SB3033eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3033 Engrossed LRB098 16805 OMW 51875 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 2-3.160 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.160 new)

Sec. 2-3.160. Career and technical education incentive grants.

(a) Subject to a separate appropriation for this purpose, the State Board of Education shall:

(1) annually confer with the Illinois Community College Board to identify industries and occupations within this State that face workforce shortages or shortages of adequately trained, entry-level workers;

(2) annually notify school districts of the identified industries and occupations and make this information available on its Internet website; and

(3) approve industry-recognized certification programs designed to mitigate workforce shortages in any of the industries or occupations identified under item (1) of this subsection.

(b) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the State Board of Education shall annually award incentive grants from funds appropriated for that purpose to school districts in the amount of $1,000 per pupil for each pupil in the school district who, in the prior school year, obtained a high school diploma or a technical education high school diploma from a school in the school district if:

(1) the school district has an industry-recognized certification program approved under item (3) of subsection (a) of this Section; and

(2) the pupil successfully completed the industry-recognized certification program in any school year in which the program was approved by the State Board of Education.

(c) If the funds appropriated in any fiscal year are insufficient to pay the full amount under subsection (b) of this Section, the State Board of Education shall prorate the amount of its payments among school districts eligible for an incentive grant under this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2015.