(110 ILCS 920/1) (from Ch. 144, par. 2401) Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Baccalaureate Savings Act". (Source: P.A. 85-939.)

(110 ILCS 920/2) (from Ch. 144, par. 2402) Sec. 2. Declaration of Purpose. It is declared that for the benefit of the people of the State of Illinois, the conduct and increase of their commerce, the protection and enhancement of their welfare, the development of continued prosperity and the improvement of their health and living conditions, it is essential that this and future generations of youth be given the fullest opportunity to learn and to develop their intellectual and mental capacities and skills; that to achieve these ends it is of the utmost importance that Illinois residents be provided with investment alternatives to enhance their financial access to Institutions of Higher Education. It is the intent of this Act to provide to the State of Illinois an alternative low cost method of borrowing for the purposes authorized in the General Obligation Bond Act and to encourage enrollment in Institutions of Higher Education located in the State of Illinois, all in execution of the public policy set forth above. (Source: P.A. 85-939.)

(110 ILCS 920/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2403) Sec. 3. Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (a) "College Savings Bonds" mean general obligation bonds of the State issued under the General Obligation Bond Act in accordance with this Act and designated as General Obligation College Savings Bonds. (b) "Institution of Higher Education" includes: The University of Illinois; Southern Illinois University; Chicago State University; Eastern Illinois University; Governors State University; Illinois State University; Northeastern Illinois University; Northern Illinois University; Western Illinois University; the public community colleges of the State; any public universities, colleges and community colleges now or hereafter established or authorized by the General Assembly; any nonpublicly supported postsecondary educational organization located and authorized to operate in this State which operates privately, not-for-profit. "Institution of higher education" does not include any educational organization used for sectarian instruction, as a place of religious teaching or worship or for any religious denomination or the training of ministers, priests, rabbis or other professional persons in the field of religion. (Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96; 90-372, eff. 7-1-98.)

(110 ILCS 920/4) (from Ch. 144, par. 2404) Sec. 4. Issuance and Sale of College Savings Bonds. In order to provide investors with investment alternatives to enhance their financial access to Institutions of Higher Education located in the State of Illinois, and in furtherance of the public policy of this Act, bonds authorized by the provisions of the General Obligation Bond Act, in a total aggregate original principal amount not to exceed $2,200,000,000 may be issued and sold from time to time, and as often as practicable, as College Savings Bonds in such amounts as directed by the Governor, upon recommendation by the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. Bonds to be issued and sold as College Savings Bonds shall be designated by the Governor and the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget as "General Obligation College Savings Bonds" in the proceedings authorizing the issuance of such Bonds, and shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the General Obligation Bond Act, except that College Savings Bonds may bear interest payable at such time or times and may be sold at such prices and in such manner as may be determined by the Governor and the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget and except as otherwise provided in this Act. If College Savings Bonds are sold at public sale, the public sale procedures shall be as set forth in Section 11 of the General Obligation Bond Act. College Savings Bonds may be sold at negotiated sale if the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget determines that a negotiated sale will result in either a more efficient and economic sale of such Bonds or greater access to such Bonds by investors who are residents of the State of Illinois. If any College Savings Bonds are sold at a negotiated sale, the underwriter or underwriters to which such Bonds are sold shall (a) be organized, incorporated or have their principal place of business in the State of Illinois, or (b) in the judgment of the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, have sufficient capability to make a broad distribution of such Bonds to investors resident in the State of Illinois. In determining the aggregate principal amount of College Savings Bonds that has been issued pursuant to this Act, the aggregate original principal amount of such Bonds issued and sold shall be taken into account. Any bond issued under this Act shall be payable in one payment on a fixed date, unless the Governor and the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget determine otherwise. (Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(110 ILCS 920/5) (from Ch. 144, par. 2405) Sec. 5. Security of College Savings Bonds. Any College Savings Bonds issued under the General Obligation Bond Act in accordance with this Act shall be direct, general obligations of the State of Illinois and subject to repayment as provided in the General Obligation Bond Act; however in the proceedings of the Governor and the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget authorizing the issuance of College Savings Bonds, such officials may covenant on behalf of the State with or for the benefit of the holders of such Bonds as to all matters deemed advisable by such officials, including the terms and conditions for creating and maintaining sinking funds, reserve funds and such other special funds as may be created in such proceedings, separate and apart from all other funds and accounts of the State, and such officials may make such other covenants as may be deemed necessary or desirable to assure the prompt payment of the principal of and interest on such Bonds. The transfers to and appropriations from the General Obligation Bond Retirement and Interest Fund required by the General Obligation Bond Act shall be made at such times and in such amounts as shall be determined by the Governor and the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget and shall be made to and from any fund or funds created pursuant to this Section for the payment of the principal of and interest on any College Savings Bonds. (Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(110 ILCS 920/6) (from Ch. 144, par. 2406) Sec. 6. Compel payment; remedies of bondholders. If the State fails to pay the principal of or interest on any College Savings Bonds or premium, if any, as the same become due, or shall fail to make any required monthly transfer of funds to provide for the payment of such principal, interest or premium, a civil action to compel payment may be instituted in the Supreme Court of Illinois as a court of original jurisdiction by the holder or holders of the College Savings Bonds with respect to which such default of payment or failure to make a required transfer exists. Delivery of a summons and a copy of the complaint to the Attorney General shall constitute sufficient service to give the Supreme Court of Illinois jurisdiction of the subject matter of such suit and jurisdiction over the State and its officers named as defendants for the purpose of compelling such payment or transfer. Any case, controversy or cause of action concerning the validity of this Act relates to the revenue of the State of Illinois. If the Supreme Court of Illinois denies the holder or holders of Bonds leave to file an original action in the Supreme Court, the bond holder or holders may bring the action in the Circuit Court of Sangamon County. (Source: P.A. 85-939.)

(110 ILCS 920/7) (from Ch. 144, par. 2407) Sec. 7. Exemption from taxation. As provided in this Act, the issuance of College Savings Bonds is in all respects for the benefit of the People of the State of Illinois, the conduct and increase of their commerce, the protection and enhancement of their welfare, the development of continued prosperity and the improvement of their health and living conditions and the issuance of such Bonds is for public purposes. In consideration thereof, College Savings Bonds issued under the General Obligation Bond Act in accordance with this Act and the income derived therefrom shall be free from all taxation by the State or its political subdivisions, except for estate, transfer and inheritance taxes. For purposes of Section 250 of the Illinois Income Tax Act, the exemption of the income from College Savings Bonds issued in accordance with this Act shall terminate after all of the bonds have been paid. The amount of such income that shall be added and then subtracted on the Illinois income tax return of a taxpayer, pursuant to Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act, from federal adjusted gross income or federal taxable income in computing Illinois base income shall be the interest net of any bond premium amortization. (Source: P.A. 89-460, eff. 5-24-96.)

(110 ILCS 920/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 2408) Sec. 8. Grant Program. The proceedings of the Governor and the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget authorizing the issuance of College Savings Bonds shall also provide for a grant program of additional financial incentives to be provided to holders of such Bonds to encourage the enrollment of students at Institutions of Higher Education located in the State of Illinois. The Grant Program of financial incentives shall be administered by the State Scholarship Commission pursuant to administrative rules promulgated by the Commission. Such financial incentives shall be in such forms as determined by the Governor and the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget at the time of the authorization of such College Savings Bonds and may include, among others, supplemental payments to the holders of such Bonds at maturity to be applied to tuition costs at institutions of higher education located in the State of Illinois. The Commission may establish, by rule, administrative procedures and eligibility criteria for the Grant Program, provided such rules are consistent with the purposes of this Act. The Commission may require bond holders, institutions of higher education and other necessary parties to assist in the determination of eligibility for financial incentives under the Grant Program. All grants shall be subject to annual appropriation of funds for such purpose by the General Assembly. Such financial incentives shall be provided only if, in the sole judgment of the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, the cost of such incentives shall not cause the cost to the State of the proceeds of the College Savings Bonds being sold to be increased by more than 1/2 of 1%. No such financial incentives shall be paid to assist in the financing of the education of a student (i) in a school or department of divinity for any religious denomination or (ii) pursuing a course of study consisting of training to become a minister, priest, rabbi or other professional person in the field of religion. (Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(110 ILCS 920/9) (from Ch. 144, par. 2409) Sec. 9. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 85-939. Repealed by P.A. 93-812, eff. 1-1-05.)

(110 ILCS 920/10) (from Ch. 144, par. 2410) Sec. 10. The Illinois Board of Higher Education, with the assistance of the Illinois State Scholarship Commission, shall develop and implement an educational program and marketing strategies designed to inform parents about the options available for financing a college education and the need to accumulate the financial resources necessary to pay for a college education. The Board and the Commission shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the program developed and its operation prior to April 30, 1988. The Illinois Board of Higher Education shall promulgate rules and regulations with respect to their powers and duties pursuant to this Act. (Source: P.A. 85-939.)

(110 ILCS 920/11) (from Ch. 144, par. 2411) Sec. 11. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98. Repealed internally, eff. 7-1-98.)