Legislation

 

      Mission Statement

Spring Session 2010:

January 12, 13, 14, 21-P, 28-P
February 2-P, 8-S, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 26
March 2, 3, 4, 5-S, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15-S, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22-H, 23, 24, 25, 26
April 7-P, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30
May 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 - Adjournment on May 7, 2010

Primary Election February 2, 2010  /  General Election November 2, 2010

(P - Perfunctory / S - Senate in session only,  H - House in session only)

 

Legislation signed into law:  As of September 14, 2009 

Senate Bills:

Senate Bill 54, Public Act. # 96-0555, ETHICS REFORM
Ethics reforms and requirements for state government including quarterly financial report, review of state’s finances, and a review of statewide employment practices, among other requirements.   Also requires ethics training for lobbyists, monthly lobbying reports with weekly reports during legislative session, and an exemption to required lobbyist registration for units of local governments and school districts.  Effective date: January 1, 2010.

Senate Bill 79, PA # 96-0119, PRE-SCHOOL FOR ALL
 Requires Pre-School for All programs to enter into a memo of understanding with the appropriate local Head Start agency no later than 3 months from receiving the grant.  Effective date: August 4, 2009

Senate Bill 187, PA #96-0056, CHIEF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIAL
Allows for a Chief School Business Official endorsement for certificate holders with 2 years of University approved practical experience.  Effective date: January 1, 2010.

Senate Bill 189   (Public Act #96-0542), FOIA
 This legislation makes wide spread changes to the Freedom of Information Act.  Please view this legislation at www.ilga.gov .  Effective date: January 1, 2010

Senate Bill 269, Public Act. # 96-0616, BUS DRIVER FEES
 Increases fees for bus driver training from the current $4 to $6 in 2010, $8 in 2013 and $10 in 2016 and after.  Effective date:  January 1, 2010.

Senate Bill 1215, PA # 96-0042, FY 2010 APPROPRIATIONS
Amends the FY 2009 line item appropriations for ISBE and makes re-appropriations.  Also makes FY 2010 appropriations.  Effective date: July 15, 2009

Senate Bill 1276, PA # 96-0062, SUPERINTENDENT MENTORING
Superintendent mentoring program to be established by ISBE for superintendents new to the state for their first 2 years.  Other provisions.  Effective date: July 23, 2009

Senate Bill 1412, PA # 96-0423, BLOCK GRANT FOR ZERO TO THREE
Requires that not less than 11% of the Early Childhood Education Block Grant be used to fund programs for children ages 0 – 3.   Effective date:  August 13, 2009

Senate Bill 1508, PA #96-0628, STUDENT RECORDS – CONFIDENTIALITY
Amends Student Records Act to provide that nothing shall impair or limit the confidentiality of information obtained in confidence by school social workers, counselors, psychologists, or psychologist interns.  Also provides protection to school employees who act to protect confidential information.  Effective date: January 1, 2010.

Senate Bill 1557, PA # 96-0629, DEPORTATION OF MEXICAN-AMERICANS IN GREAT DEPRESSION.
The requirement to study the role of Hispanics in U.S. History shall include the study of the events related to the forceful  deportation of Mexican-American U.S. Citizens during the Great Depression.  Effective January 1, 2010.

Senate Bill 1570, PA #96-0725, WIND AND SOLAR FUND
Creates the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to fund wind and solar generation projects for schools and community colleges.  Effective date: August 25, 2009.

Senate Bill 1718, PA # 96-0633, FIREARMS IN SCHOOL
Clarifies expulsion and suspension for weapon violations in schools.   Requires compliance with the federal Gun Free Schools Act.  Also requires expulsion for firearm, and other weapons in school but allows superintendent to modify the expulsion on a case by case basis.  Effective date:  August 24, 2009.

Senate Bill 1769, PA # 96-0424, LAWN CARE AND PEST CONTROL
Requires school districts to designate a staff person to be responsible for compliance and allows schools and day care centers to give notice in writing or by telephone to parents four days before application.  Effective date: August 13, 2009.

Senate Bill 1828, PA #96-0107, P-20 LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEM
Creates the P-20 Longitudinal Education Data System Act to track student learning from early learning to the post-secondary level.  Effective date: July 30, 2009

Senate Bill 1912, PA # 96-0045, EMERGENCY BUDGET
Creates the Emergency Budget Implementation Act of FY 2010.  Effective date: July 15, 2009.

Senate Bill 1926, PA # 96-0731, CONSTRUCTION GRANTS FOR VOCATIONAL CENTERS
Vocational Centers with joint agreements with schools are eligible for grants under the School Construction Grant Law.  Effective date: August 25, 2009

Senate Bill 1956, PA # 96-0640, CLOCK HOURS FOR INSERVICE/INSTITUTES & CONFERENCE ON HOLIDAYS.
Makes changes in days used for in-service training for teachers and parent/teacher conferences with regard to average daily clock hours.  Allows institutes and conferences on certain holidays.
Effective date: July 1, 2009.

Senate Bill 1977, PA # 96-0734, SCHOOL CODE CHANGES
Multiple changes in School Code for: State aid claims, Teacher dismissal, driver safety, food service, Childhood Hunger Relief Act, Truants Alternative and Optional Education Program, School Safety Drill, and review of facilities.  Effective date: July 1, 2009.

Senate Bill 1995, PA # 96-0787, BUILDING BONDS EXTENDED - Elgin and Lockport
 
Authorizes Lockport High School and Elgin Community College to issue bonds for building purposes for 25 years (instead of 20 years).  Effective date: August 29, 2009.

Senate Bill 2014, PA # 96-0430, PSAE
Reduces the opportunities for students to take the PSAE test from two to one.  Effective date:  August 13, 2009.

Senate Bill 2051, PA # 96-0152, NO REDUCTION IN GSA WITH REFERENDUM SUCCESS
Changes GSA calculation for school districts who have passed a limiting rate increase by referendum in counties under PTELL.  After the 2010 year, the increase in local resources will not result in a decrease of GSA for the approved duration of the limiting rate increase.  Effective date: August 7, 2009.

Senate Bill 2270, PA # 96-0343, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SALARY REPORTS
Requires school districts to annualy itemize all salaries for employees holding an administrative certificate, to present the report at a school board meeting, post it on their website and submit it to their ROE.  The report is to include base salary, pension amount, retirement increases, insurance provided, paid sick day and vacation payouts, annuities and any other form of compensation.  Effective date: August 13, 2009.

Senate Bill 2277, PA # 96-0647, PILOT PROGRAM FOR DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Authorizes ISBE to provide a pilot program to test digital technologies as an alternative to textbooks in 3 school districts - subject to appropriation.  Effective date: August 24, 2009.

House Bills:

House Bill 72,  PA # 96-0131, NO CELL PHONE USE IN SCHOOL OR CONSTRUCTION ZONE
Prohibits use of a cell phone by the driver of a car in a school speed zone or construction zone.  Effective date: January 1, 2010.

House Bill 78, PA # 96-0153, FARM FRESH SCHOOLS
Requires the Dept. of Agriculture, ISBE and the Dept. of Public Health to create the Farm Fresh Schools Program.  Competitive grants would be established for schools to apply for funds to implement such programs.  Effective date:  August 7, 2009.

House Bill 242, PA # 96-0501, DEBT SERVICE INCREASE
Provides that debt service extension base must be increased by CPI each year during the 12 month calendar year preceding the levy year, not to exceed 5%.  Effective date:  August 14, 2009.

House Bill 272, PA # 96-0132, RANDOM DRUG TESTING FOR IHSA PARTICIPATION
Prohibits IHSA from allowing students to participate in athletic competition unless the student agrees not to use performance-enhancing drugs and submits to random drug testing.  Also requires all IHSA coaches to complete program on prevention of abuse of performance-enhancing drugs and to take an exam on the subject.  Requires at least 1,000 athletes to be tested from at least 25% of schools in IHSA.  Effective date: August 7, 2009.

House Bill 281, Public Act # 96-0349, LIFE THREATENING FOOD ALLERGIES
Requires ISBE and the Dept. of Public Health to develop, and make available to schools, guidelines for management of students with life threatening food allergies.  Requires school boards to implement a policy on guidelines and provide in-service training every two years.
Effective date: August 13, 2009.

House Bill 325, PA # 96- 0538, COOK COUNTY SCHOOL TREASURER ON BOE
Allows a school treasurer in Cook County to also serve as a member of a school board.  Effective date: August 14, 2009.

House Bill 493, PA # 96-0504, PTELL TRUTH IN TAXATION NOTICE -  EXPLANATION
Allows taxing districts to add an explanation of the PTELL to the Truth in Taxation Notice.  Effective date:  August 14, 2009

House Bill 628, PA # 96-0657, EDUCATIONAL EVALUATOR – ACCESS TO FACILITIES
Provides that if a mutually agreeable date and time can be established between a school district and an independent educational evaluator and a parent, the school must allow reasonable access to the educational facilities, personnel, and to the child.  The evaluator must receive a sufficient time to conduct an evaluation.  Effective date: August 25, 2009

House Bill 645, PA # 96-0367, CHIROPRACTORS TO VERIFY SICK LEAVE
Allows chiropractors to provide verification for schools that require a doctor’s note for sick leave for employees or student absence.  Effective date: August 13, 2009.

House Bill 684, Public Act # 96-0746, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Requires ISBE to provide grants for programs at Community Schools.  Effective date: August 25, 2009.

House Bill 737, PA # 96-0373, MASTER PRINCIPAL PROGRAM
ISBE is authorized to select, through a competitive process, a statewide entity or entities to receive funds for a Master Principal Program, without consultation with the State Teachers Certification Board. Effective date: August 13, 2009.

House Bill 944, Public Act # 96-0668, NO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY FOR LATE GSA
Disallows the certification of financial difficulty for a school district soley as a result of late payments by the state.  Effective date: July 1, 2009.

House Bill 973, PA # 96-0383, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE INSTRUCTION
Comprehensive Health Education may include instruction in grades 8 through 12 on teen dating violence. Effective date:  January 1, 2010.

House Bill 979, PA # 96-0187, POSTSECONDARY GOALS FOR IEP STUDENT
Provides that students with an IEP at age 14 ˝ must have measurable postsecondary goals included in their IEP that is based on age-appropriate transition and independent living skills.  Effective date:  August 10, 2009.

House Bill 999, PA # 96-0019, SCHOOL DISTRICT LINE OF CREDIT
Allows school districts and other entities to establish a line of credit with a bank or other financial institution, in an amount not to exceed 95% of their property taxes most recently levied.  Other provisions.  Effective date: June 26, 2009

House Bill 1035, Public Act # 96-0191, INSTRUCTION ON DISABILITY HISTORY
Requires school districts to provide instruction on disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement.  Effective date: January 1, 2010.

House Bill 1107, PA # 96-0252, EMERGENCY REPAIRS – LIFE/SAFETY BID
Provides that when an emergency project is less than the amount specified in the bid provisions of the school code,  the district may proceed with repairs prior to approval by State Supt. under certain conditions. Effective date:  August 11, 2009.

House Bill 1148, PA # 96-0546, PRIVATE SCHOOL PENSION CREDIT
Provides that a teacher or administrator employed by a private school recognized by ISBE,  must apply in writing on or after August 1, 2009, and on or before August 1, 2012, to establish service for pension purposes.  Effective August 17, 2009.

House Bill 2235, PA # 96-2235, SALARY REPORT TO ISBE
Requires the governing boards of school districts, universities and community colleges to report annually to ISBE and the Board of Higher Education on the base salary and benefits of all administrators and teachers.  Effective date:  January 1, 2010

House Bill 2362, PA # 96-0392, TRANSPORTATION FOR SPECIAL STUDENTS – EXEMPT FROM LOWEST BIDDER
 
Adds contracts for transportation of special and disabled students to list of exemptions for low bid requirements.  Effective date:  January 1, 2010.

House Bill 2448, PA # 96-0684, REMOTE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Allows school districts to pass a resolution to provide a remote educational program for students at home or other locations.  Effective Date: August 25, 2009.

House Bill 2871, PA # 96-0403, NO FUND SWEEPS FOR TEACHER CERT REVOLVING FUND
Prohibits the Teacher Certificate Fee Revolving Fund from being transferred into any other state fund.  Effective date: August 13, 2009.

House Bill 3672, PA # 96-0299, IMRF SICK LEAVE – MULTIPLE EMPLOYERS
Provides that employees in IMRF who worked for more than one school district during their career will have sick leave from all employers  credited for pension service.  Effective date: August 11, 2009.

House Bill 3982, PA  96-0410, NO VAN FOR TRANSPORTING STUDENTS
Prohibits  the transporting of students in a van.  The bill does allow use of a “multifunction school-activity bus” which is defined as a school bus manufactured for the purpose of transporting up to 15 persons, including the driver, whose purpose does not include transporting students to and from home or school bus stops.  Effective date: July 1, 2010.

House Bill 4223, PA # 96-0417, RECOMMENDATION FOR RADON TESTING EVERY 5 YEARS
Recommends that schools be tested for radon every 5 years.  Effective date:  January 1, 2010.


FOR FULL LANGUAGE ON ALL BILLS, PLEASE VISIT: 
www.ilga.gov