State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Peru) filed legislation that would keep two Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) programs going during the state’s budget impasse.
Senate Bill 2188, filed this week, appropriates $18.5 million in federal funds for career and technical education and $24.5 million in federal funds for adult education. If passed and signed into law, ICCB would then have the authority to spend these federal dollars on the programs.
“Without this piece of legislation, these two programs are in danger of shutting down,” Sen. Rezin said. “This will keep the career and technical education and adult education programs afloat until the programs can receive all of the funding they deserve through the passage of a balanced budget, something that needs to happen as soon as possible.”
Rezin spoke to leaders at Joliet Junior College during a recent state hearing on higher education on their campus. Rezin says these programs are two very critical pressure points higher education is facing right now.
“Earlier this summer, the legislature passed a federal spending bill with bipartisan support, so I am confident we can get this legislation passed very soon,” Rezin said. “The entire situation, however, underscores the importance of passing a balanced budget for our state, one that makes fundamental reforms to state government and one that will help create jobs, boost the state’s economy, and put our state on a path of good fiscal policy.”
Sen. Rezin is hopeful this legislation remains a stand-alone bill during the legislative process to allow these federal dollars to be passed through to the ICCB.
The Illinois House and Senate return to Springfield Oct. 20.