SB1310 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 07337 LNS 17377 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1310

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 690/35-45

Amends the Western Illinois University Law. Provides that the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University shall have the power and duty to borrow money for any lawful purpose from the WIU Foundation or any financial institution, as long as such money is repaid within 5 years from the time the money is borrowed. Provides that the amount outstanding from time to time may not exceed $2,000,000. Requires the chairperson, comptroller, or treasurer of the Board to execute a promissory note or similar debt instrument to evidence the indebtedness incurred by the borrowing.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Western Illinois University Law is amended by changing Section 35-45 as follows:

(110 ILCS 690/35-45)

Sec. 35-45. Powers and duties. The Board also shall have power and it shall be its duty:

(1) To make rules, regulations and bylaws, not inconsistent with law, for the government and management of Western Illinois University and its branches;

(2) To employ, and, for good cause, to remove a President of Western Illinois University, and all necessary deans, professors, associate professors, assistant professors, instructors, other educational and administrative assistants, and all other necessary employees, and to prescribe their duties and contract with them upon matters relating to tenure, salaries and retirement benefits in accordance with the State Universities Civil Service Act. Whenever the Board establishes a search committee to fill the position of President of Western Illinois University, there shall be minority representation, including women, on that search committee. The Board shall, upon the written request of an employee of Western Illinois University, withhold from the compensation of that employee any dues, payments or contributions payable by such employee to any labor organization as defined in the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Under such arrangement, an amount shall be withheld from each regular payroll period which is equal to the pro rata share of the annual dues plus any payments or contributions, and the Board shall transmit such withholdings to the specified labor organization within 10 working days from the time of the withholding;

(3) To prescribe the courses of study to be followed, and textbooks and apparatus to be used at Western Illinois University;

(4) To issue upon the recommendation of the faculty, diplomas to such persons as have satisfactorily completed the required studies of Western Illinois University, and confer such professional and literary degrees as are usually conferred by other institutions of like character for similar or equivalent courses of study, or such as the Board may deem appropriate;

(5) To examine into the conditions, management, and administration of Western Illinois University, to provide the requisite buildings, apparatus, equipment and auxiliary enterprises, and to fix and collect matriculation fees; tuition fees; fees for student activities; fees for student facilities such as student union buildings or field houses or stadia or other recreational facilities; student welfare fees; laboratory fees; and similar fees for supplies and materials. The expense of the building, improving, repairing and supplying fuel and furniture and the necessary appliances and apparatus for conducting Western Illinois University, the reimbursed expenses of members of the Board, and the salaries or compensation of the President, assistants, agents and other employees of Western Illinois University, shall be a charge upon the State Treasury. All other expenses shall be chargeable against students, and the Board shall regulate the charges accordingly;

(6) To succeed to and to administer all trusts, trust property, and gifts now or hereafter belonging or pertaining to Western Illinois University;

(7) To accept endowments of professorships or departments in Western Illinois University from any person who may proffer them and, at regular meetings, to prescribe rules and regulations in relation to endowments and declare on what general principles they may be accepted;

(8) To enter into contracts with the Federal government for providing courses of instruction and other services at Western Illinois University for persons serving in or with the military or naval forces of the United States, and to provide such courses of instruction and other services;

(9) To contract with respect to the Cooperative Computer Center to obtain services related to electronic data processing;

(10) To provide for the receipt and expenditures of Federal funds paid to Western Illinois University by the Federal government for instruction and other services for persons serving in or with the military or naval forces of the United States, and to provide for audits of such funds;

(11) To appoint, subject to the applicable civil service law, persons to be members of the Western Illinois University Police Department. Members of the Police Department shall be conservators of the peace and as such have all powers possessed by policemen in cities, and sheriffs, including the power to make arrests on view or warrants of violations of State statutes, University rules and regulations and city or county ordinances, except that they may exercise such powers only within counties wherein Western Illinois University and any of its branches or properties are located when such is required for the protection of University properties and interests, and its students and personnel, and otherwise, within such counties, when requested by appropriate State or local law enforcement officials. However, such officers shall have no power to serve and execute civil processes.

The Board must authorize to each member of the Western Illinois University Police Department and to any other employee of Western Illinois University exercising the powers of a peace officer a distinct badge that, on its face, (i) clearly states that the badge is authorized by Western Illinois University and (ii) contains a unique identifying number. No other badge shall be authorized by Western Illinois University;

(12) The Board may, directly or in cooperation with other institutions of higher education, acquire by purchase or lease or otherwise, and construct, enlarge, improve, equip, complete, operate, control and manage research and high technology parks, together with the necessary lands, buildings, facilities, equipment, and personal property therefor, to encourage and facilitate (i) the location and development of business and industry in the State of Illinois, and (ii) the increased application and development of technology, and (iii) the improvement and development of the State's economy. The Board may lease to nonprofit corporations all or any part of the land, buildings, facilities, equipment or other property included in a research and high technology park upon such terms and conditions as the Board may deem advisable and enter into any contract or agreement with such nonprofit corporations as may be necessary or suitable for the construction, financing, operation and maintenance and management of any such park; and may lease to any person, firm, partnership or corporation, either public or private, any part or all of the land, building, facilities, equipment or other property of such park for such purposes and upon such rentals, terms and conditions as the Board may deem advisable; and may finance all or part of the cost of any such park, including the purchase, lease, construction, reconstruction, improvement, remodeling, addition to, and extension and maintenance of all or part of such high technology park, and all equipment and furnishings, by legislative appropriations, government grants, contracts, private gifts, loans, receipts from the operation of such high technology park, rentals and similar receipts; and may make its other facilities and services available to tenants or other occupants of any such park at rates which are reasonable and appropriate;

(13) To borrow money, as necessary, from time to time in anticipation of receiving tuition, payments from the State of Illinois, or other revenues or receipts of the University, also known as anticipated moneys. The borrowing limit shall be capped at 100% of the total amount of payroll and other expense vouchers submitted and payable to the University for fiscal year 2010 expenses, but unpaid by the State Comptroller's office. Prior to borrowing any funds, the University shall request from the Comptroller's office a verification of the borrowing limit and shall include the estimated date on which such borrowing shall occur. The borrowing limit cap shall be verified by the State Comptroller's office not prior to 45 days before any estimated date for executing any promissory note or line of credit established under this item (13). The principal amount borrowed under a promissory note or line of credit shall not exceed 75% of the borrowing limit. Within 15 days after borrowing funds under any promissory note or line of credit established under this item (13), the University shall submit to the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate an Emergency Short Term Cash Management Plan. The Emergency Short Term Cash Management Plan shall outline the amount borrowed, the terms for repayment, the amount of outstanding State vouchers as verified by the State Comptroller's office, and the University's plan for expenditure of any borrowed funds, including, but not limited to, a detailed plan to meet payroll obligations to include collective bargaining employees, civil service employees, and academic, research, and health care personnel. The establishment of any promissory note or line of credit established under this item (13) must be finalized within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. The borrowed moneys shall be applied to the purposes of paying salaries and other expenses lawfully authorized in the University's State appropriation and unpaid by the State Comptroller. Any line of credit established under this item (13) shall be paid in full one year after creation or within 10 days after the date the University receives reimbursement from the State for all submitted fiscal year 2010 vouchers, whichever is earlier. Any promissory note established under this item (13) shall be repaid within one year after issuance of the note. The Chairman, Comptroller, or Treasurer of the Board shall execute a promissory note or similar debt instrument to evidence the indebtedness incurred by the borrowing. In connection with a borrowing, the Board may establish a line of credit with a financial institution, investment bank, or broker/dealer. The obligation to make the payments due under any promissory note or line of credit established under this item (13) shall be a lawful obligation of the University payable from the anticipated moneys. Any borrowing under this item (13) shall not constitute a debt, legal or moral, of the State and shall not be enforceable against the State. The promissory note or line of credit shall be authorized by a resolution passed by the Board and shall be valid whether or not a budgeted item with respect to that resolution is included in any annual or supplemental budget adopted by the Board. The resolution shall set forth facts demonstrating the need for the borrowing, state an amount that the amount to be borrowed will not exceed, and establish a maximum interest rate limit not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act or 9%, whichever is less. The resolution may direct the Comptroller or Treasurer of the Board to make arrangements to set apart and hold the portion of the anticipated moneys, as received, that shall be used to repay the borrowing, subject to any prior pledges or restrictions with respect to the anticipated moneys. The resolution may also authorize the Treasurer of the Board to make partial repayments of the borrowing as the anticipated moneys become available and may contain any other terms, restrictions, or limitations not inconsistent with the powers of the Board.

For the purposes of this item (13), "financial institution" means any bank subject to the Illinois Banking Act, any savings and loan association subject to the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985, and any federally chartered commercial bank or savings and loan association or government-sponsored enterprise organized and operated in this State pursuant to the laws of the United States.

(14) To assist in the provision of lands, buildings, and facilities that are supportive of University purposes and suitable and appropriate for the conduct and operation of the University's education programs, the Board may exercise the following powers with regard to that part of the Southeast Quarter of Section 11, Township 17 North, Range 1 West of the 4th Principal Meridian, the boundary which is described as follows:

From the Northeast corner of Lot 33 of Homewood Terrace Second Addition to the City of Moline in Rock Island County, Illinois, said corner being the point of beginning and being 1272.48 feet South and 526.23 feet East of the center of Section 11; proceed thence South 00 deg.-00'-00" West 179.04 feet along the East line of said Homewood Terrace Second Addition; thence South 34 deg.-30'-00" West l35.00 feet along the East line of said Homewood Terrace Second Addition; thence South 34 deg.-22'-33" East 353.34 feet to the East line of the First Section of Homewood 5th Addition to the City of Moline in Rock Island County, Illinois; thence South 21 deg.-14'-01" East 448.00 feet along the East line of said First Section of Homewood 5th Addition to the North Right-of-Way line of Coaltown Road, Moline; thence North 69 deg.-30'-59" East 13.39 feet along the North Right-of-Way of Coaltown Road; thence Northeasterly 302.69 feet along the North Right-of-Way of Coaltown Road around a circular curve to the Right, said curve having an initial tangent bearing of North 69 deg.-30'-59" East and a radius of 1950.08 feet; thence North 49 deg.-29'-56" East 99.18 feet along the North Right-of-Way line of Coaltown Road, Moline, to the West Right-of-Way line of 60th Street, Moline; thence North 09 deg.-29'-20" West 366.24 feet along the West Right-of-Way line of 60th Street, Moline Right-of-Way monument; thence North 10 deg.-10'-03" West 263.50 feet along the West Right-of-Way line of 60th Street, Moline Right-of-Way monument; thence North 01 deg.-45'-57" West 81.37 feet along the West line of 60th Street, Moline; thence Northwesterly 581.39 feet around a circular curve to the right, said curve having an initial tangent bearing of South 89 deg.-27'-55" West and a radius of 1085.00 feet to the point of beginning; Situated in Rock Island County, Illinois.

(A) The Board may sell, lease, or otherwise transfer and convey all or part of the real estate described in this item (14), together with the improvements situated thereon, to a bona fide purchaser for value, without compliance with the State Property Control Act and on such terms as the Board shall determine are in the best interests of the University and consistent with its objects and purposes.

(B) The Board may retain the proceeds from the sale, lease, or other transfer of all or any part of the real estate described in this item (14) in the University treasury, in a special, separate development fund account that the Auditor General shall examine to ensure the use or deposit of those proceeds in a manner consistent with subdivision (C) of this item (14).

(C) Revenues from the development fund account may be withdrawn by the University for the purpose of demolition and the processes associated with demolition; routine land and property acquisition; streetscape work; landscape work; lease and lease purchase arrangements and the professional services associated with planning and development; surface and structure parking; sidewalks, recreational paths, and street construction; utility infrastructure; historic preservation; and building rehabilitation. Money from the development fund account used for any other purpose must be deposited into and appropriated from the General Revenue Fund. Buildings or facilities leased to an entity or person other than the University are not subject to any limitations applicable to a State-supported college or university under any law. All development on the land and all use of any buildings or facilities is subject to the control and approval of the Board.

(15) For purposes of this item (15), "financial institution" means any bank subject to the Illinois Banking Act, any savings and loan association or savings bank subject to the Savings Bank Act, any credit union subject to the Illinois Credit Union Act, and any federally chartered commercial bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, or credit union organized and operated in this State pursuant to the laws of the United States.

To borrow money for any lawful purpose from the WIU Foundation or any financial institution, as long as such money is repaid within 5 years from the time the money is borrowed. The amount outstanding from time to time under this item (15) may not exceed $2,000,000. The chairman, comptroller, or treasurer of the Board shall execute a promissory note or similar debt instrument to evidence the indebtedness incurred by the borrowing. The obligation to make the payments due under any promissory note or line of credit established under this item (15) shall be a lawful obligation of the University payable from available tuition, payments from the State of Illinois, or other revenues or receipts of the University. Any borrowing under this item (15) does not constitute a debt, legal or moral, of the State and is not enforceable against the State. The promissory note or line of credit shall be authorized by a resolution passed by the Board and shall be valid whether a budgeted item with respect to that resolution is included in any annual or supplemental budget adopted by the Board. The resolution shall set forth facts demonstrating the need for the borrowing, state an amount that the amount to be borrowed will not exceed, and establish a maximum interest rate limit not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11; 98-998, eff. 8-18-14.)