Bill Text: IL HB4495 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Creates the Vocational Academy Opportunity Act. Creates 2 vocational academies, one located in Cook County and the other in St. Clair County, which shall be residential institutions. Provides that each academy shall be a State agency, funded by State appropriations, private contributions, and endowments. Provides that the academies shall be governed by a single Board of Trustees for the collective operation and oversight of the academies. Provides for the membership of the Board. Specifies the duties and powers of the Board. Provides that each academy shall be empowered to lease or purchase real and personal property on commercially reasonable terms for the use by the academy.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)

Status: (Failed) 2019-01-08 - Session Sine Die [HB4495 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HB4495-Engrossed.html

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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Vocational Academy Opportunity Act.
Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "Board" means the Board
of Trustees created by this Act.
Section 10. Establishment, funding, and, location.
(a) There is created 2 vocational academies, one located in
Cook County and the other in St. Clair County, which shall be
residential institutions. Each academy shall be located within
one linear mile of a major interstate in a community where the
average income of a household of 3 people is no greater than
100% of the federal poverty level. The land value of the
community in which the academy is located may not exceed $7.50
per square foot.
(b) Each academy shall be a State agency, funded by State
appropriations, private contributions, and endowments. Minimal
fees for residential students may be charged. Each academy may
admit those students who have completed the academic equivalent
of the 9th grade and may offer a program of secondary and
postsecondary course work. Admission shall be determined by

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competitive examination.
(c) In order to be eligible for State appropriations, each
academy shall submit to the Board of Higher Education no later
than the 1st day of October of each year its budget proposal
for the operation and capital needs of the academy for its next
fiscal year.
Section 15. Board of Trustees. The academies shall be
governed by a single Board of Trustees for the collective
operation and oversight of the academies, which shall consist
of the following members:
(1) ex officio nonvoting members who shall be: the
State Superintendent of Education, the Executive Director
of the Illinois Community College Board, the Executive
Director of the Board of Higher Education, and the
superintendent of schools of the school district where each
campus is located;
(2) three Representatives of secondary education,
appointed by the State Superintendent of Education;
(3) two Representatives of higher education, appointed
by the Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education;
(4) the Mayor of Chicago, or his or her designee;
(5) the Mayor of East St. Louis, or his or her
designee;
(6) the President of the American Federation of Labor
and Congress of Industrial Organizations, or his or her

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designee; and
(7) two members representative of the general public,
appointed by the Governor.
With the exception of the initial appointments, the members
terms of office shall be for 6 years. At the first meeting,
members shall draw lots for appointments of 2, 4, or 6 year
initial terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired
portion of the terms by appointment of the officer who
appointed the person causing such vacancy. The initial terms
shall commence upon appointment and upon expiration of a term,
the member shall continue serving until a successor is
appointed. The Board shall select a chair from among its
members who shall serve a 2-year term as chair. Members shall
receive no salary but shall be reimbursed for all ordinary and
necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as
members of the Board.
Section 20. Powers of the Board. The Board of Trustees is
authorized to:
(1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of
financial assistance for educational purposes from any
public or private person or agency and comply with rules
and regulations governing grants from the federal
government or from any other person or agency, which are
not in contravention of the Illinois Constitution or the
laws of the State of Illinois.

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(2) Purchase equipment and make improvements to
facilities necessary for the use of the academies, in
accordance with applicable law.
(3) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, and
policies necessary for the conduct of the business of the
Board.
(4) Award certificates and issue diplomas for
successful completion of programs of study requirements.
(5) Select a Director who shall be the chief
administrative officer of the academies and who shall
administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted by
the Board of the Trustees under this Section. The Director
shall also be the chief administrative officer of the Board
and shall be responsible for all of the Board's
administrative functions, duties, and needs.
(6) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary
for the efficient operation of the academies and select
personnel for the positions.
(7) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary for
the continued operation of the academies.
(8) Enter into contracts and agreements which have been
recommended by the Director, to the extent that funds are
specifically appropriated for that purpose, with other
public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises
and undertakings related to or associated with an
educational purpose or program affecting education in an

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academy. This shall not preclude the Board from entering
into other contracts and agreements that it may deem
necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
(9) Perform other functions as are necessary to the
supervision and control of those phases of education under
its supervision and control.
(10) Delegate to the Director any administrative
powers and duties as it deems appropriate to aid the
Director in the efficient administration of his or her
responsibility for the implementation of the policies of
the Board.
(11) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies necessary
for the efficient operation of an academy.
(12) Establish criteria to be used in determining
eligibility of applicants for enrollment in an academy. The
criteria shall ensure adequate geographic, sexual, and
ethnic representation.
(13) Determine subjects and extracurricular activities
to be offered by an academy.
(14) Pay salaries and expenses, including, but not
limited to, facilities, equipment, and supplies of the
faculty and staff of an academy out of funds appropriated
or otherwise made available for the operating and
administrative expenses of the Board and an academy.
(15) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate
for expenditure by an academy and programs under its

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jurisdiction and all moneys appropriated or otherwise made
available for purposes of the Board and of the academy.
(16) Prescribe and select for use in an academy free
school books and other materials of instruction for
children enrolled in the academy and programs under its
jurisdiction for which the General Assembly provides
funds.
(17) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study and
rules, bylaws, and regulations for the conduct of students
and for the government of the school and programs under its
jurisdiction.
(18) Employ personnel as may be needed, establish
policies governing their employment and dismissal, and fix
the amount of their compensation. In the employment,
establishment of policies, and fixing of compensation, the
Board may make no discrimination on account of sex, race,
creed, color, or national origin.
Section 25. Academy property. Each academy shall be
empowered to lease or purchase real and personal property on
commercially reasonable terms for the use by the academy. Any
leases or purchases of real or personal property, and any
disposition of the property, by an academy shall be in
compliance with the provisions of the Civil Administrative Code
of Illinois and the State Property Control Act. Personal
property acquired for use by an academy shall be inventoried

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and disposed of in accordance with the State Property Control
Act.
Section 30. Indemnification. Each academy, the Board, and
its employees shall be represented and indemnified in certain
civil law suits in accordance with the State Employee
Indemnification Act. An academy or its officers or employees
and the Board may not participate in the creation of any
corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or other
organizational entity which exercises, expands, or enhances
the powers, duties, or responsibilities of the academy, unless
specifically authorized by the General Assembly. This Section
does not restrict an academy from creating any organization
entity that is within or a part of the academy.