Public Act 0638 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1446 Enrolled LRB095 11075 NHT 31401 b

Public Act 095-0638

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.