Public Act 095-0638
 
SB1446 Enrolled LRB095 11075 NHT 31401 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Public Community College Act is amended by
adding Section 2-24 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 805/2-24 new)
    Sec. 2-24. We Want to Learn English Initiative.
    (a) Subject to appropriation and Section 7 of the Board of
Higher Education Act, the State Board may establish and
administer a We Want to Learn English Initiative to provide
resources for immigrants and refugees in this State to learn
English in order to move towards becoming full members of
American society.
    (b) Each fiscal year, the State Board may include, as a
separate line item, in its budget proposal $15,000,000 or less
in funding for the We Want to Learn English Initiative, to be
disbursed by the State Board. If the State Board decides to
disburse the funds appropriated for this Initiative, then it
must disburse no less than half of the funds appropriated each
fiscal year to community-based, not-for-profit organizations,
immigrant social service organizations, faith-based
organizations, and on-site job training programs so that
immigrants and refugees can learn English where they live,
work, pray, and socialize and where their children go to
school.
    (c) Funds for the We Want to Learn English Initiative may
be used only to provide programs that teach English to United
States citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other persons
residing in this State who are in lawful immigration status.