Rep. Kam Buckner

Amends the Election Code. Provides for the election of the Chicago Board of Education at the general primary election in 2020 only as a nonpartisan election on a separate ballot. Provides that a member of the Chicago Board of Education shall be elected at each consolidated election thereafter. Makes related changes. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that a person shall be a U.S. citizen and registered voter and shall have been a resident of the city and the electoral district for at least one year immediately preceding his or her election. Sets forth provisions concerning nominating petitions and ballots. Sets forth provisions providing that the City of Chicago shall be subdivided into 20 electoral districts by the General Assembly for seats on the Chicago Board of Education. Sets forth provisions providing that in the year following each decennial census, the General Assembly shall redistrict the electoral districts to reflect the results of each decennial census. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides for the election of the Chicago Board of Education for the 2023 and 2027 consolidated primary elections only (rather than beginning with the 2020 general primary election only as a nonpartisan election on a separate ballot and each consolidated election thereafter). Provides that no later than June 30, 2029, the General Assembly must review and revise the election of members of the Chicago Board of Education and if the General Assembly has not reauthorized the election of members of the Chicago Board of Education by June 30, 2029, then, on May 13, 2031, the terms of all members elected in 2027 shall end, and a new Chicago Board of Education consisting of 7 members shall be appointed by the Mayor. Makes conforming changes. Provides that, beginning on May 9, 2023 (rather than March 24, 2020) and until May 13, 2031, successors of the Inspector General for the Chicago school district shall be appointed by the school board instead of the Mayor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 115 ILCS 5/5 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/14-7.02c new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board must accept amended student enrollment data from special education private therapeutic day schools that have specialized contractual agreements with a school district having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years. Provides that the amended student enrollment data must be based on actual monthly enrollment days where a student placed by the school district was formally enrolled and began to receive services through the last date he or she was formally exited from the therapeutic day school. Provides that all enrolled days must be confined to the official beginning and end dates of the therapeutic day school's official calendar on file with the State Board of Education. Provides that a school district having a population of 500,000 or less inhabitants must be billed at the per diem rate approved by the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board based on days enrolled. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/14-7.02c new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/1-2 from Ch. 122, par. 1-2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction. Fiscal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 3 (IL State Board of Education) SB 458 (H-AM 3)includes new requirements for the State Board of Education (Board) and school districts that will have a fiscal impact. This fiscal impact estimate only addresses known or estimated costs for the Board and PreK-12 public school districts and not costs to other State agencies or other entities impacted by the amendments. The Board is tasked with providing staff support to 3 new advisory conm1ittees and one expanded advisory committee (KIDS Advisory Committee, Whole Child Task Force, and Inclusive History Commission; Professional Review Panel), adopting new learning standards (computer science and social science), overseeing the creation and/or expansion of programs (Freedom Schools), and will provide technical assistance to districts in implementing new mandates implemented, While existing staff will be able to take on some of the new work, new staff will likely be hired, The Board estimates that each additional staff member needed will cost $115,000 annually. To implement the requirements of these amendments, ISBE estimates needed an additional 3 staff for a total cost of $345,000. The legislation creates the Freedom Schools Grant Program which is subject to appropriation. ISBE estimates this program would cost $85,000 for every 120 students enrolled (this estimate is based on the EBF Cost factor of 1 teacher for every 120 students for Extended Day Supports). The legislation includes new requirements for school districts including expanded accelerated placement opportunities for students and new graduation and coursework requirements (computer literacy, computer science, foreign language and laboratory science). Additionally, once the Board completes adoption of new learning standards school districts will be required to implement these new standards. It is not known what these new requirements will cost school districts.

Amends the School Code. With regard to the State Seal of Biliteracy program, provides that if the State Board of Education establishes criteria that includes the use of the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT college admissions test as an acceptable English language proficiency assessment to demonstrate English language proficiency, the minimum qualifying score for eligibility to receive the State Seal of Biliteracy must be 480. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following change. Provides that the minimum qualifying score for eligibility to receive the State Seal of Biliteracy must be established by the State Board of Education by rule (rather than must be 480). Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.159 Adds reference to: New Act 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-10 new 105 ILCS 5/27A-5 325 ILCS 20/11 from Ch. 23, par. 4161 105 ILCS 5/22-90 new 305 ILCS 5/5-39 new 105 ILCS 5/2-3.183 new 105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22 110 ILCS 205/9.40 new 105 ILCS 5/2-3.185 new 105 ILCS 5/10-17a from Ch. 122, par. 10-17a 105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new 105 ILCS 5/10-20.74 new 105 ILCS 5/27-22 from Ch. 122, par. 27-22 105 ILCS 5/27-23.15 new 105 ILCS 5/14A-10 105 ILCS 5/14A-32 105 ILCS 5/22-45 30 ILCS 105/5.935 new 105 ILCS 5/2-3.186 new 105 ILCS 5/18-8.15 105 ILCS 5/21B-50 110 ILCS 947/50 110 ILCS 947/65.100 105 ILCS 5/2-3.25 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25 105 ILCS 5/2-3.187 new 105 ILCS 5/27-20.4 from Ch. 122, par. 27-20.4 20 ILCS 3975/4.5 105 ILCS 5/21B-70 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to annually assess all public school students entering kindergarten. Creates the Whole Child Task Force to establish an equitable, inclusive, safe, and supportive environment in all schools for every student in this State. Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act. Makes changes concerning eligibility requirements for early intervention services. Creates the Data Governance and Organization to Support Equity and Racial Justice Act. Requires the Office of the Governor and the Department of Innovation and Technology to jointly establish an organization and governance that is responsible for certain data collection processes. Requires the State Board of Education and specified departments to submit a report detailing the statistical data on the racial and ethnic demographics of program participants for each major program administered by the State Board of Education or the respective department to the General Assembly. Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code to make changes concerning the diagnostic code for behavioral health services for children ages 5 and under. Amends the School Code and the Board of Higher Education Act concerning high school coursework. Amends the School Code concerning computer science courses. Amends the Gifted and Talented Children Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district's accelerated placement policy shall allow for the automatic enrollment, in the following school term, of a high school student into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets or exceeds State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment. Further amends the School Code. Requires the Illinois P-20 Council to make recommendations for short-term and long-term learning recovery actions for public school students in this State in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a Freedom School network. Subject to appropriation, requires the State Board of Education to establish and implement a grant program to provide grants to public schools, public community colleges, and not-for-profit, community-based organizations to facilitate improved educational outcomes for Black students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Makes changes concerning the evidence-based funding formula. Creates the Developmental Education Reform Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the placement of a student in introductory college-level English language or mathematics coursework. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code to make changes relating to the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for Teachers and the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program and the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program. Amends the School Code to make changes concerning the State Board of Education's social science learning standards, an Inclusive American History Commission, and the Black History unit of instruction. Requires the State Board of Education to issue a request to school districts to submit proposals to obtain funding to support professional development for educators and others working with young people in schools. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note, Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 (IL State Board of Education) HB 2170 (S-AM 3) includes new requirements for the State Board of Education (Board) and school districts that will have a fiscal impact. This fiscal impact estimate only addresses known or estimated costs for the Board and PreK-12 public school districts and not costs to other State agencies or other entities impacted by the amendments. The Board is tasked with providing staff support to 3 new advisory committees and one expanded advisory committee (KIDS Advisory Committee, Whole Child Task Force, and Inclusive History Commission; Professional Review Panel), adopting new learning standards (computer science and social science), overseeing the creation and/or expansion of programs (Freedom Schools), and will provide technical assistance to districts in implementing new mandates implemented. While existing staff will be able to take on some of the new work, new staff will likely be hired. The Board estimates that each additional staff member needed will cost $115,000 annually. To implement the requirements of these amendments, ISBE estimates needed an additional 3 staff for a total cost of $345,000. The legislation creates the Freedom Schools Grant Program which is subject to appropriation. ISBE estimates this program would cost $85,000 for every 120 students enrolled (this estimate is based on the EBF Cost factor of 1 teacher for every 120 students for Extended Day Supports). The legislation includes new requirements for school districts including expanded accelerated placement opportunities for students and new graduation and coursework requirements (computer literacy, computer science, foreign language and laboratory science). Additionally, once the Board completes adoption of new learning standards school districts will be required to implement these new standards. It is not known what these new requirements will cost school districts.

Amends the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 705 ILCS 135/1-1 Adds reference to: 705 ILCS 35/1 from Ch. 37, par. 72.1 705 ILCS 35/2a from Ch. 37, par. 72.2a 705 ILCS 35/2f-12 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Circuit Courts Act. Divides the 6th judicial circuit into the 6th and 24th judicial circuits on December 7, 2020. Provides that the 6th circuit shall consist of the county of Champaign, and the 24th circuit shall consist of the counties of Douglas, Moultrie, Macon, DeWitt and Piatt. Provides that of the 5 circuit judges elected in the 6th circuit before the 2020 general election, the Supreme Court shall assign 3 to the 6th circuit and 2 to the 24th circuit, based on the residency of the circuit judges then holding those judgeships. Provides that an individual seeking election or retention during the 2020 general election to one of the 6 at large judgeships assigned to the 6th circuit shall seek election or retention solely within the boundaries of Champaign County, and an individual seeking election or retention during the 2020 general election to one of the 2 at large judgeships assigned to the 24th circuit shall seek election or retention solely within the boundaries of DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt counties. Provides that the resident judgeships elected in the counties of Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, and DeWitt shall become a resident judgeship of his or her specified county in the 24th circuit on December 7, 2020. Provides that before December 7, 2020, the Supreme Court shall allocate: the associate judgeships of the 6th circuit between the 6th and 24th circuits; and personnel, books, records, documents, property, funds, assets, liabilities, and pending matters concerning the 6th circuit between the 6th and 24th circuits. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that the one resident judgeship elected from Moultrie County and Piatt County (rather than 2 resident judgeships elected from Moultrie County) shall become a resident judgeship of his or her specified county in the 24th circuit on December 7, 2020. Balanced Budget Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Office of Management and Budget) The Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 97 (H-AM 1) as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Balanced Budget Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Office of Management and Budget) The Balanced Budget Note Act does not apply to House Bill 97 (H-AM 2) as it is not a supplemental appropriation that increases or decreases appropriations. Under the Act, a balanced budget note must be prepared only for bills that change a general funds appropriation for the fiscal year in which the new bill is enacted. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 97 (H-AM 1) would not impact any public pension fund or retirement system in Illinois. Pension Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 97 (H-AM 2) would not impact any public pension fund or retirement system in Illinois. State Debt Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 97 (H-AM 1) would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. State Debt Impact Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Government Forecasting & Accountability) HB 97 (H-AM 2) would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. Correctional Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept of Corrections) There is no fiscal or population impact on the Department of Corrections Correctional Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Dept of Corrections) There is no fiscal or population impact on the Department of Corrections Land Conveyance Appraisal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included this legislation; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Land Conveyance Appraisal Note, House Floor Amendment No. 2 (Dept. of Transportation) No land conveyances are included this legislation; therefore, there are no appraisals to be filed. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 705 ILCS 35/1 from Ch. 37, par. 72.1 705 ILCS 35/2a from Ch. 37, par. 72.2a 705 ILCS 35/2f-12 new Adds reference to: 705 ILCS 5/11 from Ch. 37, par. 16 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Supreme Court Act. Provides that the office of marshal for the Supreme Court may also employ court security officers. Subjects such a court security officer hired by the marshal to the same training requirements and authorizes a court security officer to arrest in the same manner as a court security officer hired by a county sheriff. Allows a court security officer to carry a weapon at his or her place of employment and to and from his or her place of employment. Effective immediately.

Creates the Illinois Student Loan Investment Act. Provides for the establishment, operation, and administration of the Student Investment Account by the State Treasurer. Provides that the State Treasurer shall establish fees to cover the costs of administration, recordkeeping, marketing, and investment management related to the Student Investment Account. Provides that the State Treasurer may charge and collect insurance premiums and deduct wages under the Act. Requires the State Treasurer to develop, publish, and implement one or more investment policies covering the investment of moneys under the Act. Provides for the creation and use of specified Funds to be held outside of the State Treasury with the State Treasurer as custodian. Provides for the adoption of rules. Amends the Deposit of State Moneys Act. Allows the State Treasurer to invest or reinvest State money in, among other items or purposes, investments made in accordance with the Student Loan Investment Act. Amends the Student Loan Servicing Rights Act. Provides that the term "student loan servicer" shall not include, among other entities, the State Treasurer and its agents when the agents are acting on the State Treasurer's behalf. Defines terms. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Office of the Treasurer) The Treasurer's Office projects that $150,000 will be needed for additional staff and related operational expenses to oversee and implement the Student Loan Investment program, the cost of which is expected to be paid for from the Treasurer's Administrative Fund, which receives revenue from investment earnings. The program should become self-sustaining when investment earnings and administrative fees are earned to cover operational and administration costs. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Creates the Student Investment Account Act (currently, the Student Loan Investment Act). Adds a provision concerning the use of earnings from the Student Investment Account. Modifies provisions concerning the establishment, operation, and administration of the Student Investment Account by the State Treasurer, and adds requirements concerning income share agreements and income share agreement providers. Allows the State Treasurer to enter into income share agreements with participants (currently, borrowers) and to facilitate such arrangements between participants and eligible income share agreement providers (currently, lenders). Provides that the State Treasurer or his or her designee (currently, only State Treasurer) may charge and collect insurance premiums under the Act. Provides for the creation and use of specified Funds as non-appropriated separate and apart trust funds in the State Treasury (currently, Funds to be held outside of the State Treasury with the State Treasurer as custodian). Amends the Student Loan Servicing Rights Act. Provides that the term "student loan servicer" shall not include, among other entities, the State Treasurer (currently, the State Treasurer and its agents when the agents are acting on the State Treasurer's behalf). Modifies and defines terms. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that "student loan servicer" or "servicer" includes persons or entities acting on behalf of the State Treasurer.

Repeals the Statewide Organized Gang Database Act. Effective January 1, 2020. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 2640/Act rep. Adds reference to: New Act 725 ILCS 5/115-10.5a new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Law Enforcement Gang Database Information Act. Provides that each law enforcement agency that maintains a gang database or has access to a shared gang database shall have a policy regarding those databases. Provides that the policy shall include, but not be limited to: (1) that personnel authorized to access a gang database or shared gang database are limited to sworn law enforcement personnel, non-sworn law enforcement support personnel, criminal justice entities, or non-criminal justice technical or maintenance personnel, including information technology and information security staff and contract employees, who have been subject to character or security clearance and who have received approved training; (2) any records contained in a gang database, shared gang database, gang-related information in a law enforcement agency case report, gang-related information in a law enforcement agency dispatch note, or gang-related information in a law enforcement agency dispatch system record shall not be disclosed for the following purposes: employment, education, licensing, or housing, except that law enforcement and criminal justice entities may use information contained in a gang database or shared gang database for employment purposes, and records contained in a gang database or shared gang database may be disclosed to comply with federal law, for national security or homeland security purposes, for military screening purposes, or for other appropriate law enforcement purpose; (3) security procedures; and (4) the review and purge process from gang databases and shared gang databases. Defines terms. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that in all criminal cases, evidence which indicates the mere presence that the person was or is on a gang database or a shared gang database is not admissible. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Lowers the compulsory school age from 6 to 5 years of age beginning with the 2020-2021 school year. Requires all school districts to establish kindergarten for the instruction of children who are 5 years of age or older. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.12 from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.12 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, but provides that the compulsory school age beginning with the 2020-2021 school year applies to a child who is 5 years of age on or before May 31 (rather than on or before September 1). Makes a related change.

Congratulates Donna Zarcone on her retirement as CEO from the Economic Club of Chicago.

Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that a business that intends to establish a new utility-scale solar power facility may apply for a high impact business designation. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Increases the long-term renewable procurement plan goals after the 2025 delivery year. Requires the long-term renewable procurement plan to include the procurement of new renewable energy credits. Provides that the Adjustable Block program shall be designed to be continuously open. Authorizes utilities to recover certain costs related to the Adjustable Block program. Excludes certain costs from a limitation on the costs of the Adjustable Block program. Makes other changes concerning the Adjustable Block program. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to open a proceeding to update the interconnection standards and applicable utility tariffs. Requires the Commission to revise certain standards for interconnection based on specified criteria. Establishes an interconnection working group. Makes changes to provisions concerning net metering and the distributed generation rebate. Requires the Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Power Agency, to study and produce a report analyzing the potential for and barriers to the implementation of energy storage in Illinois. Requires the Agency to include a plan to procure energy from energy storage resources as part of its procurement plan for 2021. Extends a provision concerning a review, reconciliation, and true-up associated with renewable energy resources' collections and costs. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately.

Congratulates Larry R. Rogers Jr. on his installation as the 67th President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.