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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() February 22, 2002 FY 2003 Budget On Wednesday, February 20, Gov. George Ryan presented his Fiscal Year 2003 budget recommendation to the General Assembly. The Governor is recommending a total state budget from General Revenue Funds of $22.7 billion, which is nearly $700 million less than the original FY 2002 budget of $23.4 billion. K-12 funding is reduced from $6.2 billion in FY 02 to just over $6 billion, a decrease of over $210 million or 3.4 percent. Higher education will receive $2.6 billion under the Governor’s budget, $29.3 million (or 1.1 percent) less than the original FY 2002 budget. Additional pressures on the higher education budget are created by the need to fund a $24.2 million increase for the State Universities Retirement System, which leaves fewer dollars to allocate for campus operations. The budget share allocated to community colleges and the various other systems included in higher education is expected soon. Higher education is also slated to receive $283.7 million in new capital projects in FY 2003. Included is $50 million for the second year of the enhanced construction program for community colleges, plus one community college project (at Lake Land College) on the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s regular capital appropriations list. The University Center of Lake County receives $8 million for equipment purchases. Legislation of Interest to Community Colleges HB 1871 -- Repeal of Management Rights for City Colleges of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools (Delgado) ICCTA Position: OPPOSE Supported by the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Chicago Teachers Union, this bill would repeal management rights gained by the Chicago public school system and the City Colleges of Chicago with the passage of Chicago school reform legislation in 1995. HB 1871 advanced out of committee and is on 2nd reading in the House. HB 3098 -- Written Certification of Open Meeting (Dart) ICCTA Position: OPPOSE This Illinois Press Association bill requires that the presiding officer of a closed meeting certify in writing that the session did not violate the Open Meetings Act. Gov. Ryan amendatorily vetoed HB 3098 last week to state that the presiding officer must certify that he or she believes the Open Meetings Act was not violated only if that is his or her belief. The bill now goes back to the General Assembly, where supporters will try to override the amendatory veto. HB 4333 -- Community College Foundation Matching Grants (Wirsing) ICCTA Position: SUPPORT HB 4333 is an ICCTA bill that makes changes to the Foundation Matching Grants program created in FY 2000. Although the program has not yet received state funding, technical corrections to the statute are recommended. HB 4333 advanced out of committee and is on 2nd reading in the House. HB 4343 -- Community College Procurement Consortiums (Parke) ICCTA Position: SUPPORT This ICCTA bill adds an exception to the Community College Purchasing Act to permit purchases over $10,000 to be made through interstate or intrastate governmental consortiums without going to bid for the purchases. HB 4343 advanced out of committee and is on 2nd reading in the House. HB 4363 -- Increase in Illinois Incentive for Access Grants (Mendoza) ICCTA Position: SUPPORT This bill would amend the Higher Education Student Assistance Act regarding Illinois Incentive for Access grants. It provides that the maximum amount paid per applicant per year is $750 (currently $500) for applicants with an expected family contribution of $0, and $375 for applicants with an expected family contribution of $375 or less but more than $0. The IIA grant program was originally proposed by ICCTA in 1996. HB 4363 advanced out of committee and is on 2nd reading in the House. HB 4364 -- Illinois Incentive for Access Grants for Sophomores (Giles) ICCTA Position: SUPPORT This bill also amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to allow ICCTA-inspired Illinois Incentive for Access grants to be awarded to sophomore undergraduate students (currently restricted to freshmen) beginning with the 2003-2004 academic year. It provides that the maximum amount paid per applicant per year is $750 (currently $500) for the 2002-2003 academic year and $1,000 for the 2003-2004 and subsequent academic years for applicants with an expected family contribution of $0. The bill also allows partial grants to persons with limited income. HB 4364 advanced out of committee and is on 2nd reading in the House. HB 4946 -- Name Change and Increase in Illinois Incentive for Access Grants (Turner) ICCTA Position: SUPPORT HB 4964 amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to change the name of the Illinois Incentive for Access Grant Program to the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access Grant Program. It provides that the maximum amount paid per applicant per year is $1,000 for applicants with an expected family contribution of $0, and $500 for applicants with an expected family contribution of $500 or less. HB 4946 advanced out of committee and is on 2nd reading in the House. HB 5784 -- Repeal of Management Rights for City Colleges of Chicago (McCarthy) ICCTA Position: OPPOSE This IFT- and CTU-supported bill would repeal management rights gained by the City Colleges of Chicago with the passage of Chicago school reform legislation in1995. ICCTA testified against the bill and in support of management rights. HB 5784 failed to advance out of committee. For additional information on state legislative issues, contact ICCTA at 1-800-454-2282.
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