House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Prohibits, until February 1, 2027, the Chicago Board of Education from closing any attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that apply to the entire student body. Prohibits, until February 1, 2027, the Board from changing the standards for admission to any attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that apply to the entire student body. Provides that the Board shall not take any action, until February 1, 2027, that results in a disproportionate decrease in either the total amount or percentage of funds allocated to an attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that apply to the entire student body compared to other attendance centers of comparable size. Effective immediately.

House Floor Amendment No. 3 - Prohibits the Chicago Board of Education from approving any school closings, consolidations, or phase-outs until February 1, 2027 (instead of until January 15, 2025). Removes a provision prohibiting, until February 1, 2027, the Chicago Board of Education from closing any attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that apply to the entire student body.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/19/2024 - FIRST READING

4/19/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Don Harmon

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Trustees of Schools Article of the School Code. Provides that within 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, all remaining Class II county school units shall, by proper resolution, withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of the township and the township treasurer. Each school board shall, upon the adoption and passage of this resolution, either (1) elect or appoint its own school treasurer, or (2) enter into a contractual or intergovernmental agreement for these services. The office of township trustees shall dissolve upon t the passage of the school board resolution or, if no action is taken, 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that upon adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer, the signing of the contractual or intergovernmental agreement, or upon the statutory dissolution of the office of township trustees: (1) the trustees of schools in the township or townships shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/19/2024 - FIRST READING

4/19/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Don Harmon

Amends the College Campus Press Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the notice required under provisions concerning the identification, evaluation, and placement of a child that is provided to the parent or guardian shall inform the parent or guardian of the parent's or guardian's right to receive copies of all written material that will be considered by the individualized education program team and shall provide the date when the written material will be delivered or made available to the parent or guardian. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/19/2024 - FIRST READING

4/19/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Don Harmon

Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to develop and implement a plan to provide additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations to students who suffer from trauma related to experiencing the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or suffer from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse and whom the school has determined require additional instructional services, support, or special accommodations but do not qualify for an individualized education program or for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Sets forth what the plan may include. Provides that the plan shall remain in place until the student (i) is no longer enrolled in the district or (ii) has made such significant and sustained academic progress that the student no longer requires the plan. In provisions relating to children with disabilities, provides that beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the notice that a school board provides concerning who qualifies for services under Section 504 shall include that a child may qualify for those services if the child is a student who is at least 3 years old or older and under 22 years and who (i) has experienced the death of a sibling, parent, guardian, or household member by suicide or homicide or (ii) suffers from trauma caused by domestic violence or abuse. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. For redevelopment project areas designated after November 1, 1999, in municipalities with less than 1,000,000 population, modifies the formula for elementary, secondary, or unit school district's increased costs attributable to assisted housing units located within the redevelopment project area for which the developer or redeveloper receives financial assistance through an agreement with the municipality or because the municipality incurs the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements within the boundaries of the assisted housing sites necessary for the completion of that housing. Removes differences in formulation for alternate method districts, flat grant districts, and foundation districts. For school districts in a municipality with a population in excess of 1,000,000, changes the last date upon which a school district may submit a claim for reimbursement to the municipality to October 31 of each year (currently, September 30) and provides that municipalities shall reimburse school districts that have met specified criteria no later than January 31 of the school year in which the claim is made.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

3/8/2024 - To Revenue - Property Tax Subcommittee

1/31/2024 - Assigned to House Revenue & Finance

Amends the School Code. By July 15 of each year, requires certain school boards to report, on their school district's website, a list of the learning materials and activities used for student instruction during the previous school year. Requires that the report also include any procedures that are in effect at each school for the documentation, review, or approval of the learning materials and activities used for student instruction. Specifies the minimum information that must be included in the report. Allows a school district to update the report on an ongoing basis and to utilize collaborative online document or spreadsheet software to update or make additions to the report. Sets forth other requirements. Effective July 1, 2023.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the Downstate Teacher and Chicago Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that none of the benefits provided for in either Article shall be paid to a person if the person first becomes a member on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and a board, after an administrative hearing, determines that the person sexually abused a student. Provides that an employer must notify a board if a retiring member has been accused of sexually abusing a student. Provides that a board may, through an administrative hearing, review the claim of sexual abuse and may order that benefits be forfeited. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall not operate to impair any contract or vested right acquired before the effective date of the amendatory Act nor to preclude the right to a refund. Provides that all teachers entering service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be deemed to have consented to the provisions of the amendatory Act as a condition of membership. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/4/2024 - House Personnel & Pensions

3/22/2024 - House Personnel & Pensions

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Instead of requiring consumer education to be taught and studied, provides that beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2024-2025 school year, pupils in the public schools in grade 11 or 12 shall be taught and be required to complete a stand-alone, one-semester or equivalent course covering personal finance, which shall include, but is not limited to, instruction covering behavioral economics; banking and bill payment; investing; types of credit; managing credit; including credit scores; paying for college; insurance; taxes; budgeting; consumer skills; retirement planning, including tax-advantaged retirement plans; home ownership and financing; and personal transportation, including car ownership and leasing. Provides that the State Board of Education shall devise or approve the personal finance education standards for the course. Provides that the school board shall oversee implementation of the personal finance course for each high school student prior to graduation. Specifies the oversight duties of the school board. In provisions regarding required high school courses, provides that the personal finance education course may be counted toward the fulfillment of other graduation requirements. Makes other changes.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Provides that the personal finance course requirement begins with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2027-2028 (rather than 2024-2025) school year. Provides that the State Board of Education (instead of the school board) shall develop implementation guidelines and timelines to assist schools in implementing the personal finance course and determine what may be counted as a graduation requirement for this course.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - Senate Education

4/24/2024 - Re-assigned to Senate Education

5/26/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Instructional Materials Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district (including a charter school) shall require that books that are included as a part of any course, material, instruction, reading assignment, or other school curricula related to literature during the school year or that appear on summer reading lists must include books that are written by diverse authors, including, but not limited to, authors who are African American, women, Native American, LatinX, and Asian. Provides that reading material may not perpetuate bias against persons based on specified categories. Provides that for any school district utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the selection of each book to be included in a reading assignment, course material and instruction, or other school curricula related to literature must first receive prior approval from the school board before the book may be included. Provides that the criteria for the approval or denial of a book shall be determined by school board policy, but the minimum requirement is that the book may not be approved by the school board if the book contains language or material that is derogatory or racist or incites hate against any persons. Provides for rulemaking and guidelines. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 3 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/5/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/5/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund for deposit into the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Fund. Effective July 1, 2023.

  RECENT STATUS

3/21/2024 - House Appropriations-Higher Education

1/31/2024 - Assigned to House Appropriations-Higher Education

6/26/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that requires the System to automatically enroll certain employees in the System's defined contribution benefit, provides an exception for employees whose school district provides an alternative qualifying plan. Provides that the alternative qualifying plan shall abide by the automatic enrollment procedures and automatic increase in contribution provisions applicable to the System's defined contribution benefit. Sets forth additional requirements for alternative qualifying plans. Requires a school district that has an alternative qualifying plan to file a letter of compliance, passed by resolution of the school board, with the System. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/4/2024 - House Personnel & Pensions

3/22/2024 - House Personnel & Pensions

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall implement and administer a program to make New Arrival Student Grants available to school districts to support the needs of students who are newly arriving immigrant students, regardless of immigration status. Provides that to receive a grant under this program, a school district shall submit an application to the State Board of Education at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the State Board of Education may reasonably require. Provides that in awarding funds under this program, the State Board of Education may consider (i) the number of new arrival students enrolled in preschool, elementary school, and secondary school within the school district, (ii) the needs of new arrival students in the school district, and (iii) the ability of the school district to meet the needs of new arrival students. Effective July 1, 2023.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 24, 2024

3/27/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee

3/21/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, if, in any State fiscal year, there is a budget surplus, then, in the next State fiscal year, the General Assembly shall appropriate to the retirement systems established under the General Assembly, State Employees, State Universities, Downstate Teachers, and Judges Articles of the Illinois Pension Code an additional 1% of the amount contributed by the State under those Articles in the immediately preceding State fiscal year.

  RECENT STATUS

5/2/2024 - House Appropriations-General Services

4/12/2024 - House Appropriations-General Services

4/5/2024 - Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 24, 2024

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision that requires the System to automatically enroll certain employees in the System's defined contribution benefit, provides an exception for employees whose school district provides an alternative qualifying plan. Provides that the alternative qualifying plan shall abide by the automatic enrollment procedures and automatic increase in contribution provisions applicable to the System's defined contribution benefit. Sets forth additional requirements for alternative qualifying plans. Requires a school district that has an alternative qualifying to file a letter of compliance, passed by resolution of the school board, with the System. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/4/2024 - House Personnel & Pensions

3/22/2024 - House Personnel & Pensions

Amends the School Code. Repeals provisions requiring play time in elementary school.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish and administer a grant program to reimburse school districts for providing stipends for classroom Career and Technical Education teachers who participate in externships with a manufacturing company in the State. Provides for rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 30, 2024

4/24/2024 - Arrive in Senate

4/19/2024 - Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 105-000-001

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriations, the State Board of Education shall pay one-half of the salary of an employee that is employed by a manufacturing company and working within a school district at a high school as a licensed career and technical education teacher.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits criminal sexual assault if that person commits an act of sexual penetration and the victim is at least 18 years of age but under 22 years of age and is a student attending classes at a public or nonpublic secondary school and the accused held or holds a position of trust, authority, or supervision over the victim in connection with an educational or extracurricular program or activity at the time of the commission of the act, regardless of the location or place of the commission of the act. Provides that a person also commits aggravated criminal sexual abuse if that person commits an act of sexual conduct with a victim who is at least 18 years of age but under 22 years of age and is a student attending classes at a public or nonpublic secondary school and the accused held or holds a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to the victim in connection with an educational or extracurricular program or activity at the time of the commission of the act, regardless of the location or place of the commission of the act. Provides that, for purposes of the grooming statute, "child" includes a person who is at least 17 years of age but under 22 years of age and is a student attending classes at a public or nonpublic secondary school.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/4/2024 - House Judiciary - Criminal

4/2/2024 - House Judiciary - Criminal

Appropriates the sum of $250,000, or so much of that sum as may be necessary, from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for grants to a statewide association of public pension funds affiliated with a public institution of higher education to develop and deliver an in-person financial literacy training program for public employees. Effective July 1, 2023.

  RECENT STATUS

1/31/2024 - Assigned to House Appropriations-Higher Education

6/26/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

3/30/2023 - House Appropriations-Higher Education

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the school report card, provides that a school district's expenditure of Base Funding Minimum and Evidence-Based Funding received from the State in the level of specificity required by the annual spending plans required by the Evidence-Based Funding provisions. In provisions concerning Evidence-Based funding, provides that Organizational Units shall also indicate in their submission of annual spending plans which stakeholder groups the Organizational Unit engaged with to inform annual spending plans. Provides that annual spending plans shall be integrated in annual school district budgets completed pursuant to specified provisions.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/24/2024 - FIRST READING

4/24/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Tom Bennett

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that if a school district is classified as a Tier 1 school under Section 18-8.15 of this Code, then school board shall direct the majority of the funds provided under Section 18-8.15 of this Code to the schools in the district.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 24, 2024

3/12/2024 - Assigned to House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

5/19/2023 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a security employee of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice under the Tier 2 provisions is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement formula, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55 (instead of age 60). With regard to Tier 2 members and participants under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), Chicago Municipal, Cook County, State Employees, and State Universities Article: changes the retirement age to age 60 with 20 years of service or age 67 with 10 years of service; changes the final average salary calculation to the total salary during the 60 months (instead of 96 months) of service within the last 120 months of service in which the total salary was the highest; rescinds an election for certain benefits for persons under the Chicago Municipal Article; provides that the automatic annual increase in retirement annuity shall be calculated at 3% or one-half the annual unadjusted increase in the consumer-price index-u, whichever is greater (instead of whichever is less) of the originally granted retirement annuity; and makes other changes. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act are intended to be retroactive to January 1, 2011 and are applicable without regard to whether a member or participant was in active service on or after the effective date. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a security employee of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice under the Tier 2 provisions is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement formula, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55 (instead of age 60). With regard to Tier 2 members and participants under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), Chicago Municipal, Cook County, State Employees, and State Universities Article: changes the retirement age to age 60 with 20 years of service or age 67 with 10 years of service; rescinds an election for certain benefits for persons under the Chicago Municipal Article; provides that any retirement annuity or supplemental annuity shall be subject to annual increases on January 1 in the manner and with the same eligibility requirements provided for members or participants under the applicable Article who first became members or participants in that Article before January 1, 2011; and makes other changes. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act are intended to be retroactive to January 1, 2011 and are applicable without regard to whether a member or participant was in active service on or after the effective date. Authorizes SLEP status under IMRF for a person who is a county correctional officer or probation officer. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the School Boards and Chicago School District Articles of the School Code. Provides that school boards shall allow all educators to have daily continuous uninterrupted individual classroom planning time. Provides that the planning period shall be equal to one class period but no less than 45 minutes in duration. Provides that this time requirement applies to educators who are in contact with students for 50% or more of their contracted workday. Provides that, during this planning period, educators may not be forced to substitute in other areas of the building or district when another educator is absent or a vacancy exists and may not be forced to attend meetings, trainings, or conferences of any kind. Provides that if an educator chooses to substitute or attend a meeting, training, or conference during their guaranteed planning period of their own free will, the educator shall be compensated at a rate of pay that is negotiated between the local Board of Education and local association of a state teacher association.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

NOTES

This bill did not survive the 2023 legislative session.  However, IEA Government Relations will continue to work with the bill sponsors, other stakeholders and coalition groups during the fall veto and next year's legislative sessions to further negotiate and advance this bill.  Please keep watching as we work the bill in the future; member support and participation in lobbying efforts gain votes essential to passing the bill.

Appropriates $35,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for the New Arrival Student Grant Program. Effective July 1, 2023.

  RECENT STATUS

4/2/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee

4/1/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

4/1/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Fred Crespo

Amends the School Code. Provides that in consultation with education stakeholders, the State Board of Education shall develop a comprehensive literacy plan for the State that at a minimum, addresses specified areas. Provides that the State Board shall develop and adopt a comprehensive literacy plan for the State on or before January 31, 2024. Provides that the State Board shall adopt rules necessary to implement this Section. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes changes to Tier 2 benefits for members or participants under the 5 State-funded retirement systems and the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, including changes to automatic annual increases, age and service requirements for retirement, and limits on the amount of salary for annuity purposes. Establishes an accelerated pension benefit payment option for the General Assembly and Judges Articles of the Code. Makes changes to the funding formula beginning in fiscal year 2025 for the 5 State-funded retirement systems. In the 5 State-funded retirement systems, provides for a deferred retirement option plan for certain participants under which a participant may continue in active service for up to 3 years while having his or her retirement pension paid into a special account, to be distributed to the participant upon retirement. Provides that any benefit increase that results from this Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Amends the General Obligation Bond Act. Provides that each fiscal year after certain State pension funding bonds and income tax proceed bonds are retired, the State Treasurer and the State Comptroller shall transfer $500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Pension Unfunded Liability Reduction Fund each fiscal year, which shall be used for making additional contributions to the pension funds and retirement systems established under the General Assembly, State Employee, State Universities, Downstate Teacher, Chicago Teacher, and Judges Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Repeals provisions concerning optional benefits for certain Tier 2 members. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/4/2024 - House Personnel & Pensions

3/22/2024 - House Personnel & Pensions

Amends the General Provisions, Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, and State Employees Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a security employee of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice or a security employee of the Department of Human Services subject to the Tier 2 provisions is entitled to an annuity calculated under the alternative retirement annuity provisions, in lieu of the regular or minimum retirement annuity, only if the person has withdrawn from service with not less than 20 years of eligible creditable service and has attained age 55, regardless of whether the attainment of age 55 occurs while the person is still in service. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". In the Downstate Police and Downstate Firefighter Articles, in a provision that reduces the amount of the pension for a Tier 2 firefighter or Tier 2 police officer who retires with at least 10 years of creditable service before attaining age 55, provides that the pension of a Tier 2 firefighter or Tier 2 police officer who is retiring after attaining age 50 with 20 or more years of creditable service shall not be reduced. Makes a conforming change. Provides that each annual increase for Tier 2 firefighters shall be increased on the January 1 occurring either on or after the attainment of age 55 (instead of age 60) or the first anniversary of the pension start date, whichever is later. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the provisions concerning bullying prevention apply to nonpublic, sectarian schools.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the School Code. Allows a METT Educator District License for teaching a course in manufacturing, engineering, technology, or a trade (METT) to be issued to an applicant who has at least 10,000 working hours in a trade. Provides that a METT Educator District License may be issued to qualified individuals who have not obtained a bachelor's degree or an equivalent number of hours in an educational program at an institution of higher education. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the license being issued and may be renewed. Provides that a METT Educator District License is valid only for the teaching of a course that the State Board of Education has identified as related to the work experience of the licensee. Sets forth other provisions regarding the license. Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Provides that the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or the Department of Labor, shall expand a database to identify METT labor shortages. Provides that by July 1, 2026, school districts in identified regions shall be notified by the State Board and shall participate in a College and Career Pathway Endorsement program and offer a METT endorsement. Makes other changes.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that school personnel of any school district, charter school, or nonpublic elementary or secondary school may not engage in corporal punishment of a student, inflict corporal punishment upon a student, or cause corporal punishment to be inflicted upon a student. In provisions concerning the maintenance of discipline, provides that a policy on discipline shall provide that a teacher and others may only use reasonable force as permitted under provisions concerning time out, isolated time out, restraint, and necessities (instead of may use reasonable force as needed to maintain safety for the other students, school personnel, or persons or for the purpose of self-defense or the defense of property). Provides that the policy shall prohibit the use of corporal punishment in all circumstances (instead of the policy shall not include slapping, paddling, or prolonged maintenance of students in physically painful positions nor shall it include the intentional infliction of bodily harm). Makes conforming changes.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - Senate Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

4/16/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code and the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Removes provisions concerning fentanyl education from the School Code. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program shall include disaster preparedness (instead of survival) and the use and abuse of fentanyl. Makes a change concerning the instruction on mental health and illness. Provides that the curricula on alcohol and drug use and abuse shall be age and developmentally appropriate and may include the information contained in the Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Instruction Resource Guide, as applicable, and makes a change concerning the development and availability of instructional materials and guidelines. Provides that the Program shall include instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl in grades 6 through 12. Sets forth requirements concerning the instruction, study, and discussion, including requiring that students in grades 9 through 12 be assessed. Provides that the instruction, study, and discussion may be taught by a licensed educator, school nurse, or school counselor. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/24/2024 - FIRST READING

4/24/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the conviction of certain offenses as grounds for disqualification for licensure or suspension or revocation of a license, includes the sex offense of abuse by an educator or authority figure under the definition of "sex or other offense". Amends the Sex Offenses Article of Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits abuse by an educator or authority figure if that person holds a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to a student in a school, the student is at least 18 years of age, the person is at least 4 years older than the student, and the person either (1) commits an act of sexual conduct with the student or (2) commits an act of sexual penetration with the student. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual conduct is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that abuse by an educator or authority figure involving sexual penetration is a Class 4 felony for the first offense and a Class 3 felony for a second or subsequent offense or if there is more than one victim. Provides that consent of the victim is not a defense to abuse by an educator or authority figure.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill. In the amendatory changes to the Criminal Code of 2012: (1) changes definitions of "authority figure", "educator", and "school"; (2) adds a definition of "student"; (3) changes the elements of the offense of abuse by an educator or authority figure to provide that the person is at least 4 years older than the student; (3) deletes consent of the victim is not a defense to abuse by an educator or authority figure; and (4) provides that a person commits abuse by an educator or authority figure if that person is an educator or authority figure at the school (rather than holds a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to a student in a school), the student is at least 18 years of age and is enrolled or was previously enrolled in the school within the past year, the person is at least 4 years older than the student, and the person either: (i) commits an act of sexual conduct with the student; or (ii) commits an act of sexual penetration with the student.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill. In the amendatory changes to the Criminal Code of 2012: (1) changes definitions of "authority figure", "educator", and "school"; (2) adds a definition of "student"; and (3) provides that a person commits abuse by an educator or authority figure if that person is an educator or authority figure at the school (rather than holds a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to a student in a school), the student is at least 18 years of age but under 23 years of age, the person is at least 4 years older than the student and holds or held within the previous year a position of trust, authority, or supervision in relation to the student in connection with an educational or extracurricular program or activity, and the person either: (i) commits an act of sexual conduct with the student; or (ii) commits an act of sexual penetration with the student.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/24/2024 - FIRST READING

4/24/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Erica Harriss

Amends the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the School Code. Provides that, by no later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy may (instead of shall) allow for the automatic enrollment, in the following school term, of a student into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student exceeds (instead of meets or exceeds) State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment administered under the School Code. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and implement a school time-change grant program to provide grants to school districts to assist with additional costs incurred to change when the school day starts at a school containing any of grades 6 through 12 to on or after 8 a.m. Provides that to be eligible to receive a grant under this program, a school district must change when the school day starts before the 2026-2027 school year. Provides that State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary to implement these provisions.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to do all of the following no later than July 1, 2025: (1) issue guidelines on how to remove and safely store a tick; (2) publish the guidelines issued and a model form on the Department's website; (3) provide public testing lab information to schools; (4) issue a model form that schools shall send to the parents or guardians of students who have been identified as having been bitten by a tick; and (5) make available to schools, upon request and free of charge, tick removal kits consisting of tweezers, bandages, a sealable plastic bag, an alcohol wipe, repellent wipes, an information card, and a tick identification card. Specifies requirements for the form. Amends the School Code. Requires, before the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, a school board to establish procedures on tick removal consistent with the guidelines developed by the Department of Public Health. Includes provisions relating to preserving the tick for possible testing by the parent or guardian and school district immunity for tick removal.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

4/18/2024 - Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires the world language endorsement on a Professional Educator License to include American Sign Language under rules of the State Board of Education.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the School Code. Provides that every public school shall provide instruction, study, and discussion of current problems and needs in the conservation of natural resources, including climate change. Provides that the content of climate change curriculum must be supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and published in peer-reviewed journals or comprises of information recognized as accurate and objective. Provides that the State Board of Education may devise or approve the climate change education curriculum.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Child Protective Service Unit to send a notification letter (rather than a copy of the Unit's final finding report) to a child's school following an investigation and finding of physical or sexual abuse. Provides that if an indicated finding is overturned in an appeal or hearing, the Department of Children and Family Services shall request that the notification letter (rather than final finding report) be purged from the student's record, and the school shall purge the notification letter (rather than final finding report) from the student's record in accordance with the Illinois School Student Records Act. Requires the notification letter to provide the date of expungement from the central register. Removes a provision requiring all reports made by mandated reporters to be confirmed in writing to the appropriate Child Protective Service Unit within 48 hours of any initial report.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes all amendatory changes requiring the Child Protective Service Unit to send a notification letter to a child's school following an investigation and finding of physical or sexual abuse. Instead provides that the Child Protective Service Unit shall send a copy of its final finding report to the school that the child, who is the indicated victim of child abuse (rather than the indicated victim of the report), attends. Requires the report to be sent during the summer to the last school that the child attended. Provides that the final finding report shall provide the date of expungement from the central register and the school shall purge the final finding report from the student's record in accordance with the Illinois School Student Records Act.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that all public high schools, including charter schools, shall designate and annually observe a week known as "Workplace Readiness Week". Provides that students shall be provided information on their rights as workers during that week, and sets forth what information must be included. Provides that for students in grades 11 and 12, the information shall be integrated into the regular school program but may also be provided during special events after regular school hours. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Provides that all public high schools, including charter schools, may (rather than shall) designate and annually observe a week known as "Workplace Readiness Week". Makes conforming changes.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - Senate Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

4/17/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that in the development of the individualized education program for a student who is 17 years of age or older, or will be during that school year, the IEP team shall consider voter registration as an appropriate goal or competency to be included in the IEP, and, if appropriate, when and how voter registration shall be accomplished. Provides that any resulting decisions shall be included in the IEP. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the School Code. Provides that subject to the availability of local resources, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each public middle school, junior high school, and high school may establish a junior color guard program to promote the value of and honor military personnel. Provides that the junior color guard may be used at school events, including interscholastic athletic events and other events in which the presenting of the colors is requested. Provides that each school may allow the junior color guard to participate in community events in which the presenting of the colors may be requested. Provides that each school may work with a civic organization or association to provide adequate training to the members of the junior color guard on the execution of their duties.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides for the issuance of a Montessori educator license to qualified individuals to teach using the Montessori method in public school programs that use the Montessori method as the primary method of instruction. Sets forth the requirements that an individual must satisfy to be issued a Montessori educator license, which include requiring the applicant to have (i) graduated from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a bachelor's degree, (ii) a Montessori certificate or credential issued by an institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, by the American Montessori Society, or by the Association Montessori Internationale, and (iii) successfully completed required testing. Makes related changes to provisions concerning educator testing and fees.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that no public high school of a school district may punish or penalize a student because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account. Removes a provision making the prohibition on withholding a student's grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance inoperative beginning 3 years from May 5, 2022. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that if a student who is 18 years of age or older with no legal guardian is placed residentially outside of the school district in which the student's parent lives and the placement is funded by a State agency or through private insurance, then the resident district is the school district in which the parent lives. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - Senate Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

4/17/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school district shall: (1) notify the parents or guardians of each student enrolled in the school district about any mental health services available in the school in which the student is enrolled, in the school district, or in the community where the school is located; and (2) notify each student enrolled in the school district who is 12 years of age or older of specified information in an age and developmentally appropriate manner. Sets forth provisions concerning when and how the required notifications are provided.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/24/2024 - FIRST READING

4/24/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson

Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that the Secretary of State may (1) revoke or suspend for a maximum period of one year, or bar from registration for a maximum period of one year, the registration of an individual under the Act for the failure to file specified reports or to pay a specified penalty; (2) investigate the activities of any person who is or who has allegedly been engaged in lobbying and who may be in violation of the Act; and (3) require any registrant or entity registered under the Act to produce documentary evidence that is relevant or material or to give testimony that is relevant or material to an investigation. Provides that each person required to register or file a report under the Act shall maintain the records relating to the report for a period of at least 3 years. Provides that the Secretary of State may request to examine or cause to be examined the books and records of a registrant or an individual renewing his or her registration under the Act to the extent that those books and records relate to lobbying. Provides that documents and evidence produced or collected by the Secretary of State during the course of an investigation shall be exempted from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the Secretary of State may revoke or suspend the registration of a registrant or an individual renewing his or her registration under the Act if that individual fails to comply with a request from the Secretary of State to furnish the specified information. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; persons required to register; lobbyist registration and disclosure; and reports. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to make a conforming change.

  RECENT STATUS

4/10/2024 - House Ethics & Elections

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

3/20/2024 - House Ethics & Elections

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that each school board may provide instruction in anti-litter education in all grades and include that instruction in the courses of study regularly taught in those grades. Provides that by January 1, 2025, the State Board of Education shall post on its Internet website instructional materials relating to teaching anti-litter education. Creates the Anti-Litter Education Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Superintendent of Education may provide a grant to a school district to support the school district's anti-litter programming, including implementation of litterbug programs within the schools of the district. Provides that grants may be awarded from the Anti-Litter Education Fund. Provides for rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the Boundary Changes Article of the School Code. With respect to a petition to change school district boundaries, provides that the length of time for signatures to be valid, before the filing of the petition, shall not exceed one year (rather than 6 months). Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

3/20/2024 - House Ethics & Elections

3/12/2024 - House Ethics & Elections

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that all school districts shall, with guidance and standards provided by the State Board of Education and a group of educators convened by the State Board of Education, ensure that students receive developmentally appropriate opportunities to gain digital literacy skills beginning in elementary school. Provides that digital literacy instruction shall include developmentally appropriate instruction in digital citizenship skills, media literacy, and AI literacy. Provides that digital literacy skills may, based on the recommendation of the State Board of Education, incorporate existing computer literacy standards. Sets forth what the digital citizenship skills instruction, media literacy instruction, and AI literacy instruction shall include. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the School Code. Provides that a public school student may communicate and work with federally elected, State-elected, or locally elected officials or other stakeholders or officials as part of the student's education.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that an individual or group policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage for health care services provided at a school-based health center at the same rate that would apply if those health care services were provided in a different health care setting.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. In a provision requiring the Department of Human Service' Division of Mental Health to implement a direct support professional credential pilot program, delays the pilot program's start date to Fiscal Year 2025 (rather than Fiscal Year 2024). Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning with the 2026-2027 school year (rather than the 2025-2026 school year) and continuing for not less than 2 years, the State Board of Education shall make available a model program of study that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional. Provides that by July 1, 2025 (rather than by July 1, 2023) the Department of Human Service must submit recommendations to the State Board of Education for the training that would be required in order to complete the model program of study. Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that by July 1, 2026 (rather than by July 1, 2025), the Illinois Community College Board shall submit recommendations for a model program of study, for credit, that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional to the Department of Human Services. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

Amends the Regional Superintendent of Schools Article of the School Code. Makes changes concerning high school equivalency testing. Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Removes provisions concerning funding transitional mathematics instruction. Amends the Student Parent Data Collection Act to make changes regarding the date that public universities shall report collected data. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall submit to the Board of Higher Education by December 15 (instead of November 15) of each year its budget proposal for the operation and capital needs of the institutions under its governance or supervision for the ensuing fiscal year. Amends the Public Community College Act. Makes changes concerning standing advisory organizations recognized by the Illinois Community College Board, the Board's powers and duties, spending local funds after the dissolution or reorganization of a community college district, the academic term, the bond a treasurer shall execute, contract bidding, the report on administrator and faculty salaries and benefits, and building program participation. Repeals a Section concerning the building program's plan approval. Amends the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act. Repeals a Section concerning annual certification and maintenance of approval.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of student teaching and to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher no later than June 1, 2025 or no later than June 1 each year thereafter. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1, 2025 and no later than July 1 each year thereafter and all eligible students shall be participants in the stipend program. Provides that no later than August 1, 2025 and no later than August 1 each year thereafter, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that the educator preparation program shall distribute stipend funds using the standard methods for allocating State-based financial aid or as wages for employment to each eligible student in monthly installments. Sets forth additional provisions concerning the distribution of funds. Provides for rulemaking.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes provisions specifying notification deadlines. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible cooperating teacher a stipend of up to $2,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning the distribution of funds to eligible cooperating teachers. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from participating in the stipend program or receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning cooperating teacher training.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

NOTES

This language will be amended.

Amends the School Code. Makes stylistic changes in provisions concerning institutes or inservice training workshops. In provisions concerning inservice training programs, removes the requirement that the training regarding health conditions of students include the chronic health conditions of students and provides that school district employees who are trained to respond to trauma under the provisions shall be immune from civil liability in the use of a trauma kit unless the action constitutes willful or wanton misconduct. Provides that training regarding the implementation of trauma-informed practices under the provisions concerning institutes or inservice training workshops satisfies the requirements under the provisions concerning inservice training programs. Removes certain provisions that require a school board to conduct inservice training for all school district employees on the methods to respond to trauma. Makes technical changes having a revisory function. Effective January 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - Senate Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

4/17/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Instead of requiring consumer education to be taught and studied, provides that, beginning with pupils entering the 9th grade in the 2027-2028 school year, pupils in the public schools in grade 11 or 12 shall be taught and be required to complete a stand-alone, one-semester or equivalent course covering personal finance. Sets forth what topics must be included. Provides that the State Board of Education shall devise or approve the personal finance education standards for the course. Provides that the school board shall oversee implementation of the course for each high school student prior to graduation. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish a Financial Literacy Implementation Committee no later than June 30, 2024 to make recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education concerning the implementation of the course for each high school student prior to graduation. Sets forth provisions concerning Committee members, meetings, and support. Provides that the State Board of Education shall present regular and timely reports to the Committee regarding the implementation of the course. Requires a pupil to successfully complete a course on personal finance education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma (rather than allowing a financial literacy course to be included as part of the social studies requirement). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In a provision defining "eligible employment" for the purpose of allowing a teacher to return to teaching in subject shortage areas without impairing his or her retirement status or retirement annuity, changes the ending date of the employment from no later than June 30, 2024 to no later than June 30, 2029. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/17/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/17/2024 - FIRST READING

4/17/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Seth Lewis

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning educator testing, provides that an applicant for a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for non-teaching speech-language pathologist may satisfy the requirement of passing a test of content area knowledge by passing the national Praxis test in speech-language pathology administered by the Educational Testing Service. Provides that an applicant for a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for non-teaching speech-language pathologist may complete a school internship, externship, or practicum prior to taking the Praxis test, but must pass the Praxis test in speech-language pathology prior to licensure.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the University of Illinois Act. In provisions concerning scholarships for the children of veterans, provides that an honorary scholarship may also be given to the children of persons who served at any time during the invasion of Panama between December 20, 1989 and January 31, 1990.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

4/17/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/17/2024 - FIRST READING

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that "confidential information" means, for purposes of a provision requiring the results of each public school's Carbon-Free Assessment to be memorialized in a non-confidential report that redacts confidential information, information or facts exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that "confidential information" does not include program offerings, solar opportunities, health and safety certifications, energy efficiency recommendations, information about transportation and other funding offerings. Provides that a copy of the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment report shall be provided to the applicable public school by the utility or the third party acting on behalf of the utility.

  RECENT STATUS

5/2/2024 - Senate Energy and Public Utilities

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Energy and Public Utilities

4/17/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Appropriates $209,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for costs associated with the Healthy School Meals for All Program. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/16/2024 - House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

3/5/2024 - House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

2/28/2024 - Assigned to House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

Creates the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program Act. Makes findings. Provides that the Paraprofessional Fast Track to Teaching Degree Pilot Program is created for a 2-year degree pathway by which paraprofessional educators may enroll to achieve the education requirements to attain a professional educator license in this State, which shall comply with the standards of the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year or, if funds are not appropriated for the Program that academic year, beginning with the academic year in which funds are appropriated for the Program, the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall coordinate with each other to assign a qualified individual to serve as a Program director to develop the curriculum for the Program. Provides that one public elementary or public secondary school and one public university in this State shall be chosen to develop a program for transitioning paraprofessionals to teachers. Includes the core components of the Program. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education must submit a report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the impact of the Program and then the Program is dissolved and the Act is repealed. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Provides that an initial charter shall be granted for a period of no more than 3 school years (instead of for a period of 5 school years). Provides that a charter may be renewed in incremental periods not to exceed 3 (instead of 10) school years. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Specifies that nothing in the provisions concerning a moratorium on school closings, consolidations, and phase-outs affects the Chicago Board of Education's ability to not renew its authorization of a charter or contract school.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning holidays, provides that a school board or other entity eligible to apply for waivers and modifications under the Code is authorized to hold school or schedule teachers' institutes, parent-teacher conferences, or staff development on November 5, 2024 (2024 General Election Day) if certain conditions are met. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

3/20/2024 - House Ethics & Elections

3/12/2024 - House Ethics & Elections

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and administer a program to award property tax relief grants to school districts in this State. Provides that, in exchange for receiving a grant, a school district's maximum aggregate property tax extension for the taxable year that begins on January 1 of the fiscal year for which the grant is awarded may not exceed an adjusted maximum aggregate property tax extension for that taxable year. Creates the Education Property Tax Relief Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of awarding grants. Sets forth provisions concerning the Education Property Tax Relief Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/9/2024 - Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Dan Ugaste

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

3/8/2024 - To Revenue - Property Tax Subcommittee

House FLoor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public school shall provide instruction on climate change, which shall include, but not be limited to, identifying the environmental and ecological impacts of climate change on individuals and communities and evaluating solutions for addressing and mitigating the impact of climate change and shall be in alignment with State learning standards, as appropriate. Provides that the State Board of Education shall, subject to appropriation, prepare and make available multi-disciplinary instructional resources and professional learning opportunities for educators that may be used to meet the requirements of the instruction. Effective July 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/19/2024 - FIRST READING

4/19/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning sexual misconduct in schools, provides that guidelines established for certain situations and all available methods for how to report staff-student boundary violations within a school and to external agencies must be posted on the website, if any, of each school district, charter school, or nonpublic school and must be included in any staff, student, or parent handbook provided by the school district, charter school, or nonpublic school. In provisions concerning an employment history review, provides that a job applicant shall provide the name, address, telephone number, and other relevant contact information of the applicant's current employer only if the applicant has direct contact with children or students at the applicant's current employer. Provides that for a substitute employee licensed by the State Board of Education and seeking employment in more than one school district, the employment history review shall be conducted by the regional office of education or intermediate service center in which the school districts are located. Provides for when this review is required and how the review remains valid, and provides for immunity for regional offices of education and intermediate service centers.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 30, 2024

4/24/2024 - Arrive in Senate

4/19/2024 - Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 107-000-000

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning State interventions, provides that the support provided by a vendor or learning partner approved to support a school's continuous improvement plan related to English language arts must be based on the comprehensive literacy plan for the State developed by the State Board of Education.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - Senate Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

4/17/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, compile resources for elementary and secondary schools relating to indoor air quality in schools, including best practices for assessing and maintaining ventilation systems and information on any potential State or federal funding sources that may assist a school in identifying ventilation needs. Provides that the State Board of Education shall compile these resources in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Department of Public Health, local public health professionals, ventilation professionals affiliated with a Department of Labor apprenticeship program, licensed design professionals, representatives from regional offices of education, school district administrators, teachers, or any other relevant professionals, stakeholders, or representatives of State agencies. Provides that, no later than 30 days after resources are compiled, the State Board of Education shall implement outreach strategies to make the compiled resources available to elementary and secondary schools, including publication of the compiled resources on the State Board of Education's website. Provides that the State Board of Education may, in consultation with the Department of Public Health or any other relevant stakeholders, update the compiled resources as necessary. Effective January 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/19/2024 - FIRST READING

4/19/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. With respect to the provision of free transportation for pupils, allows a school district to pay the public transit fees of pupils instead (rather than providing an exception for pupils for whom the school board certifies to the State Board of Education that adequate transportation for the public is available). In provisions allowing for free transportation if conditions are such that walking constitutes a serious hazard, removes the provision specifying that such transportation shall not be provided if adequate transportation for the public is available. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 24, 2024

3/5/2024 - Assigned to House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

2/7/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that it shall be the policy of the State to encourage foreign-born drivers to apply and work as school bus drivers in the State. No State law or action shall prohibit, directly or indirectly, the application of a foreign-born, non-citizen, or non-domiciled driver from applying for a CLP or a CDL for a driver ultimately seeking a type S endorsement as a school bus driver or a school bus driver permit. Provides that where reasonable, all course work, course descriptions, and test proctoring and the application of other requirements for a CLP, CDL, initial or renewal classroom training course administered by the Illinois State Board of Education, or a type S endorsement for a driver ultimately seeking a type S endorsement as a school bus driver, written or in person, may be made available or be obtainable in Spanish, in addition to other languages as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of State or the Illinois State Board of Education.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Transportation: Vehicles & Safety

3/21/2024 - House Transportation: Vehicles & Safety

Amends various Acts concerning children's mental health. Amends the School Code. Provides that on or before October 1, 2024, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Team, the Office of the Governor, and relevant stakeholders as needed shall release a strategy that includes a tool for measuring capacity and readiness to implement universal mental health screening of students. Provides that the State Board of Education shall issue a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on school district readiness and plan for phased approach to universal mental health screening of students on or before April 1, 2025. Repeals the Wellness Checks in Schools Program Act. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement guidance to managed care organizations and similar care coordination entities contracted with the Department, so that the managed care organizations and care coordination entities respond to lead indicators with services and interventions that are designed to help stabilize the child. Amends the Children's Mental Health Act. Provides that the Children's Mental Health Partnership shall advise the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative on designing and implementing short-term and long-term strategies to provide comprehensive and coordinated services for children from birth to age 25 and their families with the goal of addressing children's mental health needs across a full continuum of care, including social determinants of health, prevention, early identification, and treatment. Provides that the Department of Public health (rather than the Department of Healthcare and Family Services) shall provide technical and administrative support for the Partnership. Deletes provision that the Partnership shall employ an Executive Director and set the compensation of the Executive Director and other such employees and technical assistance as it deems necessary to carry out its duties. Amends the Interagency Children's Behavioral Health Services Act. Provides that the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Team in collaboration with the Department of Human Services shall develop a program to provide one-on-one in-home respite behavioral health aids to youth requiring intensive supervision due to behavioral health needs. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/4/2024 - House Mental Health & Addiction

3/22/2024 - House Mental Health & Addiction

3/14/2024 - House Mental Health & Addiction

House Committee Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the State Board of Education may not provide funding for any standardized assessment or test any students in grades kindergarten through 6 beyond the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Provides that nothing in these provisions may be construed to limit the ability of a classroom teacher or school district to develop, purchase, administer, or score an assessment for an individual classroom, grade level, or group of grade levels in any subject area in grades kindergarten through 6. Provides that the State Board of Education shall explore any assessment flexibility afforded to states through waivers under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

House Floor Amendment No. 3 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 2 with the following changes. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the State Board of Education may not mandate or require the use of funding for any additional standardized assessments in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, or science in grades kindergarten through 6 beyond the requirements of federal law (instead of providing that the State Board of Education may not provide funding for any standardized assessment or test any students in grades kindergarten through 6 beyond the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act). Makes a conforming change.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/19/2024 - FIRST READING

4/19/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning holidays, provides that no deduction shall be made from the time or compensation of a school employee, including an educational support personnel employee, on account of any legal or special holiday during which time the employee is contractually employed (instead of on account of any legal or special holiday in which that employee would have otherwise been scheduled to work but for the legal or special holiday).

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Labor & Commerce

Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Makes changes concerning high school and community college partnership agreements, the Dual Credit Committee, instructor and other standards for dual credit courses, and the data in reports made by institutions of higher learning. Provides that a Dual Credit Instructor Endorsement Framework shall be developed through a committee involving collaboration between the Illinois Community College Board and the State Board of Education by December 31, 2024. Sets forth the membership of the committee. Provides that the Framework shall establish criteria for evaluating instructors on the basis of academic credentials, progress toward academic credentials, equivalent experience, or some combination of these. Sets forth what the criteria shall include and what the Framework may do. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. Provides that a Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework (instead of a Dual Credit Instructor Endorsement Framework) shall be developed through a committee involving collaboration between the Illinois Community College Board and the State Board of Education by December 31, 2024. Changes the membership of the committee and what the Framework shall include. Makes related changes concerning school district and community college partnership agreements, the Dual Credit Committee, and instructor and other standards for dual credit courses. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Makes changes concerning high school and community college partnership agreements, out-of-state dual credit contracts, and standards concerning dual credit courses. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall conduct a study to examine dual credit students and their short-term and long-term outcomes, including determining how differing types and levels of credit-hour achievement influence college enrollment, persistence, advancement, and completion, either at a public community college or public university. Sets forth requirements concerning the study. Changes the membership of the Dual Credit Committee and requirements concerning the Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework. Makes grammatical and stylistic changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/19/2024 - FIRST READING

4/19/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro

Amends the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act. Removes provisions concerning geographic regional hubs established by the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and member institutions. Removes references to the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development. In provisions concerning the membership of the advisory committee to the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity, provides that specified appointments made by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development shall instead be made by the Department of Human Services. Provides that all appointed positions on the advisory committee shall have their term length chosen by agreement among the co-chairpersons of the advisory committee. Provides that the advisory committee shall meet at least twice a year (instead of quarterly). Makes changes regarding what information shall be reported. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall implement and administer an early childhood educator scholarship program, to be known as the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. Provides that under the Program, the Commission shall annually award scholarships to early childhood education students enrolled in the institutions of higher education participating in the Consortium. Provides for rulemaking and consultation. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking for the Program. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. With respect to the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act, removes the changes concerning the appointment of members to the advisory committee. Removes the provisions concerning goals and metrics.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Allows an applicant to qualify for a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License if the applicant has retired in good standing while holding a valid paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Repeals a requirement for the Department of Public Health to provide to school districts educational materials on meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccines. Amends the School Code to make conforming changes.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

House Floor Amendment No. 3 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall make available a content area test for applicants seeking a State license to teach in any of grades one through 6. Provides that the test shall include foundational teaching skills and methods that are developmentally and educationally appropriate for students in grades one through 6. Provides that, subject to vendor availability, for all content area tests that include content area questions for college algebra, college statistics, and music theory, contracts entered into after the effective date of the amendatory Act with applicable testing vendors shall allow for questions regarding college algebra, college statistics, and music theory to be removed from the content area test. Provides that if those questions cannot be removed by any available vendors, then, subject to vendor availability, the State Board of Education shall allow for the overall score for the content area test to not include the scores for college algebra, college statistics, and music theory. Provides that the State Board of Education shall allow for the retaking of only the subsections of the test that were failed previously. Provides that the subsections with the highest score each time the content test is taken shall count on the overall score.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/24/2024 - FIRST READING

4/24/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel

Amends the State Universities Civil Service Act. Provides that nothing in the Act or any rules adopted under the Act prevents the parties to a collective bargaining agreement subject to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act from agreeing to a provision that enhances employee rights.

  RECENT STATUS

4/17/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/17/2024 - FIRST READING

4/17/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that with respect to a week of unemployment beginning on or after March 15, 2020 (rather than beginning on or after March 15, 2020, and before September 4, 2021 (including any week of unemployment beginning on or after January 1, 2021 and on or before June 25, 2021)) benefits shall be payable to an individual on the basis of wages for employment in other than an instructional, research, or principal administrative capacity performed for an educational institution or an educational service agency under specified circumstances, as long as the individual is otherwise eligible for benefits.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Labor & Commerce

3/21/2024 - House Labor & Commerce

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that "policy on bullying" means a bullying prevention policy that is age and developmentally appropriate. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - Senate Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning radon testing, provides that every school building of a school district that is occupied or will be occupied shall be tested by January 1, 2028 and shall be tested every 5 years thereafter for radon (instead of recommending that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon). Provides that all new schools of a school district shall be built using radon resistant new construction techniques in accordance with the American National Standards Institute/American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists CC-1000, Soil Gas Control Systems in New Construction of Multifamily, School, Commercial and Mixed-Use Buildings standard or a successor standard (instead of recommending that new schools of a school district be built using radon resistant new construction techniques, as shown in the United States Environmental Protection Agency document, Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large Buildings). Removes a provision allowing a person to perform radon screening tests without a license. Makes changes concerning the exemption. Provides that if radon is found to exceed specified levels, then the school district shall (instead of may) hire a licensed radon professional to perform confirmatory measurements (instead of to perform measurements before any mitigation decisions are made). Sets forth provisions concerning mitigation. Provides that a school district may use life safety funds, if available, for radon testing and mitigation. Preempts home rule powers.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy may allow for the waiver of a course or unit of instruction completion requirement if (i) completion of the course or unit of instruction is required by the Code or rules adopted by the State Board of Education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma and (ii) the school district has determined that the student has demonstrated mastery of or competency in the content of the course or unit of instruction. Provides that the school district shall maintain documentation of this determination of mastery or competency for each student, which must include identification of the learning standards or competencies reviewed, the methods of measurement used, student performance, the date of the determination, and identification of the district personnel involved in the determination process. Provides that a school district must provide notification to a student's parent or guardian that the student will receive a waiver. Makes a corresponding change in the Courses of Study Article of the Code. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. In provisions concerning accelerated placement, provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy shall cover a student who exceeds State standards in specified coursework (instead of meets or exceeds State standards in specified coursework). Provides that by no later than the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy shall provide the option, in the following school term, for a student to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment administered following specified requirements for specified coursework. Effective immediately.

House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Provides that by no later than the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy shall allow for automatic eligibility (instead of provide the option), in the following school term, for a student to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment. Provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy must include a process through which the parent or guardian of each student who meets State standards is provided notification in writing of the student's eligibility for enrollment in accelerated courses. Sets forth what the notification must provide. Provides that nothing in the provisions concerning accelerated placement shall prohibit the implementation of policies that allow for automatic enrollment of students who meet standards on State assessments into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by a high school.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/19/2024 - FIRST READING

4/19/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that the term "Student Permanent Record" may include reports of psychological evaluations, including information on intelligence and personality, academic information obtained through test administration, observation, or interviews, elementary and secondary achievement-level test results, special education records, and records associated with a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. With respect to the term "Student Permanent Record", removes intelligence test scores, aptitude test scores, psychological and personality test results, teacher evaluations, and other information of clear relevance to the education of a student from the information allowed to be included. Provides that if consent is provided by a student or the student's parent or guardian, then a copy of the student's school student records shall be provided at no cost to the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission, an independent service coordination agency, or Equip for Equality to establish access to adult disability services and related benefits.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning transition services, provides that the student's transition plan shall include consideration of the student's assistive technology needs, such as assistive technology evaluations, devices, and services, related to the student's transition goals for employment, education or training, and independent living, both while the student is participating in transition-related activities and in post-school activities. Provides that the student's transition plan shall also include consideration of the availability and accessibility of appropriate assistive technology devices and services for the student once in the post-school environment. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/24/2024 - FIRST READING

4/24/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. David Koehler

Creates the Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act. Provides that all employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of 10 days of unpaid neonatal intensive care leave while a child of the employee is a patient in a neonatal intensive care unit. Provides that an employer shall not require that an employee use leave the employee is entitled to under the Family Medical Leave Act instead of leave the employee is entitled to under the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning unlawful employer practices; Department of Labor responsibilities; and enforcement. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Fund.

House Floor Amendment No. 4 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the State of Illinois is considered an employer under the provisions of the Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act. Provides that an employee of an employer with 16 or more employees and no more than 50 employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of 10 days of unpaid neonatal intensive care leave while a child of the employee is a patient in a neonatal intensive care unit. Provides that an employee of an employer with 51 or more employees shall be entitled to use 20 days of unpaid neonatal intensive care leave while a child of the employee is a patient in a neonatal intensive care unit. Provides that an employee of an employer with 50 or fewer employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of 10 days of unpaid neonatal intensive care leave while a child of the employee is a patient in a neonatal intensive care unit and an employee of an employer with more than 51 employees shall be entitled to use 20 days of unpaid neonatal intensive care leave while a child of the employee is a patient in a neonatal intensive care unit. Provides that an employer shall not require an employee who uses unpaid neonatal intensive care leave to provide a replacement worker. Provides that an employee who is entitled to take paid or unpaid leave, including family, medical, sick, annual, personal, or similar leave, from employment, under federal, State, or local law, a collective bargaining agreement, or an employment benefits program or plan, may elect to substitute any period of leave for an equivalent period of leave provided under the Act. Provides that, upon the conclusion of leave taken under the Act, an employee shall be reinstated to his or her former position or a substantially equivalent one with no loss of benefits held or accrued prior to taking leave. Provides that, during the period of leave, any health insurance benefits shall be maintained by an employer as if an employee had not taken leave. Provides that an employer may require reasonable verification of the employee's child's length of stay in a neonatal intensive care unit. Makes changes to provisions concerning enforcement of the Act. Makes changes to the definitions of "employee" and "employer". Makes other changes.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/24/2024 - FIRST READING

4/24/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning alternative procedures for teacher evaluation, remediation, and removal for cause after remediation, provides that if after the alternative evaluation procedures are determined by the State Board of Education, in a specified report of the State Board of Education, to have clear racial, ethnic, socio-economic, or geographic disparities for the educators evaluated under the alternative evaluation procedures, then the Chicago Board of Education and the exclusive representative of the district's teachers shall enter into negotiations to create a new evaluation system, to be implemented no later than August 15, 2025, that maintains the requirements for the alternative evaluation procedures and remedies the determined racial, ethnic, socio-economic, or geographic disparities. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Specifies the annual reporting requirements of the Illinois Labor Relations Board and Illinois Educational and Labor Relations Board. Provides that the Board shall maintain the following schedule upon the filing of unfair labor practice charges filed under this Act: (i) complete the investigation and issue a complaint, dismissal or deferral within 30 days of the charges being filed; (ii) if a complaint is issued, a hearing shall be scheduled to begin within 30 days of its issuance; (iii) post-hearing briefs shall be issued within 30 days of the close of the hearing; and (iv) recommended decisions and orders shall be issued within 45 days of the submission of post-hearing briefs.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district shall allow a dependent of United States military personnel who is housed in temporary housing located outside of a school district, but will be living within the district within 6 months after the time of initial enrollment, to be educated through an electronic learning program or remote learning program for the time period that the dependent is housed in temporary housing. Provides that if a dependent of United States military personnel is moving out of the State because the United States military personnel received a permanent change of station order, then the student shall be allowed to remain enrolled in the school district and be educated through an electronic learning program or remote learning program until a student enrolls in another school district.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Creates a Provisional Educator License and provides that a Provisional Educator License may be issued to persons who have completed the required education coursework in a State-approved educator preparation program, an educator preparation program approved by another state, or comparable educator program in another country, have completed 2 years of student teaching with satisfactory evaluation of performance, and met any other requirements set by the State Board of Education, but have failed to pass a content area knowledge test under the Code. Provides that a Provisional Educator License is valid for 2 years from the date of issuance and may not be renewed. In provisions concerning educator testing, removes provisions stating that there shall be no exceptions for passing a test of content area knowledge. Removes provisions stating that no candidate shall be allowed to student teach or serve as the teacher of record until he or she has passed the applicable content area test. Sets forth exceptions as to when a candidate seeking licensure may not be required to pass a test of content area knowledge. Provides that a candidate seeking licensure for a Professional Educator License may either complete the required testing under the Code or have held a Provisional Educator License for 2 years (instead of completing the required testing under the Code).

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

House Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that no later than 30 days after the first day of each school year, the school board of each public elementary and secondary school in the State shall provide all teachers, administrators, and other school personnel, as determined by school officials, with information regarding emergency procedures and techniques, including, without limitation, the Heimlich maneuver, hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use of the school district's automatic external defibrillator, and identify the cardiac emergency response team (instead of providing that the school board of each public elementary and secondary school in the State shall encourage all teachers and other school personnel to acquire, develop, and maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to properly administer life-saving techniques, including, without limitation, the Heimlich maneuver and rescue breathing). Makes related changes. Provides that the annual review shall include reviewing procedures regarding the school district's cardiac emergency response plan. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that school districts and private schools shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan in place in accordance with guidelines set forth by either the American Heart Association or other nationally recognized, evidence-based standards that addresses the appropriate response to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while at a school or at a school-sponsored activity or event. Requires the plan to be distributed to all teachers, administrators, school support personnel, coaches, and other school staff identified by school administrators at each school. Sets forth what shall be included in the cardiac emergency response plan.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/24/2024 - FIRST READING

4/24/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Erica Harriss

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning State goals and assessments, provides that students who have been enrolled in schools in the United States for less than 12 months may not be required to participate in the State assessments.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that within 6 months of the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Board of Higher Education shall prepare a report to the General Assembly on the state of artificial intelligence education and development in public and private institutions of higher education. Sets forth what the report shall contain.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/24/2024 - Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 24, 2024

4/24/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Higher Education Committee

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab American history, including the history of Arab Americans in the State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Public Broadcasting Service, that may be used as guidelines for the development of the unit of instruction. Provides that each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the curricular requirements during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit. Provides that a school may meet the requirements through an online program or course. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that, for the benefit of the physical and mental health of athletes, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, all practices, games, or contests by a State high school athletic program or team that is a part of an association or other entity that has, as one of its purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among high schools and high school students within this State shall meet all specified requirements. Provides that an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State shall enforce a penalty for a State high school athletic program or team exceeding practice maximums, which may include, but are not limited to, a loss of a practice day or other sanctions determined by the Illinois High School Association for each violation and shall be imposed as appropriate to the level, extent, and duration of the penalty. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Removes provisions requiring that an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State enforce a penalty for a State high school athletic program or team exceeding practice maximums.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Education for Homeless Children Act. In provisions concerning the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program, provides that grants shall be awarded to applicant school districts based on the percentage of students experiencing homelessness in an applicant school district (instead of to applicant school districts). Makes other changes concerning the award of grants. Specifies activities eligible for assistance. Provides that the State Board of Education may use up to 25% (instead 5%) of appropriated funds for administrative costs.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

4/18/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/18/2024 - FIRST READING

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to reduce financial barriers into the teaching profession and increase the quality of the student teaching experience in order to better prepare teaching candidates for the classroom and increase teacher retention. Provides that to participate in the stipend program, an eligible student must be placed as a student teacher. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students who qualify for the stipend program by July 1. Provides that all eligible students shall be enrolled in the stipend program. Provides that subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 for one academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning funding if the amount appropriated for the program is insufficient to fund all eligible students. Provides that subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $1,500 per academic semester, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that a cooperating teacher may receive professional development hours for completing cooperating teacher training that counts towards the cooperating teacher's license renewal or Gateways credential. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible teacher from participating in the program or receiving a stipend from the program. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the State Board of Educations shall report and evaluate about the program to the Governor and General Assembly on or before June 30, 2028 and each June 30 thereafter. Provides for rulemaking.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Higher Ed-Special Topics Subcommittee

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Provides that a school, school board, or school district shall require a medical note for an absence to be excused only after 9 unexcused absences. Provides that if a student's medical note states that the student should be excused for a specific period of time or if the illness stated in the medical note has a recommended isolation period issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, then a school, school board, or school district shall excuse all days listed in the note or for the amount of days of the recommended isolation period set by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning school maintenance project grants, provides that the State Board of Education is authorized to make grants to school districts, regional offices of education, intermediate service centers, and special education cooperatives established by school districts (instead of school districts and special education cooperatives established by school districts). Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, but provides that the grants are to be used for school maintenance projects on publicly owned property (rather than providing that the grants are for school maintenance projects). Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 30, 2024

4/24/2024 - Arrive in Senate

4/19/2024 - Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 104-000-000

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the resident district for a student who, as a result of the student's medically complex status resides exclusively at a full-time residential care facility, shall be the school district in which the residential facility is located if the residential facility provides the student with a regular fixed night-time residence for reasons other than placement in a specific school district and the student is not enrolled in a school district outside the district in which the residential facility is located. Provides that as a resident of the district in which the residential facility is located, the educational costs for a student shall be provided directly by the State Board of Education and shall be calculated based on the applicable per diem rate provided by the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board, with such per diem rate being based solely upon the audited submission of the cost financial report for the residential facility for special education students during the applicable school year. Provides that a residential facility shall submit monthly invoices to the State Board of Education for the education costs of a student in a residential facility. Provides that the State Board of Education shall ensure that a representative of the resident school district of the student in a residential facility attend and participate in a individualized education program meeting for the student, and shall proffer a nonpublic facility placement contract for each student and the school district shall immediately execute and return the nonpublic facility placement contract to the residential facility. Provides that for a student in a residential facility, an educational surrogate shall be appointed who shall have authority to execute an individualized education program in the place of the student's parent or guardian on behalf of the student. Provides for restrictions on withholding payment to a residential facility. Provides that the provisions applies only to a special education student who lives at and relies on residential facility as the student's overnight residence but who has not been enrolled by the student's parent or guardian in a school district. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

4/16/2024 - House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

4/5/2024 - Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 24, 2024

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that a student shall remain on the attendance rolls of a school district until a cause for disenrollment is given and confirmed with specified documentation. Amends the School Board Article of the Code. Requires the school district report card to contain data concerning the number of students who remained on the school district's attendance rolls, and the length of time in which each student remained on the school district's attendance rolls but was not attending school. Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the Code to make a corresponding change regarding a chronic or habitual truant.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Makes changes concerning the specified documentation that may be provided to confirm a cause for disenrollment.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Act. Transfers the powers and duties under the Act from the Board of Higher Education to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Replaces the requirement that the Board of Higher Education must contract annually for an independent evaluation of program implementation with the requirement that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission monitor and evaluate the implementation of the program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may elect to contract for an independent evaluation with an outside entity. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Higher Education

3/21/2024 - House Higher Education

Amends the State Universities Retirement System Article of the Illinois Pension Code. With respect to a Section concerning reports on cost reduction, removes provisions requiring that on or before November 15th of each year, the Board of Higher Education, in conjunction with the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, prepare a report showing, on a fiscal year by fiscal year basis, the amount by which the costs associated with compensable sick leave have been reduced as a result of the termination of compensable sick leave accrual on and after January 1, 1998 by employees of higher education institutions who are participants in the System. Amends the Higher Education Veterans Service Act. In provisions concerning reporting, provides that each October 15, each public college and university shall report to the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Community College Board, on the expenditures for the prior fiscal year for the programs and services related to the efforts of the public college or university in attracting, recruiting, and retaining veterans and military personnel (instead of providing that each September 1, each college and university that is required to have a Coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services shall report to the Board of Higher Education on the fiscal impact of the programs and services related to the requirements of the Act and on the efforts of the public college or university in attracting, recruiting, and retaining veterans and military personnel). Requires the Board's report to be filed with the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board.

  RECENT STATUS

4/18/2024 - Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 30, 2024

4/18/2024 - Arrive in Senate

4/17/2024 - Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 112-000-000

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Department of Early Childhood Act. Creates the Department of Early Childhood to begin operation on July 1, 2024 and transfers to it certain rights, powers, duties, and functions currently exercised by various agencies of State Government. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 the Department of Early Childhood shall be the lead State agency for administering and providing early childhood education and care programs and services to children and families including: home-visiting services; early intervention services; preschool services; child care services; licensing for day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes; and other early childhood education and care programs and administrative functions historically managed by the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that the Department of Early Childhood (rather than the Department of Children and Family Services) administers day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes. Makes conforming changes to various Acts including the Department of Human Services Act, the Illinois Early Learning Council Act, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Early Intervention Services System Act and the Children and Family Services Act. Effective immediately, except the provisions amending the Child Care Act of 1969 take effect July 1, 2026.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

Amends the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act. Provides that all higher education institutions shall include in the comprehensive policy concerning sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, information about how the higher education institution protects individuals who report from retaliation. Provides that the higher education institutions procedure for responding to a report shall also include protecting the survivor from retaliation, including a policy and process for early dismissal of any retaliatory claim by a respondent against a survivor, including, but not limited to, claims of defamation, harassment, bullying, and any other violation of policy claims where the actions alleged by the respondent are related to the survivor's report. Makes related changes in provisions concerning student notification of rights and options, confidential advisors, complaint resolution procedures, and campus training. Amends the Citizen Participation Act. Provides that a court shall not permit any person to pursue a defamation action to silence or retaliate against, a person reporting gender-based violence, including cases where the alleged perpetrator is publicly named. Provides that the exception to motions under this Act are when the acts are not genuinely aimed at procuring favorable government action, result, or outcome or when the plaintiff presents clear and convincing evidence that the reporting of gender-based violence constituted speaking with actual malice. Makes related changes.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board may allow one member representing the Board of Higher Education and one member representing the Illinois Community College Board to serve as nonvoting, ex officio members on the Board. Specifies that certain community colleges are recognized schools or institutions.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Floor Amendment - Filed No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Fred Crespo

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall require, in a manner and method determined by the State Board, that each school district report the number of student referrals to law enforcement. Provides that the disaggregated data shall include data on referrals to law enforcement required to be submitted by a school district and charter school under the Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall post the disaggregated data on the State Board's Internet website for the previous school year by October 31, starting with the 2023-2024 school year. Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that school personnel may not issue a monetary fine, fee, or municipal ticket for school-based behavior as a disciplinary consequence, (instead of providing that a student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence). Sets forth provisions concerning disciplinary responses of schools. Provides that school personnel (instead of a school district) may not refer a truant, chronic truant, or truant minor to any other local public entity, school resource officer, or peace officer (instead of any other local public entity). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code concerning reimbursement by the State for transportation. Provides that a State-authorized charter school shall be reimbursed by the State. Sets forth provisions concerning how much the State must pay. Provides that a charter school, other than a State-authorized charter school, that offers transportation to eligible students shall be eligible for reimbursement by the State at the same rate as its host district, unless the host district is the Chicago school district, in which case the charter school is eligible for reimbursement by the State at the rate set forth in the charter agreement. Sets forth how the charter school shall make a reimbursement claim. Provides that a charter school, other than a State-authorized charter school, that has previously received regular transportation grant funding from the State Board of Education or is in the process of receiving such funding approved in the same fiscal year as the effective date of the amendatory Act shall retain any awarded funding.

House Floor Amendment No. 3 - Changes references from "a charter school, other than a State-authorized charter school" to "a State-authorized charter school".

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/19/2024 - FIRST READING

4/19/2024 - Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law of this State to the contrary, effective on January 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as is feasible, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall release from remaining repayment obligations any recipient of a scholarship, grant, or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan under a State program for which the Commission is responsible for collections. In provisions concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, special education teacher scholarships, the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of the recipient to fulfill scholarship, grant, or waiver obligations. In provisions concerning special education teacher scholarships and Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, provides that a recipient shall sign an agreement that the recipient will meet specified qualifications and provide evidence to the Commission that the recipient is fulfilling or fulfilled the terms of the agreement (instead of specifying that an applicant shall meet the specified qualifications) Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law to make similar changes.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Higher Education

3/21/2024 - House Higher Education

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 may provide to its students in grades 9 through 12 a unit of instruction studying the events of labor history. Provides that the instruction may also include information on the rights of workers and employment opportunities. Sets forth the events and information that may be included in the instruction. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Provides that the instruction may be provided through an online program or course. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish a program of paid internships for students enrolled in educator preparation programs in the school support personnel endorsement areas of school social worker, school psychologist, school counselor, school nurse, and speech-language pathologist. Sets forth provisions concerning the program. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish and maintain a mentorship and recruitment program to develop and maintain interest in the school support personnel endorsement areas of school social worker, school psychologist, school counselor, school nurse, and speech-language pathologist. Sets forth provisions concerning the program. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish a school support personnel educator preparation scholarship program to annually award up to 250 scholarships for school psychology, school counseling, school nursing, and school speech-language pathology. Sets forth provisions concerning the scholarship program. Provides that, to encourage Illinois students to enter the fields of school psychology, school counseling, school nursing, and school speech-language pathology and to continue to work in those fields in public schools in this State, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under a School Support Personnel Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Sets forth provisions concerning the Program. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/23/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/23/2024 - House Higher Education

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. In provisions concerning exceptions allowing the release of student records, provides that school student records or information contained may be released, transferred, disclosed or otherwise disseminated to law enforcement officers for purposes of review, recording, or contemporaneous access to security or surveillance video, audio, or footage, to the extent that the release, transfer, disclosure, or dissemination is consistent with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/4/2024 - House Judiciary - Criminal

4/2/2024 - House Judiciary - Criminal

Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that gambling and gambling addiction shall be included in the Comprehensive Health Education Program. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Gaming

3/12/2024 - Assigned to House Gaming

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Provides that any child who is (i) 17 years of age or older or (ii) projected to graduate from a high school at the completion of the current school year shall be excused from attendance for no more than one-half of each school day in order to participate in an unpaid apprenticeship program. Provides that the student shall be excused from any mandatory school events during the school day.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Creates the School Social Work Associate License. Provides that a School Social Work Associate License may be issued to an applicant who (i) holds a degree from a graduate program of social work that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education; and (ii) has an active license through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act as either a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker. Provides that a social work associate shall be authorized to perform responsibilities associated with traditional social work practice, subject to the restrictions in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act regarding independent clinical practice, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions in a multi-tiered system of supports. Provides that all responsibilities of a social work associate shall be performed in consultation with an individual who holds a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school social work. Provides that a social work associate is not authorized to perform Tier 3 multi-tiered system of supports interventions, or participate in the individualized education program process or the Section 504 plan process for any student with a disability. Provides that a social work associate may not be employed by a school district or any other entity to replace any presently employed Professional Educator License holder with a school support personnel endorsement who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason. Provides that an applicant for a social work associate endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is not required to pass a content area test under the Code. Makes conforming changes.

  RECENT STATUS

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

4/18/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

4/18/2024 - FIRST READING

Creates the Child Labor Law of 2024. Reinserts provisions of the Child Labor Law. Sets forth additional provisions concerning definitions; exemptions; employer requirements; restrictions on employment of minors; employment certificates; civil penalties; and criminal penalties. Repeals the Child Labor Law. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2025, except provisions concerning minors featured in vlogs and trust funds are effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Makes changes to the provisions concerning the in-state tuition charge to require that, beginning on July 1, 2026, an individual, other than an individual who has a non-immigrant alien status that precludes an intent to permanently reside in the United States, shall be charged tuition by the governing board of a public university at the same rate as an Illinois resident if the individual meets specified requirements. Provides that the governing board may adopt a policy to implement and administer the provisions and may adopt a policy for the classification of in-state residents, for tuition purposes, based on residency in this State. Provides that the General Assembly finds and declares that the provisions are a State law within the meaning of certain provisions of the United States Code.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Third Reading

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the date corresponding with the second new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, is a holiday to be observed throughout the State and to be known as the Lunar New Year. Provides that, when the Lunar New Year falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday shall be held and considered the holiday. Amends the Election Code, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, and the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act to include the Lunar New Year as a holiday.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House State Government Administration

3/21/2024 - House State Government Administration

Amends various Acts concerning various State programs, State funds, and State fund transfers. Deletes obsolete language and makes technical changes. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Further amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides for the repeal of a provision that creates the Technology Innovation and Commercialization Grants-In-Aid Council. Adds provisions in the University of Illinois Act, the Southern Illinois University Management Act, the Chicago State University Law, the Eastern Illinois University Law, the Governors State University Law, the Northeastern Illinois University Law, the Northern Illinois University Law, and the Western Illinois University Law providing that the Boards of Trustees of the instutions governed by those Acts shall report to the Board of Higher Education on or before August 1 of each year (rather than July 1) with salary and benefits information from the prior fiscal year. Provides for the repeal of the Educational Institution Bond Authorization Act, the Mental Health Institution Bond Act, the Anti-Pollution Bond Act, the Anti-Pollution Bond Fund Transfer Act, the Transportation Bond Act, the Capital Development Bond Act of 1972, and the Fiscal Agent Designation Act. Makes corresponding changes in the Statute on Statutes, the Public Community College Act, the Environmental Protection Act, and the Illinois Highway Code. Makes other changes.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - Senate State Government

4/24/2024 - Assigned to Senate State Government

4/18/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Charter Schools Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning contract contents, provides that for a charter granted or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act by a local school board, administrative fees withheld from a charter school under the charter for the purpose of conducting administrative duties shall be capped at 3% or less of the total annual public dollars allocated to the charter school. Provides that the 3% total administrative fee collected from a charter school shall include a 2% or less administrative fee collected by a local school board for the purpose of conducting administrative duties related to the administration of charter school contracts, oversight, and authorizing services, and a 1% fee to be either (i) given to a statewide charter school membership association for the purpose of administering State-mandated board governance training, and compliance and technical assistance to charter schools for the purpose of meeting academic, financial, and operational reporting requirements, or (ii) sub-granted by a statewide charter school membership association to charter schools for the purpose of meeting academic, financial, and operational requirements as agreed upon with the authorizer in the charter school's contract. In provisions concerning the term of a charter, provides that an authorizer shall grant renewal for a term of no fewer than 5 years if the charter's average annual summative designation over the term of the charter is in the top 3 summative designations on the State report card prepared by the State Board of Education.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot; defines "native name, logo, or mascot". However, provides that a school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act until September 1, 2027 if specified requirements are met.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall allocate sufficient funds to provide for transportation and lodging for the members of the Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities to attend meetings in Springfield and shall provide funds, not to exceed $5,000, for scholarships for families to attend an annual legislative breakfast organized by the Advisory Council.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/3/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

3/21/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the School Code. Provides that notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, from July 1, 2024 until July 1, 2028, any State mandate under the State Mandates Act enacted after July 1, 2024 does not apply to a school district if the State mandate is non-academic. Provides that the State Board of Education shall determine if a State mandate is non-academic. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

4/19/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - House Bills on Second Reading

Directs the Professional Review Panel and the Illinois State Board of Education to conduct the analysis and financial modeling required to evaluate the implications of implementing the recommended $22 minimum hourly rate for employees providing educational support services. The analyses should include the district impact of incremental increases beginning with $20 in school year 2025-2026, $21 dollars in school year 2026-2027, and $22 in school year 2027-2028. The Professional Review Panel and the Illinois State Board of Education should include their findings in a written report to the General Assembly and Governor by December 31, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Resolutions Order of Resolutions

4/18/2024 - Resolutions Order of Resolutions

4/17/2024 - Resolutions Order of Resolutions

Urges that adjuncts/non-tenure/part-time instructors in institutions of higher education be treated with the same respect, recognition, value, and standards as full-time instructors. Affirms these professionals have the same credentials as the full-time instructors and are being underpaid to do the same job. Pledges to seek solutions that include, but are not limited to, legislated salary parity, mandated access to health benefits, and full and fair pension reporting and accountability for all part-time/contingent/adjunct Illinois public teachers, librarians, counselors, and educational support personnel.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Resolutions Order of Resolutions

4/18/2024 - Resolutions Order of Resolutions

4/17/2024 - Resolutions Order of Resolutions

Urges the elimination of the Illinois High School Association's (IHSA) authority to restrict eligible student-athletes from transferring schools.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Resolutions Order of Resolutions

4/18/2024 - Resolutions Order of Resolutions

4/17/2024 - Resolutions Order of Resolutions

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Department of Early Childhood Act. Creates the Department of Early Childhood to begin operation on July 1, 2024 and transfers to it certain rights, powers, duties, and functions currently exercised by various agencies of State Government. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 the Department of Early Childhood shall be the lead State agency for administering and providing early childhood education and care programs and services to children and families including: home-visiting services; early intervention services; preschool services; child care services; licensing for day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes; and other early childhood education and care programs and administrative functions historically managed by the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that the Department of Early Childhood (rather than the Department of Children and Family Services) administers day care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes. Makes conforming changes to various Acts including the Department of Human Services Act, the Illinois Early Learning Council Act, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Early Intervention Services System Act and the Children and Family Services Act. Effective immediately, except the provisions amending the Child Care Act of 1969 take effect July 1, 2026.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 - In a provision requiring the transfer of certain personnel from the Departments of Human Services and Children and Family Services to the Department of Early Childhood, provides that the status and rights of the employees and the State of Illinois or its transferring agencies under the Personnel Code, the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, and applicable collective bargaining agreements, or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan, shall not be affected by the Department of Early Childhood Act.

  RECENT STATUS

5/2/2024 - House Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Chicago Board of Education District Act. Divides the City of Chicago into 10 districts and 20 subdistricts for the purpose of identifying persons who will serve on the Chicago Board of Education. Amends the School Code. Provides that, by December 14, 2024, the Mayor of the City of Chicago shall appoint a President of the Chicago Board of Education who shall serve a 2-year term. Provides that, until January 15, 2027, each district shall be represented by one member elected at the 2024 general election to a 2-year term and one member appointed by the Mayor to a 2-year term. Requires each of the elected members to reside within the district that the member represents. Requires each of the appointed members to reside both within the district that the member represents and outside of the subdistrict within which the elected member of the district resides. Provides that, beginning January 15, 2027, each subdistrict shall be represented by one member who is elected at the 2026 general election. Specifies that, if a member is elected at the 2026 general election to fill the expired term of an appointed member, then the elected member shall serve a 2-year term. Specifies that, if a member is elected at the 2026 general election to fill the expired term of an elected member, then the member shall serve a 4-year term. Requires each of the members elected in 2026 to reside within the subdistrict that the member represents. Provides that, if a member is elected at the 2026 general election to serve a 2-year term, then the member elected at the 2028 general election shall serve a 4-year term, and, if a member is elected at the 2026 general election to serve a 4-year term, then the member elected in that subdistrict at the 2030 general election shall serve a 2-year term. Provides that, beginning with the members elected at the 2032 general election, the members of each district shall serve two 4-year terms and one 2-year term for each 10-year period thereafter as determined by lot. Makes other changes concerning: conflicts of interests of board members, eligibility of individuals to serve as board members, nominating petitions for board members, the creation of the Chicago Board of Education Black Student Achievement Committee and other advisory bodies, and the creation and redistricting of subdistricts. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

3/18/2024 - Effective Date March 18, 2024

3/18/2024 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0584

3/18/2024 - GOVERNOR APPROVED

NOTES

Support - Amendment 1

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With regard to the Monetary Award Program, provides that, in addition to other eligibility requirements for applicants of the grant program enrolled at a qualified for-profit institution, the following shall apply to the qualified for-profit institution in which the applicant is enrolled: (i) beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, a qualified for-profit institution may not exceed a 15% national 3-year student loan cohort default rate, as published by the U.S. Department of Education, and (ii) beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, a qualified for-profit institution must maintain an 80% student success rate; defines "student success rate". Provides that a for-profit institution's failure to meet those eligibility requirements shall result in a probationary academic year during which the institution is required to notify all current and prospective students eligible for Monetary Award Program grants of the student's possibility of losing that eligibility. Provides that if the institution fails to meet the for-profit institution eligibility requirements for 2 consecutive academic years, an applicant enrolled at the institution must lose Monetary Award Program grant eligibility and for a student to regain Monetary Award Program grant eligibility at that institution, the institution must meet the for-profit institution eligibility requirements for at least 2 consecutive academic years. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

1/10/2024 - Re-assigned to Senate Higher Education

3/10/2023 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish and administer a workforce industry needs scholarship program to provide scholarships to qualified students who, in order to meet regional or statewide workforce needs, are pursuing a professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning. Sets forth the qualifications that a student must meet to receive a scholarship. Provides that each scholarship awarded shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room and board costs of the public institution of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $5,000, except that in the case of a recipient who does not reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. Provides that the Commission shall adopt rules to define what constitutes a postsecondary course of study or other program in order to meet regional or statewide workforce needs. Provides that priority for receiving a scholarship may be given to students seeking a professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning in an industry sector identified annually by the Commission as having significant regional or statewide workforce needs. Provides for the approval and suspension of approval of a postsecondary course of study or other program of a public institution of higher learning. Provides for rulemaking. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

1/10/2024 - Re-assigned to Senate Higher Education

1/10/2024 - Directed to Multiple Committees Higher Education, Appropriations-Education

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the monetary award program. Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year through the 2028-2029 academic year, provides that an applicant who is otherwise eligible for grant assistance under the program may receive grant assistance for an additional academic year after receiving a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours if he or she (i) enrolls in a State-approved educator preparation program and (ii) within 5 years after receiving a Professional Educator License, teaches in this State for a minimum of 3 years. Requires repayment if at any time a person fails to meet the requirements. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

4/12/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 19, 2024

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Requires the governing board of each public university and community college district to pay employees and contractors their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a city, county, or State declaration of a winter weather emergency.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill but removes provisions requiring the governing board of each public university and community college district to pay contractors their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a city, county, or State declaration of a winter weather emergency.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/12/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers and duties of the State Board of Education.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - Senate Appropriations- Education

4/19/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/18/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning school district financial oversight panels.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/18/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

4/17/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning block grants for school districts other than the Chicago school district.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/18/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

4/17/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Makes changes to the provisions concerning the in-state tuition charge to require that, beginning on July 1, 2026, an individual, other than an individual who has a non-immigrant alien status that precludes an intent to permanently reside in the United States, shall be charged tuition by the governing board of a public university at the same rate as an Illinois resident if the individual meets specified requirements. Provides that the governing board may adopt a policy to implement and administer the provisions and may adopt a policy for the classification of in-state residents, for tuition purposes, based on residency in this State. Provides that the General Assembly finds and declares that the provisions are a State law within the meaning of certain provisions of the United States Code.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/12/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that, in determining admission to a public institution of higher education, the public institution of higher education may not consider an applicant's legacy status or the applicant's familial relationship to any past, current, or prospective donor of something of value to the public institution of higher education as a factor in admitting the applicant. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/18/2024 - Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Kam Buckner

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. With regard to the Section concerning contractual continued service, removes provisions specifying that the probationary periods are only for service in which a teacher holds a Professional Educator License. Amends the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article of the Code. Provides that on July 1, 2024, the State Superintendent of Education shall convene a Performance Evaluation Advisory Committee for the purpose of maintaining and improving the State evaluator training and pre-qualification program in this State. Provides that the Committee shall be staffed by the State Board of Education. Sets forth the membership of the Committee. Provides that members of the Committee shall be nominated by program providers and appointed by the State Superintendent. Provides that the Committee shall meet initially at the call of the State Superintendent and shall select one member as chairperson at its initial meeting. Provides that the Committee shall meet at least quarterly and may also meet at the call of the chairperson of the Committee. Provides that the Committee shall advise the State Board of Education on the continued implementation of the evaluator training and pre-qualification program in this State, which may include the development and delivery of the program's existing and new administrators' academies, gathering feedback from program instructors and participants, sharing best practices, consulting with the State Board on any proposed rule changes regarding evaluator training, and other subjects as determined by the chairperson of the Committee. Effective June 15, 2024.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - With regard to the Section concerning contractual continued service, provides that the probationary periods are for a teacher who holds a Professional Educator License, an Educator License with Stipulations with a career and technical educator endorsement, or an Educator License with Stipulations with a provisional career and technical educator endorsement (instead of a Professional Educator License). Corrects cross-references.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions requiring referendum approval to build or purchase a school building, provides that for any school district: (i) that is designated as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 school district under the evidence-based funding provisions of the Code, (ii) with at least one school that is located on federal property, (iii) whose overall student population is no more than 4,500 students and no less than 2,500 students, and (iv) that receives a federal Public Schools on Military Installations grant until June 30, 2030, no referendum shall be required if at least 75% of the cost of construction or building of any such building is paid or will be paid with funds received or expected to be received from the Public Schools on Military Installations grant. Provides that the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from those community members in attendance. Provides that the notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and description of the school construction project must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school district's website. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/15/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/11/2024 - Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Rita Mayfield

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

  RECENT STATUS

4/12/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

4/12/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

4/11/2024 - Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8(b-1), the following amendment will remain in the Committee on Assignments.

Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - Senate Education

4/18/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

4/17/2024 - Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning student discipline policies, provides that the State Board of Education shall draft and publish model policy guidelines for the development of reciprocal reporting systems and school bus safety protocols and for evidence-based early intervention procedures. In provisions concerning the suspension or expulsion of students, makes changes concerning a student's gross disobedience or misconduct posing an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, when school exclusions should be used, the number and duration of expulsions and suspensions, the implementation of proactive evidence-based interventions that improve behavioral outcomes for all students, non-exclusionary discipline, out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less, model policy guidelines for the re-engagement of students, professional development, and the removal of children with disabilities who violate the student discipline policies from their current placement. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/17/2024 - Postponed - Education

4/16/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Postponed - Education

NOTES

This bill did not survive the 2023 legislative session.  However, IEA Government Relations will continue to work with the bill sponsors, other stakeholders and coalition groups during the fall veto and next year's legislative sessions to further negotiate and advance this bill.  Please keep watching as we work the bill in the future; member support and participation in lobbying efforts gain votes essential to passing the bill.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a specialized educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who is employed in a teaching position at an accredited institution of higher education in this State that has officially announced its intent to cease all academic programming at the time the announcement was officially made or was employed in a teaching position at an accredited institution of higher education in this State that has ceased all academic programming within 5 years prior to or on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, meets specified criteria. Provides that the specialized educator endorsement is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed. Provides that the holder of a specialized educator endorsement shall be permitted to teach in the content area in which he or she previously taught at the accredited institution of higher education. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/9/2024 - Sponsor Removed Sen. Adriane Johnson

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

1/10/2024 - Re-assigned to Senate Education

Amends the Treasurers Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding a Class II county school unit where the trustees of schools appoint a treasurer, removes the requirement that the treasurer shall be a resident of the township.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/18/2024 - Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 30, 2024

4/18/2024 - Do Pass Executive; 010-000-000

House Committee Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Child Labor Law. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Labor & Commerce

4/19/2024 - Senate Bills on Second Reading

4/18/2024 - Senate Bills on Second Reading

Amends the evidence-based funding provisions of the School Code. Provides that the Minimum Funding Level is equal to $550,000,000 (instead of $350,000,000). Effective July 1, 2023.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/10/2024 - Re-assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program. Provides that any money appropriated to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for scholarship awards for a particular academic year that remains unused at the end of that academic year shall be deposited into the Student Teaching Fund. Requires the Commission to establish and administer a student teaching stipend program in which the Commission receives and considers applications for a stipend from scholarship recipients who are student teaching. Subject to appropriation from the Student Teaching Fund, provides that the Commission shall select stipend recipients from among applicants who are in financial need. Provides that the amount and payment of any stipend shall be determined by the Commission, and provides for rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Student Teaching Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/10/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Re-assigned to Appropriations- Education

Amends the Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award grants of up to $5,000 per school site on a competitive basis to eligible school districts, regional superintendents of schools, or entities approved by the State Board of Education for nonrecurring expenses incurred in initiating a school breakfast after the bell program. Sets forth what the grants may be used for and who gets preference for a grant.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/20/2024 - Senate Appropriations- Education

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, all internships for school social workers must be paid internships. Provides that subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts to assist in the funding of these paid internships. Provides that the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications to the grant program. Provides that higher priority shall be given to schools that demonstrate a shortage of school social workers, which is determined by the average ratio of school social workers to students in the target school district over the preceding 3 school years. Provides that the State Board of Education shall produce an annual report on the program. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education, shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to colleges or universities in the State to fund field placements for social workers. Provides that Subject to appropriation, colleges and universities shall annually disseminate a request for applications to the grant program. Provides that colleges and universities, upon receiving funding, shall provide applications to students eligible for this funding. Provides that the college or university shall give priority to applicants who are a member of a racial minority. Provides that each college or university that receives funds shall provide an annual report to the State Board of Higher Education, and the Board of Higher Education shall publish those reports on the State Board's website. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/9/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Appropriations- Education

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/25/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Removes the repeal date for the short-term substitute teacher training program. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning short-term substitute teacher licenses, removes the June 30, 2023 expiration date for issuing short-term substitute teacher licenses. Removes the licensing fees for short-term substitute teacher, substitute teaching, and professional teaching licenses.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/2/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

5/3/2023 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall distribute grants to early childhood education and care nonprofit organizations that are established as a Section 501(c)(3) organization and that are dedicated to providing early childhood education and care services to children and families to provide transportation services to families that have trouble affording transportation to early childhood education and care centers. Creates the Early Childhood Education and Care Transportation Fund. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop an application process for this grant program. Provides that grant funds be distributed annually. Provides that the application process shall require that early childhood education and care nonprofit organizations detail how many families and children would receive transportation assistance from the program, the amount of funding needed per child in their area to fund adequate transportation for the year, and how the funding will be used to provide transportation for each family in the application. Provides that the State Board of Education shall require that any early childhood education and care nonprofit organizations that receive funding shall report the amount of money used for transportation during the State's previous fiscal year and return unused funds back to the Early Childhood Education and Care Transportation Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/10/2024 - Re-assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish a teacher recruitment and retention program, which shall encourage both new and experienced teachers to seek employment with qualifying public schools by providing for a refundable income tax credit to each participating teacher in the amount of $3,000 per school year for no more than 5 consecutive school years. Contains requirements for participating school districts and participating teachers. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act establishing the $3,000 tax credit for individuals designated by the State Board of Education as a participating teacher in the teacher recruitment and retention program. Effective July 1, 2023.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/10/2024 - Re-assigned to Senate Revenue

Amends the Children With Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that for individual students with disabilities who attend tier 1 or 2 schools whose program costs exceed 3 times the district's per capita tuition rate, the costs in excess of 3 times the district's per capita tuition rate shall be paid by the State Board of Education from unexpended IDEA discretionary funds originally designated for room and board reimbursement (instead of for individual students with disabilities whose program costs exceed 4 times the district's per capita tuition rate, the costs in excess of 4 times the district's per capita tuition rate shall be paid by the State Board of Education from unexpended IDEA discretionary funds originally designated for room and board reimbursement). Provides that for individual students with disabilities who attend Tier 3 or 4 schools whose program costs exceed 4 times the district's per capita tuition rate, the costs in excess of 4 times the district's per capita tuition rate shall be paid by the State Board of Education from unexpended IDEA discretionary funds originally designated for room and board reimbursement. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/10/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish a grant program to support cultural and language immersion programs, gifted and talented programs, and advanced placement programs. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop and administer an application program for schools to apply for grant funds. Provides that, to receive grant funds, schools must: (1) ensure that any student can apply to any school in the school district with restrictive admission procedures; and (2) provide transportation to each student in the school district to the school the student attends.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/10/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Re-assigned to Appropriations- Education

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Provides that, in determining whether an individual is an Illinois resident, if the individual enrolls or attains credits at a public or private elementary school in this State, a public or private high school in this State, an adult school organized under the Public Community College Act, or a community college campus organized under the Public Community College Act, or either graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State, attained an associate degree from a community college campus organized under the Public Community College Act, or fulfills of the minimum transfer requirements established by the college for students transferring from a campus of a community college campus organized under the Public Community College Act, then the individual can qualify as a resident (instead of resided with his or her parent or guardian while attending a public or private high school in this State or individual graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State). Removes the requirement that the individual must attend school in this State for at least 3 years as of the date the individual graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma to qualify as an Illinois resident.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/20/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8 (b-1), the following amendment will remain in the Committee on Assignments.

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board that decides to offer to the school district's teachers a retirement savings plan under Section 401(k) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 may enter into a contract with only one vendor to administer the plan. Provides that a vendor shall be selected, with the approval of the teachers' exclusive bargaining representative, if any, through a competitive bidding process. Provides that the school board may enter into a contract with the vendor for no more than 5 years.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/18/2024 - Senate Bills on Second Reading

4/17/2024 - Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Assignments Refers to Labor

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. Provides that, beginning no later than the 2026-2027 academic year, the governing body of each public college or university shall adopt a student wellness day policy for each academic term that does one of the following: (1) allows students to use a minimum of 2 student wellness days per academic term; (2) provides students a minimum of 2 scheduled student wellness days per academic term; or (3) allows students to use a minimum of one student wellness day per academic term and provides students a minimum of one scheduled student wellness day per academic term. Provides that each public college or university student wellness day policy shall apply to students who are enrolled in at least one academic course that lasts 9 weeks or longer during an academic term, with exceptions. Provides that student wellness days shall only be used on academic days. Provides that no student wellness days shall be carried over from one academic term to the next academic term. Provides that no academic course work shall be assigned or due to students on a scheduled student wellness day, if the scheduled student wellness day does not conflict with any of the rules or policies established by the public college or university under the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/18/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

4/17/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to include information on how a parent or guardian can safely store any firearms at home where other policies, rules, and standards concerning student conduct are posted and made available to parents and guardians.

  RECENT STATUS

4/12/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning early childhood construction grants, removes a provision that specifies that grants made in fiscal year 2024 may be made only to public school districts. Provides that a not-for-profit early childhood entity that rents or leases from another not-for-profit entity shall be considered an eligible entity. Effective immediately.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Provides that the Capital Development Board may adopt rules to specify additional eligibility requirements for each type of applicant for early childhood construction grants.

  RECENT STATUS

5/2/2024 - House Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Child Care Accessibility & Early Childhood Education

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the Illinois Veteran grant program. Provides that a grant recipient is not required to pay any tuition or mandatory fees while attending a State-controlled university or public community college in this State for a period that is based on the length of his or her active duty service, as verified on his or her U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214, calculated at specified credit hour rates (rather than for a period that is equivalent to 4 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms). Provides that a grant may be transferred to a qualified dependent beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. Amends the School Code to make a related change. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/31/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. By June 1, 2025, requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, to establish, by rule, a Montessori education endorsement to be added to a Professional Educator License. Requires the rules adopted by the State Board of Education to outline the requirements for obtaining the endorsement. Provides that these provisions are inoperative on and after January 1, 2026.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that each public institution of higher education shall pay on behalf of a refugee or reimburse a refugee for payment of any transcript evaluation fees that are required by the public institution of higher education to be paid during the admission process. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/15/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/11/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall (instead of may) install a door security locking means on an entrance or classroom door (instead of a door) of a school building. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that during a law enforcement lockdown drill, a school must train students on how to use a door security locking means. Makes conforming changes.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/31/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a school district or a school bus company under contract with a school district shall not operate a Type I or Type II school bus manufactured after the effective date of the bill unless the bus is equipped with a set of 3-point seat belts or any other federally approved restraint system in good operating condition for each passenger seat and a rooftop safety hatch. Provides that, on or after January 1, 2028, all newly purchased school buses shall be equipped with 3-point seat belts or any other federally approved restraint system in good operating condition for each passenger. Provides that the provision shall not apply to a school bus that is legally registered in another state and displaying valid registration plates of that state if the bus is not operated in Illinois on a regular basis and the bus is operated in Illinois in connection with a cultural, tourist, athletic, or other similar activity for students enrolled in a school located outside of the State. Provides that nothing in the provision shall make a school district or a school bus company liable for a passenger's failure to properly adjust or fasten a seat belt or other restraint system. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

3/6/2024 - Postponed - Transportation

3/5/2024 - Senate Transportation

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall provide stipends for teachers who participate in externships with a manufacturing company in this State.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/31/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall pay one-half of the salary of an employee that is employed by a manufacturing company and working within a school district at a high school as a licensed career and technical education teacher. Provides that the school board of a school district that intends to hire a manufacturing employee shall first notify any labor organization that has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the school district of the school board's intent to hire such an employee. Provides that if there are eligible employees in the applicable bargaining unit, then the school board shall offer to hire an employee who is a member of the applicable bargaining unit. Provides that if there are no eligible employees in the applicable bargaining unit, then the labor organization shall notify the school district and affirm that the position is unable to be filled by any members of the applicable bargaining unit.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/31/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall create and maintain a comprehensive training program in advanced manufacturing to ensure an adequate supply of trained and skilled individuals to work in advanced manufacturing and to ensure appropriate representation of racial and ethnic groups in all phases of the industry. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop the program to be taught as part of the curriculum of the public school system from grades kindergarten through 12 and made readily available to all school districts. Provides that school districts may include programs in education in advanced manufacturing as a part of the curriculum of those districts. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement these provisions. Provides that the rules may not create any new State mandates on school districts as a condition of districts receiving federal, State, or local funds. Provides that the State Board of Education shall assume responsibility for the administration of the program throughout all school districts, as well as developing the program to match the requirements and mandates of federal programming.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

2/6/2024 - Senate Education

1/31/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish and administer a student teaching stipend program. Subject to appropriation, requires the Commission to receive and consider applications for additional funds from recipients of scholarships who are student teaching. Provides that the Commission shall select stipend recipients from among applicants who are in financial need. Provides that certain recipients may receive an additional payment for other expenses during the year in which the recipient is engaged in student teaching. Provides for rulemaking.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

1/31/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Child Protective Service Unit to send a notification letter (rather than a copy of the Unit's final finding report) to a child's school following an investigation and finding of physical or sexual abuse. Provides that if an indicated finding is overturned in an appeal or hearing, the Department of Children and Family Services shall request that the notification letter (rather than final finding report) be purged from the student's record, and the school shall purge the notification letter (rather than final finding report) from the student's record in accordance with the Illinois School Student Records Act. Requires the notification letter to provide the date of expungement from the central register. Removes a provision requiring all reports made by mandated reporters to be confirmed in writing to the appropriate Child Protective Service Unit within 48 hours of any initial report.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - House Adoption & Child Welfare

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Adoption & Child Welfare

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop and post on its Internet website a document that provides information to students and residents of a school district on how to petition a school board to require that self-defense instruction be included in physical education courses.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

2/6/2024 - Senate Education

1/31/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning residency and the payment of tuition, provides that a child who has been removed from the child's parent or guardian by the Department of Children and Family Services as part of a safety plan shall not be charged tuition as a nonresident pupil if the foster parent, childcare facility, relative caregiver, or non-custodial parent is located in a school district other than the child's former school district and it is in the child's best interest to maintain attendance at the child's former school district.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 - Specifies that when placing the child in a school district other than the child's former school district, the Department of Children and Family Services may make the placement decision when it is in the child's best interest to maintain attendance at the child's former school district or at a school district the child would have attended if the child was not removed from the child's parent or guardian by the Department of Children and Family Services.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/11/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. In provisions requiring a school district to provide free transportation for pupils residing one and one-half miles or more from school, provides that a pupil's parent or guardian may designate more than one home for the pupil if the parent or guardian has shared custody of the pupil at a different address within the district.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

2/28/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Appropriations- Education

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that the operating procedures of the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board may provide for the inclusion of nonvoting, ex officio members on the Board. With respect to a for-profit or not-for-profit entity being recognized as an educator preparation institution, provides that any for-profit or not-for-profit entity with a presence in this State must also be approved by the Board of Higher Education or the Illinois Community College Board (instead of providing that any for-profit or not-for-profit entity must also be approved by the Board of Higher Education).

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

2/6/2024 - Senate Education

1/31/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that scholarships awarded under the Teach Illinois Scholarship Program may be granted to individuals employed as teachers who agree to pursue a master's degree at a qualified institution of higher learning in order to teach dual credit courses at a secondary school. Provides that for any individual receiving a scholarship to teach dual credit courses, following the completion of the program of study, the individual must teach at least one dual credit course per school year in a secondary school in this State for a period of at least 5 years. Provides that individuals who fail to comply shall refund all of the awarded scholarships to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, whether payments were made directly to the institutions of higher learning or to the individuals, and this condition shall be agreed to in writing by the scholarship recipients at the time the scholarship is awarded. Provides that no individual may be required to refund tuition payments if his or her failure to teach a dual credit course in a secondary school is the result of financial conditions within school districts. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

1/31/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

1/19/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that an association or other entity that has, as one of its purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State shall adopt the Spirit Rules Book published by the National Federation of State High School Associations or a similar document as the safety standards for student cheerleaders, spirit groups, and their coaches who participate in any school activity or extracurricular student activity sponsored or sanctioned by that association or other entity. Effective January 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall compile, on an annual basis, a list of the most in-demand jobs in this State, along with the starting salary, the median salary, and the typical education level for those jobs. Provides that the Board shall make the list available to the public on its Internet website. Effective July 1, 2024.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. Provides that the list of the most in-demand jobs in this State shall be compiled in collaboration with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Department of Employment Security. Provides that upon request, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Department of Employment Security shall furnish data to the Board of Higher Education.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/12/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that each school district shall provide to students, in addition to and not substituting recess, at least once a week, relaxation activities to enhance the mental and physical health of students as part of the school day. Specifies which activities may be considered relaxation activities. Provides that a school district may partner with local community-based organizations to provide relaxation activities. Provides that these activities may take place in a physical education class, social-emotional learning class, or student-support or advisory class or as a part of another similar class, including a new class.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Provides that the relaxation activities may (instead of shall) be provided for at least 20 minutes a week (instead of at least once a week). Provides that a school district may partner with public and private community organizations (instead of local community-based organizations) to provide relaxation activities.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/15/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/15/2024 - Messages from the Senate

Amends the Chicago Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for school years beginning on or after July 1, 2022 and before July 1, 2027 (instead of July 1, 2024), the service retirement pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who is re-employed as a teacher or an administrator on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis, so long as the person does not work as a teacher or an administrator for compensation on more than 140 days in a school year. Makes a conforming change. Provides that, until June 30, 2027 (instead of June 30, 2024), the service retirement pension of a service retirement pensioner shall not be cancelled if the service retirement pensioner is employed in a subject shortage area and meets other requirements. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/16/2024 - Assigned to House Personnel & Pensions

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

4/15/2024 - FIRST READING

Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Second Chance State Education Act. Contains declarations and findings. Creates the Second Chance Seat in Every Class Act. Provides that each institution of higher education shall reserve at least one enrollment in each class for a returning resident (a person who is a resident of and domiciled in Illinois, has graduated from high school or the equivalent, has been convicted of a felony by a court sitting in the State of Illinois, was sentenced to incarceration pursuant to that conviction, and is not currently incarcerated) and at least one enrollment in each online class for an incarcerated individual. Provides for computer equipment, Internet connections, books, and supplies for enrolled incarcerated individuals. Creates the Incarcerated Individuals and Returning Residents Educational Supply Fund as a fund of the Department of Returning Resident Affairs. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used exclusively to pay for costs that incarcerated individuals and returning residents incur for books or other supplies needed to take classes under the Act. Provides that any concession or similar agreement between a public institution of higher education and the operator of a bookstore or similar operation at that public institution of higher education shall include a provision requiring the operator of the bookstore or similar operation to pay 1% of its gross revenues from the operation of that bookstore or similar operation to the Fund. Creates the Second Chance State College Admissions Act. Provides that no institution of higher education shall consider criminal history information when making any decision about an applicant or student, inquire about or consider criminal history information at any time during the admission decision-making process, or place an applicant or student on probationary or similar status based upon criminal history information, with specified exceptions. Contains provisions concerning compliance, administration, enforcement, education, licensing, employment barriers, severability, and other matters. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

2/6/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Appropriates $50,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for grants to community learning centers under the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

2/6/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

1/31/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

1/31/2024 - FIRST READING

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall, in consultation with the Illinois Community College Board, create a standardized electronic form by which a community college district may document student demand or workforce need for a specific baccalaureate degree completion program and may demonstrate that the demand or need is currently unmet or that there is insufficient access to such a program in the district. Provides that the form must be completed by the requesting community college district and must be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board for initial review. Provides that if the Illinois Community College Board concurs with the community college district that unmet demand or need for a program exists in the district, the Illinois Community College Board may forward the form to the Board of Higher Education and if the Illinois Community College Board does not concur with the community college district, the district may appeal the decision directly to the Board of Higher Education. Provides that if the Board of Higher Education determines that unmet student demand or workforce need for a program exists, the Board of Higher Education shall communicate a request for baccalaureate partnership notification to all public universities. Sets forth the response procedure. Requires the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to jointly adopt rules.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

3/6/2024 - Senate Higher Education

2/6/2024 - Assigned to Senate Higher Education

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that a school board member's required professional development and leadership training (rather than professional development leadership training), shall cover the topic of improving student outcomes. Provides that the training regarding improving student outcomes must include information that is relevant to and within the scope of the duties of a school board member. Provides that the required training shall (instead of may) be provided by a statewide association (instead of an association) established under the Code for the purpose of training school board members or by other qualified providers approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with an association so established. Effective June 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that the governing board of each public university shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the university's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the university's transfer admissions process. Provides that the governing board of each public university is encouraged to develop a policy to automatically waive the undergraduate transfer admissions application fee for low-income Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State. Provides that the governing board of each public university shall post this policy in an easily accessible place on the university's Internet website. Effective immediately.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year (instead of the 2024-2025 academic year), each public university (instead of the governing board of each public university) shall provide all Illinois students transferring from a public community college in this State with the university's undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy and, if such a policy exists, any application or forms necessary to apply for a fee waiver as part of the university's transfer admissions process. Makes conforming changes.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Makes stylistic changes in provisions concerning institutes or inservice training workshops. In provisions concerning inservice training programs, removes the requirement that the training regarding health conditions of students include the chronic health conditions of students and provides that school district employees who are trained to respond to trauma under the provisions shall be immune from civil liability in the use of a trauma kit unless the action constitutes willful or wanton misconduct. Provides that training regarding the implementation of trauma-informed practices under the provisions concerning institutes or inservice training workshops satisfies the requirements under the provisions concerning inservice training programs. Removes certain provisions that require a school board to conduct inservice training for all school district employees on the methods to respond to trauma. Makes technical changes having a revisory function. Effective January 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

2/14/2024 - Assigned to Senate Education

2/2/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Regional Board of School Trustees Article of the School Code. Provides that a vacancy on a regional board of school trustees shall be subject to the residency provisions in the Article unless the vacancy occurs in a single county educational service region (instead of providing that any vacancy is subject to the residency provisions in the Article). Provides that if a vacancy occurs in a single county educational service region, then the vacancy may be filled by a person who is a resident of a congressional township not represented on the board. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/15/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/11/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Regional Superintendent of Schools Article of the School Code. Makes changes concerning high school equivalency testing. Amends the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. Removes provisions concerning funding transitional mathematics instruction. Amends the Student Parent Data Collection Act to make changes regarding the date that public universities shall report collected data. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall submit to the Board of Higher Education by December 15 (instead of November 15) of each year its budget proposal for the operation and capital needs of the institutions under its governance or supervision for the ensuing fiscal year. Amends the Public Community College Act. Makes changes concerning standing advisory organizations recognized by the Illinois Community College Board, the Board's powers and duties, spending local funds after the dissolution or reorganization of a community college district, the academic term, the bond a treasurer shall execute, contract bidding, the report on administrator and faculty salaries and benefits, and building program participation. Repeals a Section concerning the building program's plan approval. Amends the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act. Repeals a Section concerning annual certification and maintenance of approval. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning safety education and driver education courses, provides that the course instruction on special hazards existing at and required safety and driving precautions that must be observed at highway construction and maintenance zones shall include worker safety in highway construction and maintenance zones. Effective August 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning a comprehensive strategic plan, provides that the State Board of Education shall annually review the strategic plan, update the contents of the plan if necessary, and provide updates to the Governor and General Assembly (instead of requiring the plan to be updated and issued to the Governor and General Assembly). Makes changes concerning property tax relief pool grants and tuition for non-resident pupils. In provisions concerning hazardous materials training, provides that the State Board may identify in-service training programs to be used by school boards (instead of shall approve in-service training programs). In provisions concerning e-learning days, provides that a research-based program for e-learning days shall be verified annually before the implementation of any e-learning days in a school year (instead of requiring verification on or before September 1st annually); makes other changes. In provisions concerning school counseling services, provides that school counseling services shall (instead of may) be provided by school counselors and may be delivered through a comprehensive school counseling program; makes other changes. Makes changes concerning the reporting of firearms and drug-related incidents in schools, educator licensure, reenrolled students, and career and technical education. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Makes changes concerning threat assessment team members, and fixes a typographical error. Amends the Vocational Education Act. Makes changes regarding the Gender Equity Advisory Committee.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. Makes changes concerning the data on teacher experience and education for a teacher who teaches a combination of courses. Makes changes to provisions concerning school counseling services and the reporting of firearms and drug-related incidents in schools. Makes changes regarding the membership of the Gender Equity Advisory Committee. Further amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the Expanded High School Snapshot Report, changes the name of the report to the Expanded High School Coursework Snapshot Report, specifies that the Report shall cover public high schools, and makes changes concerning when the Report shall be prepared and what the Report shall include. Allows intermediate service centers to claim evidence-based funding for students enrolled in truants' alternative and optional education programs. Provides that a regional office of education or intermediate service center that operates an alternative school program or an entity that operates an alternative learning opportunities program is entitled to evidence-based funding. Makes related changes, including removing an alternative school, safe school, and alternative learning opportunities program from the definition of "Specially Funded Unit" in the provisions concerning the evidence-based funding formula and providing for a Base Funding Minimum. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/12/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning restrictions on prekindergarten through grade 2 assessments, provides that the term "diagnostic and screening purposes" includes to determine eligibility for advanced academic programs, as defined in the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the Code. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that the term "Student Permanent Record" may include a special education summary of performance form. Provides that representatives of the Department of Human Services, for the sole purpose of assessing waiver services qualification of a student, shall have the right to inspect and copy the student's school student permanent record.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/15/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/15/2024 - Messages from the Senate

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Board of Higher Education shall create a student teaching stipend program to alleviate the financial burden of student teaching, to encourage students to pursue teaching careers to alleviate this State's teacher shortage, and to encourage teachers to be matched with student teachers. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible student a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board shall disburse to each educator preparation program funds to distribute to each eligible cooperating teacher a stipend of up to $2,000 per semester for up to 2 consecutive semesters per academic year, plus additional funds to pay the direct costs of operating the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning the distribution of funds to eligible students and eligible cooperating teachers. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student or an eligible cooperating teacher from participating in the stipend program or receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Sets forth provisions concerning cooperating teacher training. Provides that, subject to available appropriations, the Board, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, shall submit a report evaluating the impact of the stipend program on educator preparation programs to the General Assembly and Governor on or before June 30, 2028. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

3/12/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

NOTES

This language will be amended.

Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning grant award amounts and required local matches, provides that the required local match and grant award amount are calculated by multiplying the required local match percentage and the grant award percentage by the recognized project cost, provided that, for the first application in which an applicant is funded (instead of only during the first application cycle after June 30, 2022), the amounts may be adjusted. Provides that to receive an adjustment, a school district on the 2004, 2005, or 2006 School Construction Grant List must initially apply and be approved during the first 3 application cycles after June 30, 2024. Makes a conforming change. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

4/15/2024 - Assigned to House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

4/10/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, at least once every 2 years, a school board shall conduct in-service training for all school district employees on how to identify trafficking in persons under the Criminal Code of 2012. Makes technical changes having a revisory function. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

3/15/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

3/13/2024 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Postponed - Education

Appropriates $50,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for all costs and expenses associated with a student teaching stipend program. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

2/20/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

2/6/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

2/6/2024 - FIRST READING

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. With respect to the provision of free transportation for pupils, allows a school district to pay the public transit fees of pupils instead (rather than providing an exception for pupils for whom the school board certifies to the State Board of Education that adequate transportation for the public is available). In provisions allowing for free transportation if conditions are such that walking constitutes a serious hazard, removes the provision specifying that such transportation shall not be provided if adequate transportation for the public is available. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

2/20/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Amends various Acts concerning children's mental health. Amends the School Code. Provides that on or before October 1, 2024, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Team, the Office of the Governor, and relevant stakeholders as needed shall release a strategy that includes a tool for measuring capacity and readiness to implement universal mental health screening of students. Provides that the State Board of Education shall issue a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on school district readiness and plan for phased approach to universal mental health screening of students on or before April 1, 2025. Repeals the Wellness Checks in Schools Program Act. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall implement guidance to managed care organizations and similar care coordination entities contracted with the Department, so that the managed care organizations and care coordination entities respond to lead indicators with services and interventions that are designed to help stabilize the child. Amends the Children's Mental Health Act. Provides that the Children's Mental Health Partnership shall advise the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative on designing and implementing short-term and long-term strategies to provide comprehensive and coordinated services for children from birth to age 25 and their families with the goal of addressing children's mental health needs across a full continuum of care, including social determinants of health, prevention, early identification, and treatment. Provides that the Department of Public health (rather than the Department of Healthcare and Family Services) shall provide technical and administrative support for the Partnership. Deletes provision that the Partnership shall employ an Executive Director and set the compensation of the Executive Director and other such employees and technical assistance as it deems necessary to carry out its duties. Amends the Interagency Children's Behavioral Health Services Act. Provides that the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Team in collaboration with the Department of Human Services shall develop a program to provide one-on-one in-home respite behavioral health aids to youth requiring intensive supervision due to behavioral health needs. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/11/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations

4/11/2024 - Senate Bills on Second Reading

4/10/2024 - Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Behavioral and Mental Health; 007-000-000

Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, provides that, in addition to all other authority to issue bonds, Union Ridge School District 86 may issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $35,000,000 if specified conditions are met, including (i) that the voters of the school district approve a proposition for the bond issuance at an election held on or after March 19, 2024 and (ii) that, prior to the issuance of the bonds, the school board determines, by resolution, that the projects set forth in the proposition for the bond issuance were and are required because of the age and condition of the district's existing school buildings. Provides that the debt incurred on the bonds shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation and must mature within not to exceed 25 years from their date, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning State Global Scholar Certification, provides that 6 units of credit shall be required to achieve State Global Scholar Certification (instead of not specifying how many units of credit are required). Provides for global collaboration or (instead of and) dialogue. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to provide students attending schools that do not currently offer State Global Scholar Certification the opportunity to earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Sets forth what those rules shall include and other requirements. Provides that a student enrolled in a school district or nonpublic school that awarded State Global Scholar Certification prior to the 2026-2027 school year and offered a course to complete the capstone project requirement prior to the 2026-2027 school year may not earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/25/2024 - Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

4/16/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of election commissioners may use public school buildings as polling places only if a school board or a local school council approves the use of that school. Provides that, if the county board or board of election commissioners uses all convenient and available public buildings and determines that a public school building is needed as a polling place, it shall send a written request to use the public school building to the school board or local school council. Sets forth provisions concerning the contents of the request and the response to the request. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board or local school council shall have the power to approve or deny, in accordance with the school board or local school council's rules and policies, any request of a county board or board of election commissioners to use a school building as a polling place. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/12/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Removes a for-profit educational organization from the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". Provides that an applicant is eligible for a Monetary Award Program grant, including renewals of such grant, if the applicant, among other requirements, is not attending a for-profit institution of higher education. Removes a provision allowing Monetary Award Program grants to be made to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit institutions. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

2/20/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. In a provision requiring the Department of Human Service' Division of Mental Health to implement a direct support professional credential pilot program, delays the pilot program's start date to Fiscal Year 2025 (rather than Fiscal Year 2024). Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning with the 2026-2027 school year (rather than the 2025-2026 school year) and continuing for not less than 2 years, the State Board of Education shall make available a model program of study that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional. Provides that by July 1, 2025 (rather than by July 1, 2023) the Department of Human Service must submit recommendations to the State Board of Education for the training that would be required in order to complete the model program of study. Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that by July 1, 2026 (rather than by July 1, 2025), the Illinois Community College Board shall submit recommendations for a model program of study, for credit, that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional to the Department of Human Services. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Appropriates funds from the General Revenue Fund to the governing board of each public university for personal services and the related costs of increasing the wage rates of university personnel employed in positions covered under the State Universities Civil Service System, beyond the annual cost of living adjustment, adjustments provided for in collective bargaining agreements, and any increases required by the Minimum Wage Law, in a fair and equitable manner so as to close the pay gap between public university workers and other State employees. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

2/20/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

2/8/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments

2/8/2024 - FIRST READING

Amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning the educational requirements for licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant. Effective January 1, 2025.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Further amends the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. Specifies that the Act does not prohibit: (i) the performance of speech-language pathology assistant services by graduates who have obtained specified degrees or (ii) the performance of any speech-language pathology service by a speech-language pathology assistant or candidate for licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant (rather than only a speech-language pathology assistant), if such service is performed under the supervision and full responsibility of a licensed speech-language pathologist. Provides that a candidate for speech-language pathology assistant licensure may perform only specified services. Makes changes in provisions concerning the qualifications of speech-language pathology assistants and the curriculum requirements for speech-language pathology assistant programs. Effective January 1, 2025.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Health Care Licenses

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Health Care Licenses

4/12/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department of Public Health, shall develop type 1 diabetes informational materials for parents and guardians of students. Provides that the informational materials shall be made available to each school district and charter school on the State Board's website. Provides that the school board of a school district and the governing body of a charter school shall make the informational materials accessible to a parent or guardian when the student is first enrolled in elementary school or in a school's student handbook on and after July 1, 2024. Sets forth what the provided information may include. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Gifted and Talented Children and Children Eligible for Accelerated Placement Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy may allow for the waiver of a course or unit of instruction completion requirement if (i) completion of the course or unit of instruction is required by the Code or rules adopted by the State Board of Education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma and (ii) the school district has determined that the student has demonstrated mastery of or competency in the content of the course or unit of instruction. Provides that the school district shall maintain documentation of this determination of mastery or competency for each student, which must include identification of the learning standards or competencies reviewed, the methods of measurement used, student performance, the date of the determination, and identification of the district personnel involved in the determination process. Provides that a school district must provide notification to a student's parent or guardian that the student will receive a waiver. Makes a corresponding change in the Courses of Study Article of the Code. Effective immediately.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced with the following changes. In provisions concerning accelerated placement, provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy shall cover a student who exceeds State standards in specified coursework (instead of meets or exceeds State standards in specified coursework). Provides that by no later than the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy shall provide the option, in the following school term, for a student to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment administered following specified requirements for specified coursework. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/18/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

4/17/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish a Manufacturing Promise Scholarship Program to award scholarships to State residents who are enrolled in a public community college or other program with a major in manufacturing or a skilled trade. Provides that, subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for a scholarship. Provides that an applicant is eligible for a scholarship if the Commission finds that the applicant meets specified criteria. Provides that the Commission shall reserve 20% of the amount appropriated in a given fiscal year for students who are from underrepresented areas. Provides that the Commission shall make scholarships available to traditional college-aged students, adults, and non-traditional students. Provides that an applicant who receives a scholarship may not be required to return scholarship funds. Provides for rulemaking.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - Senate Appropriations- Education

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall require a school to have present at the school during the school day and during a school-sponsored extracurricular activity at least one automated external defibrillator and one or more trained AED users. Provides that an automated external defibrillator installed and maintained in accordance with the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act may be used to satisfy this requirement.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as introduced, but provides that a school district shall require all attendance centers to have present during the school day and during a school-sponsored extracurricular activity on school grounds at least one automated external defibrillator (instead of a school district shall require a school to have present at the school during the school day and during a school-sponsored extracurricular activity at least one automated external defibrillator and one or more trained AED users).

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/15/2024 - Assigned to House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies

4/11/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Provides that the governing board of each public university shall report to the Board of Higher Education by the 11th day after the start of the academic year specified student enrollment data. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall post the student enrollment data on its Internet website. Provides that the governing board of each community college district shall report to the Illinois Community College Board by the 11th day after the start of the academic year specified student enrollment data. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall post the student enrollment data on its Internet website.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - In the Public Community College Act, provides that annually, on or before October 1 (rather than on the 11th day after the start of the academic year), each board of trustees of a community college district shall report to the Illinois Community College Board specified student enrollment data. In provisions governing public universities, requires reporting of specified student enrollment data by the 15th business day after the start of the academic year (rather than the 11th day after the start of the academic year).

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Articulation Initiative Act. In the provisions concerning participation, provides that if, in a given academic year, a public institution does not have an equivalent major, lower-division courses, or both that align with the major panel's descriptors and course approval criteria, then the public institution shall be considered to be compliant with those provisions for that academic year, as determined by the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, in coordination with the director of the Illinois Articulation Initiative. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/15/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/11/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for medically necessary services provided by emergency medical services providers operating under a mobile integrated health care model. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Removes language providing that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 shall provide coverage for medically necessary services provided by emergency medical services providers operating under a mobile integrated health care model. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage to an eligible recipient for medically necessary mobile integrated health care services. Defines "eligible recipient" and "mobile integrated health care services".

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - House Insurance

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Insurance

4/12/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the term "special educational facilities and services" includes private special schools (instead of special schools) and separate public special education day schools. Provides that if a child has been placed in a separate public special education day school, a school district making tuition payments in excess of $4,500 shall be responsible for an amount in excess of $4,500 equal to 2 times the district's per capita tuition charge and shall be eligible for reimbursement from the State for the amount of such payments actually made in excess of 2 times the district's per capita tuition charge for students not receiving special education services. Requires a certification and finding to be made for reimbursement of a school district of the amount paid for tuition of a child attending a public special education facility.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Provides that the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board shall include additional, non-voting members. Provides that the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board shall establish rules and regulations for its determination of allowable costs and payments made by school districts for services provided by separate public special education day schools. Provides that the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board shall review the costs for special education and related services provided by separate public special education day schools. Provides that provisions concerning tuition payments and reimbursement apply to a private special education school, separate public special education day school, or private special education facility (instead of a separate public special education day school). Provides for State Board of Education rulemaking. Adds a July 1, 2024 effective date.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

4/25/2024 - Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Blaine Wilhour

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

Amends the School Code. Deletes provisions stating that: the Department of Juvenile Justice School District Board of Education shall adopt an annual budget for the use of education moneys for the next school year which it deems necessary to defray all necessary expenses and liabilities of the district; the budget shall contain a statement of cash on hand at the beginning of the fiscal year, an estimate of the cash expected to be received during such fiscal year from all sources, an estimate of the expenditure contemplated for such fiscal year, and a statement of the estimated cash expected to be on hand at the end of such year; and this budget shall be submitted to the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Education for incorporation. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Deletes a provision that permits a guilty minor to be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice for an offense that is a Class 3 or Class 4 felony violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act if the commitment occurs upon a third or subsequent judicial finding of a violation of probation for substantial noncompliance with court-ordered treatment or programming. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/17/2024 - Senate Appropriations- Public Safety and Infrastructure

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning Substitute Teaching Licenses, requires an applicant who is enrolled in an approved educator preparation program to have either earned at least 75 credit hours or completed 3 semesters in an educator preparation program (rather than requiring the applicant to have earned at least 90 credit hours). Provides that a school district may not require an individual who retired within the last 5 years while holding a valid Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher if substitute teaching for no more than one year. Provides that a retired educator may not be charged an application fee for a Substitute Teaching License if certain conditions are met.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

3/6/2024 - Postponed - Labor

3/6/2024 - Senate Labor

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that, by the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, an association or other entity that has, as one of its purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among high schools and high school students within the State shall create regulations governing high school trap and skeet shooting teams, clubs, and activities. Provides that the regulations shall include rules on the transportation of trap and skeet shooting firearms and equipment, the management and storage of trap and skeet shooting firearms and equipment, trap and skeet shooting practices, trap and skeet shooting competitions, trap and skeet shooting safety procedures, emergency procedures, and any other rules that the association or entity deems suitable. Provides that the regulations shall be publicly posted and available on the association's or entity's Internet website. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

3/13/2024 - Postponed - Education

3/12/2024 - Senate Education

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, every public high school shall include instruction on climate change and the impacts and causes of climate change in grades 9 through 12 in specified courses. Provides that the State Board of Education shall convene a working group of students, educators, and experts in the area of climate change. Sets forth tasks for the working group concerning State learning standards. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education shall prepare and make available to school boards instructional materials and professional development training for educators that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

3/6/2024 - Postponed - Education

3/5/2024 - Senate Education

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning radon testing, provides that every school building of a school district that is occupied or will be occupied shall be tested by January 1, 2028 and shall be tested every 5 years thereafter for radon (instead of recommending that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon). Provides that all new schools of a school district shall be built using radon resistant new construction techniques in accordance with the American National Standards Institute/American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists CC-1000, Soil Gas Control Systems in New Construction of Multifamily, School, Commercial and Mixed-Use Buildings standard or a successor standard (instead of recommending that new schools of a school district be built using radon resistant new construction techniques, as shown in the United States Environmental Protection Agency document, Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large Buildings). Removes a provision allowing a person to perform radon screening tests without a license. Makes changes concerning the exemption. Provides that if radon is found to exceed specified levels, then the school district shall (instead of may) hire a licensed radon professional to perform confirmatory measurements (instead of to perform measurements before any mitigation decisions are made). Sets forth provisions concerning mitigation. Provides that a school district may use life safety funds, if available, for radon testing and mitigation. Preempts home rule powers.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

3/13/2024 - Postponed - Education

3/12/2024 - Senate Education

Creates the Child Labor Law of 2024. Reinserts provisions of the Child Labor Law. Sets forth additional provisions concerning definitions; exemptions; employer requirements; restrictions on employment of minors; employment certificates; civil penalties; and criminal penalties. Repeals the Child Labor Law. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2025, except provisions concerning minors featured in vlogs and trust funds are effective July 1, 2024.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Provides that the definition of "district superintendent of schools" means the chief executive officer of a school district in a city with over 500,000 inhabitants (rather than a school district's chief executive officer as described in specified provisions of the School Code). Corrects technical errors.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Provides that a park district, not-for-profit youth club, or municipal parks and recreation department may allow a minor 14 years of age or older to work in a recreational or educational activity beyond the hours otherwise identified in the Act. Provides that an employer, or agent or officer of an employer, violates the Act if he or she takes an adverse action against, or in any other manner discriminates against, any person exercising a right under the Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning definitions; exemptions; allowable work hours; employment certificates; investigations; civil penalties; and criminal penalties. Corrects technical errors. Effective January 1, 2025, except provisions concerning minors featured in vlogs and trust funds are effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Labor & Commerce

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Labor & Commerce

4/11/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Creates the Worker Freedom of Speech Act. Provides that an employer or the employer's agent, representative, or designee may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize, threaten to discharge, discipline, or otherwise penalize, or take any adverse employment action against an employee: (1) because the employee declines to attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting or declines to receive or listen to communications from the employer or the agent, representative, or designee of the employer if the meeting or communication is to communicate the opinion of the employer about religious or political matters; (2) as a means of inducing an employee to attend or participate in meetings or receive or listen to communications; or (3) because the employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, makes a good faith report, orally or in writing, of a violation or a suspected violation of the Act. Provides for a private right of action to enforce the provisions of the Act. Sets forth the duties and powers of the Department of Labor under the Act. Provides that, within 30 days after the effective date of the Act, an employer shall post and keep posted a notice of employee rights under the Act where employee notices are customarily placed. Provides for exceptions under the Act.

  RECENT STATUS

4/19/2024 - Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

4/18/2024 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

4/17/2024 - Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 18, 2024

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish a librarian recruitment and retention program, which shall encourage both new and experienced librarians to seek employment with qualifying public schools by providing for a refundable income tax credit to each participating librarian in the amount of $3,000 per school year for no more than 5 consecutive school years. Contains requirements for participating school districts and participating librarians. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act establishing the $3,000 tax credit for individuals designated by the State Board of Education as a participating librarian in the librarian recruitment and retention program. Effective July 1, 2024.

  RECENT STATUS

4/5/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024

3/15/2024 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024

2/28/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

Creates the Chicago Board of Education District Act. Divides the City of Chicago into 10 districts and 20 subdistricts for the purposes of identifying persons who will serve on the Chicago Board of Education. Amends the School Code. Provides that, by December 14, 2024, the Mayor of the City of Chicago shall appoint a President of the Chicago Board of Education who shall serve a 2-year term. Provides that, until January 15, 2027, each district shall be represented by one member elected at the 2024 general election to a 2-year term and one member appointed by the Mayor to a 2-year term. Requires each of the elected members to reside within the district that the member represents. Requires each of the appointed members to reside both within the district that the member represents and outside of the subdistrict within which the elected member of the district resides. Provides that, beginning January 15, 2027, each subdistrict shall be represented by one member who is elected at the 2026 general election. Specifies that, if a member is elected at the 2026 general election to fill the expired term of an appointed member, then the elected member shall serve a 2-year term. Specifies that, if a member is elected at the 2026 general election to fill the expired term of an elected member, then the member shall serve a 4-year term. Requires each of the members elected in 2026 to reside within the subdistrict that the member represents. Provides that, if a member is elected at the 2026 general election to serve a 2-year term, then the member elected at the 2028 general election shall serve a 4-year term, and, if a member is elected at the 2026 general election to serve a 4-year term, then the member elected in that subdistrict at the 2030 general election shall serve a 2-year term. Provides that, beginning with the members elected at the 2032 general election, the members of each district shall serve two 4-year terms and one 2-year term for each 10-year period thereafter as determined by lot. Makes other changes concerning: conflicts of interests of board members, eligibility of individuals to serve as board members, nominating petitions for board members, the creation of the Chicago Board of Education Black Student Achievement Committee and other advisory bodies, and the creation and redistricting of subdistricts. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

3/15/2024 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

3/5/2024 - Postponed - Executive

3/5/2024 - Senate Executive

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall maintain and operate, or contract for (instead of being empowered to establish, maintain, and operate or contract for) the operation of a permanent statewide residential education facility (instead of statewide service center), known as the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Provides that the State Board of Education shall include a line item in its budget to pay the costs of operating and maintaining the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Limits the specified services provided by the Philip J. Rock Center and School to eligible deaf-blind persons of all ages to being subject to appropriated funding for those specified services. Makes changes concerning provided services. Provides that for the purposes of employment, the Philip J. Rock Center and School shall be considered its own employer. Provides that the State Board of Education shall appoint a Chief Administrator of the Philip J. Rock Center and School who shall be employed by the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Specifies the duties of the Chief Administrator. Sets forth provisions concerning a student with an individualized education program at the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Makes changes concerning the Advisory Board for the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Makes other changes.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 - Makes changes concerning who qualifies as a person with deaf-blindness and who is eligible for deaf-blind services. Changes references of "auditory" to "hearing". Makes changes concerning the services the Phillip J. Rock Center and School shall include.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Changes references of "deaf-blind" to "deafblind". Provides that the Philip J. Rock Center and School shall service eligible students between the ages of 3 and 21, unless the student's 22nd birthday occurs during the school year, in which case the student is eligible for such services through the end of the school year (instead of providing that the School serves eligible children between the ages of 3 and 22). Removes the requirement that, in accordance with a student's individualized education program, the Philip J. Rock Center and School make every attempt to provide a free appropriate public education pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2001 to a student placed in its residential educational facility either in its own program or within a local school district program that is appropriate to the child and contracted for by the Philip J. Rock Center and School. Makes typographical and grammatical corrections.

  RECENT STATUS

4/30/2024 - House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

4/24/2024 - Assigned to House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education

4/15/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to grants for exonerated persons. Provides that a grant applicant need not be a resident of this State at the time of enrollment. Provides that, beginning no later than the 2025-2026 academic year, if an exonerated person has been found by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to qualify for a grant and the exonerated person has not yet exhausted the benefits for which the exonerated person is eligible, the exonerated person may designate one or more dependents to use any unexpended portion of the benefits for which the exonerated person is eligible, up to the total benefit for which the exonerated person is eligible. Provides that the combined benefit used by the exonerated person and any designated dependents may not exceed the total benefit for which the exonerated person is eligible. Provides that if funding is insufficient to serve all applicants, the Commission may prioritize applicants who have been exonerated over applicants who are dependents of exonerated individuals. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. In provisions concerning a petition for a certificate of innocence, provides that the clerk of the circuit court shall provide to a person whose records were expunged and sealed information about grants for exonerated persons and their dependents under the Higher Education Student Assistance Act and the address of the Internet website of the Commission, where additional information about the grants may be obtained.

  RECENT STATUS

5/1/2024 - House Higher Education

4/15/2024 - Assigned to House Higher Education

4/10/2024 - Referred to House Rules

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for Career and Technical Education. Effective immediately.

  RECENT STATUS

4/15/2024 - Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Don Harmon

2/28/2024 - Assigned to Senate Appropriations- Education

2/9/2024 - Referred to Senate Assignments