Public Act 096-1438
 
HB0019 EnrolledLRB096 03242 NHT 13259 b



    AN ACT concerning education.

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



 
    Section 5. The School Code is amended  by changing Section 
19-1 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/19-1)
    Sec. 19-1. Debt limitations of school districts. 
    (a) School districts shall not be subject to the provisions 
limiting their
indebtedness prescribed in "An Act to limit the 
indebtedness of counties having
a population of less than 
500,000 and townships, school districts and other
municipal 
corporations having a population of less than 300,000", 
approved
February 15, 1928, as amended.
    No school districts maintaining grades K through 8 or 9 
through 12
shall become indebted in any manner or for any 
purpose to an amount,
including existing indebtedness, in the 
aggregate exceeding 6.9% on the
value of the taxable property 
therein to be ascertained by the last assessment
for State and 
county taxes or, until January 1, 1983, if greater, the sum 
that
is produced by multiplying the school district's 1978 
equalized assessed
valuation by the debt limitation percentage 
in effect on January 1, 1979,
previous to the incurring of such 
indebtedness.
    No school districts maintaining grades K through 12 shall 
become
indebted in any manner or for any purpose to an amount, 
including
existing indebtedness, in the aggregate exceeding 
13.8% on the value of
the taxable property therein to be 
ascertained by the last assessment
for State and county taxes 
or, until January 1, 1983, if greater, the sum that
is produced 
by multiplying the school district's 1978 equalized assessed

valuation by the debt limitation percentage in effect on 
January 1, 1979,
previous to the incurring of such 
indebtedness.
    No partial elementary unit district, as defined in Article 
11E of this Code, shall become indebted in any manner or for 
any purpose in an amount, including existing indebtedness, in 
the aggregate exceeding 6.9% of the value of the taxable 
property of the entire district, to be ascertained by the last 
assessment for State and county taxes, plus an amount, 
including existing indebtedness, in the aggregate exceeding 
6.9% of the value of the taxable property of that portion of 
the district included in the elementary and high school 
classification, to be ascertained by the last assessment for 
State and county taxes.  Moreover, no partial elementary unit 
district, as defined in Article 11E of this Code, shall become 
indebted on account of bonds issued  by the district for high 
school purposes in the aggregate exceeding 6.9% of the value of 
the taxable property of the entire district, to be ascertained 
by the last assessment for State and county  taxes, nor shall 
the district become indebted on account of bonds issued by the 
district for elementary purposes in the aggregate exceeding 
6.9% of the value of the taxable property for that portion of 
the district included in the elementary and high school 
classification, to be ascertained by the last assessment for 
State and county taxes.

    Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the 
contrary, in any
case in which the voters of a school district 
have approved a proposition
for the issuance of bonds of such 
school district at an election held prior
to January 1, 1979, 
and all of the bonds approved at such election have
not been 
issued, the debt limitation applicable to such school district

during the calendar year 1979 shall be computed by multiplying 
the value
of taxable property therein, including personal 
property, as ascertained
by the last assessment for State and 
county taxes, previous to the incurring
of such indebtedness, 
by the percentage limitation applicable to such school
district 
under the provisions of this subsection (a).
    (b) Notwithstanding the debt limitation prescribed in 
subsection (a)
of this Section, additional indebtedness may be 
incurred in an amount
not to exceed the estimated cost of 
acquiring or improving school sites
or constructing and 
equipping additional building facilities under the
following 
conditions:
        (1) Whenever the enrollment of students for the next 
    school year is
estimated by the board of education to 
    increase over the actual present
enrollment by not less 
    than 35% or by not less than 200 students or the
actual 
    present enrollment of students has increased over the 
    previous
school year by not less than 35% or by not less 
    than 200 students and
the board of education determines 
    that additional school sites or
building facilities are 
    required as a result of such increase in
enrollment; and
        (2) When the Regional Superintendent of Schools having 
    jurisdiction
over the school district and the State 
    Superintendent of Education
concur in such enrollment 
    projection or increase and approve the need
for such 
    additional school sites or building facilities and the

    estimated cost thereof; and
        (3) When the voters in the school district approve a 
    proposition for
the issuance of bonds for the purpose of 
    acquiring or improving such
needed school sites or 
    constructing and equipping such needed additional
building 
    facilities at an election called and held for that purpose.

    Notice of such an election shall state that the amount of 
    indebtedness
proposed to be incurred would exceed the debt 
    limitation otherwise
applicable to the school district.  
    The ballot for such proposition
shall state what percentage 
    of the equalized assessed valuation will be
outstanding in 
    bonds if the proposed issuance of bonds is approved by
the 
    voters; or
        (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) 
    through (3) of
this subsection (b), if the school board 
    determines that additional
facilities are needed to 
    provide a quality educational program and not
less than 2/3 
    of those voting in an election called by the school board

    on the question approve the issuance of bonds for the 
    construction of
such facilities, the school district may 
    issue bonds for this
purpose; or
        (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) 
    through (3) of this
subsection (b), if (i) the school 
    district has previously availed itself of the
provisions of 
    paragraph (4) of this subsection (b) to enable it to issue 
    bonds,
(ii) the voters of the school district have not 
    defeated a proposition for the
issuance of bonds since the 
    referendum described in paragraph (4) of this
subsection 
    (b) was held, (iii) the school board determines that 
    additional
facilities are needed to provide a quality 
    educational program, and (iv) a
majority of those voting in 
    an election called by the school board on the
question 
    approve the issuance of bonds for the construction of such 
    facilities,
the school district may issue bonds for this 
    purpose.
    In no event shall the indebtedness incurred pursuant to 
this
subsection (b) and the existing indebtedness of the school 
district
exceed 15% of the value of the taxable property 
therein to be
ascertained by the last assessment for State and 
county taxes, previous
to the incurring of such indebtedness 
or, until January 1, 1983, if greater,
the sum that is produced 
by multiplying the school district's 1978 equalized
assessed 
valuation by the debt limitation percentage in effect on 
January 1,
1979.
    The indebtedness provided for by this subsection (b) shall 
be in
addition to and in excess of any other debt limitation.
    (c) Notwithstanding the debt limitation prescribed in 
subsection (a)
of this Section, in any case in which a public 
question for the issuance
of bonds of a proposed school 
district maintaining grades kindergarten
through 12 received 
at least 60% of the valid ballots cast on the question at
an 
election held on or prior to November 8, 1994, and in which the 
bonds
approved at such election have not been issued, the 
school district pursuant to
the requirements of Section 11A-10 
(now repealed)  may issue the total amount of bonds approved
at 
such election for the purpose stated in the question.
    (d) Notwithstanding the debt limitation prescribed in 
subsection (a)
of this Section, a school district that meets 
all the criteria set forth in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of this 
subsection (d) may incur an additional
indebtedness in an 
amount not to exceed $4,500,000, even though the amount of
the 
additional indebtedness authorized by this subsection (d), 
when incurred
and added to the aggregate amount of indebtedness 
of the district existing
immediately prior to the district 
incurring the additional indebtedness
authorized by this 
subsection (d), causes the aggregate indebtedness of the

district to exceed the debt limitation otherwise applicable to 
that district
under subsection (a):
        (1) The additional indebtedness authorized by this 
    subsection (d) is
incurred by the school district through 
    the issuance of bonds under and in
accordance with Section 
    17-2.11a for the purpose of replacing a school
building 
    which, because of mine subsidence damage, has been closed 
    as provided
in paragraph (2) of this subsection (d) or 
    through the issuance of bonds under
and in accordance with 
    Section 19-3 for the purpose of increasing the size of,
or 
    providing for additional functions in, such replacement 
    school buildings, or
both such purposes.
        (2) The bonds issued by the school district as provided 
    in paragraph (1)
above are issued for the purposes of 
    construction by the school district of
a new school 
    building pursuant to Section 17-2.11, to replace an 
    existing
school building that, because of mine subsidence 
    damage, is closed as of the
end of the 1992-93 school year 
    pursuant to action of the regional
superintendent of 
    schools of the educational service region in which the

    district is located under Section 3-14.22 or are issued for 
    the purpose of
increasing the size of, or providing for 
    additional functions in, the new
school building being 
    constructed to replace a school building closed as the

    result of mine subsidence damage, or both such purposes.
    (e) (Blank).
    (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of 
this Section or of
any other law, bonds in not to exceed the 
aggregate amount of $5,500,000 and
issued by a school district 
meeting the following criteria shall not be
considered 
indebtedness for purposes of any statutory limitation and may 
be
issued in an amount or amounts, including existing 
indebtedness, in excess of
any heretofore or hereafter imposed 
statutory limitation as to indebtedness:
        (1) At the time of the sale of such bonds, the board of 
    education of the
district shall have determined by 
    resolution that the enrollment of students in
the district 
    is projected to increase by not less than 7% during each of 
    the
next succeeding 2 school years.
        (2) The board of education shall also determine by 
    resolution that the
improvements to be financed with the 
    proceeds of the bonds are needed because
of the projected 
    enrollment increases.
        (3) The board of education shall also determine by 
    resolution that the
projected increases in enrollment are 
    the result of improvements made or
expected to be made to 
    passenger rail facilities located in the school
district.
    Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this 
Section or of any other law, a school district that has availed 
itself of the provisions of this subsection (f) prior to July 
22, 2004 (the effective date of Public Act 93-799) may also 
issue bonds approved by referendum up to an amount, including 
existing indebtedness, not exceeding 25% of the equalized 
assessed value of the taxable property in the district if all 
of the conditions set forth in items (1), (2), and (3) of this 
subsection (f) are met.

    (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of 
this Section or any
other law, bonds in not to exceed an 
aggregate amount of 25% of the equalized
assessed value of the 
taxable property of a school district and issued by a
school 
district meeting the criteria in paragraphs (i) through (iv) of 
this
subsection shall not be considered indebtedness for 
purposes of any statutory
limitation and may be issued pursuant 
to resolution of the school board in an
amount or amounts, 
including existing indebtedness, in
excess of any statutory 
limitation of indebtedness heretofore or hereafter
imposed:
        (i) The bonds are issued for the purpose of 
    constructing a new high school
building to replace two 
    adjacent existing buildings which together house a
single 
    high school, each of which is more than 65 years old, and 
    which together
are located on more than 10 acres and less 
    than 11 acres of property.
        (ii) At the time the resolution authorizing the 
    issuance of the bonds is
adopted, the cost of constructing 
    a new school building to replace the existing
school 
    building is less than 60% of the cost of repairing the 
    existing school
building.
        (iii) The sale of the bonds occurs before July 1, 1997.
        (iv) The school district issuing the bonds is a unit 
    school district
located in a county of less than 70,000 and 
    more than 50,000 inhabitants,
which has an average daily 
    attendance of less than 1,500 and an equalized
assessed 
    valuation of less than $29,000,000.
    (h) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section or 
the
provisions of any other law, until January 1, 1998, a 
community unit school
district maintaining grades K through 12 
may issue bonds up to an amount,
including existing 
indebtedness, not exceeding 27.6% of the equalized assessed

value of the taxable property in the district, if all of the 
following
conditions are met:
        (i) The school district has an equalized assessed 
    valuation for calendar
year 1995 of less than $24,000,000;
        (ii) The bonds are issued for the capital improvement, 
    renovation,
rehabilitation, or replacement of existing 
    school buildings of the district,
all of which buildings 
    were originally constructed not less than 40 years ago;
        (iii) The voters of the district approve a proposition 
    for the issuance of
the bonds at a referendum held after 
    March 19, 1996; and
        (iv) The bonds are issued pursuant to Sections 19-2 
    through 19-7 of this
Code.
    (i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section or 
the provisions
of any other law, until January 1, 1998, a 
community unit school district
maintaining grades K through 12 
may issue bonds up to an amount, including
existing 
indebtedness, not exceeding 27% of the equalized assessed value 
of the
taxable property in the district, if all of the 
following conditions are met:
        (i) The school district has an equalized assessed 
    valuation for calendar
year 1995 of less than $44,600,000;
        (ii) The bonds are issued for the capital improvement, 
    renovation,
rehabilitation, or replacement
of existing 
    school buildings of the district, all of which
existing 
    buildings were originally constructed not less than 80 
    years ago;
        (iii) The voters of the district approve a proposition 
    for the issuance of
the bonds at a referendum held after 
    December 31, 1996; and
        (iv) The bonds are issued pursuant to Sections 19-2 
    through 19-7 of this
Code.
    (j) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section or 
the
provisions of any other law, until January 1, 1999, a 
community unit school
district maintaining grades K through 12 
may issue bonds up to an amount,
including existing 
indebtedness, not exceeding 27% of the equalized assessed
value 
of the taxable property in the district if all of the following

conditions are met:
        (i) The school district has an equalized assessed 
    valuation for calendar
year 1995 of less than $140,000,000 
    and a best 3 months
average daily
attendance for the 
    1995-96 school year of at least 2,800;
        (ii) The bonds are issued to purchase a site and build 
    and equip a new
high school, and the school district's 
    existing high school was originally
constructed not less 
    than 35
years prior to the sale of the bonds;
        (iii) At the time of the sale of the bonds, the board 
    of education
determines
by resolution that a new high 
    school is needed because of projected enrollment

    increases;
        (iv) At least 60% of those voting in an election held

    after December 31, 1996 approve a proposition
for the 
    issuance of
the bonds; and
        (v) The bonds are issued pursuant to Sections 19-2 
    through
19-7 of this Code.
    (k) Notwithstanding the debt limitation prescribed in 
subsection (a) of
this Section, a school district that meets 
all the criteria set forth in
paragraphs (1) through (4) of 
this subsection (k) may issue bonds to incur an
additional 
indebtedness in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 even though 
the
amount of the additional indebtedness authorized by this 
subsection (k), when
incurred and added to the aggregate amount 
of indebtedness of the school
district existing immediately 
prior to the school district incurring such
additional 
indebtedness, causes the aggregate indebtedness of the school

district to exceed or increases the amount by which the 
aggregate indebtedness
of the district already exceeds the debt 
limitation otherwise applicable to
that school district under 
subsection (a):
        (1) the school district is located in 2 counties, and a 
    referendum to
authorize the additional indebtedness was 
    approved by a majority of the voters
of the school district 
    voting on the proposition to authorize that
indebtedness;
        (2) the additional indebtedness is for the purpose of 
    financing a
multi-purpose room addition to the existing 
    high school;
        (3) the additional indebtedness, together with the 
    existing indebtedness
of the school district, shall not 
    exceed 17.4% of the value of the taxable
property in the 
    school district, to be ascertained by the last assessment 
    for
State and county taxes; and
        (4) the bonds evidencing the additional indebtedness 
    are issued, if at
all, within 120 days of the effective 
    date of this amendatory Act of 1998.
    (l) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section or 
the
provisions of any other law, until January 1, 2000, a 
school district
maintaining grades kindergarten through 8 may 
issue bonds up to an amount,
including existing indebtedness, 
not exceeding 15% of the equalized assessed
value of the 
taxable property in the district if all of the following

conditions are met:
        (i) the district has an equalized assessed valuation 
    for calendar year
1996 of less than $10,000,000;
        (ii) the bonds are issued for capital improvement, 
    renovation,
rehabilitation, or replacement of one or more 
    school buildings of the district,
which buildings were 
    originally constructed not less than 70 years ago;
        (iii) the voters of the district approve a proposition 
    for the issuance of
the bonds at a referendum held on or 
    after March 17, 1998; and
        (iv) the bonds are issued pursuant to Sections 19-2 
    through 19-7 of this
Code.
    (m) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section or 
the provisions
of
any other law, until January 1, 1999, an 
elementary school district maintaining
grades K through 8 may 
issue bonds up to an amount, excluding existing
indebtedness, 
not exceeding 18% of the equalized assessed value of the 
taxable
property in the district, if all of the following 
conditions are met:
        (i) The school district has an equalized assessed 
    valuation for calendar
year 1995 or less than $7,700,000;
        (ii) The school district operates 2 elementary 
    attendance centers that
until
1976 were operated as the 
    attendance centers of 2 separate and distinct school

    districts;
        (iii) The bonds are issued for the construction of a 
    new elementary school
building to replace an existing 
    multi-level elementary school building of the
school 
    district that is not handicapped accessible at all levels 
    and parts of
which were constructed more than 75 years ago;
        (iv) The voters of the school district approve a 
    proposition for the
issuance of the bonds at a referendum 
    held after July 1, 1998; and
        (v) The bonds are issued pursuant to Sections 19-2 
    through 19-7 of this
Code.
    (n) Notwithstanding the debt limitation prescribed in 
subsection (a) of
this Section or any other provisions of this 
Section or of any other law, a
school district that meets all 
of the criteria set forth in paragraphs (i)
through (vi) of 
this subsection (n) may incur additional indebtedness by the

issuance of bonds in an amount not exceeding the amount 
certified by the
Capital Development Board to the school 
district as provided in paragraph (iii)
of
this subsection (n), 
even though the amount of the additional indebtedness so

authorized, when incurred and added to the aggregate amount of 
indebtedness of
the district existing immediately prior to the 
district incurring the
additional indebtedness authorized by 
this subsection (n), causes the aggregate
indebtedness of the 
district to exceed the debt limitation otherwise applicable
by 
law to that district:
        (i) The school district applies to the State Board of 
    Education for a
school construction project grant and 
    submits a district facilities plan in
support
of its 
    application pursuant to Section 5-20 of
the School 
    Construction Law.
        (ii) The school district's application and facilities 
    plan are approved
by,
and the district receives a grant 
    entitlement for a school construction project
issued by, 
    the State Board of Education under the School Construction 
    Law.
        (iii) The school district has exhausted its bonding 
    capacity or the unused
bonding capacity of the district is 
    less than the amount certified by the
Capital Development 
    Board to the district under Section 5-15 of the School

    Construction Law as the dollar amount of the school 
    construction project's cost
that the district will be 
    required to finance with non-grant funds in order to

    receive a school construction project grant under the 
    School Construction Law.
        (iv) The bonds are issued for a "school construction 
    project", as that
term is defined in Section 5-5 of the 
    School Construction Law, in an amount
that does not exceed 
    the dollar amount certified, as provided in paragraph
(iii) 
    of this subsection (n), by the Capital Development Board
to 
    the school
district under Section 5-15 of the School 
    Construction Law.
        (v) The voters of the district approve a proposition 
    for the issuance of
the bonds at a referendum held after 
    the criteria specified in paragraphs (i)
and (iii) of this 
    subsection (n) are met.
        (vi) The bonds are issued pursuant to Sections 19-2 
    through 19-7 of the
School Code.
    (o) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section or 
the
provisions of any other law, until November 1, 2007, a 
community unit
school district maintaining grades K through 12 
may issue bonds up to
an amount, including existing 
indebtedness, not exceeding 20% of the
equalized assessed value 
of the taxable property in the district if all of the
following 
conditions are met:
        (i) the school district has an equalized assessed 
    valuation
for calendar year 2001 of at least $737,000,000 
    and an enrollment
for the 2002-2003 school year of at least 
    8,500;
        (ii) the bonds are issued to purchase school sites, 
    build and
equip a new high school, build and equip a new 
    junior high school,
build and equip 5 new elementary 
    schools, and make technology
and other improvements and 
    additions to existing schools;
        (iii) at the time of the sale of the bonds, the board 
    of
education determines by resolution that the sites and 
    new or
improved facilities are needed because of projected 
    enrollment
increases;
        (iv) at least 57% of those voting in a general election 
    held
prior to January 1, 2003 approved a proposition for 
    the issuance of
the bonds; and
        (v) the bonds are issued pursuant to Sections 19-2 
    through
19-7 of this Code.
    (p)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section or 
the provisions of any other law, a community unit school 
district maintaining grades K through 12 may issue bonds up to 
an amount, including indebtedness, not exceeding 27% of the 
equalized assessed value of the taxable property in the 
district if all of the following conditions are met:
        (i)  The school district has an equalized assessed 
    valuation for calendar year 2001 of at least $295,741,187 
    and a best 3 months' average daily attendance for the 
    2002-2003 school year of at least 2,394.
        (ii)  The bonds are issued to build and equip 3 
    elementary school buildings; build and equip one middle 
    school building; and alter, repair, improve, and equip all 
    existing school buildings in the district.
        (iii)  At the time of the sale of the bonds, the board 
    of education determines by resolution that the project is 
    needed because of expanding growth in the school district 
    and a projected enrollment increase.
        (iv)  The bonds are issued pursuant to Sections 19-2 
    through 19-7 of this Code.

    (p-5)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 
or the provisions of any other law, bonds issued by a community 
unit school district maintaining grades K through 12 shall not 
be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory 
limitation and may be issued in an amount or amounts, including 
existing indebtedness, in excess of any heretofore or hereafter 
imposed statutory limitation as to indebtedness, if all of the 
following conditions are met:
        (i)  For each of the 4 most recent years, residential 
    property comprises more than 80% of the equalized assessed 
    valuation of the district.
        (ii)  At least 2 school buildings that were constructed 
    40 or more years prior to the issuance of the bonds will be 
    demolished and will be replaced by new buildings or 
    additions to one or more existing buildings.
        (iii)  Voters of the district approve a proposition for 
    the issuance of the bonds at a regularly scheduled 
    election.
        (iv)  At the time of the sale of the bonds, the school 
    board determines by resolution that the new buildings or 
    building additions are needed because of an increase in 
    enrollment projected by the school board.
        (v)  The principal amount of the bonds, including 
    existing indebtedness, does not exceed 25% of the equalized 
    assessed value of the taxable property in the district.
        (vi)  The bonds are issued prior to January 1, 2007, 
    pursuant to Sections 19-2 through 19-7 of this Code.

    (p-10)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this 
Section or the provisions of any other law, bonds issued by a 
community consolidated school district maintaining grades K 
through 8 shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of 
any statutory limitation and may be issued in an amount or 
amounts, including existing indebtedness, in excess of any 
heretofore or hereafter imposed statutory limitation as to 
indebtedness, if all of the following conditions are met:
        (i)  For each of the 4 most recent years, residential 
    and farm property comprises more than 80% of the equalized 
    assessed valuation of the district.
        (ii)  The bond proceeds are to be used to acquire and 
    improve school sites and build and equip a school building.
        (iii)  Voters of the district approve a proposition for 
    the issuance of the bonds at a regularly scheduled 
    election.
        (iv)  At the time of the sale of the bonds, the school 
    board determines by resolution that the school sites and  
    building additions are needed because of an increase in 
    enrollment projected by the school board.
        (v)  The principal amount of the bonds, including 
    existing indebtedness, does not exceed 20% of the equalized 
    assessed value of the taxable property in the district.
        (vi)  The bonds are issued prior to January 1, 2007, 
    pursuant to Sections 19-2 through 19-7 of this Code.

    (p-15) In addition to all other authority to issue bonds, 
the Oswego Community Unit School District Number 308 may issue 
bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 
$450,000,000, but only  if all of the following conditions are 
met:
        (i) The voters of the district have approved a 
    proposition for the bond issue at the general election held 
    on November 7, 2006.
        (ii) At the time of the sale of the bonds, the school 
    board determines, by resolution, that: (A)  the building and 
    equipping of the new high school building, new junior high 
    school buildings, new elementary school buildings, early 
    childhood building, maintenance building, transportation 
    facility, and additions to existing school buildings, the 
    altering, repairing, equipping, and provision of 
    technology improvements to existing school buildings, and 
    the acquisition and improvement of school sites, as the 
    case may be,  are required as a result of a projected 
    increase in the enrollment of students in the district; and 
    (B) the sale of bonds for these purposes is authorized by 
    legislation that exempts the debt incurred on the bonds 
    from the district's statutory debt limitation.

        (iii) The bonds are issued, in one or more bond issues, 
    on or before November 7, 2011, but the aggregate principal 
    amount issued in all such bond issues combined must not 
    exceed $450,000,000.

        (iv) The bonds are issued in accordance with this 
    Article 19.
        (v) The proceeds of the bonds are used only to 
    accomplish those projects approved by the voters at the 
    general election held on November 7, 2006.
The debt incurred on any bonds issued under this subsection 
(p-15) shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any 
statutory debt limitation.

    (p-20) In addition to all other authority to issue bonds, 
the Lincoln-Way Community High School District Number 210 may 
issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 
$225,000,000, but only  if all of the following conditions are 
met:
        (i) The voters of the district have approved a 
    proposition for the bond issue at the general primary 
    election held on March 21, 2006.
        (ii) At the time of the sale of the bonds, the school 
    board determines, by resolution, that: (A)  the building and 
    equipping of the new high school buildings, the altering, 
    repairing, and equipping of existing school buildings, and 
    the improvement of school sites, as the case may be,  are 
    required as a result of a projected increase in the 
    enrollment of students in the district; and (B) the sale of 
    bonds for these purposes is authorized by legislation that 
    exempts the debt incurred on the bonds from the district's 
    statutory debt limitation.

        (iii) The bonds are issued, in one or more bond issues, 
    on or before March 21, 2011, but the aggregate principal 
    amount issued in all such bond issues combined must not 
    exceed $225,000,000.

        (iv) The bonds are issued in accordance with this 
    Article 19.
        (v) The proceeds of the bonds are used only to 
    accomplish those projects approved by the voters at the 
    primary election held on March 21, 2006.
The debt incurred on any bonds issued under this subsection 
(p-20) shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any 
statutory debt limitation.

    (p-25) In addition to all other authority to issue bonds, 
Rochester Community Unit School District 3A may issue bonds 
with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $18,500,000, 
but only  if all of the following conditions are met:
        (i) The voters of the district approve a proposition 
    for the bond issuance at the general primary election held 
    in 2008.

        (ii) At the time of the sale of the bonds, the school 
    board determines, by resolution, that: (A)  the building and 
    equipping of a new high school building; the addition of 
    classrooms and support facilities at the high school, 
    middle school, and elementary school; the altering, 
    repairing, and equipping of existing school buildings; and 
    the improvement of school sites, as the case may be,  are 
    required as a result of a projected increase in the 
    enrollment of students in the district; and (B) the sale of 
    bonds for these purposes is authorized by a law that 
    exempts the debt incurred on the bonds from the district's 
    statutory debt limitation.
        (iii) The bonds are issued, in one or more bond issues, 
    on or before December 31, 2012, but the aggregate principal 
    amount issued in all such bond issues combined must not 
    exceed $18,500,000.
        (iv) The bonds are issued in accordance with this 
    Article 19.
        (v) The proceeds of the bonds are used to accomplish 
    only those projects approved by the voters at the primary 
    election held in 2008.

The debt incurred on any bonds issued under this subsection 
(p-25) shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any 
statutory debt limitation.

    (p-30) In addition to all other authority to issue bonds, 
Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46 may issue bonds 
with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000, 
but only if all of the following conditions are met:

        (i) The voters of the district approve a proposition 
    for the bond issuance at an election held in 2008.

        (ii) At the time of the sale of the bonds, the school 
    board determines, by resolution, that (A) the building and 
    equipping of a new school building and additions to 
    existing school buildings are required as a result of a 
    projected increase in the enrollment of students in the 
    district and (B) the altering, repairing, and equipping of 
    existing school buildings are required because of the age 
    of the existing school buildings.

        (iii) The bonds are issued, in one or more bond 
    issuances, on or before December 31, 2012; however, the 
    aggregate principal amount issued in all such bond 
    issuances combined must not exceed $30,000,000.

        (iv) The bonds are issued in accordance with this 
    Article.

        (v) The proceeds of the bonds are used to accomplish 
    only those projects approved by the voters at an election 
    held in 2008.

The debt incurred on any bonds issued under this subsection 
(p-30) shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any 
statutory debt limitation.

    (p-35) In addition to all other authority to issue bonds, 
Prairie Hill Community Consolidated School District 133 may 
issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 
$13,900,000, but only if all of the following conditions are 
met:

        (i) The voters of the district approved a proposition 
    for the bond issuance at an election held on April 17, 
    2007.

        (ii) At the time of the sale of the bonds, the school 
    board determines, by resolution, that (A) the improvement 
    of the site of and the building and equipping of a school 
    building are required as a result of a projected increase 
    in the enrollment of students in the district and (B) the 
    repairing and equipping of the Prairie Hill Elementary 
    School building is required because of the age of that 
    school building.

        (iii) The bonds are issued, in one or more bond 
    issuances, on or before December 31, 2011, but the 
    aggregate principal amount issued in all such bond 
    issuances combined must not exceed $13,900,000.

        (iv) The bonds are issued in accordance with this 
    Article.

        (v) The proceeds of the bonds are used to accomplish 
    only those projects approved by the voters at an election 
    held on April 17, 2007.

The debt incurred on any bonds issued under this subsection 
(p-35) shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any 
statutory debt limitation.

    (p-40) In addition to all other authority to issue bonds, 
Mascoutah Community Unit District 19 may issue bonds with an 
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $55,000,000, but only 
if all of the following conditions are met:
        (1) The voters of the district approve a proposition 
    for the bond issuance at a regular election held on or 
    after November 4, 2008.
        (2) At the time of the sale of the bonds, the school 
    board determines, by resolution, that (i) the building and 
    equipping of a new high school building is required as a 
    result of a projected increase in the enrollment of 
    students in the district and the age and condition of the 
    existing high school building, (ii) the existing high 
    school building will be demolished, and (iii) the sale of 
    bonds is authorized by statute that exempts the debt 
    incurred on the bonds from the district's statutory debt 
    limitation.
        (3) The bonds are issued, in one or more bond 
    issuances, on or before December 31, 2011, but the 
    aggregate principal amount issued in all such bond 
    issuances combined must not exceed $55,000,000.
        (4) The bonds are issued in accordance with this 
    Article.
        (5) The proceeds of the bonds are used to accomplish 
    only those projects approved by the voters at a regular 
    election held on or after November 4, 2008.
    The debt incurred on any bonds issued under this subsection 
(p-40) shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any 
statutory debt limitation. 
    (p-45) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of 
this Section or of any other law, bonds issued pursuant to 
Section 19-3.5 of this Code shall not be considered 
indebtedness for purposes of any statutory limitation if the 
bonds are issued in an amount or amounts, including existing 
indebtedness of the school district, not in excess of 18.5% of 
the value of the taxable property in the district to be 
ascertained by the last assessment for State and county taxes. 
    (p-50) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of

this Section or of any other law, bonds issued pursuant to

Section 19-3.10 of this Code shall not be considered

indebtedness for purposes of any statutory limitation if the

bonds are issued in an amount or amounts, including existing

indebtedness of the school district, not in excess of 43% of

the value of the taxable property in the district to be

ascertained by the last assessment for State and county taxes. 
    (p-55) (p-45)  In addition to all other authority to issue 
bonds, Belle Valley School District 119 may issue bonds with an 
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $47,500,000, but only 
if all of the following conditions are met:
        (1) The voters of the district approve a proposition 
    for the bond issuance at an election held on or after April 
    7, 2009.
        (2) Prior to the issuance of the bonds, the school 
    board determines, by resolution, that (i) the building and 
    equipping of a new school building is required as a result 
    of mine subsidence in an existing school building and 
    because of the age and condition of another existing school 
    building and (ii) the issuance of bonds is authorized by 
    statute that exempts the debt incurred on the bonds from 
    the district's statutory debt limitation.
        (3) The bonds are issued, in one or more bond 
    issuances, on or before March 31, 2014, but the aggregate 
    principal amount issued in all such bond issuances combined 
    must not exceed $47,500,000.
        (4) The bonds are issued in accordance with this 
    Article.
        (5) The proceeds of the bonds are used to accomplish 
    only those projects approved by the voters at an election 
    held on or after April 7, 2009.
    The debt incurred on any bonds issued under this subsection 
(p-55) (p-45) shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes 
of any statutory debt limitation.  Bonds issued under this 
subsection (p-55) (p-45) must mature within not to exceed 30 
years from their date, notwithstanding any other law to the 
contrary. 
    (p-60) In addition to all other authority to issue bonds, 
Cahokia Community Unit School District 187 may issue bonds with 
an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000, but 
only if all the following conditions are met:
        (1)  The voters of the district approve a proposition 
    for the bond issuance at an election held on or after 
    November 2, 2010.
        (2)  Prior to the issuance of the bonds, the school 
    board determines, by resolution, that (i) the building and 
    equipping of a new school building is required as a result 
    of the age and condition of an existing school building and 
    (ii) the issuance of bonds is authorized by a statute that 
    exempts the debt incurred on the bonds from the district's 
    statutory debt limitation.
        (3)  The bonds are issued, in one or more issuances, on 
    or before July 1, 2016, but the aggregate principal amount 
    issued in all such bond issuances combined must not exceed 
    $50,000,000.
        (4)  The bonds are issued in accordance with this 
    Article.
        (5)  The proceeds of the bonds are used to accomplish 
    only those projects approved by the voters at an election 
    held on or after November 2, 2010.
    The debt incurred on any bonds issued under this subsection 
(p-60) shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any 
statutory debt limitation.  Bonds issued under this subsection 
(p-60) must mature within not to exceed 25 years from their 
date, notwithstanding any other law, including Section 19-3 of 
this Code, to the contrary. 
    (q) A school district must notify the State Board of 
Education prior to issuing any form of long-term or short-term 
debt that will result in outstanding debt that exceeds 75% of 
the debt limit specified in this Section or any other provision 
of law.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-594, eff. 9-10-07; 
95-792, eff. 1-1-09; 96-63, eff. 7-23-09; 96-273, eff. 8-11-09; 
96-517, eff. 8-14-09; revised 9-15-09.)
 
    Section 10. The School Construction Law is amended  by 
changing Section 5-50 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 230/5-50)
    Sec. 5-50. Referendum requirements. After the State Board 
of Education
has approved all or part of a district's 
application and issued a grant
entitlement for a school 
construction project grant, the district shall submit
the 
project or the financing of the project to a referendum when 
such
referendum is required by law, except for a project 
financed by bonds issued pursuant to subsection (p-60) of 
Section 19-1 of the School Code.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.