Upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1975 and thereafter, any reference in this Act or any other Illinois statute to the Board of Vocational Education and Rehabilitation, as such reference pertains to vocational and technical education, means and refers to the State Board of Education. Notwithstanding the provisions of any Act or statute to the contrary, upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1975, the State Board of Education shall assume all powers and duties pertaining to vocational and technical education. The State Board of Education shall be responsible for policy and guidelines pertaining to vocational and technical education and shall exercise the following powers and duties:
(a) to co-operate with the federal government in the administration of the provisions of the Federal Vocational Education Law, to the extent and in the manner therein provided; (b) to promote and aid in the establishment of schools and classes of the types and standards provided for in the plans of the Board, as approved by the federal government, and to co-operate with State agencies maintaining such schools or classes and with State and local school authorities in the maintenance of such schools and classes; (c) to conduct and prepare investigations and studies in relation to vocational education and to publish the results of such investigations and studies; (d) to promulgate reasonable rules and regulations relating to vocational and technical education; (e) to report, in writing, to the Governor annually on or before the fourteenth day of January. The annual report shall contain (1) a statement to the extent to which vocational education has been established and maintained in the State; (2) a statement of the existing condition of vocational education in the State; (3) a statement of suggestions and recommendations with reference to the development of vocational education in the State; (4) (blank); and (5) an itemized statement of the amounts of money received from Federal and State sources, and of the objects and purposes to which the respective items of these several amounts have been devoted; (f) to make such reports to the federal government as may be required by the provisions of the Federal Vocational Education Law, and by the rules and regulations of the federal agency administering the Federal Vocational Education Law ; and (g) to make grants subject to appropriation and to administer and promulgate rules and regulations to implement a vocational equipment program. The use of such grant funds shall be limited to obtaining equipment for vocational education programs, school shops and laboratories. The State Board of Education shall adopt appropriate regulations to administer this paragraph.Amended by P.A. 096-0328,§ 155, eff. 8/11/2009.Amended by P.A. 095-0793,§ 9, eff. 8/8/2008.