Public Act 097-0503
 
HB1216 EnrolledLRB097 07042 NHT 47135 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 adding Section 
11E-190 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/11E-190 new)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 31, 2013)
    Sec. 11E-190. School District Realignment and 
Consolidation Commission.
    (a) The School District Realignment and Consolidation 
Commission is established. The Commission shall consist of the 
following voting members:
        (1) the Lieutenant Governor or his or her appointee, 
    who shall serve as the Chairperson; 
        (2)  one member appointed by the State Board of 
    Education;
        (3)  a member of the General Assembly appointed by the 
    Speaker of the House of Representatives;
        (4)  a member of the General Assembly appointed by the 
    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
        (5)  a member of the General Assembly appointed by the 
    President of the Senate;
        (6)  a member of the General Assembly appointed by the 
    Minority Leader of the Senate;
        (7)  a representative of a statewide professional  
    teachers' organization appointed by the head of that 
    organization;
        (8)  a representative of a different statewide 
    professional teachers' organization appointed by the head 
    of that organization;
        (9)  a representative of a statewide organization that 
    represents school boards appointed by the head of that 
    organization;
        (10)  a representative of a statewide organization 
    representing principals appointed by the head of that 
    organization;
        (11) a representative of an organization representing 
    professional teachers in a city having a population 
    exceeding 500,000 appointed by the head of that 
    organization;
        (12)  a representative of an association representing 
    school business officials appointed by the head of that 
    association;
        (13)  a representative of an association representing 
    school administrators appointed by the head of that 
    association;
        (14)  a representative from the Chicago Board of 
    Education appointed by the Chicago Board of Education;
        (15)  a representative from an organization 
    representing administrators of special education appointed 
    by the head of that organization; 
        (16) a representative from a statewide parent 
    organization appointed by the head of that organization; 
        (17) a representative from an organization 
    representing high school districts appointed by the head of 
    that organization; 
        (18) a representative from a rural school district 
    appointed by the Governor; 
        (19) a representative from a suburban school district 
    appointed by the Governor; and 
        (20) a representative of an association that 
    represents regional superintendents of schools appointed 
    by the head of that association. 
    Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be 
reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from 
funds appropriated for that purpose.  Members shall be 
reimbursed for their travel expenses from appropriations to the 
State Board of Education available for that purpose and subject 
to the rules of the appropriate travel control board.
    The Commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson, 
with the initial meeting of the Commission being held as soon 
as possible after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 
the 97th General Assembly, and shall hold public hearings 
throughout this State.
    The State Board of Education shall provide assistance and 
necessary staff support services to the Commission.
    (b)  The purpose of the Commission is to make 
recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on the 
number of school districts in this State, the optimal amount of 
enrollment for a school district, and where consolidation and 
realignment would be beneficial. The Commission's 
recommendations must focus on all of the following areas:
        (1)  Reducing the money spent on duplication of efforts.
        (2)  Improving the education of students by having less 
    obstacles between qualified teachers and their students.
        (3)  Lowering the property tax burden.
        (4)  Providing recommendations as to what the net cost 
    savings of realignment is to this State.
        (5)  Providing input to school districts on 
    reorganization.
    (c)  On or before July 1, 2012, the Commission must vote on 
its recommendations and file a report with the Governor and the 
General Assembly.  If the Commission adopts the report by an 
affirmative vote of at least 11 of its members, then the 
General Assembly must, within 14 days after the report is filed 
by the Commission, vote on whether to accept the report by the 
adoption of a resolution by a record vote of a majority of the 
members elected in each house.  If the General Assembly is not 
in session on the day that the report is filed, then the 
General Assembly must vote on whether to accept the report 
within 14 days after the General Assembly convenes for the 
first time after the report is filed.  The Commission is 
dissolved on the day after the report is filed with both the 
Governor and the General Assembly.
    (d)  This Section is repealed on January 31, 2013.
 
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.