Delivered via email: April 23, 2021
SB 564 (Ellman, D-Naperville) adds January 17, the birthday of Muhammad Ali, to the list of commemorative holidays and requires the teaching of the contributions made by Muslims and Muslim Americans to society as part of U.S. History.
SB 605 (Collins, D-Chicago) sets forth the elements to be included in school district policies on absenteeism and truancy and requires annual notification to students and parents.
SB 654 (Peters, D-Chicago) requires an hour of unstructured playtime daily in Kindergarten through eighth grade.
SB 808 (Murphy, D-Des Plaines) In order to obtain a license under the Article, a student teacher candidate may not be required to videotape himself or herself or his or her students in a classroom setting.
SB 813 (Johnson, D-Waukegan) With respect to the evidence-based funding formula, provides that, in recognition of the impact of COVID-19, the definition of "Average Student Enrollment" or "ASE" shall be adjusted for calculations for fiscal years 2022 through 2024.
SB 1572 (Martwick, D-Chicago) creates a homestead exemption of $5,000 of EAV for disabled police officers and firefighters.
SB 1577 (Martwick) allows students to be absent up to five days for mental or behavioral health without a medical note and shall be allowed to make up any school work missed.
SB 1646 (McClure, R-Jacksonville), under Teacher Retirement System (TRS), allows a member to establish optional credit for up to two years of services as a private school teacher or administrator.
SB1784 (Murphy) provides that each school district must allow a student-athlete to modify his or her athletic uniform for the purpose of modesty in clothing or attire that is in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion.
SB1830 (Loughran Cappel, D-Plainfield) provides that a semester or part of semester of financial literacy may be a part of the fulfillment of the mathematics requirement that each pupil entering the ninth grade must successfully complete to receive a high school diploma.
SB 2192 (Sims, D-Chicago) removes Corporate Property Replacement Tax from the duplicative reporting requirements for local governments under the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act.
SB 2244 (Murphy) increases the income limitation for eligibility to receive the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption from $65,000 to $75,000.
HB 102 (Carroll, D-Northbrook) requires schools to adopt an anaphylactic policy developed by the ISBE and IDPH.
HB 1975 (Mussman, D-Schaumburg) provides several resources and training for parents, students, and teachers regarding sexual misconduct in schools including developing a code of conduct, employment history review, and sex education class curriculum. The bill also adds grooming and aggravated criminal sexual abuse to criminal sexual assault offenses in the Criminal Code.
HB 2400 (Hirschauer, D-West Chicago) sets forth several limitations, requirements, and notice requirements regarding school safety drills.
HB 2521 (Gonzalez, D-Summit) allows electronic signature and communication for labor to show interest in a labor organization petition and requires that showing of interest must occur within 12 months of petition filing. Also allows electronic secret ballot election in addition to paper ballot voting systems. Creates an unfair labor practice for employers to take any action for an employee’s participation in a strike.
HB 2569 (Windhorst, R-Harrisburg) extends the provision allowing retired teachers to return to teaching without penalty until June 30, 2024. It also requires schools to post vacancies on the district’s website and in an online database.
HB 2778 (Burke, D-Oak Lawn) allows school districts to have whole-day school improvement days four times a year in lieu of improvement days with students in attendance.
HB 2789 (Mussman) requires the Department of Public Health (IDPH) to establish metrics for school districts to determine if the district may safely conduct in-person or remote instruction.
HB 2814 (Halbrook, R-Shelbyville) removes certain sections of the school board member's oath of office including majority vote, majority decisions of the board, setting the course for the district, ensuring students have opportunity to attain maximum potential, ensuring student assessment, and serving as education’s key advocate on behalf of students.
HB 2987 (Lilly, D-Oak Park) provides that beginning in sixth grade, students should be introduced to the importance of developing and applying a work ethic under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness program.
HB 2908 (Ramirez, D-Chicago) provides for qualifications, terms in office, and election of the Chicago Board of Education beginning in 2029.
HB 3114 (Delgado, D-Chicago) creates a State Education Equity Committee to address systemic inequities and ensure each and every child is equipped to reach their fullest potential.
HB 3202 (Mason, D-Gurnee) adds e-cigarettes and other vapor devices as an education area under Comprehensive Health Education Program.
HB 3223 (Moeller, D-Elgin) allows a student who is a victim of gender-based violence to transfer schools immediately if the student’s continued attendance at the original school poses a risk to the student’s mental or physical well-being or safety. It also provides that a student’s disclosure of his/her status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of gender-based violence be a mitigating circumstance in any suspension or expulsion proceeding. Many other requirements for school districts are also included affecting homebound instruction, student absences/truancy, staff training, review/revision of policies and procedures, complaint procedures, confidentiality, and student accommodations and services.
HB 3272 (Harper, D-Chicago) requires school districts to adopt policies related to absences and missed schoolwork as a result of pregnancy.
HB 3281 (Ortiz, D-Chicago) allows school districts to teach a unit of instruction on the process of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.
House Bill 7 Defeated on the House Floor
Thanks to the advocacy of school board members and school leaders from across the State of Illinois, House Bill 7 (Mayfield, D-Waukegan) was defeated in the House of Representatives late in the evening on Thursday, April 22. The defeat of the bill was due in part to more than 8,500 emails sent by IASB members opposing HB 7. We thank you for your advocacy on this issue. We have a strong voice in the State Capitol and if we work together, we can successfully impact legislation in Springfield. Once again, thank you for your advocacy! The session is far from over and this issue or similar issues could resurface. We will keep you up-to-date on impactful legislation and ways to continue to advocate in the future.Final Passage Deadline Brings Flurry of Bills
April 23 was the third reading deadline for bills in their original chamber. As Senators worked to move Senate bills out of the Senate and House members worked to move House bills out of the House, over 500 bills switched chambers. While all 500 bills will not impact schools, historically nearly 25% of all bills impact public school districts. Below is a list of some of the most impactful bills that are continuing the legislative process in an attempt to become law.Bills Passed the Senate
SB 508 (DeWitte, R-West Dundee) provides that a taxing district's aggregate extension base shall be adjusted whenever an assessment increase or decrease due to the issuance of a certificate of error, a decision of the board of review, or a decision of the Property Tax Appeal Board results in the overextension or underextension of taxes for the last preceding levy year.SB 564 (Ellman, D-Naperville) adds January 17, the birthday of Muhammad Ali, to the list of commemorative holidays and requires the teaching of the contributions made by Muslims and Muslim Americans to society as part of U.S. History.
SB 605 (Collins, D-Chicago) sets forth the elements to be included in school district policies on absenteeism and truancy and requires annual notification to students and parents.
SB 654 (Peters, D-Chicago) requires an hour of unstructured playtime daily in Kindergarten through eighth grade.
SB 808 (Murphy, D-Des Plaines) In order to obtain a license under the Article, a student teacher candidate may not be required to videotape himself or herself or his or her students in a classroom setting.
SB 813 (Johnson, D-Waukegan) With respect to the evidence-based funding formula, provides that, in recognition of the impact of COVID-19, the definition of "Average Student Enrollment" or "ASE" shall be adjusted for calculations for fiscal years 2022 through 2024.
SB 1572 (Martwick, D-Chicago) creates a homestead exemption of $5,000 of EAV for disabled police officers and firefighters.
SB 1577 (Martwick) allows students to be absent up to five days for mental or behavioral health without a medical note and shall be allowed to make up any school work missed.
SB 1646 (McClure, R-Jacksonville), under Teacher Retirement System (TRS), allows a member to establish optional credit for up to two years of services as a private school teacher or administrator.
SB1784 (Murphy) provides that each school district must allow a student-athlete to modify his or her athletic uniform for the purpose of modesty in clothing or attire that is in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion.
SB1830 (Loughran Cappel, D-Plainfield) provides that a semester or part of semester of financial literacy may be a part of the fulfillment of the mathematics requirement that each pupil entering the ninth grade must successfully complete to receive a high school diploma.
SB 2192 (Sims, D-Chicago) removes Corporate Property Replacement Tax from the duplicative reporting requirements for local governments under the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act.
SB 2244 (Murphy) increases the income limitation for eligibility to receive the senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption from $65,000 to $75,000.
Bills Passed the House
HB 4 (Mayfield, D-Waukegan), an IASB Initiative, allows student instruction to be delivered electronically as an e-learning day when a school is required to be used as a polling place.HB 102 (Carroll, D-Northbrook) requires schools to adopt an anaphylactic policy developed by the ISBE and IDPH.
HB 1975 (Mussman, D-Schaumburg) provides several resources and training for parents, students, and teachers regarding sexual misconduct in schools including developing a code of conduct, employment history review, and sex education class curriculum. The bill also adds grooming and aggravated criminal sexual abuse to criminal sexual assault offenses in the Criminal Code.
HB 2400 (Hirschauer, D-West Chicago) sets forth several limitations, requirements, and notice requirements regarding school safety drills.
HB 2521 (Gonzalez, D-Summit) allows electronic signature and communication for labor to show interest in a labor organization petition and requires that showing of interest must occur within 12 months of petition filing. Also allows electronic secret ballot election in addition to paper ballot voting systems. Creates an unfair labor practice for employers to take any action for an employee’s participation in a strike.
HB 2569 (Windhorst, R-Harrisburg) extends the provision allowing retired teachers to return to teaching without penalty until June 30, 2024. It also requires schools to post vacancies on the district’s website and in an online database.
HB 2778 (Burke, D-Oak Lawn) allows school districts to have whole-day school improvement days four times a year in lieu of improvement days with students in attendance.
HB 2789 (Mussman) requires the Department of Public Health (IDPH) to establish metrics for school districts to determine if the district may safely conduct in-person or remote instruction.
HB 2814 (Halbrook, R-Shelbyville) removes certain sections of the school board member's oath of office including majority vote, majority decisions of the board, setting the course for the district, ensuring students have opportunity to attain maximum potential, ensuring student assessment, and serving as education’s key advocate on behalf of students.
HB 2987 (Lilly, D-Oak Park) provides that beginning in sixth grade, students should be introduced to the importance of developing and applying a work ethic under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness program.
HB 2908 (Ramirez, D-Chicago) provides for qualifications, terms in office, and election of the Chicago Board of Education beginning in 2029.
HB 3114 (Delgado, D-Chicago) creates a State Education Equity Committee to address systemic inequities and ensure each and every child is equipped to reach their fullest potential.
HB 3202 (Mason, D-Gurnee) adds e-cigarettes and other vapor devices as an education area under Comprehensive Health Education Program.
HB 3223 (Moeller, D-Elgin) allows a student who is a victim of gender-based violence to transfer schools immediately if the student’s continued attendance at the original school poses a risk to the student’s mental or physical well-being or safety. It also provides that a student’s disclosure of his/her status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of gender-based violence be a mitigating circumstance in any suspension or expulsion proceeding. Many other requirements for school districts are also included affecting homebound instruction, student absences/truancy, staff training, review/revision of policies and procedures, complaint procedures, confidentiality, and student accommodations and services.
HB 3272 (Harper, D-Chicago) requires school districts to adopt policies related to absences and missed schoolwork as a result of pregnancy.
HB 3281 (Ortiz, D-Chicago) allows school districts to teach a unit of instruction on the process of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.