Sen. Kimberly Lightford

Creates the Apprenticeship Utilization Act. Provides that on projects covered under the Prevailing Wage Act where the estimated cost is in excess of $250,000, all specifications shall require that no less than 15% of the labor hours within each trade be performed by apprentices of that trade. Sets forth certain requirements. Sets forth enforcement provisions. Prohibits adverse action for following the requirements of the Act. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Provides that the Act does not apply to written or oral contracts entered into, modified, renewed, or extended before the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Health Care Surrogate Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning employee rights.

Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education is, subject to appropriation, authorized to award competitive grants under a Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments Program. Provides that under the program, selected school districts must reallocate funding for school-based law enforcement personnel in some or all of their schools to other evidence-based and promising practices designed to promote school safety and healthy learning environments, including, but not limited to, restorative justice programs; increased use of school psychologists, social workers, and other mental and behavioral health specialists; drug and alcohol treatment services; wraparound services for youth; and training for school staff on conflict resolution techniques and other disciplinary alternatives. Provides that the program shall match the amount that is reallocated from school-based law enforcement personnel to alternative methods of addressing student behavior on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Prohibits grant funds from being used to increase the use of school-based security personnel. Provides for an annual report to update progress on the Program. Prohibits arrest or being otherwise cited for a criminal offense committed during school hours while on school grounds, in school vehicles, or at school activities or sanctioned events except in certain circumstances.

Amends the Minimum Wage Law. Increases the minimum wage from $8.25 to $9.50 beginning July 1, 2017 and increases it by $1.25 each July 1 of 2018 and 2019 and increases it by $1.50 each July 1 of 2020 and 2021, at which point the minimum wage will be $15.00. Provides that beginning July 1, 2022, the minimum wage shall be increased by 2.5% or the increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, whichever is lower. Deletes the allowance for gratuities. Effective immediately.

Amends the School Code and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Provides that, on and after September 1, 2018, all teacher evaluation ratings on record as "excellent", "proficient", or "needs improvement" are considered "effective", and all teacher evaluation ratings on record as "unsatisfactory" are considered "ineffective" for the purposes of the Employment of Teachers Article. Makes other changes concerning the waiver or modification of mandates; school report cards; license suspension or revocation; contractual continued service; removal or dismissal of teachers; an optional alternative evaluative dismissal process; evaluation plans; a local appeal process for ineffective ratings; rules; the appointment and promotion of teachers in Chicago; alternative procedures for teacher evaluation, remediation, and removal in Chicago; and the Open Meetings Act.

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

Amends the School Code. Requires a school district to make reasonable efforts to provide ongoing professional development to teachers, administrators, school board members, school resource officers, and staff on the appropriate and available supportive services for the promotion of student attendance and engagement. In the Article governing compulsory attendance of pupils, provides that the term "valid cause" for absence includes when a person who has custody or control of a child withholds the child from school due to a bona fide dispute over special education services or placement that is being addressed through the child's individualized education program, federal Section 504 plan, mediation, or a due process hearing. Provides that a school district may not refer a truant, chronic truant, or truant minor to any other local public entity for the purpose of issuing the child a fine or fee as punishment for the child's absence from school; defines "local public entity." Allows a school district to refer any person having custody or control of a truant, chronic truant, or truant minor to a local public entity for the purpose of issuing the child a fine or fee for the child's absence from school if all appropriate and available supportive services have been exhausted and the person has knowingly and willfully permitted the child's truant behavior to continue.

Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires every institution of higher education approved by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, whether public or private, to submit an annual report on its voluntary supplier diversity program to the Department of Central Management Services, except that, in the case of public community colleges, requires the report to be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board and requires the Illinois Community College Board to immediately forward the report to the Department. Sets forth provisions on what the report must include and how and when the report must be submitted. Provides that, for each report, the Department shall publish the results on its Internet website for 5 years after submission or, with respect to public community colleges, for 5 years after the report has been forwarded to the Department by the Illinois Community College Board. Requires the Department to hold an annual higher education supplier diversity workshop in February of 2018 and every February thereafter to discuss the reports with representatives of the institutions of higher education and vendors. Provides that the Department shall prepare a template for voluntary supplier diversity reports. Effective immediately.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning physical education and training.