Rep. Cyril Nichols

Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. As a part of the school lunch program, requires a school district to provide a plant-based school lunch option to those students who submit a prior request to the school district requesting a plant-based school lunch option. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Requires the plant-based school lunch option to comply with federal nutritional mandates. Changes the effective date from immediate to August 1, 2023.

Amends the School Code. Provides that school counseling services may include the promotion of career and technical education by assisting each student to determine an appropriate postsecondary plan based upon the student's skills, strengths, and goals and assisting the student to implement the best practices that improve career or workforce readiness after high school. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that the school counseling services of developing individual career plans with students and assisting all students with a college or postsecondary education plan includes planning for postsecondary education, as appropriate, and engaging in related and relevant career and technical education coursework in high school.

Amends the Chicago Police and Chicago Firefighter Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that beginning January 1, 2023, the minimum widow's annuity shall be no less than 150% (rather than 125%) of the Federal Poverty Level for all persons receiving widow's annuities on or after that date, without regard to whether the deceased policeman or fireman is in service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes a conforming change. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement by the State. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Provides that an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License may teach up to 15 (instead of 5) consecutive days per licensed teacher who is under contract. Provides that a school district may hire an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License for teacher absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who is under contract, if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code. Requires the superintendent of an employing school board to notify the State Superintendent of Education and applicable regional superintendent of schools if the superintendent has reasonable cause to believe that a license holder committed an act of sexual misconduct that resulted in the license holder's dismissal or resignation from the school district. Requires a public or nonpublic school or independent contractor to conduct an employment history review of certain applicants for employment. Requires the governing body of each school district, charter school, or nonpublic school to adopt a policy under which notice concerning an alleged act of sexual misconduct between an educator and a student is provided to the parent or guardian of that student. Sets forth the information that must be included in the notice. Amends the Personnel Record Review Act. Specifies that provisions requiring an employer to review and delete records concerning disciplinary actions that are more than 4 years old do not apply to a school district sharing information related to an incident or attempted incident of sexual misconduct. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/21B-75 105 ILCS 5/26A-30 Expands the provisions requiring the governing body of each school district, charter school, and nonpublic school to implement procedures for notice concerning an alleged act of sexual misconduct between an employee, agent, or contractor of the school and a student. Requires notice to be provided to the student prior to notification of the student's parents or guardian. In provisions concerning employment history review by a public or nonpublic school or contractor (instead of independent contractor) of certain applicants for employment, limits provisions to allegations or findings or sexual misconduct (rather than abuse or sexual misconduct). Requires an employer who has or had an employment relationship with an applicant to provide additional information about disclosed matters and records. Removes provision permitting a school or contractor from hiring an applicant on a provisional basis. Requires the State Board of Education to develop templates for employment history review. In provisions concerning confidentiality, permits disclosure to the parents or guardians of students of sexual misconduct between an employee, agent, or contractor of the school and the student. In provisions concerning suspension or revocation license, endorsement, or approval, adds sexual misconduct as grounds to initiate suspension or revocation. Changes the effective date to July 1, 2023 (rather than immediate). House Floor Amendment No. 3 Makes grammatical changes.

Recognizes the life of A. Philip Randolph, American labor unionist and civil rights activist.

Declares June 12, 2022 as "Women's Veterans Day" to commemorate the day women were officially added as regular members of the United States military, to recognize the critical role of women in the military forces, and to commemorate the sacrifices and valor displayed by Illinois women veterans.

Rescinds Illinois' 1863 ratification of the Corwin Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Recognizes the life of Harold Washington and honors his many political and personal accomplishments.

Mourns the death of Mary Alice Johnson.