SB3553eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3553 Engrossed LRB098 18623 NHT 53764 b

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The State University Certificates of Participation Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, 30, and 90 as follows:

(110 ILCS 73/10)

Sec. 10. Certificates of participation.

(a) The power of the Board of any State University to enter into contracts includes the power to enter into financing agreements in connection with the financing or refinancing of capital improvements (including technology or other related improvements) by selling certificates of participation in the installment payments made under such financing agreements. Such financing agreements may be entered into for any period of time less than or equal to 30 years, but not to exceed the useful life of the capital improvement. Nothing in this Act authorizes the Board of any State University to incur "State debt" as that term is defined in subsection (a) of Section 9 of Article IX of the Illinois Constitution of 1970. This subsection (a) is declaratory of existing law.

(b) Upon determination by the Board of a State University to undertake a transaction for the sale of certificates of participation and enter into related financing agreements in connection with the financing or refinancing of capital improvements, the Board shall adopt a resolution or resolutions describing in a general way the contemplated facilities or a combination thereof designated as the project, the estimated cost thereof, and any additional relevant information.

(Source: P.A. 96-15, eff. 6-22-09.)

(110 ILCS 73/15)

Sec. 15. Accountability and review of proposed certificate issuance. Before issuance of any certificate of participation, a State University shall appear before the Commission and present the details of the proposal. This presentation shall include such information as the Commission may request in relation to the proposed certificate of participation issuance. This information shall include, but is not limited to, the amount being financed or refinanced, the nature of the project being financed or refinanced, the proposed funding stream to pay for the certificate issuance, the current outstanding indebtedness of the State University, and the status of all currently outstanding issued certificates of participation.

Upon receipt of a request by a State University for a certificate of participation presentation, the Commission shall hold a public hearing and, upon adoption by a vote of the majority of appointed members, issue a record of findings in regards to the issuance of the certificate within 60 days after the request.

As part of the Commission's considerations and findings, the Commission shall consider the effect the issuance of a certificate of participation shall have on the State University's annual debt service and overall fiscal condition.

Within the Commission's findings shall be a statement in which the Commission makes a recommendation to the State University as to proceeding with the certificate issuance. The recommendation shall be either (i) "favorably recommended", (ii) "recommended with concerns", or (iii) "non-support of issuance".

The Commission shall report the findings within 15 days after the hearing to all of the following:

(1) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(3) The President of the Senate.

(4) The Minority Leader of the Senate.

(5) The Governor's Office of Management and Budget.

(6) The President of the State University that had requested the certificate presentation.

Upon a finding of "non-support of issuance", a State University may not proceed with the issuance of the certificate involved in the finding without the approval of the General Assembly through the adoption of a joint resolution.

(Source: P.A. 96-15, eff. 6-22-09.)

(110 ILCS 73/30)

Sec. 30. Debt limit. The maximum annual debt service for a State University's total outstanding certificate of participation obligation must not exceed the following:

(1) For the University of Illinois, $100,000,000.

(2) For Southern Illinois University, $20,000,000.

(3) For Northern Illinois University, $20,000,000.

(4) For Illinois State University, $10,000,000.

(5) For Western Illinois University, $10,000,000.

(6) For Eastern Illinois University, $10,000,000.

(7) For Northeastern Illinois University, $5,000,000.

(8) For Chicago State University, $5,000,000.

(9) For Governors State University, $5,000,000.

(Source: P.A. 96-15, eff. 6-22-09.)

(110 ILCS 73/90)

Sec. 90. Expiration of Act. This Act applies until December 31, 2024 2014. However, the refunding of certificates of participation issued prior to December 31, 2024 2014 in accordance with the Act is permitted.

(Source: P.A. 96-15, eff. 6-22-09.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.