State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ House Amendment 001 ]

90_HB3771

      105 ILCS 5/7-2b           from Ch. 122, par. 7-2b
      105 ILCS 5/7-6            from Ch. 122, par. 7-6
          Amends the School Code.   In  provisions  concerning  the
      annexation of non-coterminous territory from an elementary or
      high   school   district,   adds  the  requirement  that  the
      petitioners and school  district  follow  certain  procedures
      after  filing  the petition with the regional board of school
      trustees and regional superintendent having supervision  over
      the   greatest   portion   of  the  territory.   Removes  the
      prohibition on the State Board of Education having  authority
      or  discretion  to  hear  any evidence or consider any issues
      except those that may be necessary to determine  whether  the
      limitations  and  conditions of the provisions concerning the
      annexation of non-coterminous territory from an elementary or
      high school  district  have  been  met.   Provides  that  the
      changes  made  by  this  amendatory  Act  apply  to all cases
      pending before the State  Board  of  Education  or  a  court.
      Effective immediately.
                                                    LRB9007992NTsbA
                                              LRB9007992NTsbA
 1        AN ACT to amend the School Code by changing Sections 7-2b
 2    and 7-6.
 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section 5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by  changing
 6    Sections 7-2b and 7-6 as follows:
 7        (105 ILCS 5/7-2b) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-2b)
 8        Sec.  7-2b.  Annexation of non-coterminous territory from
 9    an elementary or high school district.
10        (a)  Any contiguous portion of  a  high  school  district
11    that  constitutes 10% or less of the equalized assessed value
12    of the district shall upon  petition  of  two-thirds  of  the
13    registered  voters  of  the territory proposed to be detached
14    and annexed be so detached and annexed by the State Board  of
15    Education after meeting the following requirements:
16             (1)  the   petitioners   and  school  district  have
17        followed the procedures outlined  in  Section  7-6  after
18        filing  the  petition  with  the regional board of school
19        trustees and regional superintendent  having  supervision
20        over the greatest portion of the territory; and
21             (2)  if   granting  such  petition  shall  make  the
22        affected segment of the boundaries  of  the  high  school
23        district  the  territory  is  proposed  to  be annexed to
24        identical, for the entirety of such affected segment,  to
25        the boundaries of the elementary school district in which
26        the territory is located.
27        Any  contiguous  portion of an elementary school district
28    that constitutes 10% or less of the equalized assessed  value
29    of  the  district  shall  upon  petition of two-thirds of the
30    registered voters of the territory proposed  to  be  detached
31    and  annexed be so detached and annexed by the State Board of
                            -2-               LRB9007992NTsbA
 1    Education after meeting the following requirements:
 2             (1)  the  petitioners  and  school   district   have
 3        followed  the  procedures  outlines  in Section 7-6 after
 4        filing the petition with the  regional  board  of  school
 5        trustees  and  regional superintendent having supervision
 6        over the greatest portion of the territory; and
 7             (2)  if  granting  such  petition  shall  make   the
 8        affected  segment  of  the  boundaries  of the elementary
 9        school district the territory is proposed to  be  annexed
10        to  identical, for the entirety of such affected segment,
11        to the boundaries of the high school  district  in  which
12        the territory is located.
13        The  State  Board of Education shall have no authority or
14    discretion to hear any evidence or consider any issues except
15    those  that  may  be  necessary  to  determine  whether   the
16    limitations and conditions of this Section have been met.
17        (b)  At  any  time  prior to the granting of the petition
18    calling for the detachment and annexation of  non-coterminous
19    territory under this Section, the Committee of Ten designated
20    in  the  petition  may  amend  the  petition  to withdraw the
21    detachment and annexation  proposal  and  substitute  in  its
22    place  a  proposal  to require the school district from which
23    the territory would have been detached to pay the per  capita
24    tuition  costs for each pupil residing in the non-coterminous
25    territory  to  attend  the  school  district  to  which   the
26    territory  would have been annexed.  If such amended petition
27    is granted, the school  district  from  which  the  territory
28    would  have been detached shall pay to the school district to
29    which the territory would have been annexed  the  per  capita
30    tuition costs as determined under Section 10-20. 12a for each
31    pupil  residing  in  the  territory who chooses to attend the
32    school district  to  which  the  territory  would  have  been
33    annexed.   Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10-22.5,
34    the school district to which the territory  would  have  been
                            -3-               LRB9007992NTsbA
 1    annexed   shall   admit   any   pupil  that  resides  in  the
 2    non-coterminous territory and provide such  pupils  with  any
 3    services  of  the  school.   The  payment  and  collection of
 4    tuition and any other such matters as may need to be resolved
 5    shall  be  established  by  an  intergovernmental   agreement
 6    developed between the two affected school districts.
 7        (c)  The  changes to this Section made by this amendatory
 8    Act of 1998 apply to all cases pending before the State Board
 9    of Education or a court on or after  the  effective  date  of
10    this amendatory Act of 1998.
11    (Source: P.A. 88-386; 89-397, eff. 8-20-95.)
12        (105 ILCS 5/7-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-6)
13        Sec. 7-6.  Petition filing; Notice; Hearing; Decision.
14        (a)  Upon  the filing of a petition with the secretary of
15    the regional board of school trustees under the provisions of
16    Section 7-1, or 7-2, or 7-2b of this Act the secretary  shall
17    cause  a  copy  of such petition to be given to each board of
18    any district involved in the  proposed  boundary  change  and
19    shall  cause  a  notice  thereof  to  be  published once in a
20    newspaper having general circulation within the area  of  the
21    territory  described  in the petition for the proposed change
22    of boundaries.
23        (b)  When  a  joint  hearing  is   required   under   the
24    provisions  of  Section 7-2, the secretary also shall cause a
25    copy of the notice to be sent to the regional board of school
26    trustees  of  each  region  affected.   Notwithstanding   the
27    foregoing provisions of this Section, if the secretary of the
28    regional  board  of  school  trustees with whom a petition is
29    filed under Section 7-2  fails,  within  30  days  after  the
30    filing  of  such  petition,  to  cause  notice  thereof to be
31    published and sent as required  by  this  Section,  then  the
32    secretary  of  the  regional  board of school trustees of any
33    other region affected may cause the  required  notice  to  be
                            -4-               LRB9007992NTsbA
 1    published  and sent, and the joint hearing may be held in any
 2    region affected as provided in the notice so published.
 3        (b-5)  If  a  petition  filed  under  subsection  (a)  of
 4    Section 7-1 or under Section 7-2 proposes to  annex  all  the
 5    territory  of  a  school district to another school district,
 6    the petition shall request the submission of a proposition at
 7    a regular scheduled election for the purpose of voting for or
 8    against the annexation of  the  territory  described  in  the
 9    petition  to  the  school  district  proposing  to annex that
10    territory.  No petition filed or  election  held  under  this
11    Article  shall  be  null  and void, invalidated, or deemed in
12    noncompliance with the Election Code because of a failure  to
13    publish  a  notice with respect to the petition or referendum
14    as required under subsection (g) of Section 28-2 of that Code
15    for petitions that  are  not  filed  under  this  Article  or
16    Article 7A, 11A, 11B, or 11D of the School Code.
17        (c)  When a petition contains more than 10 signatures the
18    petition shall designate a committee of 10 of the petitioners
19    as  attorney  in  fact for all petitioners, any 7 of whom may
20    make binding stipulations on behalf of all petitioners as  to
21    any question with respect to the petition or hearing or joint
22    hearing,  and  the  regional  board  of  school  trustees, or
23    regional boards of  school  trustees  in  cases  of  a  joint
24    hearing  may  accept  such stipulation in lieu of evidence or
25    proof of the matter stipulated. The committee of  petitioners
26    shall  have  the  same  power  to stipulate to accountings or
27    waiver  thereof  between  school  districts;   however,   the
28    regional  board  of  school  trustees,  or regional boards of
29    school trustees in cases of a joint  hearing  may  refuse  to
30    accept such stipulation. Those designated as the committee of
31    10  shall  serve  in  that  capacity  until  such time as the
32    regional superintendent of schools or  the  committee  of  10
33    determines  that,  because of death, resignation, transfer of
34    residency from the territory,  or  failure  to  qualify,  the
                            -5-               LRB9007992NTsbA
 1    office  of  a  particular  member  of  the committee of 10 is
 2    vacant.   Upon  determination  that  a  vacancy  exists,  the
 3    remaining members shall appoint  a  petitioner  to  fill  the
 4    designated  vacancy  on the committee of 10.  The appointment
 5    of any new members by the committee of 10 shall be made by  a
 6    simple majority vote of the remaining designated members.
 7        (d)  The  petition  may  be  amended  to  withdraw not to
 8    exceed a total of 10% of the territory in the petition at any
 9    time prior to the hearing or joint hearing; provided that the
10    petition shall after amendment comply with  the  requirements
11    as  to  the  number  of  signatures  required  on an original
12    petition.
13        (e)  The petitioners shall pay the expenses of publishing
14    the notice and of any transcript  taken  at  the  hearing  or
15    joint  hearing; and in case of an appeal from the decision of
16    the regional board of school trustees, or regional boards  of
17    school  trustees  in  cases  of  a  joint  hearing,  or State
18    Superintendent  of  Education  in  cases   determined   under
19    subsection  (l) of this Section, the appellants shall pay the
20    cost of preparing the record for appeal.
21        (f)  The notice shall state when the petition was  filed,
22    the  description of the territory, the prayer of the petition
23    and the return day on which the hearing or joint hearing upon
24    the petition will be held which shall not be more than 15 nor
25    less than 10 days after the publication of notice.
26        (g)  On such return day or on a day to which the regional
27    board of  school  trustees,  or  regional  boards  of  school
28    trustees  in  cases  of  a  joint  hearing shall continue the
29    hearing  or  joint  hearing  the  regional  board  of  school
30    trustees, or regional boards of school trustees in cases of a
31    joint hearing shall hear the petition  but  may  adjourn  the
32    hearing  or  joint  hearing from time to time or may continue
33    the matter for want of sufficient notice or other good cause.
34        (h)  Prior to the hearing or joint hearing the  secretary
                            -6-               LRB9007992NTsbA
 1    of  the regional board of school trustees shall submit to the
 2    regional board of school  trustees,  or  regional  boards  of
 3    school  trustees in cases of a joint hearing maps showing the
 4    districts  involved,  a  written  report  of  financial   and
 5    educational conditions of districts involved and the probable
 6    effect   of  the  proposed  changes.  The  reports  and  maps
 7    submitted  shall  be  made  a  part  of  the  record  of  the
 8    proceedings of the regional  board  of  school  trustees,  or
 9    regional  boards  of  school  trustees  in  cases  of a joint
10    hearing. A copy of the report and  maps  submitted  shall  be
11    sent  by  the  secretary  of  the  regional  board  of school
12    trustees to each board of the districts  involved,  not  less
13    than  5 days prior to the day upon which the hearing or joint
14    hearing is to be held.
15        (i)  The regional board of school trustees,  or  regional
16    boards  of  school trustees in cases of a joint hearing shall
17    hear evidence as to the school needs and  conditions  of  the
18    territory  in  the area within and adjacent thereto and as to
19    the ability of the districts affected to meet  the  standards
20    of recognition as prescribed by the State Board of Education,
21    and  shall  take into consideration the division of funds and
22    assets which will result from the change  of  boundaries  and
23    shall  determine  whether  it is to the best interests of the
24    schools of the area and the educational welfare of the pupils
25    that such change  in  boundaries  be  granted,  and  in  case
26    non-high  school  territory  is contained in the petition the
27    normal high school attendance pattern of the  children  shall
28    be taken into consideration. If the non-high school territory
29    overlies an elementary district, a part of which is in a high
30    school  district,  such territory may be annexed to such high
31    school district even though not contiguous to the high school
32    district. However, upon resolution by the regional  board  of
33    school  trustees,  or  regional  boards of school trustees in
34    cases of a joint hearing the secretary or secretaries thereof
                            -7-               LRB9007992NTsbA
 1    shall conduct the hearing or joint hearing upon any  boundary
 2    petition  and  present  a  transcript  of such hearing to the
 3    trustees who shall base their decision upon  the  transcript,
 4    maps and information and any presentation of counsel.
 5        (j)  At  the hearing or joint hearing any resident of the
 6    territory described in the petition or any  resident  in  any
 7    district  affected  by  the proposed change of boundaries may
 8    appear in person or by an attorney in support of the petition
 9    or to object to the granting of the petition and may  present
10    evidence in support of his position.
11        (k)  At the conclusion of the hearing, other than a joint
12    hearing, the regional superintendent of schools as ex officio
13    member  of the regional board of school trustees shall within
14    30 days  enter  an  order  either  granting  or  denying  the
15    petition  and  shall deliver to the committee of petitioners,
16    if any, and any  person  who  has  filed  his  appearance  in
17    writing  at  the hearing and any attorney who appears for any
18    person and any objector who testifies at the hearing and  the
19    regional  superintendent  of  schools a certified copy of its
20    order.
21        (l)  Notwithstanding the  foregoing  provisions  of  this
22    Section,  if  within  9  months after a petition is submitted
23    under the provisions of  Section  7-1  the  petition  is  not
24    approved  or  denied by the regional board of school trustees
25    and the order approving or denying that petition entered  and
26    a copy thereof served as provided in this Section, the school
27    boards  or  registered  voters of the districts affected that
28    submitted the  petition  (or  the  committee  of  10,  or  an
29    attorney acting on its behalf, if designated in the petition)
30    may  submit  a  copy  of  the  petition directly to the State
31    Superintendent of Education for approval or denial.  The copy
32    of the petition as so submitted shall  be  accompanied  by  a
33    record of all proceedings had with respect to the petition up
34    to  the  time  the  copy  of the petition is submitted to the
                            -8-               LRB9007992NTsbA
 1    State Superintendent of Education (including a  copy  of  any
 2    notice  given or published, any certificate or other proof of
 3    publication, copies of any maps  or  written  report  of  the
 4    financial  and educational conditions of the school districts
 5    affected if furnished by the secretary of the regional  board
 6    of  school trustees, copies of any amendments to the petition
 7    and stipulations made, accepted or refused, a  transcript  of
 8    any hearing or part of a hearing held, continued or adjourned
 9    on  the  petition, and any orders entered with respect to the
10    petition or any hearing held thereon).   The  school  boards,
11    registered  voters or committee of 10 submitting the petition
12    and record of proceedings  to  the  State  Superintendent  of
13    Education shall give written notice by certified mail, return
14    receipt  requested  to  the regional board of school trustees
15    and to the secretary of that board that the petition has been
16    submitted  to  the  State  Superintendent  of  Education  for
17    approval or denial, and shall furnish a copy of the notice so
18    given to the State Superintendent of Education.  The cost  of
19    assembling  the  record  of proceedings for submission to the
20    State Superintendent of Education shall be the responsibility
21    of the school boards, registered voters or  committee  of  10
22    that  submits  the  petition and record of proceedings to the
23    State  Superintendent  of  Education.   When  a  petition  is
24    submitted  to  the  State  Superintendent  of  Education   in
25    accordance with the provisions of this paragraph:
26             (1)  The regional board of school trustees loses all
27        jurisdiction  over the petition and shall have no further
28        authority to hear, approve, deny or  otherwise  act  with
29        respect to the petition.
30             (2)  All  jurisdiction  over  the  petition  and the
31        right and duty to hear, approve, deny  or  otherwise  act
32        with  respect to the petition is transferred to and shall
33        be assumed and exercised by the State  Superintendent  of
34        Education.
                            -9-               LRB9007992NTsbA
 1             (3)  The State Superintendent of Education shall not
 2        be required to repeat any proceedings that were conducted
 3        in  accordance  with the provisions of this Section prior
 4        to the time jurisdiction over the petition is transferred
 5        to him, but the State Superintendent of  Education  shall
 6        be  required  to give and publish any notices and hold or
 7        complete any  hearings  that  were  not  given,  held  or
 8        completed by the regional board of school trustees or its
 9        secretary  as  required by this Section prior to the time
10        jurisdiction over the  petition  is  transferred  to  the
11        State Superintendent of Education.
12             (4)  If  so  directed by the State Superintendent of
13        Education, the regional superintendent of  schools  shall
14        submit  to  the  State Superintendent of Education and to
15        such  school  boards  as  the  State  Superintendent   of
16        Education  shall  prescribe  accurate  maps and a written
17        report of the financial and educational conditions of the
18        districts  affected  and  the  probable  effect  of   the
19        proposed boundary changes.
20             (5)  The   State  Superintendent  is  authorized  to
21        conduct further hearings, or appoint a hearing officer to
22        conduct further hearings, on the petition even  though  a
23        hearing  thereon  was  held  as  provided in this Section
24        prior to the  time  jurisdiction  over  the  petition  is
25        transferred to the State Superintendent of Education.
26             (6)  The  State  Superintendent  of Education or the
27        hearing officer shall hear evidence and approve  or  deny
28        the  petition and shall enter an order to that effect and
29        deliver and serve the same as required in other cases  to
30        be  done by the regional board of school trustees and the
31        regional superintendent  of  schools  as  an  ex  officio
32        member of that board.
33        (m)  Within  10  days  after  the  conclusion  of a joint
34    hearing required under the provisions of  Section  7-2,  each
                            -10-              LRB9007992NTsbA
 1    regional  board  of  school  trustees shall meet together and
 2    render a decision with regard to the  joint  hearing  on  the
 3    petition.   If the regional boards of school trustees fail to
 4    enter a joint order either granting or denying the  petition,
 5    the  regional  superintendent  of schools for the educational
 6    service region in which the joint hearing is held shall enter
 7    an order denying the petition, and within 30 days  after  the
 8    conclusion  of  the joint hearing shall deliver a copy of the
 9    order denying the petition to the regional boards  of  school
10    trustees  of  each  region  affected,  to  the  committee  of
11    petitioners,  if  any,  to  any  person  who  has  filed  his
12    appearance  in writing at the hearing and to any attorney who
13    appears for any person at the joint hearing.  If the regional
14    boards of school trustees enter a joint order either granting
15    or denying  the  petition,  the  regional  superintendent  of
16    schools for the educational service region in which the joint
17    hearing  is  held  shall, within 30 days of the conclusion of
18    the hearing, deliver a copy of the joint order to those  same
19    committees  and  persons as are entitled to receive copies of
20    the  regional  superintendent's  order  in  cases  where  the
21    regional boards of school trustees have  failed  to  enter  a
22    joint order.
23        (n)  Within  10 days after service of a copy of the order
24    granting or denying the petition, any person  so  served  may
25    petition  for  a  rehearing  and, upon sufficient cause being
26    shown, a rehearing may be granted. The filing of  a  petition
27    for  rehearing  shall  operate as a stay of enforcement until
28    the regional board of school trustees, or regional boards  of
29    school  trustees  in  cases  of  a  joint  hearing,  or State
30    Superintendent  of  Education  in  cases   determined   under
31    subsection  (l) of this Section enter the final order on such
32    petition for rehearing.
33        (o)  If a petition filed under subsection (a) of  Section
34    7-1  or under Section 7-2 is required under the provisions of
                            -11-              LRB9007992NTsbA
 1    subsection (b-5) of this Section 7-6 to request submission of
 2    a proposition at a regular scheduled election for the purpose
 3    of voting for or against  the  annexation  of  the  territory
 4    described in the petition to the school district proposing to
 5    annex  that  territory,  and  if  the  petition is granted or
 6    approved by the regional board or regional boards  of  school
 7    trustees  or  by  the  State Superintendent of Education, the
 8    proposition shall be placed on the ballot at the next regular
 9    scheduled election.
10        (p)  The changes to this Section made by this  amendatory
11    Act of 1998 apply to all cases pending before the State Board
12    of  Education  or  a  court on or after the effective date of
13    this amendatory Act of 1998.
14    (Source: P.A. 90-459, eff. 8-17-97.)
15        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
16    becoming law.

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