2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 30 - FINANCE › 30 ILCS 767/ - Public Library Construction Act. › Article 15 - The Public Library Construction Act

(30 ILCS 767/Art. 15 heading)
Article 15.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-1)
Sec. 15-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Public Library Construction Act, and references in this Article to "this Act" mean this Article.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-5)
Sec. 15-5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
"Grant index" means a figure for each public library equal to one minus the
ratio of the public library's equalized assessed valuation per capita to the equalized assessed valuation per capita of the public library located at the 90th percentile for all public libraries in the State. The grant index shall be no less than 0.35 and no greater than
0.75 for each public library; provided that the grant index for public libraries whose
equalized assessed valuation per capita is at the
99th percentile and above for all public libraries in the State shall be 0.00.
"Public library" means the governmental unit of any free and public library (i) established under the Illinois Local Library Act, the Public Library District Act of 1991, the Illinois Library System Act, or the Village Library Act or (ii) maintained and operated by a unit of local government. "Public library" does not include any private library.
"Public library construction project" means the acquisition, development,
construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, architectural
planning, installation, maintenance, and upkeep of capital facilities consisting of buildings,
structures, durable equipment, and land for public library purposes.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-10)
Sec. 15-10. Grant awards. The Secretary of State is authorized to
make grants to public libraries for public library construction projects with funds
appropriated for that purpose from the Build Illinois Bond Fund or the Capital Development Fund.
(Source: P.A. 101-636, eff. 6-10-20.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-15)
Sec. 15-15. Grants. The Secretary of State is authorized
to determine grant eligibility for public library construction projects and shall determine the priority order for public library construction project grants
to be made by the Secretary of State.
When a grant eligibility has been determined for a public library construction project, the
Secretary of State shall notify the
public library of the dollar amount of the public library construction
project's cost that the public library will be required to finance with non-grant
funds in order to qualify to receive a public library construction project grant under
this Act from the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall thereafter determine whether a grant shall be made.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-20)
Sec. 15-20. Grant application; public library facilities plan. Public libraries
shall apply to the Secretary of State for public library construction project
grants.  Public libraries filing grant applications shall
submit to the Secretary of State a public library facilities plan that shall include,
but not be limited to, an assessment of present and future public library facility
needs as required by present and anticipated public library programming, the
availability of local financial resources
including current revenues, fund balances, and unused bonding capacity, a
fiscal plan for meeting present and anticipated debt service obligations, and a
maintenance plan and schedule that contain necessary assurances that new,
renovated, and existing facilities are being or will be properly maintained.
The Secretary of State shall review and approve public library facilities plans
prior to determining eligibility and authorizing grants.  Each public library that is determined to be eligible shall annually update its public library facilities plan and submit the
revised plan to the
Secretary of State for approval.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-25)
Sec. 15-25. Eligibility and project standards.
(a) The Secretary of State shall establish eligibility standards for
public library construction project grants and approve a public library's eligibility for a public library
construction project grant pursuant to the established
standards. These standards shall include minimum service population requirements for construction project grants.
(b) The Secretary of State shall establish
project standards for all public library construction project grants provided pursuant
to this Act.  These standards shall include the determination of recognized project costs that shall be eligible
for State financial assistance and enrichment costs that shall not be eligible
for State financial assistance.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-30)
Sec. 15-30. Priority of public library construction projects. The Secretary of State shall develop standards for the determination of priority needs
concerning public library construction projects based upon approved public library facilities
plans.  These standards shall call for prioritization based on
the degree of need and project type in the following order:
(1) Replacement or reconstruction of public library     facilities destroyed or damaged by flood, tornado, fire, earthquake, or other disasters, either man-made or produced by nature;
(2) Projects designed to address population growth or     to replace aging public library facilities;
(3) Replacement or reconstruction of public library     facilities determined to be severe and continuing health or life safety hazards;
(4) Alterations necessary to provide accessibility     for qualified individuals with disabilities; and
(5) Other unique solutions to facility needs.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-35)
Sec. 15-35. Public library construction project grant amounts; permitted
use; prohibited use.
(a) The product of the public library's grant index and the
recognized project cost, as determined by the Secretary of State, for an
approved public library construction project shall equal the amount of the grant the
Secretary of State shall provide to the eligible public library.  The grant
index shall not be used in cases where the General Assembly and the Governor
approve appropriations designated for specifically identified public library
construction projects.
(b) In each fiscal year in which public library construction project grants are
awarded, of the total amount awarded statewide, 20% shall be awarded to the Chicago Public Library System, provided that the Chicago Public Library System complies
with the provisions of this Act, and 80% shall be  awarded to public libraries outside of the City of Chicago.
(c) No portion of a public library construction project grant awarded by the
Secretary of State shall be used by a public library for any
on-going operational costs.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-37)
Sec. 15-37. Carry over projects. If a public library has been determined eligible for a public library construction project, has arranged and approved
all local financing, and is eligible to receive a public library construction project
grant award in any fiscal year, but does not receive such award in that year
due to lack of adequate appropriations, those public library construction projects shall
continue to be considered for grant awards
for the following fiscal year.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-40)
Sec. 15-40. Supervision of public library construction projects. The Secretary of State shall exercise general supervision over public library construction
projects financed pursuant to this Act. Public libraries, however, must be allowed to choose the architect and engineer for their public library construction projects, and no project may be disapproved by the Secretary of State solely due to a public library's selection of an architect or engineer.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-50)
Sec. 15-50. Referendum requirements. After the Secretary of State
has approved all or part of a public library's application and made a determination of eligibility for a public library construction project grant, the governing body of the public library shall submit
the project or the financing of the project to a referendum when the
referendum is required by law.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-55)
Sec. 15-55. Rules.  The Secretary of State shall promulgate such rules as it deems
necessary for carrying out its responsibilities under the provisions of this
Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)
(30 ILCS 767/15-60)
Sec. 15-60. Public library capital needs assessment. The Secretary of State shall file with the General
Assembly a comprehensive assessment report of the capital needs of all
public libraries in this State before January 1, 2010
and every 2 years thereafter. This assessment shall include, without
limitation, an analysis of the 5 categories of capital needs prioritized in
Section 15-30 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-37, eff. 7-13-09.)