Spring Session 2008
February 13,
14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28
March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18-p, 20-p, 25-p, 27-p, (Easter: March 23rd)
April 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22-p, 24-p, 29, 30
May 1, 5-p, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29
(Memorial Day, May 26th)
Scheduled Adjournment is May 29, 2008
P = Perfunctory
Memorial Day: May 26, 2008
Primary Election: February 5, 2008
General Election: November 4, 2008
Legislation:
Bill Action from the longest overtime session in Illinois history:
Final Action on Bills from Spring Session, Veto
Session and
Special Sessions, 2007 (As of January 30, 2008)
The following bills have
signed by the Governor:
Senate Bill
783 - Public Act 95-0707- Budget Implementation Bill - BIMP
The Governor's amendatory veto of the budget bill was approved and it is now
law. General State Aid has been recalculated and retroactive payments will be
spread among remaining GSA payments. The same process will be followed for
special education personnel reimbursement payments. The bill increases
reimbursement for special education personnel; increases the per pupil
foundation; authorizes block grants for non-public schools; provides
transitional assistance to ensure that no school district receives less than in
2007; authorizes a study of non-traditional program (Lincolns Challenge
Academy) for dropouts; allows pay for performance teacher pay pending union
approval; grants for overcrowded schools; requires reporting of contracts over $
25,000 and collective bargaining agreements on school district websites; poverty
grants; and salary incentives for hard-to-staff schools.
Effective Date: January 11, 2008
House Bill
656 - Public Act 95-0708 Mass Transit
The Governor did not veto the quarter-point sales tax hike as promised and the
bill to shore up the Chicago mass transit system passed with the addition of an
amendatory veto to allow senior citizens to ride mass transit free throughout
the state. Both chambers approved the veto and the bill is now law.
Effective date: January 18, 2008
House Bill
18 - Public Act. 95-0349 - Bullying Policy
School districts are required to maintain a policy on bullying, file it with the
ISBE and update every two years. ISBE will monitor the policy.
Effective Date: August 30, 2007
House Bill
263 Public Act 95-0440 Sex Offender Voting Rights
Allows child sex offenders to vote early or by absentee if their precinct
polling place is in a school. Requires the election authority to designate at
least one early voting location that a child sex offender may enter. Also makes
it a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to knowingly be present within 100
feet of a bus stop when one or more persons under age 18 are present.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
House Bill
357 Public Act 95-0053 Extend Interfund Transfers
Changes expiration for school district interfund transfers from June 30, 2007 to
June 30, 2010.
Effective Date: August 10, 2007.
House Bill
426 - Public Act 95-0006 - Change Illinois Primary Election Date
The bill changes the primary election date from the 3rd Tuesday in March to the
1st Tuesday in February in even numbered years. Gives the State powers to
certify candidates for the national convention and other provisions.
Effective Date: June 20, 2007
House Bill
438 - Public Act 95-0198 - Gang Resistance Education
Bullying prevention will include a Gang Resistance component. Requires the
schools to collaborate with local law enforcement.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
House Bill
518 Public Act 95-0201 Driving Records online
Authorizes the Secretary of State to allow parents and guardians to view the
driving record online of their child under the age 18 years old who holds a
graduated drivers license or permit.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
House Bill
742 Public Act 95-0128 Whistleblower Act for Schools
Includes school districts as employers covered under the Whistle Blower
Protection Act.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
House Bill
817 - Public Act 95-0014 - Special Education Services to Age 22
The bill extends special education services to children through their 21st year
to the day before they turn 22 years old.
Effective Date: July 16, 2007
House Bill
895 - Public Act 95-0084 - Green Cleaning in Schools
Requires green cleaning supplies for schools, when economically feasible.
Effective Date: August 13, 2007
House Bill
983 - Public Act 95-0090 - EAV as Recovered Value for TIF
Allows the equalized assessed value to be used as "recovered tax value" under
Tax Cap after termination of a redevelopment project from TIF.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
House Bill
1030 Public Act 95-0555 Special Education Expense Report
A
SCOPE INITIATIVE
- Authorizes the State Board of Education to issue an annual report identifying
each school districts special education costs and shortfall in reimbursed
expenses.
Effective Date: August 30, 2007
House Bill
1080 Public Act 95-0337 Gang Conviction/Lose Driving Privilege
Provides that a person who is adjudicated under the juvenile court of a gang
related crime while using a motor vehicle, shall be denied driving privileges.
Also provides if crime committed before holding a permit or license, the
juvenile will have to wait until age 18, or if holding a valid license at the
time of the crime, it shall be revoked until age 21.
Effective Date: June 1, 2007
House Bill
1347 Public Act 95-0241 Restrictions on Third Party Contracts
New restrictions for school boards and contractors on third party
non-instructional contracts. Includes 90-day written notice to ESP before being
laid off; no contracts to be entered into during term of collective bargaining
agreements; cost comparison analysis required before agreement on contracts;
public hearing requirements; and other provisions.
Effective Date: August 17, 2007
House Bill
1363 - Public Act 95-0102 - Grant Money for Psychology Internships
The ISBE will provide grant money for graduate training programs for aid in
providing training and facilitating interns to improve education and mental
health services for children.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
House Bill
1648 Public Act 95-0626 P-20 Councils
Creates the Illinois P-20 Council to study and make recommendations for improved
teaching and learning and to cultivate strong accountability and efficiency.
The council will be made up of 26 voting members and 9 ex officio members. The
IASB and IASA will each appoint a member.
Effective Date: June 1, 2008
House Bill
1711 - Public Act 95-0002 - No Horsemeat for Dinner
Prohibits the slaughter, possession, export or import, sale, purchase or the
giving away of horses if knowledge it will be used for human consumption.
Effective Date: May 24, 2007
House Bill
1872 Public Act 95-0141 - No Election Canvass for School
Boards
Repeals the requirement for school boards to canvass the results of
elections.
Effective Date: August 13, 2007
House Bill
1910 Public Act 95-0152 Partial Day State Aid
School districts may count a partial day of at least one hour of instruction as
a whole day, if students were dismissed early due to a condition beyond the
control of the district.
Effective Date: August 14, 2007
House Bill
1964 Public Act. 95-0155 Summer Food Program
School districts must offer a summer breakfast or lunch program during summer
school if at least 50% of their students are eligible for a free or reduced
price lunch. Districts may petition the regional superintendent to opt out if
reimbursement would not fully cover the costs of such a program.
Effective Date: August 14, 2007
House Bill
3327 Public Act 95-0168 Alcohol Consumption Instruction
Safety education will include the consequences of alcohol consumption while
operating a motor vehicle.
Effective Date: August 14, 2007
House Bill
3624 Public Act 95-0176 School Bus Identification
School buses will post signs on rear of buses to show contact telephone number
of owner of bus and number to report bad driver.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
Senate Bill
140 Public Act 95-0338 No Cell Phone While Teen Driving
Prohibits a person under the age of 19 who holds an instruction permit or a
graduated license from using a wireless phone while driving, except for
emergencies.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
Senate Bill
166 Public Act 95-0260 - No Bus Rider Left Behind
School districts must have a policy to ensure that school bus drivers check to
make sure no passengers are left behind at the end of their route. Bus drivers
will be required to walk to the rear of the bus with the interior lights on for
a visual check. They may include a provision to deactivate a reminder system at
rear of bus.
Effective Date: August 17, 2007
Senate Bill
172 Public Act 95-0310 Drivers Education Changes
Makes significant changes for obtaining a drivers license. Requires students to
hold an instruction permit for 9 months instead of 3; imposes a curfew for
permit driving; limits number of passengers for newly licensed drivers, deletes
rules for school districts to use proficiency exams for driving practice,
prohibits use of simulators for driving credit.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008 (Some provisions: July 1, 2008)
Senate Bill
500 - Public Act 95-0017 - Smoke Free Illinois Act
Prohibits smoking inside any building including restaurants, bars, public
buildings, inside malls, museums and places of employment.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
Senate Bill
538 Public Act 95-0308 Community Use of Schools
School Boards are encouraged to allow community organizations to use school
facilities during non-school hours and adopt a formal policy governing use by
such organizations.
Effective Date: August 230, 2007
Senate Bill
654 Public Act 95-0419 Diabetes Prevention
The Diabetes Initiative Act provides that the Department of Human Services
develop a strategy to slow the rate of diabetes as a result of obesity by 2010.
Strategies could include work groups for high school or college educators.
Effective Date: August 24, 2007
Senate Bill
835 Public Act 95-0675 County Sales Tax for Schools
Allows a county board to place a question on the ballot to provide a sales tax
for distribution to school districts within the county borders for the purpose
of school facilities use. Voters must approve the measure and the district must
have at least 51% of their student enrollment within the county. Regional
Superintendents will distribute the tax on an enrollment basis.
Effective Date: October 11, 2007
Senate Bill
843 Public Act 95-0390 Wind Farms
Allows school districts to own and operate wind generation turbine farms that
directly or indirectly reduce energy or other operating costs.
Effective Date: August 23, 1007
Senate Bill
937 Public Act 95-0422 HPV Vaccine
Requires health insurance plans to cover Human Papillomavirus vaccination and
the Department of Public Health to cover vaccination for girls under age 18 in
families without insurance. Changes school exams from 5th to 6th
grade and requires the Dept. of Public Health to provide all female students
entering 6th grade and parents or guardians, with written information
about the link between HPV and cervical cancer and the availability of HPV
vaccine.
Effective Date: August 24, 2007
Senate Bill
1224 Public Act 95-0449 Teacher Homeowner Assistance
Requires the Illinois Housing Development Authority to provide down payment
assistance to public school teachers in hard-to-staff schools. Applies to
purchase of a residence within their school district.
Effective Date: August 27, 2007
Senate Bill
1428 Public Act 95-0461 BOE to Report Child Abuse
Mandates members of a school board, Chicago Board of Education and the governing
body of a private school to report abuse if allegations are raised during the
course of a school board meeting.
Effective Date: August 27, 2007
Senate Bill
1463 Public Act 95-0680 Silent Reflection
Amends the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act to require, instead of
allow, teachers to observe a brief period of silence at the opening of each
school day. The word prayer may be removed from this act as a result of
future legislation.
Effective Date: October 11, 2007
Senate Bill
1467 Public Act 95-0541 No Gender Discrimination
Adds gender to race, color, and national origin for characteristics for which
state, county or local government in Illinois cannot discriminate against.
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
The full language of the bills shown above can be viewed on the state
legislation web page:
www.ilga.gov
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