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.




Effective Date:  6/1/2008