Governor Bruce Rauner has now taken action on most legislation that was approved in the 2017 legislative session. Here are some of the key education bills that have been signed into law:

 

HB 106 (Batinick, R- Plainfield) provides that the holder of a master's degree in public administration who completes an additional six semester hours of internship in school business management from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and passes applicable State tests is eligible for a chief school business official endorsement. (PA 100-0288, effective August 24, 2017)

 

HB 213 (Ford, D-Chicago) provides that any moneys transferred from the State Lottery fund to the Common School Fund shall be supplemental to any other money due to be transferred. (PA 100-0466, effective June 1, 2018)

 

HB 656 (Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria) changes the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) federal funds rate from the unfunded liability rate to the normal cost rate for school staff paid with federal program dollars. (PA 100-0340, effective August 25, 2017)

 

HB 2612 (Pritchard, R-Hinckley) provides greater flexibility and efficiency in the detachment and dissolution of school districts, including creation of a local hearing panel and a process for petitioning for boundary changes. (PA 100-0374, effective August 25, 2017)

HB 2663 (Stratton, D-Chicago) prohibits early childhood programs receiving ISBE grants to expel children. (PA 100-0105, effective January 1, 2018)

 

HB 2794 (Ford) requires school districts to inform all 11th and 12th grade students of dual enrollment and dual credit opportunities at public community colleges for qualified students. (PA 100-0133, effective January 1, 2018)

 

HB 2898 (Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates) r emoves the date (of June 30, 2021) until which a principal endorsement may be affixed to the Professional Educator License of a person who has, among other qualifications, at least four total years of experience working in the capacity of school support personnel. (PA 100-0267, effective August 22, 2017)

 

HB 3120 (Demmer, R-Rochelle) allows a public body to satisfy the newspaper publication requirement for its determination of the prevailing rate of wages by posting on the public body's website a hyperlink to the prevailing wage schedule for that locality on the Department of Labor (DOL) website. (PA 100-0154, effective August 18, 2017)

 

HB 3139 (Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora), facilitating the work of the Balanced Accountability Model, establishes a definition of chronic absenteeism and requires school districts to collect and review the data and determine needed resources to engage chronically absent students and their families. (PA 100-0156, effective January 1, 2018)

 

HB 3215 (Wallace, D-Rockford) requires schools to provide feminine hygiene products to students at no cost, in school restrooms. It is estimated that this effort would cost $13.5 million statewide. (PA 100-0163, effective January1, 2018)

 

HB 3394 (Walsh, D-Joliet) allows the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to recommend removal of a school employee that is subject of an investigation, pending the outcome, but allows all employment decisions to be the sole responsibility of the school district or employer. It prohibits DCFS from requiring a district to remove the employee or limit their duties pending the outcome of an investigation. (PA 100-0176, effective January 1, 2018)

 

SB 473 (Munoz, D-Chicago), for Cook County only, increases thesenior citizens homestead exemption from $5,000 to $8,000; and the General Homestead Exemption from $6,000 to $10,000. Increases the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze income qualification from $55,000 to $65,000 in all counties after 2017. (PA 100-0401, effective August 25, 2017)

 

SB 764 (Morrison, D-Deerfield) allows DCFS, in cooperation with school officials, to distribute appropriate materials in school buildings listing the toll-free telephone number established in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to be displayed in a clearly visible location in each school building. (PA 100-0413, effective January 1, 2018)

 

SB 1223 (Lightford, D-Maywood) requires each school district to have a policy, which includes a panel of decision-makers including the student's parents, that allows for accelerated placement including reporting of certain data to the ISBE. (PA 100-0421, effective July 1, 2018)

 

SB 1483 (Althoff, R-McHenry) provides that a parent's or student's request to inspect and copy records under the Act must be granted no later than 5 business days (rather than 15 school days). (PA 100-0532, effective September 22, 2017)

 

SB 1796 (Hastings, D-Frankfort) creates the Students Online Personal Protection Act, adding various provisions to safe guard student data. (PA 100-0315, effective August 24, 2017)

 

SB 2028 (Cullerton, T., D-Villa Park) allows schools to be relieved of the alternative plating and registration requirements when using a school bus for school related activities. (PA 100-0241, effective January 1, 2018)

 

 

EDUCATION BILLS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR

 

HB 2462 (Moeller, D-Elgin) prohibits employers from screening job applicants based on wage and salary history and prohibits an employer from seeking the salary and benefits of a job applicant from any current or former employer.

 

HB 2977 (Welch, D-Hillside) requires schools to include a unit of instruction for writing cursive.

 

SB 81 (Lightford) increases the State minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022.

 

 

LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE

 

The legislature will return to the Capitol for the Veto Session October 24-26 and November 7-9.