Congratulates Thomas "Tom" Ramage, Ed.D., on his retirement from Parkland College. Thanks him for his leadership and service to the institution. Wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions related to the content of evaluation plans, allows a school district to waive, for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any teacher in contractual continued service whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". In regard to rules adopted by the State Board of Education concerning educator evaluations, for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only, provides that factors related to methods of measuring student growth may not be used in any educator evaluation. In regard to the development of an evaluation plan for principals and assistant principals, allows a school district to waive, for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only, the evaluation requirement of any principal or assistant principal whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/24A-7 from Ch. 122, par. 24A-7 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning the content of evaluation plans, for the 2022-2023 school year only if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency (rather than for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only), allows a school district to waive the evaluation requirement of any teacher in contractual continued service whose performance during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". In provisions concerning the development of an evaluation plan for principals and assistant principals, for the 2022-2023 school year only if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency (rather than for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years only), allows a school district to waive the evaluation requirement of any principal or assistant principal whose performance during the last school year in which the principal or assistant principal was evaluated was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient". Removes the provisions making changes concerning rules adopted by the State Board of Education related to educator evaluations. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Provides that a school district may waive the evaluation requirement of all (instead of any) teachers, principals, or assistant principals rated "excellent" or "proficient" during the last school year in which the teachers, principals, or assistant principals were evaluated. Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-85c Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that for the 2022-2023 school year only, if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency, the school district may waive the evaluation requirement of any teacher in contractual continued service whose performance was rated as either "excellent" or "proficient" during the last school year in which the teacher was evaluated.
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning cancer screenings, provides that a group policy of accident and health insurance that provides coverage for hospital or medical treatment or services for illness on an expense-incurred basis and is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall provide coverage without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the benefits. Provides for coverage for an annual prostate cancer screening for male insureds. Defines "prostate cancer screening" as medically viable methods for the detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer, including a digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen test and associated laboratory work, and provides that the term includes subsequent follow-up testing as directed by a health care provider, including, but not limited to, urinary analysis, serum biomarkers, and medical imaging. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that a group policy of accident and health insurance that provides coverage for hospital or medical treatment or services for illness on an expense-incurred basis and is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after January 1, 2024 (rather than the effective date of the amendatory Act) shall provide coverage, without imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement, for specified methods of cancer testing. Specifies that the provisions do not apply to coverage of prostate cancer screenings to the extent such coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account under the Internal Revenue Code. Defines "prostate cancer screening" to include medically necessary subsequent follow-up testing as directed by a health care provider (rather than subsequent follow-up testing as directed by a health care provider).
Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that August 1 of each year is designated as Sweet Corn Appreciation Day, to be observed throughout the State as a day to celebrate the importance of sweet corn to Illinois agriculture, and in recognition of family farmers.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that 1% of the school facility occupation taxes collected shall be distributed to the regional superintendent of schools (currently, these moneys are deposited into the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund) to cover the costs in administering and enforcing the provisions of the school facility occupation taxes Section of the Code. Effective July 1, 2022. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that 50% (rather than 1%) of the 2% deducted from the amounts collected under the provisions shall be deposited into the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund and 50% (rather than 1%) shall be distributed to the regional superintendent of schools to cover the costs in administering and enforcing the provisions of this Section.
Amends the Illinois Lottery Law. Provides that the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund shall make grants, fund additional services, or conduct additional research projects relating to veterans' behavioral health services (rather than veterans' post traumatic stress disorder) and veterans' emergency financial assistance, including, but not limited to, past due utilities, housing, and transportation costs.
Amends the Community Mental Health Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 405 ILCS 20/0.1 from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 300.1 Adds reference to: 410 ILCS 50/3.2 from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5403.2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Removes language providing that nothing in the Act shall restrict the ability of a health care facility to regulate the hours of visitation, the number of visitors per patient or the movement of visitors within the facility. Provides that, during a period for which the Governor has issued a proclamation declaring that a disaster exists or in the event of an outbreak or epidemic of a communicable disease in the community in which the health care facility is located, a health care facility shall ensure an opportunity for at least one visitor, not counting a clergy person, to visit a resident or patient of the health care facility. Requires visitation to be subject to the guidelines, conditions, and limitations of the health care facility's visitation policy and any rules or guidelines established by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provides that visitors may be required by the health care facility to submit to health screenings necessary to prevent the spread of infectious disease. Provides that a health care facility may restrict a visitor who does not pass its health screening requirement and require a visitor to adhere to infection control procedures. Provides that a health care facility may deny visitation under the Act if the situation demands. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Authorizes a skilled nursing home, extended care facility, or intermediate care facility to prohibit an individual from visiting a resident or patient of the nursing home or facility if specific facts demonstrate that the individual would endanger his or her physical health or safety or the health or safety of a resident, patient, or health care worker of the nursing home or facility. Requires such a denial to be in writing and provided to the individual and the resident or patient with whom the individual was denied visitation. Requires each skilled nursing home, extended care facility, and intermediate care facility to inform each resident of the nursing home or facility (or that individual's representative) of the resident's visitation rights and the facility's visitation-related policies and procedures. Specifies that these nursing homes and facilities must not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Requires the nursing homes and facilities to ensure that all visitors enjoy full and equal visitation privileges, consistent with the residents' preferences.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the chief county assessment officer in a county of more than 3,000,000 residents, and in any other county where the county board has authorized such action by ordinance or resolution, may automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities without application for any person who applied for the exemption and presented a Disability Identification Card stating that the claimant is under a Class 2 disability. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds provisions to the introduced bill providing that an applicant for the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities may be examined by an optometrist if the person qualifies because of a visual disability. Provides that provisions of the introduced bill concerning automatic renewal (i) apply for taxable years 2021 through 2026 and (ii) apply if the person presents proof of eligibility (in the introduced bill, a Disability Identification Card stating that the claimant is under a Class 2 disability). Provides that the chief county assessment officer shall not automatically renew the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities if the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, optometrist, or physician assistant who examined the claimant determined that the disability is not expected to continue for 12 months or more. House Committee Amendment No. 3 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 2505/2505-805 new 35 ILCS 200/9-275 35 ILCS 200/15-10 35 ILCS 200/15-169 35 ILCS 200/15-170 35 ILCS 200/15-172 35 ILCS 200/15-175 35 ILCS 200/18-185 35 ILCS 200/18-190.7 new 105 ILCS 5/17-1.3 new 105 ILCS 5/17-2A from Ch. 122, par. 17-2A 320 ILCS 30/3 from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 453 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for levy years 2022 and later, the taxing district's aggregate extension base is the greater of (A) the district's last preceding aggregate extension limit or (B) the district's last preceding aggregate extension, subject to certain adjustments. Provides that the term "aggregate extension limit" means the district's last preceding aggregate extension if the taxing district had utilized the maximum limiting rate permitted without referendum for each of the 5 immediately preceding levy years. Provides that the maximum reduction under the General Homestead Exemption is $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties (currently, $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties). Provides that the maximum reduction under the senior citizens homestead exemption is $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties (currently, $8,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $5,000 in all other counties). In provisions concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities, makes changes concerning the surviving spouse. Provides that the interest rate under the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act is reduced from 6% to 4%. Amends the School Code. Contains provisions concerning interfund transfers and disclosure of cash reserve balances. Amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to require the Department of Revenue to conduct a study concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 5 Makes changes to the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 3 to provide that the maximum amount of the general homestead exemption is $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, $8,000 in counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, and $6,000 in all other counties (rather than $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties).
Amends Public Act 102-466 to change the effective date of certain provisions. Amends the School Code. Makes changes concerning State Board of Education reporting, references to the Certification of Teachers Article and certification, reporting attacks on school personnel, the Annual State Report on Special Education Performance, the High-Cost Special Education Funding Commission, the evidence-based funding formula, a part-time provisional career and technical educator endorsement or a provisional career and technical educator endorsement on an educator license with stipulations, the heroin and opioid drug prevention pilot program, the Emotional Intelligence and Social and Emotional Learning Task Force, and the limitation on noninstructional costs in the Chicago school district. Repeals provisions concerning the Downstate School Finance Authority for Elementary Districts Law, an alternative education program audit adjustment prohibition, high-skilled manufacturing teaching resources, entrepreneurial skills teaching resources, a job training program prohibition, the Giant Steps Autism Center for Excellence pilot program, fast growth grants, and the Alternative Route to Administrative Certification for National Board Certified Teachers. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Adds a charter school authorized by the State Board of Education and a special education cooperative to the definition of "school" and requires a charter school to have threat assessment procedures. Amends the Property Tax Code, Illinois Pension Code, and Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act to make related changes. Amends the College and Career Success for All Students Act to make a technical change. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7 Further amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall review each school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school's filled policy on bullying by September 30 of the subject year. Provides that if a school fails to file a policy by September 30, then the State Board of Education shall provide a written request for the school to file the policy. Provides that if a school fails to file a policy after receiving a written request, then the State Board of Education shall publish notice of the non-compliance on the State Board of Education's website.
Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to (i) combine the Grant Periodic Reporting and Electronic Expenditure Reporting into one report, (ii) require only school districts that have multiple facilities or schools to comply with the Site-Based Expenditure Reporting requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, and (iii) combine the financial reporting required for all school districts into 2 reports. Sets forth related provisions. Provides that for 2 years beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act (i) requirements related to the submission and publication of the annual statement of the affairs of a school district, (ii) requirements related to the submission of an annual report of teacher dismissals, and (iii) requirements related to completing professional development activities for the renewal of a Professional Educator License do not apply. Requires only the Chicago school district (rather than each school district, charter school, and nonpublic, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school) to file its policy on bullying with the State Board of Education. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.103 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.103 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that the State Board of Education shall review all reports on the ISBE Web Application system and eliminate all reports considered to be outdated or obsolete. Provides that for any reports that school districts are required to return to the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall only send deadline notices to school districts that have not already completed their reporting obligations. Further amends the School Code. Provides that the provisions concerning salary and benefit surveys do not apply for 2 years beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.103 105 ILCS 5/2-3.192 new 105 ILCS 5/10-17 105 ILCS 5/10-20.26 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that the number of professional development hours required is reduced by 20% for any renewal cycle that includes the 2021-2022 school year. Effective immediately.