Advocacy

A statewide infrastructure plan that includes funding for school construction is one step closer to becoming a reality after the House voted 87-27 Saturday night to approve SB 690, which provides revenue to fund vertical construction in the capital bill.
 
In addition, the House voted 97-17-1 to approve the Budget Implementation Bill (SB 1814), which contains language to restore the 6 percent end-of-career cap.
 
Both pieces of legislation now head to the Senate for concurrence, where they will likely be passed today after the Senate convenes at 3 p.m.
 
The magnitude of the vote on SB 690 cannot be overstated.
 
The legislation legalizes sports betting and expands gaming by adding licenses for six new casinos (including one in Chicago), three "racinos" and expands gaming positions allowed throughout current establishments.
 
In addition, the bill raises taxes on cigarettes, out-of-state retailers, alcohol, streaming services and ends some tax exemptions.
 
What a difference 24 hours can make. After only passing two bills Friday, the House zipped through bills that finalized the budget, funded capital and expanded gaming on Sunday.
 
On Friday, there was some doubt vertical construction in a capital bill would materialize. Neither the House nor Senate took up the bill, apparently due to concerns the new Chicago mayor had about sports betting.
 
By Saturday afternoon those concerns were appeased. It wasn't the only backroom dealing going on.
 
House Speaker Michael Madigan and Gov. JB Pritzker reportedly made a deal with House Minority Leader Jim Durkin on several initiatives backed by business groups that paved the way for some Republican support for SB 690.
 
Now, a $44 billion capital bill - the first Illinois has seen in a decade - is on the goal line.
 
The House on Saturday voted 83-29 on SB 1939, which raises the gas tax to provide funding for roads and bridges. The bill heads to the Senate.
 
The actual capital bill, HB 62, now heads to the governor's desk after the House passed it with bipartisan support by a vote of 95-18. A separate bill to authorize bonding has cleared both chambers.
 
As we reported yesterday, the capital bill includes $3.5 billion total for preK-12 schools. However, that figure includes a local funding match. The state's investment would be $1.8 billion, with local funding making up the rest.
 
Here's how the state funding is expected to break down:
 

• $1.5 billion from the School Construction Fund, matched by $1.5 billion in local funding, totaling $3 billion. This will allow for new School Construction Grants to stem the growth of deferred maintenance in education facilities and help meet programmatic needs of districts around the state. 
• $200 million in pay-as-you-go funding is provided for School Maintenance Grants, a dollar for dollar matching grant program that provides up to $50,000 for the maintenance or upkeep of buildings for educational purposes, for a total of $400 million in total investments.
• $100 million will go toward the needs of institutions that support the early learning experience of children across the state. The Early Childhood Grant Program, which requires a 10 percent match, allows the Capital Development Board to assist early childhood centers with the renovation and expansion of their facilities.

On Friday, state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said the school maintenance part of the capital bill will operate similarly as it did under the previous grant program.

It will take some time, however, before we know what school projects will receive funding.
 
Buried within the Budget Implementation Bill is language that creates the School Construction Task Force. The task force will develop the criteria used in determining how the grant program will be implemented.
 
The task force will be made up of staff from the governor's office, members of both parties from the House and Senate, a representative from ISBE, a member of the Capitol Development Board and five members appointed by the governor representing:

• Early childhood education programs.
• Elementary school districts.
• High school districts.
• Unit districts
• Vocational education programs.

The committee has to produce its report to the governor and General Assembly by March 1, 2020.
 
We'll be following the action in the Senate closely today and provide you with the latest information on what happens.
 
Thanks for reading.
 
Sincerely,

Diane Hendren
Director of Governmental Relations
Illinois Association of School Administrators
&
David Wood
Governmental Relations Specialist
Illinois Association of School Business Officials