(820 ILCS 50/1) (from Ch. 48, par. 2801)
    Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Workplace Literacy Act.
(Source: P.A. 87-661.)

    (820 ILCS 50/2) (from Ch. 48, par. 2802)
    Sec. 2. Findings and declarations. The General Assembly hereby finds that many workers with inadequate literacy skills are trapped in dead-end, entry level jobs with no opportunity for promotion. Workers in threatened industries and in jobs undergoing technological change are being displaced. This displacement will be permanent if their skills are not enhanced through effective job related literacy and basic skills training. Among these workers are recent immigrants without the required language and work skills to participate effectively in a changing job market.
    Accordingly, the General Assembly hereby declares that this Statewide problem negatively affects the economic and social health of the State and, if not resolved, will limit the State's ability to retain present jobs and attract new industry. The General Assembly further declares that the enactment of this legislation is appropriate and necessary for the solution of this problem.
(Source: P.A. 87-661.)

    (820 ILCS 50/3) (from Ch. 48, par. 2803)
    Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act:
    "Authority" means the Prairie State 2000 Authority.
    "Employer" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Unemployment Insurance Act.
    "Eligible agency" means labor organizations or their federations, or employers or associations of employers that have been approved by the Chief Executive Officer of the Prairie State 2000 Authority, upon application therefor, to conduct workplace literacy and basic skills education programs.
    "Labor organization" means organizations of workers established to bargain collectively on behalf of their member workers.
    "Workplace literacy and basic skills education" means those common branch skills and English-as-a-second-language skills that are directly related to the ability to perform occupational tasks.
(Source: P.A. 87-661.)

    (820 ILCS 50/4) (from Ch. 48, par. 2804)
    Sec. 4. Grants.
    (a) The Authority, upon approval by its Chief Executive Officer, is authorized to make grants to eligible agencies that conduct workplace literacy and basic skills education programs for employees of public or private employers or for members of unions whose present levels of literacy skills constitute a barrier to continued employment or to promotion.
    (b) No for-profit agency or institution may act as the fiscal agent of any grant receivable under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 87-661.)

    (820 ILCS 50/5) (from Ch. 48, par. 2805)
    Sec. 5. Regulations. The Authority shall promulgate regulations to carry out this Act. The regulations shall, among other things, specify the programs, services, or functions that are eligible for funding under this Act, including, but not limited to, instruction, administration, counseling, support services, and curriculum development.
(Source: P.A. 87-661.)

    (820 ILCS 50/6) (from Ch. 48, par. 2806)
    Sec. 6. The Authority may use the Prairie State 2000 Fund to fund workplace literacy and basic skills education programs.
(Source: P.A. 87-661.)