State Legislation

House Bill 4089—Nichols and Ammons. 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 immediate.
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. Passed both  Houses. 

House Bill 4243—Mason. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Removes the requirement that educator licensure candidates pass a teacher performance assessment. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2022
House Floor Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, but clarifies that it applies to public high schools (rather than school districts). Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 4246—Scherer. 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.
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. Passed Both Houses.

House Bill 4256—McCombie. 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. Amended in Senate Education as above.
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
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 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
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.  Passed Both Houses

House Bill 4257—McCombie. Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that for any 5-year renewal cycle that includes the 2021-2022 school year, each professional educator licensee shall complete a total of 100 hours of professional development during the 5-year renewal cycle in order to renew the license (rather than being required to complete a total of 120 hours). For the 2021-2022 school year only, provides that a licensee with an administrative endorsement who is working in a position requiring such endorsement or an individual with a Teacher Leader endorsement serving in an administrative capacity at least 50% of the day is not required to complete an Illinois Administrators’ Academy course (rather than being required to complete one course). Effective immediately. Passed House.  Amended in Senate Education Committee to replace everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill but removes the changes regarding the 5-year renewal cycle. Passed Both Houses.

House Bill 4316—Mussman. 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
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. Passed Both Houses.

House Bill 4365—Didech. Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows a child’s individualized education program (IEP) team to determine whether the special education program of a school district is unable to meet the needs of a child with a disability. Provides that the financial responsibility and reimbursement of the resident district of a child with a disability applies to both nonpublic special education facilities that are approved by the State Board of Education and nonpublic special education facilities that are not approved by the State Board of Education. Requires that a nonpublic special education facility providing services to demonstrate proof to the State Board of Education of (i) appropriate certification of teachers for the student population, (ii) age-appropriate curriculum, (iii) enrollment and attendance data, and (iv) the ability to implement the child’s IEP. Sets forth provisions concerning requests for approval by the State Board of Education of a nonpublic special education facility. Provides that the Community and Residential Service Authority has the power to make final determinations regarding the approval of nonpublic special education facilities. Effective immediately.
House Committee Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Allows a student’s (instead of child’s) individualized education program (IEP) team to determine whether the special education program of a school district is unable to meet the needs of a child with a disability. Provides that the financial responsibility and reimbursement of the resident district of a child with a disability applies to emergency placements in nonpublic special education facilities that are not approved by the State Board of Education. Provides that a school district may place a student in a nonpublic special education facility providing educational services within the facility, but not approved by the State Board of Education, under specified circumstances. Removes provisions that provide that a school district has no obligation to pay a residential facility unless and until specified proof is provided to the satisfaction of the State Board of Education. Removes provisions that provide that if the State Board of Education denies approval in writing or does not respond to a facility’s or resident district’s request for approval within 10 days after the request is submitted to the State Board of Education, the matter shall be referred to the Community and Residential Services Authority, which shall make the determination and notify the facility or resident district and the State Board of Education within 10 days after the Authority receives the referral. Provides that emergency placement in an approved facility may continue so long as (i) the student’s IEP team determines annually that such placement continues to be appropriate to meet the student’s needs and (ii) at least every 3 years following the student’s placement, the IEP team reviews appropriate placements approved by the State Board of Education. Removes changes to provisions concerning placement in a residential facility and payment of educational costs and provisions concerning the Community and Residential Services Authority. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 4369—Collins and Nichols. Amends the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health or its delegate agency shall (rather than may) conduct a follow-up inspection of any dwelling unit for which a mitigation notice was issued. Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 4580—Tarver II. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Requires the Department of School Demographics and Planning (“DSP”), at least once every 5 years, to evaluate the enrollment at existing schools in the school district to determine if there is a need to revise existing boundaries. Specifies factors for DSP to consider in its evaluation. Requires DSP to submit a written report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the chief executive officer and the Chicago Board of Education. Requires the report to be made public on the district’s website within 30 days after its completion. If it is determined that there is a need to revise any existing boundaries or establish attendance boundaries for new schools, requires DSP to develop and recommend any proposed changes to existing boundaries or proposed boundaries for new schools to the chief executive officer prior to the beginning of the school year in which the changes to existing boundaries or the new boundaries will take effect. Specifies factors to be considered in developing proposed changes to boundaries for existing schools and proposing attendance boundaries for new schools. Requires DSP to develop at least 2 alternatives for each proposed attendance boundary and prepare a report for each alternative with specified factors and considerations. Requires the report to be made public on the district’s website within 30 days after its completion. Requires the chief executive officer to review the report, and authorizes the chief executive officer to suggest additional alternatives. Requires the chief executive officer to report to the Board if he or she recommends any changes to existing boundaries or establishing boundaries for new schools. Requires the chief executive officer, if he or she is recommending any changes to existing boundaries or any boundaries for new schools, to provide the Board with the report of the alternatives considered, including data on the specified factors, and requires the chief executive officer to inform the Board of the alternative that is being recommended. Requires the chief executive officer’s report to be made public on the district’s website within 30 days after its completion. Requires the Board to conduct public hearings on the proposed establishment of or changes to attendance boundaries and the chief executive officer’s recommendation prior to taking action on the establishment or revision of any attendance boundaries. Requires the Board to consider the factors of capacity, current and projected racial and ethnic considerations, geographic barriers, travel time and distance, and program considerations in making its decision on the establishment or revision of any attendance boundaries. Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 4688—Yednock. Amends the School Code. Provides that, for one year beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act, requirements related to completing professional development activities for the renewal of a Professional Educator License do not apply, except that the number of professional development hours required is reduced by 20% for any renewal cycle that includes the 2021-2022 school year. In provisions related to the content of evaluation plans, allows a school district to waive, for the 2022-2023 school year 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”. With respect to rules adopted by the State Board of Education concerning educator evaluations, for the 2022-2023 school year only, provides that factors related to methods of measuring student growth may not be used in any educator evaluation. With respect to the development of an evaluation plan for principals and assistant principals, allows a school district to waive, for the 2022-2023 school year 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. Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 4716—Halpin. Amends the Driver Education Act of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of State, an association representing teachers of driver education, students, education practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers in colleges of education, administrators, and regional superintendents of schools (rather than in consultation with the Secretary of State), to adopt rigorous learning standards (instead of course content standards) for the classroom and laboratory phases of driver education for novice teen drivers under the age of 18 years, including, but not limited to, the Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards developed and written by the Association of National Stakeholders in Traffic Safety Education in affiliation with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (rather than for driver education for those persons under the age of 18 years, which shall include the operation and equipment of motor vehicles). Provides that the learning standards may be adapted to meet Illinois licensing and educational requirements, including the cognitive, physiological, and psychological aspects of the safe operation of a motor vehicle and equipment of motor vehicles. Requires the Board to update the learning standards as national standards are updated.
Senate Committee Amendment provides that the national learning standards may be adapted to meet Illinois licensing and educational requirements, including classroom and behind-the-wheel hours and the cognitive,  physiological, and psychological aspects of the safe operation of a motor vehicle and equipment of motor vehicles (rather than the learning standards may be adapted to meet Illinois licensing and educational requirements, including the cognitive, physiological, and psychological aspects of the safe operation of a motor vehicle and equipment of motor vehicles). Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 4728—Davis. Amends the evidence-based funding provisions of the School Code. Makes changes concerning how an organizational unit’s adjusted equalized assessed valuation is calculated. Filed with the Clerk. Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 4769—Conroy. Creates the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act. Provides for licensure of behavior analysts, assistant behavior analysts. Creates the Behavior Analyst Licensing and Disciplinary Board.  Provides qualifications for licensure application , including for those who have met certain requirements before the effective date of the Act. Establishes the powers and duties of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides for grounds for disciplinary actions and for civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Act. Creates provisions concerning hearings and rehearings. Provides for judicial review of all final administrative decisions of the Department. Provides for provisions concerning orders, license restrictions and limitations, examinations, and Social Security Numbers on license applications. Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2028. Makes corresponding changes to the Adult Protective Services Act and the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Effective immediately.
Senate Floor Amendment No. 3
Provides that the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act does not prohibit a speech-language pathologist and an audiologist from performing or advertising activities that are considered to be the practice of applied behavior analysis if the activities are consistent with the laws of the State, the individual’s training, and any code of ethics of the individual’s respective professions. Provides that no licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst shall engage in the practice of speech-language pathology or the practice of audiology, as defined in the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, unless licensed to do so under the Act.  Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 4994—Crespo. Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that each year prior to the start of the school year, a school board shall file its threat assessment procedure and a list identifying the members of the school district’s threat assessment team or regional behavior threat assessment and intervention team with (i) a local law enforcement agency and (ii) the regional office of education or, with respect to the Chicago school district, the State Board of Education. Effective immediately. Filed with the Clerk.
House Floor Amendment No. 3
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts from disclosure any threat assessment procedure under the School Safety Drill Act and any information contained in the procedure from inspection and copying. Effective immediately. Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 5016—Collins. Amends the School Code. Provides that alternative learning opportunities programs may include high school completion programs that allow certain students eligible for remote learning to complete their education while incarcerated in a Department of Corrections facility. Provides that the Chicago Board of Education may offer a remote learning option to a student who is in the custody of the Department of Corrections if the student (i) is enrolled at Consuella B. York Alternative High School at the time the student is transferred to a Department of Corrections facility or had been enrolled in the school within the 6 months prior to being transferred to a Department of Corrections facility and (ii) is within 2 school years of completing all of the course requirements necessary for high school graduation. Allows the school district to continue to offer the option of remote learning to the student to complete any remaining course requirements necessary for high school graduation for up to one school year following the student’s release from the custody of the Department of Corrections. Effective immediately.
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1
Provides that the Chicago Board of Education’s offer of the option of remote learning is subject to appropriation. Provides that the Department of Corrections educators and security staff shall be involved in assisting and supervising students participating in the pilot program. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall negotiate with all bargaining units involved to ensure that the implementation of the pilot program is consistent with collective bargaining agreements. Passed Both Houses.

House Bill 5193—Hirschauer. Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that the safety education that school boards and other boards may provide instruction in includes safe gun storage. Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 5214—Hernandez. Amends the School Code. Adds a provision that any parent who is deaf, or does not normally communicate using spoken English, who participates in a meeting with a representative of a local educational agency for the purposes of developing an individualized educational program, or attends a multidisciplinary conference, a 504 mediation session, or a due process hearing (instead of just a meeting with a representative of a local educational agency for the purposes of developing an individualized educational program) shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Effective immediately.
House Committee Amendment No. 1
Replaces references to a 504 mediation session with references to a 504 meeting and a mediation session for when a parent is entitled to the services of an interpreter. Passed House.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: In provisions concerning notification of services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, provides that the notice shall also state that any parent who is deaf or does not typically communicate using spoken English and who participates in a Section 504 meeting with a representative of a local educational agency shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter. Removes the amendatory language that provides that those who attend a 504 meeting, a mediation session, or a due process hearing shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter. Provides that at all stages of an impartial due process hearing or mediation, the hearing officer or mediator shall require that interpreters licensed pursuant to the Interpreter for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2007 be made available by the school district for persons who are deaf or qualified interpreters be made available by the school district for persons whose normally spoken language is other than English (rather than providing that at all stages of an impartial due process hearing, the hearing officer shall require that interpreters be made available by the school district for persons who are deaf or for persons whose normally spoken language is other than English). Effective immediately. Passed Both Houses.

House Bill 5265—Guzzardi. Amends the School Code. Defines “school fees” or “fees” to mean any monetary charge collected by a public school, public school district, or charter school from a student or the parents or guardian of a student as a prerequisite for the student’s participation in any curricular or extracurricular program of the school or school district. Provides that homeless children and youth as defined in Section 11434A of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act also qualify for a waiver for fees and fines for the loss or destruction of school property (currently, fees). Provides that the school board may provide for waiver verification no more often than once every academic year (currently, once every 60 days). Provides that no discrimination or punishment of any kind, including, but not limited to, the lowering of grades, exclusion from classes, or withholding of student records, transcripts or diplomas, (currently, lowering of grades or exclusion from classes) may be exercised against a student whose because the student’s parents or guardians are unable to purchase required textbooks or instructional materials.
House Committee Amendment No. 2
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill but removes the applicability of the fine waiver for the destruction of school property, removes the applicability for children living in households eligible for reduced lunch and makes technical corrections. Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 5472—Rohr. 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. Passed Both Houses. 

House Bill 5488—Harper. Amends the School Code. Provides that any child from a public school, subject to guidelines established by the State Board of Education, shall be permitted by a school board at least one school day-long excused absence per school year for any middle school or high school student for a child that is absent from school to engage in a civic event. A school board may require that the student provide advance notice of the intended absence and require that the student provide documentation of participation in a civic event.
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Provides that school boards may require reasonable advance notice (instead of requiring advance notice) of the intended absence. Provides that the reasonable advance notification and documentation shall be provided to the appropriate school administrator. Further amends the Compulsory Attendance for Pupils Article of the School Code. Defines “civic event”, and provides that the State Board of Education may adopt rules to further define “civic event”. Adds attending a civic event as part of the definition of “valid cause”. Makes corresponding, grammatical, and stylistic changes. Passed Both Houses.

SENATE BILLS

Senate Bill 3792—Castro. Amends the Children and Family Services Act, the Illinois Youthbuild Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act, the School Code, the Public University Uniform Admission Pilot Program Act, the Public Community College Act, the Higher Education Student Assistance Act, the Illinois Insurance Code, the Pharmacy Practice Act, the Structural Pest Control Act, the Community Association Manager Licensing and Disciplinary Act, the Home Inspector License Act, the Real Estate License Act of 2000, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, the Illinois Vehicle Code, and the Unified Code of Corrections. Changes references from high school equivalency certificate to State of Illinois High School Diploma.
Senate Floor Amendment No. 2
In the provisions of the School Code concerning high school equivalency, specifies that a State of Illinois High School Diploma is a recognized high school equivalency certificate for purposes of reciprocity with other states and a high school equivalency certificate from another state is equivalent to a State of Illinois High School Diploma. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3893—Joyce. Provides that substitute teachers may teach up to 120 school days beginning with the 2021-2022 school year through the 2022-2023 school year. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3902—Lightford. Amends the School Code. Resolves conflicts with versions of provisions concerning prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma from Public Acts 101-654 (Sections 50-5 and 60-5), 102-366, and 102-551. Effective immediately. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3907—D. Turner. 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. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3914 Cappel.
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning sick leave for full-time teachers and eligible employees, adds mental or behavioral health complications to the enumerated interpretations of sick leave. Adds that the school board may require a certificate from a mental health professional licensed in Illinois providing ongoing care or treatment to the teacher or employee. Effective immediately.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 2
Adds provisions to the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1. Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that, in addition to any interpretation or definition included in a collective bargaining agreement or board of education or district policy, sick leave, or its equivalent, to which a teacher or other eligible employee is entitled shall be interpreted to include mental or behavioral health complications. Provides that, unless contrary to a collective bargaining agreement or board of education or district policy, the board may require a certificate from a mental health professional licensed in Illinois providing ongoing care or treatment to the teacher or employee as a basis for pay during leave after an absence of 3 days for mental or behavioral health complications. Effective immediately. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3915—Cappel. Amends the School Code. Provides that the application fee for a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License shall be waived when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. Effective immediately. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3936—Sims, Jr. 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
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
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”). Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3972—Murphy and T. Cullerton. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services to jointly establish and administer the Community Career Connections Program beginning with the 2022-2023 school year and continuing for a period of 2 school years. Provides that the Community Career Connections Program shall provide high school credits to eligible applicants in a participating school that receives a direct service professional certification. Requires the State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services to adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the Community Career Connections Program.
Senate Floor Committee Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and continuing for not less than 2 years, to make available a model program of study that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional. Requires the State Board, by July 1, 2023, to submit recommendations developed in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations representing community-based providers serving children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and education practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers, administrators, special education directors, and regional superintendents of schools, to the Department of Human Services for the training that would be required in order to be complete the model program of study. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3986—Pacione Zayas. Amends the School Code. Prohibits the State Board of Education from developing, purchasing, or requiring a school district to administer, develop, or purchase a standardized assessment for students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2, other than for diagnostic purposes. Prohibits the State Board of Education from providing funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2. Effective immediately.
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
Changes the term “diagnostic purposes” to “diagnostic and screening purposes”. Includes in the definition of diagnostic and screening purposes the determination of eligibility for special education, early intervention, bilingual education, dyslexia services, or other related educational services. Removes “child find” from the definition of diagnostic and screening purposes. Permits the State Board of Education to provide funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2 for diagnostic and screening purposes. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3988—Pacione Zayas. 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. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 3990—Pacione Zayas. 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. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 4006—Bush. Amends the Autism Spectrum Disorders Reporting Act. Provides that, no later than December 31st of each year, the Department of Human Services shall submit a report to the General Assembly regarding access to applied behavior analysis therapy for people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Insurance to provide all necessary data upon request to the Department of Human Services to facilitate the timely and accurate completion of the report. Sets forth information that the report shall include. Passed Both Houses.

Senate Bill 4056—Belt. 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 non-instructional 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
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. Passed Both Houses.