In the wake of a reduction in funding (to $3.15 million) for GYO in FY 10, and seriously difficult fiscal problems for the state as a whole, GYO IL and its allies in the the state legislature agreed to a request which for FY 11 which restores FY 09 funding ($3.5 million). The House version of the bill (HB 391) actually passed on 4/22/10. However, it is unlikely that the Senate will pass this bill or its own version before the end of the session.
Therefore it is likely that the Governor will be given the authority to make the final decision on this and many other programs. In the most recent versions of budgets from the Governor's office, GYO is shown as receiving $2.5 million - a 25% cut.
In August of 2009, Governor Quinn approved the latest technical amendments to the GYO law. Here is a summary of the amendments; the full text is also on the site.
On May 6th, 2010, the Legislature passed a bill (SB 2487) authorizing the transfer of the administration of the GYO program from the Illinois State Board of Education to the Illinois Board of Higher Education as of 7/1/2010. The bill now goes to the Governor. We are reviewing the implications of this transfer and conferring with all parties kinvolved to determine whether to ask the Governor to sign or veto this bill.
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