The Republican signed the measure Wednesday in Urbana at the University of Illinois. The law eliminates administrative delays for universities. State Senator Chapin Rose indicates it allows government agencies to enter joint-purchasing agreements to increase cost-saving buying power and save millions of dollars.

 

Rose adds it will allow more spending on students in college classrooms.

 

The measure began in the Senate as part of the "grand bargain" budget compromise laid out last winter by Democratic Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago and former Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont.

 

It was seen as answering one of Rauner's calls for government streamlining in an attempt to get a budget agreement that had stalled for two years.