Amends the School Construction Law. Makes changes concerning application for a grant, a conditional grant award, the required local match and grant award amount, eligibility, the priority of school construction projects, and referendum requirements. Repeals provisions concerning carry over projects, Fiscal Year 2002 escalation, debt service grants, and a school capital needs assessment. Amends the State Finance Act and the Local Government Debt Reform Act to make related changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes: Makes changes to the definition of "grant index". Provides that during the first application cycle after June 30, 2022 (instead of June 30, 2021), the required local match and grant award amount may be adjusted if the applicant had previously expended funds on a school construction project on the 2004, 2005, or 2006 School Construction Grant List (instead of the 2004 School Construction Grant List). Provides that in that case, the grant award amount shall be increased by an amount equal to the amount of the grant the applicant would have received had it been awarded a grant in 2004, 2005, or 2006 based on the 2004, 2005, or 2006 School Construction Grant List and the year in which the school district applied for the grant (instead of increasing the grant award amount by an amount equal to the amount of the grant the applicant would have received had it been awarded a grant in 2004 based on the 2004 School Grant Construction List). Changes other dates. Provides that a school district shall have 2 years from the date the school district was issued a conditional grant award from the Capital Development Board to obtain the school district's required local match and receive a final grant award from the Capital Development Board. If the required local match is not obtained within the 2-year time frame, provides that the school district shall be required to reapply in another application cycle, after the 2-year time frame, to be considered for a grant award. Requires the State share of the grant amount in a conditional grant award that is not claimed by a school district within the 2-year time frame to be reallocated to future application cycles after the 2-year time frame expires. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 4 In provisions concerning the School Construction Law, provides that the definition of grant index applies only to completed or partially completed, as determined by the Capital Development Board, school construction projects (rather than only to completed school construction projects) as specified.
Sponsored bills
Creates the Student Confidential Reporting Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Illinois State Police, in consultation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, State Board of Education, Department of Children and Family Services, and the Department of Human Services, to establish a program for receiving reports and other information from the public regarding potential self-harm or potential harm or criminal acts directed at school students, school employees, or schools in this State. Requires the program to include a Safe2Help Illinois helpline (defined as a school helpline involving a statewide toll-free telephone number, social media, a website, or other means of communication, or a combination of a toll-free telephone number and another means of communication, that transmits voice, text, photographic, or other messages and information to the Safe2Help Illinois operators). Provides for referrals from and the discontinuance of other State-operated school violence help lines (excluding the CPS Violence Prevention Hotline). Sets forth other program and Illinois State Police requirements. Contains provisions concerning the confidentiality of reported information, funding, and annual reporting. Provides that a Safe2Help Illinois employee, law enforcement agency, or law enforcement official acting in good faith in compliance with the Act shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise occur as a result of handling tips, with the exception of willful or wanton misconduct. Provides that the Illinois State Police may adopt emergency rules to implement the Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 100/5-45.21 new Defines "Safe2Help Illinois Manager". Provides that beginning on the date that Safe2Help Illinois is operational, any State or locally operated school violence help line currently in operation shall work in conjunction with Safe2Help Illinois as needed. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall ensure that program personnel or call center staff, or both, are appropriately trained in the following areas: (1) crisis management, including recognizing mental illness and emotional disturbance; (2) the resources that are available for providing mental health and other human services; (3) matters determined by the Illinois State Police to be relevant to the operation of the program; and (4) handling of criminal intelligence information regarding primary and data collection, storage, and dissemination. Provides that the Safe2Help Illinois program manager, in consultation with the Illinois State Police and the State Board of Education, shall prepare an annual report. Deletes provisions requiring the Department of Innovation and Technology's dedicated website to provide risk assessment information for students. Deletes provisions requiring the Illinois State Police to be responsible for the administrative oversight of the Safe2Help Illinois program. Deletes the amendatory changes to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adds reference to: 705 ILCS 405/1-7 Further amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Permits the disclosure of juvenile law enforcement records to the appropriate school official only if the agency or officer believes that there is an imminent threat of physical harm to students, school personnel, or others (removing "who are present in the school or on school grounds").
Amends the School Code. Provides that a substitute teacher may teach up to 120 (instead of 90) school days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the same school year. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that substitute teachers may teach up to 120 school days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year through the 2022-2023 school year.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to issue a substitute teaching license to those individuals enrolled in a regionally accredited institution of higher education who have earned at least 60 credits and are enrolled in an Illinois-approved educator preparation program. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Instead of requiring an applicant for a Substitute Teaching License to hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, allows an applicant to be enrolled in an approved educator preparation program in this State and have earned at least 90 credit hours.
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Teacher Article, provides that beginning July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, to assist with addressing the substitute teacher shortage that has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic and public health emergency, an annuitant may accept employment as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status if that employment is not within the school year during which service was terminated and does not exceed 140 paid days (rather than 120 paid days) or 700 paid hours (rather than 600 paid hours) in each school year, but not more than 100 paid days in the same classroom. In the Chicago Teacher Article, provides that the service retirement pension shall not be cancelled in the case of a service retirement pensioner who is re-employed as a teacher or administrator (rather than a teacher) on a temporary and non-annual basis or on an hourly basis, so long as the person (1) does not work as a teacher or administrator (rather than a teacher) for compensation on more than 120 days in a school year or (2) in the case of a person who retires with at least 5 years of service as a principal or administrator, does not work as a teacher or administrator for compensation on more than 140 days in a school year. Removes a limitation on the amount of gross compensation a service retirement pensioner may receive for such re-employment without having the service retirement pension cancelled. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 4 Deletes reference to: 40 ILCS 5/17-149 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that during the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, an additional 20 paid days or 100 paid hours shall be added to a provision that authorizes an annuitant to accept employment for a certain number of paid days or paid hours as a teacher without impairing his or her retirement status. Effective immediately.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who is at least 18 years of age and will be using the Educator License with Stipulations exclusively for elementary education. Makes a corresponding change. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill, but allows a paraprofessional educator endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations to be issued to an applicant who is at least 18 years of age only until the individual reaches the age of 19 years and otherwise meets the criteria for a paraprofessional educator endorsement.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides for the reinstatement of a lapsed Professional Educator License upon the payment by the applicant of a $50 penalty (rather than a $500 penalty). Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that licensees who are retired and qualify for benefits from a State of Illinois retirement system shall be listed as retired (instead of shall notify the State Board of Education using the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS)). Provides that if a licensee retires during a renewal cycle, the license status must be updated using ELIS indicating that the licensee wishes to maintain the license in retired status (instead of requiring the licensee to notify the State Board of Education using ELIS that the licensee wishes to maintain the license in retired status). Provides that an individual with a license in retired status shall not be required to complete professional development activities (rather than shall not be required to complete professional development activities or pay registration fees) until returning to a position that requires educator licensure. Provides that upon returning to work in a position that requires a Professional Educator License, the license status shall immediately be updated using ELIS (instead of the licensee shall immediately pay a registration fee). Provides that a retired teacher, even if returning to a position that requires educator licensure, shall not be required to pay registration fees.
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.
Declares May 4, 2022 as Firefighters Day in the State of Illinois to honor the fearless men and women who selflessly risk their lives to save others. Thanks current firefighters for their dedication to protecting the public and remember those who have died in the line of duty. Recognizes the families of firefighters for their endless sacrifices.
Amends the School Code to require the State Board of Education to prepare a parent resource guide to provide a centralized source of the assistance, support, advocacy, and resources available to the parent or guardian of a student who is or may be the victim of sexual abuse. Provides for up to 2 teachers institute days for child abuse prevention training and sexual harassment prevention training, and requires training for school personnel on child sexual abuse. Provides for professional development opportunities concerning the well-being of students. Adds provisions concerning sexual misconduct in schools, including requiring a school district to develop a code of conduct, an employment history review, and what a sex education class must teach. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to add certain acts to the offenses of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and grooming. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/3-11 from Ch. 122, par. 3-11 105 ILCS 5/10-19.1 from Ch. 122, par. 10-19.1 105 ILCS 5/10-23.13 105 ILCS 5/22-90 new 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1 from Ch. 122, par. 27-9.1 Adds reference to: 325 ILCS 5/3 from Ch. 23, par. 2053 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code to require the State Board of Education to develop and maintain a resource guide that provides guidance for pupils, parents or guardians, and teachers about sexual abuse response and prevention resources available in their community; sets forth requirements concerning the guide. Provides for educator professional development opportunities concerning training on the physical and mental health needs of students, student safety, educator ethics, professional conduct, and other topics. To prevent sexual misconduct with students, requires each school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school to develop an employee code of professional conduct policy; sets forth requirements concerning the policy. Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Changes the definition of "abused child". Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to add certain acts to the offenses of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and grooming. Varied effective date. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.182 new 720 ILCS 5/11-1.20 was 720 ILCS 5/12-13 720 ILCS 5/11-1.60 was 720 ILCS 5/12-16 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.188 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as engrossed, with the following changes. Requires the resource guide to be developed by July 1, 2023 (rather than July 1, 2022). Provides that the provisions concerning the resource guide and sexual misconduct in schools apply to a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school (rather than a school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school). Makes a change concerning dating and meeting with students. Removes the amendatory provisions related to criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse in the Criminal Code of 2012. Adds the use of written communication to the offense of grooming. Changes the effective date to provide that the provisions amending the School Code and the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act are effective immediately.