

(15 ILCS 322/35)

Sec. 35. Rules and regulations, requests for service, assistance, and data.

(a) The Secretary of State shall make, promulgate, and enforce such reasonable rules and regulations relating to the duties of the Office of the Secretary of State under this Act as he may deem appropriate.

(b) To effectuate the purposes of this Act, the Secretary of State may request from any department, division, board, bureau, commission, or other agency of the State or from any public corporation, and those entities that are authorized to provide any services, assistance, and data that will enable the Office of the Secretary of State to properly carry out its functions, powers, and duties under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 87-992.)

(15 ILCS 322/40) (from Ch. 128, par. 240)

Sec. 40. Illinois Literacy Foundation.

(a) The Secretary of State is authorized in accordance with Section 10 of the State Agency Entity Creation Act to create a not-for-profit foundation which shall be known as the Illinois Literacy Foundation. The Secretary shall file articles of incorporation and bylaws as required under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 to create the Foundation. There shall be not less than 6 nor more than 11 Directors to the Foundation to be appointed by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State or his or her designee shall serve as an ex-officio Director of the Foundation. No Director may receive compensation for his or her services to the Foundation.

(b) The purposes of the Foundation are to promote literacy among the residents of the State of Illinois by supporting literacy programs and enhancing Statewide literacy awareness; to make grants and gifts in aid and support of the goal; and to engage generally in other lawful endeavors consistent with the foregoing purposes. The Foundation shall not exceed the provisions of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986.

(c) As soon as practicable after the Foundation is created, the Directors shall meet, organize, and designate, by majority vote, a Chairman, Secretary, and any additional officers as may be needed to carry out the activities of the Foundation. The Secretary of State may adopt rules and regulations as deemed necessary to govern Foundation procedures.

(d) The Foundation may accept gifts or grants from the federal government, its agencies or officers, or from any person, firm, or corporation; and may expend receipts on activities that it considers suitable to the performance of its duties under this Section. Funds collected by the Foundation shall be considered private funds and shall be held in an appropriate account outside of the State Treasury. The treasurer of the Foundation shall be custodian of all Foundation funds. The Foundation's accounts and books shall be set up and maintained in a manner approved by the Auditor General and the Foundation and its officers shall be responsible for the approval of recording of receipts, approval of payments, and the proper filing of required reports. The Foundation may be assisted in carrying out its functions by personnel of the Office of the Secretary of State with respect to matters falling within their scope and function. The Foundation shall cooperate fully with the boards, commissions, agencies, departments and institutions of the State. The funds held and made available by the Illinois Literacy Foundation shall be subject to financial and compliance audits by the Auditor General in compliance with the Illinois State Auditing Act.

(Source: P.A. 87-1249.)

(15 ILCS 322/60)

Sec. 60. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 87-992.)