House Elementary & Secondary Education (HELM)

Role	Name
Member	Darlene J. Senger (R-96)
Member	David E. Miller (D-29)
Member	David Reis (R-108)
Member	Esther Golar (D-6)
Vice-Chairperson	Fred Crespo (D-44)
Member	Harry Osterman (D-14)
Republican Spokesperson	Jerry L. Mitchell (R-90)
Member	Jim Watson (R-97)
Member	John D. Cavaletto (R-107)
Member	Karen A. Yarbrough (D-7)
Member	Lisa M. Dugan (D-79)
Member	Marlow H. Colvin (D-33)
Chairperson	Michael K. Smith (D-91)
Member	Monique D. Davis (D-27)
Member	Paul D. Froehlich (D-56)
Member	Robert F. Flider (D-101)
Member	Robert W. Pritchard (R-70)
Member	Roger L. Eddy (R-109)
Member	Sandra M. Pihos (R-42)
Member	Suzanne Bassi (R-54)

SB 3460: SCH CONSTR-IMPROVED FACILITIES (Assigned 4/29/2010) Amends the School Construction Law. In provisions concerning early childhood construction grants, provides that a public school district or other eligible entity must provide local matching funds in an amount equal to 10% of the grant (rather than the amount of the grant). Provides that the Capital Development Board may adopt rules that include requirements that new or improved facilities be used for early childhood and other related programs for a period of at least 10 years. Effective July 1, 2010.

SB 2647: SCH CONSTRUCT-BUILDING COMM (Assigned 4/28/2010) Amends the School Code and the School Construction Law. In a Section concerning a school board's power to levy a tax or borrow money and issue bonds for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, disabled accessibility, school security, and specified repair purposes, makes changes concerning a school district's authority to replace a school building or build additions to replace portions of a building. With respect to one of the exceptions to a school district's debt limitation, allows additional indebtedness by the execution of a lease with a public building commission; makes related changes. Removes references that limit provisions to just the Chicago school district with respect to (i) the prohibition on the State Board of Education and the Capital Development Board establishing standards that disapprove or otherwise establishing limitations that restrict the eligibility of a school district for a school construction project grant based on certain facts (including based on the fact that all or a part of the school construction project is owned by a public building commission and leased to the school) and (ii) the authority of a school district to use school construction project grants for certain purposes. Effective immediately.

SJR 114: SCH CD MANDATE WAIVER REPORT (Assigned 4/23/2010) Encourages the General Assembly to promptly review and evaluate the Report on Waiver of School Code Mandates filed by the State Board of Education to determine if the Report should be disapproved in whole or in part.

SB 3117: SCH CD-INTERFUND TRANSFERS (Assigned 4/20/2010) Amends the School Code. Extends the time period during which a school district other than the Chicago school district may transfer moneys from specified funds for any purpose from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2013. Effective immediately.

HJR 109: D.A.R.E. DAY (Assigned 4/19/2010) Recognizes October 15th, 2010, and every October 15 thereafter, as D.A.R.E. Day and encourages all citizens to support and partake in their local D.A.R.E. programs.

HR 1006: COMPTROLLER-SCHOOL PAYMENTS (Assigned 4/19/2010) Urges the Comptroller to make payments to school districts for mandated categorical services by program when funding is available, rather than paying for all programs on a quarterly basis.

SB 2507: SCH CD-BONDS-WILMINGTON (Assigned 4/14/2010) Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, allows Wilmington Community Unit School District Number 209-U to issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,285,000 if, among other conditions, (i) the proceeds of the bonds are used to accomplish only those projects approved by the voters at the general primary election held on March 21, 2006; (ii) prior to the issuance of the bonds, the school board determines, by resolution, that (A) the projects approved by the voters were and are required because of the age and condition of the school district's prior and existing school buildings and (B) the issuance of the bonds is authorized by legislation that exempts the debt incurred on the bonds from the district's statutory debt limitation; (iii) the bonds are issued in one or more bond issuances on or before March 1, 2011, but the aggregate principal amount issued in all those bond issuances combined must not exceed $2,285,000; and (iv) the bonds are issued in accordance with the Article. Provides that the debt incurred on any bonds issued shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation. Effective immediately.

SB 3266: SCH CD-GANG RESIST-BULLYING (Assigned 4/12/2010) Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, makes changes concerning the criteria for bullying, the written policy on bullying that schools must adopt (including posting requirements), and implementation of the written policy. Requires that schools maintain records concerning any bullying incidents. Adds provisions concerning criminal and civil immunity for specified parties. Adds provisions concerning gang resistance education and training for students. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

SB 3515: SCH CD-SCH BD-TREASURER-EMP (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the School Code. Allows a school treasurer to pay recurring bills upon certification by the clerk or secretary of the school board (instead of requiring an order of the school board signed by the president and clerk or secretary or by a majority of the board). Makes changes concerning when the record of the official acts of the school board must be submitted to the treasurer. With respect to the prohibition on a school board member having an interest in district contracts, work, business, or sales, provides that a board member shall not be deemed interested if the board member is an employee of a business that is involved in the transaction of business with the school district, provided that the board member has no ownership interest in the business. Provides that a school board member's oath of office must be administered as determined by the board. Removes a provision that allows a school board to visit and inspect schools. Provides that a school board may authorize by policy (rather than by regulation) the superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or dean of students to suspend pupils. Provides that a school board must be given a summary of the notice of a parent's right to a review of the suspension (instead of a copy of the full statement of the reasons for the suspension and the notice of the parent's right to a review). Makes changes concerning when an educational support personnel employee who has been dismissed is paid. Makes changes concerning the filing of a teacher's transcript of college credits. Effective immediately.

SB 2980: SCH CD-CURRICLR MANDATE WAIVER (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the School Code. Allows a school board to waive, by resolution, any statutory or regulatory curricular mandate for which the school district does not receive a separate State appropriation through the State Board of Education or reimbursement by the State to extend the school day or year (with exceptions for special education requirements, graduation requirements, and any curricular mandate directly related to an Illinois Learning Standard). Provides that if a student requests information on any curricular mandate that has been waived, then the school district shall provide the student with the requested information. Effective immediately.

SB 3544: SCHOOLS-FUNDING (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the School Code. Deletes a provision applicable to school districts with a population of less than 500,000 requiring that permanent interfund transfers not otherwise authorized by law must be made to the fund of the school district most in need of the funds being transferred. Allows school districts to increase, abate, maintain, abolish, and re-create working cash funds. Provides that moneys in the working cash fund may be used by the school board for any and all school purposes. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

SB 3483: SCH CD-DEBT LIMITATIONS (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the debt limitations of school districts, provides that in addition to all other authority to issue bonds, West Washington County Community Unit School District 10 may issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $32,200,000 and maturing over a period not exceeding 30 years, but only if all of specified conditions are met. Provides that the debt incurred on any bonds issued under specified provisions shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory debt limitation. Effective immediately.

SB 3608: SCH CD-CONSUMER ED PROF TEST (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the School Code. Removes a provision requiring a consumer education proficiency test to be administered that allows a pupil to be excused from the requirement that he or she have consumer education instruction. Effective July 1, 2010.

SB 3609: SCH CD-COMMON SCH FND-TRANSFER (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the State Finance Act and the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Comptroller, may transfer line item appropriations for General State Aid between the Common School Fund and the Education Assistance Fund (instead of from the Common School Fund to the Education Assistance Fund). Removes the requirement that the salaries for regional superintendents and assistant regional superintendents of schools be payable from the Common School Fund. Effective immediately.

SB 3610: EDUC-REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that on or before October 1, 2012 (instead of August 1, 2009) and every 3 years thereafter, the State Board of Education shall file with the General Assembly and the Governor and shall make available to the public a report listing the institutions of higher education engaged in teacher preparation in the State, along with other specified data pertinent to each institution. Deletes language that provides that on or before February 1, 1998, and each year thereafter, the State Board of Education shall submit a cumulative report summarizing all types of waivers of mandates and modifications of mandates granted by the State Board or the General Assembly. In provisions requiring a school to prepare a report assessing school performance, removes the requirement to include the average administrator salary and average teacher salary in the report. Amends the School Construction Law. Provides that each school year in which school energy efficiency project grants are awarded, 20% of the total amount awarded shall be awarded to a school district in a city with a population of more than 500,000 (currently, specifies only a school district with a population of more than 500,000), provided that the school district complies with the specified rules and requirements. Effective July 1, 2010.

SB 3706: EDU-NUTRITITION-ACTIVITIES (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop and maintain a nutrition and physical activity best practices database. Provides that the database shall contain the results of any wellness-related fitness testing done by local school districts, as well as information on successful programs and policies implemented by local school districts designed to improve nutrition and physical activity in the public and charter schools. Provides that the information may include (i) a description of the program or policy, (ii) advice on implementation, (iii) any assessment of the program or policy, (iv) a contact person from the local school district, and (v) any other information the State Board of Education deems appropriate. The database shall be readily accessible to all local school districts Statewide. The State Board of Education shall encourage local school districts to submit information to the database, however no school district shall be required to submit information. Provides that the State Board of Education may adopt rules necessary for administration of the database. Effective immediately.

SB 3681: SCH CD-DISTRICT FINANCIAL INFO (Assigned 4/8/2010) Creates the Financial Oversight Panel Law of the School Code. Allows a school district (other than the Chicago school district) to petition the State Board of Education for the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel for the district. Allows the State Board to establish a Financial Oversight Panel without a petition from a district. Contains provisions concerning duties of the district; members and meetings of a Panel; powers of a Panel; officers of a Panel; collective bargaining agreements; deposits and investments; cash and bank accounts; the financial, management, and budgetary structure; the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund; grants and loans; the issuance of bonds; a tax levy; a debt service fund; a debt service reserve fund; bond anticipation notes; tax anticipation warrants and other certificates and notes; reports; a Panel audit; Panel property being exempt from taxation; sanctions; and abolition of a Panel. Makes related changes in the School Code, the Property Tax Code, and the Illinois Pension Code. Further amends the School Code with respect to districts in financial difficulty, the custody of school funds, bank reconciliation reports, and deficit reduction plans. Effective immediately.

SB 3547: SCH CD-TEXTBOOKS-ELECTRONIC (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the School Code. Authorizes a school district to provide students with instructional materials in an electronic format.

SB 3630: SCH CD-MIA-POW SCHOLARSHIPS (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that an "eligible veteran or serviceperson" includes a veteran or serviceperson who (i) was an Illinois resident within 6 months after entering the service or (ii) became an Illinois resident within 6 months after leaving the service and can establish at least 30 years of continuous residency in the State of Illinois. Effective July 1, 2010.

SB 3635: SCH CD-BILINGUAL INSTRUCTIONAL (Assigned 4/8/2010) Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the account of expenditures for programs in transitional bilingual education, provides that at least 60% of bilingual funding must be used for instructional costs.

SB 2594: SCH CD-PRGRM FUND-REMOVE TIME (Assigned 3/22/2010) Amends the School Code. Deletes language providing that before July 1, 2006 and after June 30, 2010, the State Board of Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the grants for preschool educational program and the funds shall be distributed for the benefit of children who because of their home and community environment are subject to such language, cultural, economic and like disadvantages that they have been determined as a result of screening procedures to be at risk of academic failure. Deletes language that provides that screening procedures shall be based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. Removes the date restrictions of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2010 on the requirement that the State Board of Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the program. Effective immediately.

SB 2537: SCH CD-ENDORSEMENT CERT (Assigned 3/22/2010) Amends the School Code with respect to administrative certificates. Allows for a general administrative endorsement if, among other conditions, the certificate holder has 2 years of chief school business official experience (as an alternative to requiring 2 years of full-time teaching experience or school service personnel experience). Provides that an endorsement for a chief school business official endorsement must include the requirement that the certificate holder has 6 semester hours of internship in school business management. Allows for a superintendent endorsement if, among other conditions, the certificate holder has 2 years of chief school business official experience (as an alternative to requiring 2 years as an administrator or supervisor in the public schools).

SB 3045: IMSA-COMPTROLLER-TRANSFERS (Assigned 3/22/2010) Amends the State Comptroller Act. Provides that the Comptroller may provide in his rules and regulations for periodic transfers, with the approval of the State Treasurer, for use in accordance with the imprest system, to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, not to exceed $100,000 (instead of $15,000). Effective immediately.

HR 636: HALES FRANCISCAN HS WEEKEND (Assigned 3/8/2010) Congratulates the administration, faculty, and students of Hales Franciscan High School and their community of supporters for the commencement of the school's ambitious capital improvement campaign and designates the weekend of October 8-11, 2009, as Hales Franciscan High School Rededication Weekend in the State of Illinois.

HB 5188: COMPENSATION-LIMIT AID (Assigned 3/2/2010) Amends the Election Code. Provides that any school district that compensates its administrators, faculty, teachers, or other personnel more than the State Superintendent of Education is prohibited from receiving aid under specified provisions. Effective July 1, 2010.

HB 6255: SCH CONSTRUCT-DEBT LIMIT-PIA (Assigned 3/2/2010) Amends the School Construction Law. Prohibits the State Board of Education and the Capital Development Board from establishing standards that disapprove or otherwise establishing limitations that restrict the eligibility of a school district that (1) was organized prior to 1860 and (2) is located in part in a city originally incorporated prior to 1840, based on the fact that all or a part of the school construction project is owned by a public building commission and leased to the school district or the fact that any or all of the school construction project grant will be used to pay debt service or to make lease payments. Provides that such a school district is authorized to use any or all of the school construction project grants (i) to pay debt service on bonds that are issued to finance one or more school construction projects and (ii) to the extent that any such bond is a lease or other installment or financing contract between the school district and a public building commission that has issued bonds to finance one or more qualifying school construction projects, to make lease payments under the lease. Effective immediately.

HB 4674: SCH CD-TRANSFER STUDENTS (Assigned 3/2/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that if a student that is a child of active duty military personnel is (i) placed with a non-custodial parent and (ii) as a result of placement, must attend a different school district, then the student must not be charged the tuition of the school that student attends as a result of placement with the non-custodial parent. Creates the Military Children School Transfer Law to require the State Board of Education to review the initial rulemakings of the Interstate Commission on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children and the Interstate Commission on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children each year thereafter and recommend changes, if necessary, to Illinois law that shall support the removal of barriers to educational success for children of military families in the State. Contains provisions concerning a special power of attorney for children of active duty military personnel. Contains provisions concerning immunization requirements for out-of-State transfer students. With respect to all transfer students, adds provisions to the Code concerning (1) transfer of required courses, (2) pre-requisite courses required for current courses, (3) the transfer of credits, and (4) graduation requirements and accommodations to ensure graduation of a student. Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act to permit all out-of-State transfer students, including children of military personnel that transfer into this State, to use unofficial transcripts for admission to a school until official transcripts are obtained from his or her last school district. Effective immediately.

HB 6065: CARE OF STUDENTS DIABETES ACT (Assigned 3/2/2010) Creates the Care of Students with Diabetes Act. Requires a parent or guardian to submit a diabetes care plan for a student with diabetes who seeks assistance with diabetes care in the school setting (whether a public or a private school). Provides that a delegated care aide shall perform the activities and tasks necessary to assist a student with diabetes in accordance with his or her diabetes care plan. Requires training for school employees and delegated care aides. Requires that an information sheet be provided to any school employee who transports a student for school-sponsored activities. Sets forth what a student with diabetes must be permitted to do. Provides that a school district may not restrict the assignment of a student with diabetes to a particular school on the basis that the school does not have a full-time school nurse, nor may a school deny a student access to any school or school-related activities on the basis that a student has diabetes. Provides for school employee protections against retaliation, civil immunity, and rights under federal law. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the administration of medication, provides that under no circumstances shall teachers or other non-administrative school employees, except certified school nurses, non-certificated registered professional nurses, and advanced practice nurses (currently, except certified school nurses and non-certified registered professional nurses) be required to administer medication to students. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

HB 5863: SCH CD-SUBSTITUTE REGISTRATION (Assigned 3/2/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that, in order to substitute teach in the public schools, a person holding a valid substitute teacher's certificate or a person holding a valid early childhood certificate, a valid elementary certificate, a valid high school certificate, or a valid special certificate shall register as a substitute teacher with the regional superintendent of schools in each educational service region where the person will be employed. Provides that a person who registers as a substitute teacher with the regional superintendent of schools is responsible for the payment of fees to register the certificate for its period of validity, authorization of a criminal history records check and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, payment of the cost of the criminal history records check and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, and providing evidence of physical fitness and freedom from communicable disease, including tuberculosis. Requires the regional superintendent of schools to maintain a file for each registered substitute teacher in the educational service region that includes that information and to issue a signed and sealed certificate of authorization to the substitute teacher. Provides that the certificate shall be presented to all prospective employing school districts in the educational service region, who shall photocopy the certificate and keep a copy of the certificate with employment records for the substitute teacher. Requires the State Board of Education to maintain a centralized electronic database of substitute teacher registrations that includes data from each educational service region.

HB 6041: SCHOOLS-FUNDING (Assigned 2/23/2010) Amends the School Code. Deletes a provision applicable to school districts with a population of less than 500,000 requiring that permanent interfund transfers not otherwise authorized by law must be made to the fund of the school district most in need of the funds being transferred. Allows school districts to increase, abate, maintain, abolish, and re-create working cash funds. Provides that moneys in the working cash fund may be used by the school board for any and all school purposes. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

HB 5910: EDU-DEPRESSN-SUICIDE (Assigned 2/22/2010) Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Requires a comprehensive health education program to include instruction in secondary schools on clinical depression and suicide prevention. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

HB 990: SCH CD-ELIMINATE TRANS FATS (Assigned 2/22/2010) Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules for the elimination of vegetable oils containing trans fats in foods served in public school cafeterias beginning on July 1, 2010 and for the elimination of all foods containing trans fats from public schools beginning on July 1, 2011. Effective immediately.

HB 6223: SCH CD-HALF-DAY KINDERGARTEN (Assigned 2/22/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that the board of directors of a school district must establish a kindergarten in connection with the public school in the district and maintain it as long as the annual average daily attendance therein is not less than 15 (previously, upon petition of at least 50 parents or guardians of children that meet specified criteria, the board of directors shall, if funds are available, establish a kindergarten in connection with the public school designated in the petition and maintain it as long as the annual average daily attendance therein is not less than 15). Provides that the board must (rather than may) establish a kindergarten with half-day attendance or with full-day attendance. Provides that provisions related to compulsory attendance apply to children between 5 and 17 years of age (rather than between 7 and 17 years of age). Effective August 1, 2010.

HB 5786: EDUC LABOR-CHI-COL BARGAIN SUB (Assigned 2/22/2010) Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Repeals a Section concerning subjects of collective bargaining between the Chicago school district and the exclusive bargaining representative of its employees.

HB 4755: EDUC-HOMELESS CHILDREN-GRANTS (Assigned 2/22/2010) Amends the Education for Homeless Children Act. Requires the State Board of Education to award competitive grants under an Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program to applicant school districts to support school districts throughout this State in facilitating the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth. Provides that grants must be awarded on the basis of the need of the school district for assistance and the quality of the applications submitted. Provides that grants shall be for terms not to exceed 3 years, but are subject to annual appropriation. Requires school districts to use funds only for those activities set forth in the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. Provides that there is no rulemaking authority under the amendatory Act, but that the Governor may suggest rules by filing them with the General Assembly and requesting that the General Assembly authorize such rulemaking by law, enact the suggested rules into law, or take other appropriate action in the General Assembly's discretion.

HB 6017: SCH CD-LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS (Assigned 2/22/2010) Amends the Chicago Public Schools Article in the School Code. Provides that each local school council shall consist of the 12 (instead of 11) voting members, which shall include one member who is an employee of the school district employed and assigned to perform the majority of his or her employment duties at the attendance center who is not a teacher. Provides that in each secondary attendance center, the local school council shall consist of 13 (instead of 12) voting members, which shall be 12 (instead of 11) voting members and one full-time student member. Specifies the manner in which the non-teacher employee member is appointed to a local school council.

HB 5836: SCH CD-ASTHMA INHALER USE (Assigned 2/22/2010) Amends the School Code. With respect to the self-administration of medication, provides that in the case of an asthma inhaler, the parents or guardians of the pupil may provide a written statement to the school from the parents or guardians containing specified information concerning the medication, along with the prescription label (instead of requiring the statement to be from the pupil's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse). Effective immediately.

HB 6079: SCH CD-PILOT COOP ELEM-HS PGM (Assigned 2/17/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that 2 contiguous school districts that meet specified criteria may, when in their judgment the interest of the districts and of the students will be best served, jointly pilot a cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both. Provides that the agreement for joint operation of any such cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for administration, staff, programs, financing, facilities, and transportation. Contains provisions concerning the composition and operation of a governing board. Contains provisions concerning the costs of the program. Provides that upon formation of the cooperative elementary school cooperative high school, or both, the school board of each participating district shall perform specified activities with respect to teachers, employees, and the governing board. Provides that the provisions concerning a cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school are repealed 3 years after the beginning date of operation of a pilot cooperative elementary school or a pilot cooperative high school. Effective July 1, 2010.

HB 5029: ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE SAFETY (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code to provide that school districts must provide instruction in relation to the laws regarding the operation of all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles in grades kindergarten through 12 and may include the instruction in social studies, American government, driver education, or other appropriate courses of study. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to prohibit any use of all-terrain vehicles or off-highway vehicles on roads. Provides that the Secretary of State may suspend a person's driver's license for 6 months for a violation of provisions relating to the illegal use of all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles on streets and riding an all-terrain vehicle or off-highway motorcycle as a passenger. Provides that it is illegal to operate an all-terrain vehicle or off-highway motorcycle if the operator is under the age of 16, does not have a valid driver's license, or is not wearing a properly fitted helmet secured to the person's head. Provides that a person must demonstrate knowledge of all-terrain vehicle and off-highway motorcycle laws on the written examination for a driver's license, and provides that information relating to all-terrain vehicle and off-highway motorcycle laws must be contained in publications of the "Rules of the Road" by the Secretary of State and "Laws for Youth" by the Legislative Research Unit.

HB 5037: SCH CD-CHICAGO-YOUTH PROGRAM (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. Allows the Chicago Board of Education to develop a plan for implementing a program that seeks to establish common bonds between youth of various backgrounds and ethnicities, which may be similar to that of the Challenge Day organization.

HB 5220: SCH CD-ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides for the employment of assistant principals. Includes provisions concerning (1) their duties, (2) their contracts, (3) their reclassification, and (4) the development and submission of an evaluation plan. Removes language that provides that if a principal is absent due to extended illness or leave of absence, then an assistant principal may be assigned as acting principal for a period not to exceed 60 school days. Effective immediately.

HB 5415: SCH CD-CHICAGO BD OF ED-ELECT (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides for the election (instead of appointment) of members of the Chicago Board of Education. Effective immediately.

HB 5698: SCH CD-DISCIPLINE POLICY-BOARD (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that a teacher or other certificated employee shall not be liable for enforcing the discipline policy adopted by a school board. Removes language that provides that the policy shall not include slapping, paddling or prolonged maintenance of students in physically painful positions nor shall it include the intentional infliction of bodily harm. Effective immediately.

HB 5034: SCH CD-EKG REQUIRED (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require all students to undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG) test as part of the comprehensive health examinations required by the Code.

HB 5035: SCH CD-ELEM SCH-RECESS REQ (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require that schools provide daily recess for all students in kindergarten through grade 8. Provides that recess must be at least 10 minutes in length and must occur once in the middle of each morning. Provides that if the principal determines that the weather is inclement, the principal shall direct that a recess be held indoors. Requires the principal to ensure that students are given the opportunity to engage in physical exercise during each recess. Provides that the time required for recesses is included in the minimum number of hours necessary to constitute a full day of attendance under the State aid formula provisions.

HB 5136: SCH CD-MANDATE WAIVERS-G.A. (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. In provisions regarding the waiver or modification of mandates within the School Code and rules, provides that any request disapproved by the State Board of Education may be appealed through an appeals advisory committee, which makes recommendations for action to the State Superintendent of Education (now, an applicant may appeal to the General Assembly). Removes provisions that allow the General Assembly to disapprove requests. Effective immediately.

HB 5472: EDU-NUTRITION-MENU INFO (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act. Requires a school board (including the board of a private school) that (1) completes a nutritional analysis of traditional or enhanced food-based menu plans as part of the State review process, (2) provides its meals under a nutrient-based menu plan, or (3) uses software that calculates the nutritional content of foods or menus to publish the school lunch menu and the nutrition content, including calories, of each meal item. Provides that all other school boards are strongly encouraged to publish the school lunch menu and the nutrition content, including calories, of each meal item. Provides that a school board may determine the frequency and manner of publication. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

HB 6042: SCH CD-NO TEST FOR WRITING (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, removes the requirement that the State Board of Education test pupils in the 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th grades in writing. Provides that beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, the State Board shall not test a student in writing as part of the Prairie State Achievement Examination. Effective July 1, 2010.

HB 5344: SCH CD-RECORDINGS-BLIND/DYSLEX (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. Subject to funding by the State Board of Education, provides that a school board shall require a school to provide recordings for its blind and dyslexic students. Requires the State Board to provide funding to school districts for the provision of recordings for blind and dyslexic students. Effective immediately.

HB 5948: MASS FLU VACCINE SCHL PRGM ACT (Assigned 2/16/2010) Creates the Mass Influenza Vaccination School Program Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health in consultation with the Director of Insurance and the State Board of Education shall establish school-based influenza mass vaccination programs in elementary and secondary schools to vaccinate children against influenza. Provides that participation in the programs by a school district or an individual shall be voluntary. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall maximize the use of influenza vaccines through existing appropriations for that purpose, discretionary resources, and private immunization coverage. Provides that not later than 90 days following the creation of the programs, the Department of Public Health shall submit a written report on the results of the programs. Contains other provisions.

HB 5302: SCH CD-STATE AID-SUPPLEMENTAL (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the State aid formula provisions of the School Code with respect to supplementary grants in aid. Provides that, for the 2010-2011 school year through the 2012-2013 school year, a school district is eligible for a supplementary payment if the school district also received a supplementary payment during the prior school year. Provides that for the 2012-2013 school year, the supplementary grants in aid shall be no more than 50% of the eligible amount. Provides that for the 2013-2014 school year and every school year thereafter, no supplementary grants in aid shall be made available. Effective immediately.

HB 5889: SCH CD-INSTRUCTIONAL MANDATES (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning July 1, 2010, school districts are not required to implement instructional mandates in the public schools. Provides that school districts shall be required to teach students to the standards required under specified provisions of the Code. Effective July 1, 2010.

HB 5981: SCH CD-BILINGUAL ED-ALT PROG (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the Transitional Bilingual Education Article of the School Code. Adds as a purpose of the Article the establishment of approved alternative programs in public schools. Provides that an approved alternative program means a full-time program of instruction (1) in all of those courses or subjects that a child is required by law to receive and that are required by the child's school district, given in either the native language of those children of limited English-speaking ability who are enrolled in the program or in English; and (2) that consists of both a structured English immersion program and a program of 2-way bilingual education, or a part-time program of instruction based on the educational needs of those children of limited English-speaking ability who do not need a full-time program of instruction.

HB 5175: SCH CD-CHI-HAND WASHING REQ (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that under the Chicago Board of Education's policies and rules concerning infectious disease, the Board shall require that all students wash their hands with a soap or detergent before consuming any meal at school and shall identify nationally accepted standards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and provide the facilities, materials, and supervision necessary to implement the handwashing requirement. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

HB 5400: SCH CD-CONFLICT RESOLUTION (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning violence prevention and conflict resolution education, changes language to provide that school districts shall provide for a period of not less than 3 weeks per calendar year on instruction in violence prevention and conflict resolution education for grades 6 through 12 (rather than grades 4 through 12) and may include the instruction in the social studies courses of study. Provides that school districts must provide in-service instruction for teachers to assist them in implementing the program. Provides that the State Board of Education shall adopt rules necessary for administration of the program. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

HB 4886: SCH CD-4 DAY SCH WEEK (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. Allows a school district, by resolution of its board, to operate on a 4-day school week plan approved by the State Board of Education. Provides that a school district that operates on a 4-day school week plan must ensure a minimum of 880 hours of student contact in addition to required institute days (instead of requiring a minimum term of 185 days). Makes related changes. Removes a provision referring to the closing of schools on January 29, 1981. Effective immediately.

HB 5340: SCH CD-BACKGROUND CHECKS-SHARE (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. With respect to criminal history records checks of applicants for employment with a school district, includes other school districts and a local law enforcement agency as entities to which any information concerning the record of convictions obtained by the president of the school board or the regional superintendent of schools may be transmitted.

HB 5515: SCH CD-INTERFUND TRANSFERS (Assigned 2/16/2010) Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning interfund transfers, includes transfers from the school district's life/safety fund to the Operations and Maintenance Fund, up to the $0.05 levy for local property taxes, for building repair work. Extends the time period during which a school district other than the Chicago school district may transfer moneys from specified funds for any purpose from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2013. Effective immediately.

HB 4780: SCH CD-INTERFUND TRANSFERS (Assigned 2/9/2010) Amends the School Code. Extends the time period during which a school district other than the Chicago school district may transfer moneys from specified funds for any purpose from June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2013. Effective immediately.

HB 5322: SCH CD-PRGRM FUND-REMOVE TIME (Assigned 2/9/2010) Amends the School Code. Deletes language providing that before July 1, 2006 and after June 30, 2010, the State Board of Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the grants for preschool educational program and the funds shall be distributed for the benefit of children who because of their home and community environment are subject to such language, cultural, economic and like disadvantages that they have been determined as a result of screening procedures to be at risk of academic failure. Deletes language that provides that screening procedures shall be based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. Removes the date restrictions of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2010 on the requirement that the State Board of Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the program. Effective immediately.

HB 5450: SCH CD-ED SERV CENTER-REG SUP (Assigned 2/9/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that educational service centers may provide training, technical assistance, coordination, and planning in the area of financial planning, consultation, and services. Provides that upon the removal from office, disqualification for office, resignation from office, a vacancy in the office, or expiration of the current term of office of the regional superintendent of schools, whichever is earlier, centers serving that portion of a Class II county school unit outside of a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants shall have and exercise, in and with respect to each educational service region having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants and in and with respect to each school district located in any such educational service region, all of the rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities theretofore vested by law in and exercised and performed by the regional superintendent of schools for that area (only to the extent that additional money is appropriated for or provided to the centers). Provides that in educational service regions containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, the office of regional superintendent of schools is abolished upon the removal from office, disqualification for office, resignation from office, a vacancy in the office, or expiration of the current term of office of the regional superintendent of schools, whichever is earlier (instead of the office being abolished on July 1, 1994). Allows money in an institute fund to be used by the regional superintendent to defray all costs associated with the administration of teaching certificates. In the Duties of County Board Article, removes language that states that on and after July 1, 1994, certain provisions in that Article shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants. Effective July 1, 2010.

HB 5481: SCH CD-GIFTED EDUC FUNDING (Assigned 2/9/2010) Amends the Gifted and Talented Children Article of the School Code. Changes provisions concerning approval of local programs for the education of gifted and talented children to provide that a local program may be approved for funding by the State Board of Education, pursuant to a request for proposals process, if funds for that purpose are available and, beginning with the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year, if the local program submits an application for funds that includes a comprehensive plan showing that the applicant is capable of meeting a portion of the specified requirements, showing the program elements currently in place and a timeline for implementation of other elements, and demonstrating to the satisfaction of the State Board of Education that the applicant is capable of implementing a program of gifted education consistent with the Article. Includes an established professional organization in gifted education as an entity that may submit a proposal to the State Board of Education for a grant for services and materials. Effective immediately.

SJR 68: SCHOOLS-ARABIC AS FOREIGN LANG (Assigned 2/8/2010) Encourages school districts in this State to explore the introduction of Arabic as a foreign language in their curriculum.

HJR 74: ELEMENT-SECONDARY EDU MANDATES (Assigned 2/8/2010) Establishes a Blue Ribbon Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education Mandates to make recommendations to the General Assembly on unnecessary and costly mandates in the School Code and the Administrative Code.

HB 5126: SCH CD-COUNSELING CONFIDENTIAL (Assigned 2/8/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that except as provided in specified provisions, specified information must not become part of the pupil's record without the written consent of the pupil who disclosed the confidential information to the school counselor or school counselor intern. Specifies circumstances under which information may be disclosed. Provides that a school counselor or school counselor intern may not disclose information deemed to be confidential pursuant to specified provisions to the parents of the pupil when the school counselor or school counselor intern (1) has reasonable cause to believe that the disclosure would result in a clear and present danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the pupil or (2) is ordered by a court of law to disclosure specified information. Provides that nothing in specified provisions shall be deemed to limit access to a pupil's records. Provides that it is the intent of the General Assembly that school counselors use the privilege of confidentiality to assist the pupil whenever possible to communicate more effectively with parents, school staff, and others. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

HB 4879: SCH CD-REIMBURSE TRANSPORTION (Assigned 2/3/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that when calculating the State reimbursement for transportation costs, the State Board of Education may not deduct the number of pupils enrolled in early education programs from the number of pupils eligible for reimbursement if the pupils enrolled in the early education programs are transported at the same time as other eligible pupils.

HB 4711: PROHIBIT UNFUNDED MANDATES (Assigned 2/3/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that no district is obligated to comply with any statutory or regulatory mandate or requirement unless a separate appropriation has been enacted into law providing funding for the school year during which such mandate is required. Contains provisions concerning discontinuing or modifying an activity to meet specified requirements. Provides that specified provisions do not apply to special education, transportation, or lunch programs, or coursework required for high school graduation. Effective immediately.

HB 739: SCH CD-FIN INCENTIV-ENERGY CON (Assigned 1/27/2010) Amends the School Energy Conservation Article of the School Code. Subject to appropriation, requires the State Board of Education to provide financial incentives to school districts that participate in energy conservation. Provides that the State Board of Education shall determine, by rule, what form of financial incentive is to be provided, which school districts are eligible for a financial incentive, what actions constitute energy conservation, and how a school district is to apply for a financial incentive. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 4646: SCH CD-CPS-LIMIT DESSERT MENU (Assigned 1/27/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that the Chicago Board of Education must require schools under the jurisdiction of the Board to (1) limit the service of dessert to students to no more than once per week; (2) provide fresh fruit and vegetables to students on a daily basis; and (3) limit the menu to contain only one item per day that contains cheese. Effective immediately.

HB 4672: SCH CD-SUICIDE PREVENTION (Assigned 1/27/2010) Amends the School Code. Provides that in addition to other topics at in-service training programs, school guidance counselors, teachers, principals, and other school personnel who work with pupils in grades 7 through 12 shall be trained for at least 2 hours in suicide prevention and to identify the warning signs of suicidal behavior in adolescents and teens and shall be taught appropriate intervention and referral techniques. Provides that the education may be accomplished through self-review of suitable suicide prevention materials. Effective immediately.

SB 616: EDUCATION-TECH (Assigned 1/5/2010) Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning debt limitations of school districts.

SB 315: EDUCATION-TECH (Assigned 1/5/2010) Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning charter schools.

HJR 77: SCH CD MANDATE WAIVER REPORT (Assigned 10/13/2009) Encourages the General Assembly to promptly review and evaluate the Report on Waiver of School Code Mandates filed by the State Board of Education to determine if the Report should be disapproved in whole or in part.

SB 277: COM COL-SUBMIT ELECTRONIC BIDS (Assigned 10/8/2009) Amends the Public Community College Act. Provides that electronic bid submissions shall be considered a sealed document for competitive bid requests if they are received at the designated office by the time and date set for receipt for bids. Requires electronic bid submissions to be authorized by specific language in the bid documents in order to be considered and to be opened in accordance with electronic security measures in effect at the community college at the time of opening. Provides that unless the electronic submission procedures provide for a secure receipt, the vendor assumes the risk of premature disclosure due to submission in an unsealed form. Effective immediately.

HB 4588: SCH CD-ELIMINATE COOK CTY ROE (Assigned 7/8/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act, the regional office of education for the portion of Cook County that does not include Chicago is abolished and transfers all powers and duties of that region to the State Board of Education. Repeals a provision concerning the regional office of education oversight board in Class II counties. Effective immediately.

HR 447: ISBE-ECON ED FUNDS (Assigned 5/30/2009) Requests that the Illinois State Board of Education seek further funding resources to further enhance economic education for students in Illinois and continue to fund the Illinois Council on Economic Education and urges the federal government to spend stimulus funds promoting educational opportunities to further educate students on economic principles.

SB 611: SCH CD-TECH LOANS-NON-PUBLIC (Assigned 5/29/2009) Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the annual budgets of school districts other than the Chicago school district.

SB 612: EDUCATION-TECH (Assigned 5/20/2009) Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.

HJR 53: 4-DAY SCHOOL WEEK TASK FORCE (Assigned 5/15/2009) Creates the Four-day School Week Task Force to study the feasibility of a 4-day school week in school districts in this State.

HJR 46: STUDENT HEALTH NEEDS (Assigned 4/29/2009) Request that the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services School Health Program and the Department of Public Health Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control establish a task force to study and compile a report on 1) Identification of current student health needs and the level of health services required to address such needs; 2) Regulatory conflicts that limit delivery of school health services to students in need along with possible solutions; and 3) Needed support for and monitoring of school health services.

SB 2014: SCH CD-PRAIRIE ST ACHIEV EXAM (Assigned 4/22/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall afford students one opportunity (instead of 2 opportunities) to take the Prairie State Achievement Examination beginning as late as practical during the spring (instead of second) semester of grade 11; makes related changes. Provides that a student is exempt from the requirement that a student not receive a high school diploma without taking the Prairie State Achievement Examination if the school district is not required to test the individual student for purposes of accountability under federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requirements or the student is otherwise identified by the State Board of Education through rules as being exempt from the assessment. Effective July 1, 2009.

SB 2214: SCH CD-DRIVER EDUCATION-REPORT (Assigned 4/22/2009) Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change concerning the Driver Education Act.

SB 2051: SCH CD-STATE AID FORMULA (Assigned 4/20/2009) Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the State aid formula.

SB 1957: SCHOOLS-BREAKFAST PROGRAMS (Assigned 4/20/2009) Amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act and the Childhood Hunger Relief Act. Makes changes concerning the 3 components of the breakfast incentive program, including changing one of the components to a non-traditional breakfast incentive. Provides that in 2010 (instead of 2001) and in each subsequent year, the State Board of Education shall provide to the Governor and the General Assembly, by a date not later than April 1 (instead of March 1), a report concerning schools and free, reduced price, and paid breakfasts and lunches; makes changes with respect to the content of the report. Makes changes concerning the school breakfast program under the Childhood Hunger Relief Act, including when and at which schools the program must be implemented and operated and opting out a school or schools from the school breakfast program requirement. Effective July 1, 2009.

SB 2071: TEACHER-CERT-CRIMINAL OFFENSE (Assigned 4/20/2009) Amends the School Code and the Counties Code. Provides that it is a State's Attorney's duty to notify the State Superintendent of Education and others upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the School Code of any of certain offenses or any other felony conviction. In the criminal history records check provisions of the School Code, makes changes concerning the offenses for which a school board may not knowingly employ a person. Provides that no one may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools who has been convicted of certain offenses (instead of providing that in determining good character, any felony conviction of an applicant may be taken into consideration, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to registration). In provisions concerning suspension or revocation of a certificate, provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the exclusive authority to initiate the suspension of up to 5 calendar years or revocation of any certificate (instead of providing that a certificate may be suspended for a period not to exceed one calendar year by the regional superintendent of schools or for a period not to exceed 5 calendar years by the State Superintendent). With respect to certificate suspension and revocation, makes changes concerning an investigation, notice, a hearing, an appeal, and the offenses that are grounds for suspension and revocation. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2009.

SB 2270: SCH CD-SALARY COMP REPORT (Assigned 4/20/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires school districts to annually submit to the State Board of Education an itemized salary compensation report for every certificated employee in the district, including teachers, administrators, and the district superintendent. Sets forth what the salary compensation report must include. Provides that in a school compensation report, the State Board of Education shall make available to all parents, taxpayers, the Governor, and the General Assembly, every school district's salary compensation report on the State Board's Internet website. Provides that the school compensation report shall be an index of school compensation measured against statewide and local compensations and shall provide information to make prior year comparisons. Provides that the school compensation report shall be prepared by the State Board and provided to school districts by the most efficient, economic, and appropriate means. Effective immediately.

SB 1977: SCH CD-MISCELLANEOUS (Assigned 4/20/2009) Amends the School Code, the Childhood Hunger Relief Act, the School Safety Drill Act, and the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes changes concerning a teacher supply and demand report, school standards, recognition levels, academic early warning and watch status, a Data Division, truants' alternative and optional education programs, the School Technology Revolving Loan Program, the inspection and review of school facilities, programs concerning services to at-risk children and their families, the inspection of schools, a report of teacher dismissals, the tuition of children from orphanages and children's homes, dates for filing State aid claims, truant data, safety education, driver education, the evaluation of charter school proposals, a summer food service program, a school safety review, and the administration of certain federal scholarship programs. Repeals provisions concerning discontinued institutions, racial reports, and a course on the Illinois Vehicle Code. Repeals the Educationally Disadvantaged Children Article of the School Code. Repeals the Sex Education Act and the Recognized Normal School Act. Effective July 1, 2009.

SB 1956: SCH CD-ST AID- PAR/TEACHR CONF (Assigned 4/20/2009) Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the compilation of average daily attendance under the State aid formula and allowing a session of 3 or more clock hours but less than 5 clock hours to be counted as a day of attendance, makes changes with respect to days that are used for an in-service training program for teachers and parent-teacher conferences. Effective July 1, 2009.

SB 1391: SCH CD-CERT-FAMILY THERAPIST (Assigned 4/20/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules to provide standards for the certification of marital and family therapists employed by school boards. Provides that these rules shall include certification requirements to be met by (i) licensure as a marital and family therapist under the Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Act and (ii) such other experience as the State Board deems appropriate for the position of marital and family therapist in a school system. Effective immediately.

SB 2119: SCH CD-INTERVENTION TASK FORCE (Assigned 4/20/2009) Amends the School Code. Creates the Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring Task Force for the purpose of developing strategies to allow for the innovation, intervention, and restructuring of schools, including those that need comprehensive or focused intervention. Requires the task force to submit its strategies for allowing intervention and innovation, in the form of recommendations, in a comprehensive report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Superintendent of Education not later than December 31, 2009. Effective immediately.

SB 2277: SCH CD-TEXTBOOK WEIGHT (Assigned 4/20/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create a task force to study the impact of carrying and transporting student textbooks and textbook weight on the health of Illinois students within the kindergarten through grade 12 school environment and to make recommendations as to any alternatives that may exist or could be created to the standard textbook format. Sets forth what the task force must examine. Requires the task force to submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 15, 2010. Abolishes the task force and repeals these provisions on January 16, 2010. Effective immediately.

HJR 42: SCH LEADER PREPARATION/CERT (Assigned 4/20/2009) Resolves that the State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Board of Higher Education, shall prepare legislative recommendations to restructure school leader preparation and certification programs in this State.

SB 35: SCH CD-TEACHR-SICK LEAVE-ADOPT (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. With respect to sick leave for teachers (other than in the Chicago school district), provides that a school board may require a certificate from a physician, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or spiritual adviser or practitioner as a basis for pay during leave after an absence of 30 days for birth. Provides that for paid sick leave for adoption or placement for adoption, the school board may require that the teacher or other employee provide evidence that the formal adoption process is underway, and such leave is limited to 30 days unless a longer leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

SB 79: SCH CD-PRESCH FOR ALL-HEAD ST (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires grantees under the Preschool for All Children program to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the appropriate local Head Start agency no later than 3 months after the award of a grantee's grant under the program and, in the case of the 2009-2010 program year, no later than the deadline set by the State Board of Education for applications to participate in the program in fiscal year 2011. Sets forth certain issues that the memorandum must address. Suspends the memorandum of understanding requirement if the local Head Start agency is unable or unwilling to enter into the memorandum. Effective immediately.

SB 187: SCH CD-CHIEF SCH BUS OFFICIAL (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code with respect to administrative certificates. Allows for a chief school business official endorsement if, among other conditions, the certificate holder has 2 years of university-approved practical experience (as an alternative to requiring 2 years of administrative experience in school business management).

SB 1412: SCH CD-EARLY CHILDHOOD ED GRNT (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. With respect to the Early Childhood Education Block Grant, provides that not less than 11% (instead of exactly 11%) of the grant shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Provides that this percentage shall increase to at least 20% by Fiscal Year 2015, except that if, in a given fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the Early Childhood Education Block Grant is insufficient to increase the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 without reducing the amount of the grant for existing providers of preschool education programs, then the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 may be held steady instead of increased. Effective July 1, 2009.

SB 1557: SCH CD-STUDY MEXICAN-AMER HIST (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires every public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events related to the forceful removal and illegal deportation of almost 2,000,000 Mexican-American U.S. citizens during the Great Depression, beginning in 1929 and ending in the mid-1940's. Allows the State Superintendent of Education to prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials. Provides that each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instruction time that shall qualify as a unit of instruction. Effective January 1, 2010.

SB 1675: SCH CD-CONG MEDAL OF HONOR FLM (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that each school district shall require that all students in grade 7 and all high school students enrolled in a course concerning history of the United States or a combination of history of the United States and American government view the Congressional Medal of Honor film made by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Provides that this requirement does not apply if the Congressional Medal of Honor Society charges the school district a fee for the film. Effective July 1, 2009.

SB 1796: SCH CD-DROPOUTS-IHOPE PROGRAM (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. Establishes the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program to develop a comprehensive system in this State to re-enroll significant numbers of high school dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma. Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer the IHOPE Program. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall award grants to educational service regions and the Chicago school district from appropriated funds to assist in establishing instructional programs and other services designed to re-enroll high school dropouts. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall provide incentive grant funds for regional offices of education and the Chicago school district to develop partnerships with school districts, public community colleges, and community groups to build comprehensive plans to re-enroll high school dropouts in their regions or districts. Sets forth requirements for programs funded through the IHOPE Program. Provides for an IHOPE Plan, sub-grants, how funding is distributed, State aid, categories of programming, the evaluation of programs, and rules. Effective July 1, 2009.

SB 1828: LONGITUDINAL EDUC DATA SYSTEM (Assigned 4/14/2009) Creates the P-20 Longitudinal Education Data System Act. Requires the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Board of Higher Education to jointly establish and maintain a longitudinal data system by entering into one or more agreements that link early learning, elementary, and secondary school student unit records with institution of higher learning student unit records. Subject to appropriation, requires the State Board of Education to establish a data warehouse that integrates data from multiple student unit record systems and supports all of the uses and functions of the longitudinal data system. Provides that the data warehouse must be developed in cooperation with the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education and must have the ability to integrate longitudinal data from early learning through the postsecondary level. Sets forth provisions concerning the collection and maintenance of data, data sharing, privacy protection laws, and the performance of an evaluation and submission of a report. Makes changes to the Charter Schools Law of the School Code concerning not being exempt from the Act and the Illinois School Student Records Act concerning the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Effective immediately.

SB 1882: SCH CD-STREAMLINE ED DELIVERY (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. Establishes a Streamlining Illinois' Educational Delivery Systems Task Force. Requires the Task Force to explore and examine all duties of the State Board of Education and regional offices of education in order to determine which duties and responsibilities a regional office of education could more appropriately and efficiently deliver to school districts. Requires the Task Force to also make recommendations as to the amount of funding that the regional offices of education would need in order to successfully incorporate their new duties into their current office responsibilities. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 15, 2010. Abolishes the Task Force and repeals these provisions on January 16, 2010. Effective immediately.

SB 1508: SCH STU RECORDS-SOCIAL WORKER (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act. Provides that nothing contained in the Act shall be construed to impair or limit the confidentiality of information communicated in confidence to a school social worker. Effective immediately.

SB 269: SCHOOL BUS INSTRUCTION COURSES (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the duty of the regional superintendent of schools to conduct courses of instruction for school bus drivers, allows for an increase in fees for providing such courses. Provides that, of the increase in course fees authorized, $1 shall be deposited into a State Board of Education revolving account specifically dedicated to school bus safety for the conduct of business of the Illinois Pupil Transportation Advisory Committee and the certification and conduct of educational programs and training of Illinois school bus driver instructors.

SB 1570: SCHOOL WIND/SOLAR GENERATION (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the State Finance Act, the School Code, and the Public Community College Act. Creates the School Wind and Solar Generation Program to fund wind generation projects and solar generation projects for school districts and community college districts. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to implement and administer the program; allows the Department to award full or partial grants for, without limitation, engineering studies, feasibility studies, research studies, and construction costs. For each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014, requires the State Comptroller to order transferred and the State Treasurer to transfer $5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the School Wind and Solar Generation Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all money in the Fund must be used for the purposes of the program. Allows school districts and community college districts to own and operate solar generation turbine farms (not just wind generation turbine farms) that directly or indirectly reduce energy or other operating costs. Effective immediately.

SB 1718: SCH CD-FIREARM-EXPULSION (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the conversion and formation of school districts.

SB 1276: SCH CD-SUPERINTENDENT MENTOR (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that any individual, with exceptions, who begins serving as a superintendent in this State on or after July 1, 2009 and has not previously served as a school district superintendent in this State shall participate in a new superintendent mentoring program, established by the State Board of Education, for the duration of his or her first 2 school years as a superintendent. Contains provisions concerning program requirements, who may apply to be a mentor, mentoring training, assignment of a mentor by a provider selected by the State Board, identification of areas for improvement, a survey of progress, an annual report to the State Board, and a verification form. Provides that mentors of certified staff are protected from suit. Effective immediately.

SB 1293: SCH CD-DEBT LIMIT EXCEPTION (Assigned 4/14/2009) Amends the School Code. In a Section concerning the debt limitations of school districts, allows Belle Valley School District 119 to issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $47,500,000 if, among other conditions, (i) the voters of the school district approve a proposition for the bond issuance at an election held on or after April 7, 2009; (ii) the building and equipping of a new school building is required as a result of mine subsidence in an existing school building and because of the age and condition of another existing school building; and (iii) the bonds are issued on or before December 31, 2013. Provides that the bonds must mature within not to exceed 40 years from their date, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary. Effective immediately.

HR 56: ISBE-CLOSE STU ACHIEVEMNT GAP (Assigned 3/24/2009) Urges the State Board of Education to establish a comprehensive plan to close the student achievement gap by the 2010-2011 school year.

HR 189: SCHOOL BUILDINGS-NAMING OF (Assigned 3/24/2009) Urges school districts to avoid selecting school names supportive of individuals or entities considered to be in current or past military conflict with the State of Illinois or the United States of America.

HJR 5: SCHOOL SUCCESS TASK FORCE (Assigned 3/24/2009) Creates the School Success Task Force to examine issues and make recommendations related to current State Board of Education policies regarding suspensions, expulsions, and truancies.

HJR 6: SCHOOL TRANSPORTATN TASK FORCE (Assigned 3/24/2009) Creates the School Transportation Task Force to study the possibility of enacting legislation making changes to current transportation programs offered by the Illinois State Board of Education.

HJR 33: COMMUNITY SERVICE ED TASK FORC (Assigned 3/16/2009) Establishes the Community Service Education Task Force to address what level of funding the Community Service Education Program under the Community Service Education Act should have.

HR 172: REQUESTS-YOUTH CONNECT SCHOOLS (Assigned 3/16/2009) Requests that the Chicago Public Schools allocate 2,100 seats to Youth Connection Charter School over a seven-year period to address the immediate and urgent need to help as many young adults as possible achieve an education.

HB 481: SCH CD-CHARTER PUBLIC SCH COMM (Assigned 3/4/2009) Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Establishes the Illinois Charter Public School Commission as an independent, State-level, charter school authorizing entity working in collaboration with the State Board of Education. Includes provisions concerning membership, funding, staff, powers and duties, Commission charter school applications, Commission immunity, an annual report to the General Assembly and the State Board, oversight fees, and total pupil enrollment. Provides that every 2 years (instead of annually), the State Board shall compile evaluations of charter schools received from school boards. Effective immediately.

HB 4194: SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS-REFRESHER (Assigned 3/4/2009) Amends the School Code and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that school bus drivers must complete a semiannual (rather than annual) refresher course to maintain a valid school bus driver permit. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

HB 4324: SCH CD-4 DAY SCHOOL WEEK (Assigned 3/4/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board may, by resolution, adopt an alternative school calendar for a 4-day school week, which must be approved by the State Board of Education. Provides that school boards adopting an alternative calendar must adopt the calendar for all buildings in the entire district. Requires the school board to annually prepare a calendar for the school term, specifying the opening and closing dates and providing a minimum term of at least 150 days to ensure 141 days of actual pupil attendance. Sets forth related provisions concerning the calendar, experimental educational programs, special education reimbursement, and the compilation of average daily attendance under the State aid formula.

HR 101: CHARACTER COUNTS WEEK (Assigned 3/4/2009) Designates the third week of October in 2009 as "Character Counts Week" in the State of Illinois.

HR 118: URGE UNIV/K-12 - DRUG DANGERS (Assigned 3/4/2009) Urges universities and K-12 schools throughout Illinois to warn children and young adults about the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, to encourage physicians and pharmacists to alert parents to the inherent dangers of these drugs, and to encourage parents to keep medications out of their children's reach.

HB 4039: HIGHER ED-STATE SCHOLAR PROG (Assigned 3/4/2009) Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to the State scholar program, provides that an applicant is eligible to be designated a State Scholar if he or she is a resident of this State attending a Department of Defense school. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 4223: SCHOOLS-DAY CARE-RADON TESTING (Assigned 3/4/2009) Amends the School Code and the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that each school board shall require that all schools annually test for the presence of radon. Requires a licensed day care center to annually test for the presence of radon.

HB 4323: SCH CONSTRUCTION-JT AGREEMENT (Assigned 3/4/2009) Amends the School Construction Law. Defines "school district" to mean a school district or joint agreement. Provides that, for purposes only of determining a joint agreement's eligibility for an entity included in a school construction project grant or a school maintenance project grant, a joint agreement shall be deemed eligible if one or more of its member school districts satisfy the grant index criteria. Provides that the amount of a school construction project grant to an eligible joint agreement shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the needs of the joint agreement in its entirety (instead of using the grant index to calculate the amount). Effective immediately.

HB 4318: SCHOOLS-HERNIA CHECK-CANCER (Assigned 3/4/2009) Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Brandon Ballard Law. Amends the School Code and the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that a school board shall require that high school students participating in interscholastic athletics have a hernia check performed before being allowed to participate. Provides that a school board shall require that any pre-participation physical examination form a student must have completed before participating in interscholastic athletics include the question of whether the student's family has a medical history of cancer. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program must include, in grades 9 through 12, instruction on testicular cancer. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 4038: SCH CD-HIGH SCH COURSE-MID SCH (Assigned 3/4/2009) Amends the School Code. In provisions authorizing a student in grade 7 or 8 to enroll in a high school course, allows the student to participate in the course where the student attends school as long as the course is taught by a certified high school teacher who teaches in a high school of the school district where the student will attend when in high school and no high school students are enrolled in the course. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 4117: GROW OWN TEACHER-JUV JUST DIST (Assigned 3/4/2009) Amends the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Act. With respect to the purpose of the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Initiative, provides that preparing highly skilled, committed teachers to teach in hard-to-staff schools includes preparing teachers to teach within the Department of Juvenile Justice School District.

HB 2673: SCH CD-VIOLENCE PREV-TRAINING (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires school districts to provide instruction and training in violence prevention and conflict resolution education as part of social-emotional learning standards and in line with established plans developed under the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003 for all students in grades pre-kindergarten through 8 and a peer mediation program for grades 4 through 12 (instead of instruction in violence prevention and conflict resolution education for grades 4 through 12). Makes changes concerning progress reports, school credit, the definition of violence prevention and conflict resolution education, State Board of Education guidelines, duties of the State Board, and funding. Subject to appropriation, requires the State Board to design and fund 50 pilot projects annually until all programs are in compliance. Effective immediately.

HB 2674: SCH CD-FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the School Code. Authorizes a school board (or other eligible entity) to hold school or schedule teachers' institutes, parent-teacher conferences, or staff development on certain school holidays if (1) the person or persons honored by the holiday are recognized through instructional activities conducted on that day or, if the day is not used for student attendance, on the first school day preceding or following that day; and (2) the school board or other entity first holds a public hearing about the proposal. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 2676: SCH CD-FINANC OVERSIGHT PANEL (Assigned 3/3/2009) Creates the Financial Oversight Panel Law of the School Code. Allows a school district (other than the Chicago school district) to petition the State Board of Education for the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel for the district. Allows the State Board to establish a Financial Oversight Panel without a petition from a district. Contains provisions concerning duties of the district; members and meetings of a Panel; powers of a Panel; officers of a Panel; collective bargaining agreements; deposits and investments; cash and bank accounts; the financial, management, and budgetary structure; the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund; grants and loans; the issuance of bonds; a tax levy; a debt service fund; a debt service reserve fund; bond anticipation notes; tax anticipation warrants; reports; a Panel audit; Panel property being exempt from taxation; sanctions; and abolition of a Panel. Makes related changes in the School Code and the Property Tax Code. Effective immediately.

HB 3743: ILLINOIS VIRTUAL SCHOOLS (Assigned 3/3/2009) Creates the Illinois Virtual School Act. Establishes the Illinois Virtual School as a statewide virtual school to serve Illinois students in kindergarten through grade 12 and Illinois teachers and other educators, to be funded through an annual State appropriation to meet the operation and capital needs of the Illinois Virtual School. Sets forth provisions concerning fees, accountability, online courses, access and equity, a Board of Trustees, the powers of the Board, and the transition from the existing State Board of Education program. Effective immediately.

HB 3771: SCH CD-DIST SUP-BENEFITS-REPRT (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to itemize all compensation benefits for district superintendents and report this information to the State Board of Education, which shall make this information available to the public.

HB 3775: SCH CD-CONTRACTS-TRANSPORT (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the School Code. Adds contracts providing for the transportation of pupils with special needs or disabilities to the list of exceptions to the requirement that certain contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Provides that these contracts must be advertised in the same manner as competitive bids and awarded by first considering the bidder or bidders most able to provide safety and comfort for the pupils with special needs or disabilities, stability of service, and any other factors set forth in the request for proposal regarding quality of service, and then price.

HB 3799: SCH CD-ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROG (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create a low-interest revolving loan program for school districts to renovate, rehabilitate, or upgrade existing school facilities to incorporate environmentally friendly or energy-efficient building materials or alternative energy devices.

HB 3880: COUNTY SCHOOL FACILITY TAX (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the County School Facility Occupation Tax Law in the Counties Code. Provides that the amount to be distributed to each regional superintendent of schools is the amount collected from all counties prorated to each county based on the average daily attendance of pupils resident in the county.

HB 3881: ADOPTION-FAITH BASED (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Adds religious institutions to the term description of "child welfare agency" so that it now includes agencies established by a political subdivision to protect, guard, train or care for children outside their own homes and all agencies, persons, groups of persons, associations, organizations, corporations, institutions, religious institutions, centers, or groups providing adoption services. Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or other religious institution that is an agency providing adoption services as defined in Section 2.24 of the Child Care Act of 1969 and that is licensed as a child welfare agency as defined in Section 2.08 of the Child Care Act of 1969 may adopt faith-based policies and practices relating to the placement of children for adoption which provide for the placement of a child with a prospective adoptive parent who holds the same religious beliefs as those held by that religious institution, while maintaining the welfare of the child as the primary consideration in the placement.

HB 3883: SCH CD-REQUIRE COMMUNITY SERV (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2010-2011 school year or a subsequent school year must complete at least 60 hours of community service.

HB 3914: ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE SAFETY (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the School Code to provide that school districts must provide instruction in relation to the laws regarding the operation of all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles in grades kindergarten through 12 and may include the instruction in social studies, American government, driver education, or other appropriate courses of study. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to prohibit any use of all-terrain vehicles or off-highway vehicles on roads. Provides that the Secretary of State may suspend a person's driver's license for 6 months for a violation of provisions relating to the illegal use of all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles on streets and riding an all-terrain vehicle or off-highway motorcycle as a passenger. Provides that it is illegal to operate an all-terrain vehicle or off-highway motorcycle if the operator is under the age of 16, does not have a valid driver's license, or is not wearing a properly fitted helmet secured to the person's head. Provides that a person must demonstrate knowledge of all-terrain vehicle and off-highway motorcycle laws on the written examination for a driver's license, and provides that information relating to all-terrain vehicle and off-highway motorcycle laws must be contained in publications of the "Rules of the Road" by the Secretary of State and "Laws for Youth" by the Legislative Research Unit.

HB 3673: SCH CD-ST AID-LOCAL RESOURCES (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the State aid formula provisions of the School Code. With respect to determining Available Local Resources, provides that the Corporate Personal Property Replacement Taxes paid to each school district during the calendar year one year (instead of 2 years) before the calendar year in which a school year begins, divided by the Average Daily Attendance figure for that district, shall be added to the local property tax revenues per pupil. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 3731: SCH-CD-DIPLOMA-VIETNAM VETERAN (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the School Code. Allows school boards to award high school diplomas to honorably discharged veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States during the Vietnam Conflict. Effective immediately.

HB 2675: SCH CD-SCH HOLIDAYS-WAIVER (Assigned 3/3/2009) Amends the School Code. Authorizes a school board (or other eligible entity) to hold school or schedule teachers' institutes, parent-teacher conferences, or staff development on certain school holidays if (1) the person or persons honored by the holiday are recognized through instructional activities conducted on that day or, if the day is not used for student attendance, on the first school day preceding or following that day; and (2) the school board or other entity first holds a public hearing about the proposal. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 2508: SCH CD-PONTIAN GREEK GENOCIDE (Assigned 2/25/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that the required unit of instruction on genocide shall include the Pontian Greek Genocide. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

HB 2509: SCHOOL BUS INSTRUCTION COURSES (Assigned 2/25/2009) Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the duty of the regional superintendent of schools to conduct courses of instruction for school bus drivers, allows for an increase in fees for providing such courses. Provides that, of the increase in course fees authorized, $1 shall be deposited into a State Board of Education revolving account specifically dedicated to school bus safety for the conduct of business of the Illinois Pupil Transportation Advisory Committee and the certification and conduct of educational programs and training of Illinois school bus driver instructors.

HB 2521: SCH CD-ORGANIC FARMING GRANTS (Assigned 2/25/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish and administer an Organic Farming at Schools Grant Program. Provides that under the program, the State Board shall award grants, subject to appropriation, to school districts for the creation and support of organic farming at schools programs. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 2591: VIRTUAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Assigned 2/25/2009) Creates the Virtual Public Schools Act. Defines "virtual school" as an independent public school in which the school uses technology in order to deliver a significant portion of instruction to its students via the Internet in a virtual or remote setting. Requires the virtual school to be evaluated annually by its sponsor. Sets forth requirements for students of the virtual schools. Sets forth requirements and prohibitions for the virtual school. Provides that each virtual school teacher must be qualified to teach in this State under existing law. Provides that any student who meets State residency requirements may enroll in a virtual school.

HB 2619: SCH CD-BONDS-SCHOOL SITE, BLDG (Assigned 2/25/2009) Amends the School Code. Authorizes Martinsville Community Unit School District 3C to issue bonds in not to exceed the amount of $4,000,000 for the purpose of paying the cost of acquiring and improving a school site and building and equipping a new school building on the site to replace all or a portion of a school building closed by the regional superintendent of schools because of flood damage. Allows the replacement building to be larger than the size of and offer more functions than the school building being replaced. Provides that the bonds may be issued without referendum, shall mature not more than 30 years from the date of issuance, and shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of any statutory limitation if the bonds are issued in an amount or amounts, including existing indebtedness of the school district, not in excess of 18.5% of the value of the taxable property in the district to be ascertained by the last assessment for State and county taxes. Effective immediately.

HB 2530: SCH CD-AID-MINE SUBSIDENCE (Assigned 2/25/2009) Amends the School Code. In a Section allowing the State Board of Education to distribute loan or grant moneys to school districts for temporary relocation expenses, provides that the moneys may be distributed for temporary relocation expenses incurred by school districts as a result of mine subsidence. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 1326: SCH CD-VOTING REG POLICY (Assigned 2/23/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires a school board of any district that maintains grades 10 through 12 to adopt a policy that conditions the receipt of a high school diploma by a student who is at least 18 years of age upon that student's provision of proof that he or she has obtained a valid voter's registration, provided that the student meets all other voter eligibility requirements. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

HB 1361: SCH CD-REIMBURSE TRANSPORTION (Assigned 2/23/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that when calculating the State reimbursement for transportation costs, the State Board of Education may not deduct the number of pupils enrolled in early education programs from the number of pupils eligible for reimbursement if the pupils enrolled in the early education programs are transported at the same time as other eligible pupils.

HB 2258: SCHOOLS-HERNIA CHECK-CANCER (Assigned 2/23/2009) Amends the School Code and the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that a school board shall require that high school students participating in interscholastic athletics have a hernia check performed before being allowed to participate. Provides that a school board shall require that any pre-participation physical examination form a student must have completed before participating in interscholastic athletics include the question of whether the student's family has a medical history of cancer. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program must include, in grades 9 through 12, instruction on testicular cancer. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 2291: SCH CD-STU PHYSICAL FITNESS (Assigned 2/23/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board shall require an annual assessment of the physical fitness levels of all students in grades 5, 7, and 9, which shall be reported on the school district's school report card (along with the average number of minutes per week of physical education for each grade level). Requires the assessment data to be reported to the State Board of Education. Requires the State Board to compile the results, including statewide averages, broken down by gender and grade level, and use the assessment data to file a summary report every other year, beginning in October of 2012, regarding the overall status of health-related fitness of Illinois public school children with the Office of the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Department of Public Health. Allows students to be excused from the physical fitness assessment. Effective January 1, 2010.

HB 2362: SCH CD-CONTRACTS-TRANSPORT (Assigned 2/23/2009) Amends the School Code. Adds contracts providing for the transportation of pupils with special needs or disabilities to the list of exceptions to the requirement that certain contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Provides that these contracts must be advertised in the same manner as competitive bids and awarded by first considering the bidder or bidders most able to provide safety and comfort for the pupils with special needs or disabilities, stability of service, and any other factors set forth in the request for proposal regarding quality of service, and then price.

HB 2448: SCH CD-REMOTE EDUCATIONAL PROG (Assigned 2/23/2009) Amends the School Code. Allows a school district, by resolution of its school board, to establish a remote educational program. Defines "remote educational program" as an educational program delivered to students in the home or other location outside of a school building that meets specified criteria. Provides that days of attendance by students in a remote educational program may be claimed by the school district and shall be counted for general State aid purposes in accordance with the State aid formula provisions of the Code. Effective immediately.

HB 2321: SCH CD-DEBT LIMIT-ROCHESTER (Assigned 2/23/2009) Amends the School Code. In an exception to the debt limitations of school districts, allows Rochester Community Unit School District 3A to issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $18,500,000 (instead of $15,000,000). Effective immediately.

HB 2254: SCH CD-CHI SCH-VIOLENCE PRONE (Assigned 2/23/2009) Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that if a school fails to meet adequate yearly progress criteria for 2 consecutive school years and is located in a violence-prone area, as determined by the Chicago Police Department, then the Chicago Board of Education shall require that (1) students receive at least 10 to 15 minutes of physical activity a day, (2) the school have at least one full-time social worker on-site, and (3) after-school physical activity and academic programs be available for students.

HB 2386: SCH CD-REQUIRE COMMUNITY SERV (Assigned 2/23/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade in the 2010-2011 school year or a subsequent school year must complete at least 40 hours of community service.

HB 945: SCH CD-CHI-PROHIB-CONTRACT SCH (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code. Prohibits the Chicago Board of Education from establishing or operating a contract school. Effective immediately.

HB 955: SCH CD-NON-RESIDENT TUITION (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that a pupil who becomes non-resident during a grading period or school term, as determined by school board policy (instead of just a school term), shall not be charged tuition for the remainder of the grading period or school term in which he or she became a non-resident pupil, except that a pupil who began the school year as a resident pupil but becomes non-resident during that school year shall not be charged tuition for the remainder of the school year if he or she is graduating from high school that school year. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 987: SCH CD-TRANSPORTATION-DISTANCE (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that a school board shall provide free transportation for pupils residing at a distance of one mile (instead of one and one-half miles) or more from school. Makes related changes in provisions concerning transportation of pupils less than that distance from school, pupils attending a charter school or nonpublic school, and reimbursement of a custodian of a qualifying pupil for transportation expenses paid by the custodian. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 1036: COMMUNITY SERV ED-TASK FORCE (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the Community Service Education Act. Establishes the Community Service Education Task Force to address what level of funding the Community Service Education Program should have. Provides that the Task Force shall consist of 4 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 3 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Requires the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before July 1, 2010. Repeals these provisions on July 2, 2010. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 1106: SCH CD-REIMBURSE TRANSPORTION (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that when calculating the State reimbursement for transportation costs, the State Board of Education may not deduct the number of pupils enrolled in early education programs from the number of pupils eligible for reimbursement if the pupils enrolled in the early education programs are transported at the same time as other eligible pupils.

HB 1190: SCH CD-SPEC ED REIMBURS-TEACHR (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. With respect to the special education personnel reimbursement to school districts, provides that the reimbursement is for staff working on behalf of certain children (instead of for those children), for certificated employees who work with or on behalf of students with disabilities full time (instead of teachers, professional workers, directors, and school psychologists), and for non-certified employees (instead of necessary non-certified employees). Effective immediately.

HB 979: SCH CD-SPEC ED-TRANSITION SERV (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes changes to a Section concerning transition goals, supports, and services. Removes certain provisions concerning transition goals and supports. Provides instead that beginning no later than the first individualized education plan (IEP) in effect when the student turns age 14 1/2 (or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP Team) and updated annually thereafter, the IEP must include (i) measurable postsecondary goals based upon age-appropriate transition assessments and other information available regarding the student that are related to training, education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living skills and (ii) the transition services needed to assist the student in reaching those goals, including courses of study. Makes changes concerning the transition planning process, including additional participants, the IEP identifying each person responsible for transition services, the involvement of a public or private entity outside of the school district in transition services, the limit on a public school's responsibility for delivering educational services, and submitting a summary to the local Transition Planning Committee. Effective immediately.

HB 999: SCH CD-LINES OF CREDIT (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code. Allows a school district to establish a line of credit with a bank or other financial institution (instead of just a bank). Provides that the line of credit must be in an amount not to exceed 95% of the amount of property taxes most recently levied for educational, operations and maintenance, transportation, or other tax levy purposes or any combination thereof (instead of just for educational and building purposes). Provides that moneys thus borrowed shall be applied to the purposes for which the tax or any combination of the taxes may be levied (instead of the purposes for which they were obtained). Allows a school board to anticipate revenues due in the current fiscal year or expected to be due in the next subsequent fiscal year and issue notes, bonds, or other obligations and, in connection with that issuance, establish a line of credit in a specified amount under certain conditions. Allows other educational entities or a regional superintendent of schools to anticipate revenues due in the current fiscal year or expected to be due in the next subsequent fiscal year and issue notes or other obligations and, in connection with that issuance, establish a line of credit in a specified amount under certain conditions. Effective immediately.

HB 1107: SCH CD-HLTH/LIFE SAFETY-REPAIR (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code. With respect to a school board's power to levy a tax for the purpose of altering or reconstructing a school building or permanent, fixed equipment as a result of an order of an agency having authority to enforce a school building code or a law or regulation for the protection and safety of the environment, provides that, in the case of an emergency situation where the estimated cost to effectuate emergency repairs is less than the amount specified in the contract bidding provisions of the School Code, the school district may proceed with such repairs prior to approval by the State Superintendent of Education under certain conditions. Provides that if the estimated cost to effectuate emergency repairs is greater than the amount specified in the contract bidding provisions of the School Code, then the school district shall proceed in conformity with those provisions and with rules established by the State Board of Education to address such situations. Requires the rules to stipulate that emergency situations must be expedited and given priority consideration. Effective immediately.

HB 972: EDUC-VET DAY-MOMENT OF SILENCE (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code, various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois, and the Public Community College Act. Provides that if a public school, university, or community college holds any type of event at the institution on November 11, Veterans' Day, the governing board of the institution shall require a moment of silence at that event to recognize Veterans' Day. Effective immediately.

HB 900: SCH CD-TWICE EXCEPTIONAL CHILD (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires the State Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities and the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children to research and discuss best practices for addressing the needs of "twice-exceptional" children, those who are gifted and talented and have a disability. Requires the Councils to then jointly make recommendations to the State Board of Education with respect to the State Board of Education providing guidance and technical assistance to school districts in furthering improved educational outcomes for gifted and twice-exceptional children. Sets forth what the recommendations must include. Effective immediately.

HB 1108: SCH CD-ROE ADVISORY BOARD (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code. Makes changes with respect to the establishment and purpose of a regional office of education advisory board by providing that, beginning July 1, 2009, a board shall be established within each region serving Class I counties or within each group of regions participating in an intergovernmental agreement for the provision of professional development to advise the regional superintendent of schools of the region or regions involved concerning the planning and delivery of professional development programs and services. Provides that a board shall consist of at least 9 members (instead of requiring that a board consist of 13 members). Makes changes concerning the qualifications, nomination, and selection of members. Removes a provision concerning a 4-year term for members. Makes changes concerning when the board must meet and the board's duties.

HB 944: SCH CD-FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district must not be certified by the State Board of Education to be in financial difficulty as a result of the failure of the Comptroller to disburse certain School Code reimbursements for receipt by the school district no later than June 30th of each year. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 1197: SCH CD-TAX LEVY VALIDATION (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that if, prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act, St. Joseph Ogden Community High School District 305 has levied and the county clerk has extended taxes for fire prevention and safety purposes without the certificates of the regional superintendent of schools and the State Superintendent of Education, then the tax levies and extensions and the expenditures by the school district of the extended amounts are validated. Effective immediately.

HB 973: HEALTH ED-TEEN DATING VIOLENCE (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Provides that the Comprehensive Health Education Program shall include instruction in grades 8 through 12 on teen dating violence.

HB 1035: EDUC-DISABILITY HISTORY/AWARE (Assigned 2/18/2009) Amends the School Code and various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Requires the State Board of Education to promote an annual campaign about disability history and awareness in this State. Requires a school district to provide instruction on disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement. Requires the regional superintendent of schools to monitor a school district's compliance. Allows each public university to conduct and promote activities that provide education on, awareness of, and an understanding of disability history, people with disabilities, and the disability rights movement.

HB 835: SCH CD-SPECIAL ED-IEP MEETING (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the determination of eligibility for special education must be made and the individualized education program must be completed within 60 calendar days for children ages 3 and 4 and within 60 school days for children ages 5 through 21 (now, 60 school days regardless of age) from the date of written parental consent.

HB 836: SCH CD-SPEC ED-IEP MEETING (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the determination of eligibility for special education shall be made and the Individualized Education Program meeting shall be completed within 60 calendar (instead of school) days from the date of written parental consent.

HB 628: SCH CD-SPEC ED-EXPERT WITNESS (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that a private evaluator or expert retained by or on behalf a parent or guardian shall be afforded reasonable and unimpeded access to educational personnel, facilities, classrooms, and buildings and to the child for the purpose of conducting any appropriate interviews, observations, assessments, tests, or evaluations of the child and of the child's current or proposed educational program, placement, and educational environment. Provides that a parent or guardian shall be afforded reasonable and unimpeded access to observe the child in his or her current or proposed educational program, placement, and educational environment. Provides that a parent or guardian who is a prevailing party in an impartial due process hearing or in a civil action may recover from an opposing party reasonable expert witness costs if the expert witness contributed to the relief obtained by the parent or guardian. Effective immediately.

HB 640: SCH CD-SCOLIOSIS SCREENING (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires all children in the third and seventh grades of any public, private, or parochial school to have a scoliosis screening. Provides that each of these children shall present proof of having been examined by a chiropractor before May 15th of the school year. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish, by rule, a waiver for children who show an undue burden or a lack of access to a chiropractor. Requires each public, private, and parochial school to give notice of this scoliosis screening requirement to the parents and guardians of students at least 60 days before May 15th of each school year. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 645: SCH CD-CERT-CHIROPRACTOR (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning an employee's sick leave and compulsory school age exemptions, provides that when required, certain certificates may be issued by a chiropractic physician licensed in this State. Effective immediately.

HB 605: SCH CD-ENSURING SUCCESS IN SCH (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires the Ensuring Success in School Task Force to submit a report to the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2009 (instead of January 1, 2009). Effective immediately.

HB 737: SCH CD-PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code to provide that principals hired on or after July 1, 2008 may participate in a second year of mentoring through the new principal mentoring program if it is determined by the State Superintendent of Education that sufficient funding exists for such participation. Removes a provision requiring the completion of a survey of progress. Requires the State Superintendent to annually determine whether appropriations are likely to be sufficient to require operation of the mentoring program for the coming year. Provides that the master principal designation program includes mentoring master level principals. Provides that the State Board of Education shall select, through a competitive process, statewide entities to receive funds appropriated for the purpose of providing a program (instead of the State Board adopting rules for entities seeking to provide a program). Provides that "master principal designation program" shall also be known as the Illinois Distinguished Principal Leadership Institute. Effective immediately.

HB 684: SCH CD-COMMUNITY SCH-GRANTS (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code. Subject to an appropriation or the availability of funding for such purposes, requires the State Board of Education to make grants available to fund community schools (which are traditional schools that actively partner with their community to leverage existing resources and identify new resources to support the transformation of the school to provide enrichment and additional life skill opportunities for students, parents, and community members at-large) and to enhance programs at community schools. Requires a request-for-proposal process to be used in awarding grants. Provides that proposals may be submitted on behalf of a school, a school district, or a consortium of 2 or more schools or school districts. Requires a school to have certain components in order to qualify for a grant. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to appoint a 9-member Advisory Council on Community Schools. Effective immediately.

HB 740: SCH CD-GREEN CAREER/TECH PROG (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a 2-year pilot program to assist in the creation and promotion of green career and technical education programs in public secondary schools in this State.

HB 809: SCH CD-SPECIAL ED-JT AGREEMENT (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code. In a Section allowing school boards to enter into joint agreements with other school boards with respect to special education matters, provides that an amendment to an agreement may include the removal of a school district from or the addition of a school district to the joint agreement without a petition as otherwise required in the Section if all member districts adopt concurring resolutions to that effect. Makes changes concerning a petition for withdrawal of a district from the joint agreement, including requiring the hearing on the petition to be in accordance with State Board of Education rules and changing how the vote on approval of the petition is determined. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to all changes to special education joint agreement membership initiated after July 1, 2009. Provides that the contract of a director of a joint agreement program may not be offered or accepted for less than one year or more than 3 years (instead of for less than or more than 3 years). Effective immediately.

HB 613: SCH CD-CONTRACTS-BIDDING (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code. In provisions requiring certain contracts to be awarded by competitive bid, provides that the acceptance of bids sealed by a bidder and the opening of these bids at a public bid opening may be permitted by an electronic process for communicating, accepting, and opening competitive bids; requires certain safeguards. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

HB 806: SCH CD-FIRST GRADE-AGE 5 (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that children who have attended a State-certified, private preschool and continued their education at that school through kindergarten and who will attain the age of 6 years on or before December 31 of the year of the 2009-2010 school term and each school term thereafter may attend first grade upon commencement of such term. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 725: SCH CD-UNIV-SIGN LANGUAGE CRED (Assigned 2/11/2009) Amends the School Code to encourage school boards to implement American Sign Language (ASL) courses into school foreign language curriculum. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. In provisions concerning admissions requirements, provides that ASL constitutes a foreign language for the purposes of meeting those requirements. Requires the governing board of each public university to award academic credit for the successful completion of any ASL course offered or approved by the university, which may be applied toward the satisfaction of the foreign language requirements of the university. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

HB 401: SCH CD-CHARTER SCH-EMPLOYEES (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Provides that a charter school may not employ an individual in an instructional position or any paraprofessionals or school-related personnel who are not State-certified and highly qualified as defined in the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective August 15, 2009.

HB 421: SCH CD-CHARTR SCH-CONTRACT SCH (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Prohibits a charter school from establishing or operating a contract school. Effective immediately.

HB 449: SCH CD-DISCIPLINE POLICY (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a standard student expulsion policy that applies to each school district in this State. Requires a district's pupil discipline policy to conform to the standard student expulsion policy. Requires a school board to furnish a copy of the district's pupil discipline policy to the parents or guardian of each pupil within 15 days after the beginning of the school year or within 15 days after starting classes for a pupil who transfers into the district during the school year and to require that each school inform its pupils of the contents of its policy (now permissive with respect to school boards other than the Chicago Board of Education).

HB 475: SCH CD-TEXTBOOKS-FEE WAIVERS (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the School Code. With respect to the purchase of textbooks for children whose parents are unable to buy them and the waiver of fees assessed on children whose parents are unable to afford them, changes a reference from children eligible for free lunches or breakfasts under the Community School Lunch Program to children living in households that meet the free lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines established by the federal government pursuant to the federal Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, subject to verification. Provides that any school board that participates in a federally funded, school-based child nutrition program and uses a student's application for, eligibility for, or participation in the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program as the basis for waiving fees assessed by the school district must follow the verification requirements of the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program. Provides that a school board that establishes a process for the determination of eligibility for waiver of fees assessed by the school district that is completely independent of a student's application for, eligibility for, or participation in a federally funded, school-based child nutrition program may provide for fee waiver verification no more often than every 60 calendar days, with conditions. Effective September 1, 2009 or immediately, whichever is later.

HB 495: SCH CD-BUILDING INSPECTIONS (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall (1) oversee inspections of (rather than inspect) building plans and specifications submitted by school boards and (2) oversee inspections (rather than inspect) all public schools under his or her supervision. Provides that all inspections for construction and like activities shall be conducted by independent third parties not associated with the school's design or construction. Provides that such third party inspectors shall have a minimum of 6,000 hours of relevant training. Effective immediately.

HB 538: SCH CD-LOW INC/HIGH VIOLENCE (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that if a school is located in a low-income and high violence area, as determined by the State Board of Education, then the school board shall require that (1) the school have at least one full-time social worker available for students; (2) the school, if an elementary school, have a gymnasium available for recess; (3) the school, if an elementary school, have at least one recess per school day; and (4) the school offer at least one course in art.

HB 363: SCH CD-CHI-SCH FACILITY DEV (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Requires the Chairpersons of the House of Representatives' Committee on Elementary & Secondary Education and the Senate's Committee on Education to each appoint 5 members to a Special Joint Chicago Education Facilities Subcommittee. Requires the Joint Subcommittee, with the help of independent experts, to analyze past school district experience with respect to the closing or opening of schools, school repairs, school additions, school phase-outs, school consolidations, and school boundary changes; to consult widely with stakeholders about these facility issues; and to examine relevant best practices from other school systems for dealing with these issues systematically and equitably. Provides for a draft policy and a final proposed policy. Provides that there shall be a moratorium on school closings, consolidations, and phaseouts in the school district in the 2009-2010 school year, and provides that any of these actions that are subsequently appropriate shall be carried out no sooner than the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Effective immediately.

HB 473: CNTY CD-SCHOOL TAX (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the County School Facility Occupation Tax Law in the Counties Code. Provides that a school district that receives proceeds from a county school facility occupation tax may enter into an intergovernmental agreement with a municipality to share those proceeds. Provides that the municipality may use its share of the proceeds only for municipal infrastructure purposes. Provides that the agreement is subject to referendum approval. Amends the School Code to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

HB 392: EDUC-GROW YOUR OWN TEACHERS (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Act. Makes changes concerning the purposes and goals of the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Initiative, the definitions of certain terms, including adding a definition of "cohort", the composition of a consortium, candidate qualifications, a cohort's education (instead of training), collective consortium decision-making, supportive services, the program of forgivable loans, the award of grants under the Initiative, the inclusion of certain costs in program budgets, and funds to cover the salary of a site-based cohort coordinator. Effective immediately.

HB 548: SCH CD-TEACHR-SICK LEAVE-ADOPT (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the School Code. With respect to sick leave for teachers (other than in the Chicago school district), provides that a school board may require a certificate from a physician, advanced practice nurse, physician assistant, or spiritual adviser or practitioner as a basis for pay during leave after an absence of 30 days for birth. Provides that for paid sick leave for adoption or placement for adoption, the school board may require that the teacher or other employee provide evidence that the formal adoption process is underway, and such leave is limited to 30 days unless a longer leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

HB 557: CRIM CD-INTERFERE SCHOOL (Assigned 2/9/2009) Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Expands the statute concerning interference with a public institution of higher education to also include interference with public elementary and secondary schools. Provides that if the interference with the public institution of education is accompanied by a threat, the person commits a Class 3 felony and may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 2 years and not more than 10 years and may be prosecuted for intimidation.

HB 17: SCH CD-BLACK HISTORY STUDY (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. Adds as commemorative holidays January 15 (to be known as Humanitarian Day and observed as a day of respect for the principles of human and civil rights and to involve the use of the color white as a visual affirmation to practice these principles), April 4 (to be known as Victims of Violence Wholly Day and observed as a day of respect for the principles of non-violence and to involve the use of the color black as a visual affirmation to practice these principles), and August 28 (to be known as Dream Day and observed as a day of respect for the spiritual and moral principles of peoplehood and to involve the use of the colors black and white as a visual affirmation to practice these principles). Requires the study of Black History to include the Gettysburg Address, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech", and President Barack Obama's victory speech. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

HB 18: SCH CD-CHICAGO-YOUTH PROGRAM (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. Allows the Chicago Board of Education to develop a plan for implementing a program that seeks to establish common bonds between youth of various backgrounds and ethnicities, which may be similar to that of the Challenge Day organization.

HB 21: SCH CD-STUDENT ATHLETE-EKG REQ (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require students who participate in an interscholastic athletic program to undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG) test. Provides that the State Board of Education shall determine how often a student must undergo EKG testing.

HB 27: SCH CD-STUDENT ATHLETE-EKG REQ (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish a 3-year pilot program for the Chicago school district in which the Department shall require an electrocardiogram (EKG) test as part of the health examination that student athletes are required to undergo. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority.

HB 89: SCH CD-INFECTIOUS DISEASE (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. Requires school boards, prior to the 2010-2011 school year, to develop policies and adopt rules relating to the prevention of infections transmitted by contact with blood or bodily fluids. Sets forth what the policies and rules must include. Provides that no school shall be required to pay the cost of any testing recommended under these policies and rules. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, to develop and disseminate to school boards a model exposure policy and training program, which shall be made available at no cost to schools by video, electronic, or other means. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 205: SCH CD-EYE EXAM-DILATING DROPS (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. With respect to the requirement that children enrolling in kindergarten have an eye examination, requires the use of dilating drops for the internal and external examination.

HB 209: SCH CD-CHARTER SCH-REVOCATION (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. In a provision allowing a charter to be revoked or not renewed, provides that if the charter school committed a material violation of any of the conditions, standards, or procedures set forth in the charter, failed to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management, or violated any provision of law from which the charter school was not exempted, then the local school board or the State Board of Education as the chartering entity shall notify the charter school in writing of the reason why the charter is subject to revocation or nonrenewal, and the charter school shall submit a written plan to the local school board or State Board to rectify the problem and shall begin implementation of the plan within one calendar year after notification. Provides that if the charter school failed to meet or make reasonable progress toward achievement of the content standards or pupil performance standards identified in the charter, then the charter school must be held to the terms as written in the charter. Provides that if the local school board or State Board as the chartering entity finds that the charter school has not rectified the problem, then the charter must be revoked or not renewed.

HB 337: SCH CD-PE EXEMPTION-MARCH BAND (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. Allows a school board to excuse pupils enrolled in grades 11 and 12 from engaging in physical education courses for ongoing participation in a marching band program (instead of allowing pupils in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in a marching band program for credit to be excused).

HJR 1: SPEC EDUC FUNDING TASK FORCE (Assigned 2/4/2009) Extends the reporting deadline for the task force created by House Joint Resolution 24 of the 95th General Assembly.

HB 288: STUDENT SILENT REFLECTION (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Student Silent Reflection Act. Allows a teacher to conduct (instead of requiring a teacher to observe) a brief period of silence at the opening of every school day with the participation of all pupils assembled. Provides that this period shall be an opportunity for such silent reflection as may be desired by each individual pupil (instead of an opportunity for silent prayer or for silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day). Effective immediately.

HB 33: SCH CD-ELEM SCH-RECESS REQ (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require that schools provide recess for all students in kindergarten through grade 8. Provides that recess must be at least 10 minutes in length and must occur once in the middle of each morning. Provides that if the principal determines that the weather is inclement, the principal shall direct that a recess be held indoors. Requires the principal to ensure that students are given the opportunity to engage in physical exercise during each recess. Provides that the time required for recesses is included in the minimum number of hours necessary to constitute a full day of attendance under the State aid formula provisions.

HB 272: IHSA-PERFORM ENHANC SUBSTANC (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Requires an association that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State and that has a performance-enhancing substance testing program to prohibit a student from participating in an athletic competition sponsored or sanctioned by the association unless (i) the student agrees not to use certain performance-enhancing substances, and, if the student is enrolled in high school, the student submits to random testing for the presence of these substances in the student's body and (ii) the association obtains from the student's parent a statement signed by the parent acknowledging certain information. Provides that a school district shall require that each district employee who serves as an athletic coach at or above the 9th grade level for an extracurricular athletic activity sponsored or sanctioned by an association complete an educational program on the prevention of abuse of performance-enhancing substances and complete a proficiency exam. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide oversight of the annual administration of a performance-enhancing substance testing program by an association under which high school students participating in an athletic competition sponsored or sanctioned by the association are tested at multiple times throughout the athletic season for the presence of certain performance-enhancing substances in the students' bodies. Contains provisions concerning confidentiality, funding, exceptions, and liability. Repeals these provisions on July 1, 2011. Effective immediately.

HB 325: SCH CD-BD MEMBER-TREASURER (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. With respect to a school board of an elementary school, high school, or unit school district that forms a part of a Class II county school unit that was under the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township at the time those offices were abolished in that township, allows the school treasurer to also be a member of the school board (now prohibited); provides that if a member of the school board is also school treasurer, he or she shall perform his or her duties as school treasurer without compensation. With respect to school districts having a population of not fewer than 1,000 and not more than 500,000 inhabitants, allows a member of the board of education to also be a school treasurer (now prohibited). Effective immediately.

HB 326: SCH CD-CONFIDENTIALITY-COUNSEL (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. Provides that any information of a personal nature disclosed by a pupil 12 years of age or older in the process of receiving school counseling services from a school counselor or school counselor intern is confidential, and provides that any information of a personal nature disclosed to a school counselor or school counselor intern by a parent or guardian of such a pupil is confidential. Provides that the information must not become part of the pupil's record without the written consent of the pupil who disclosed the confidential information. Provides that the information must not be revealed, released, discussed, or referred to, with exceptions. Provides that except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct, no person required to keep the information confidential may incur any civil or criminal liability as a result of keeping that information confidential. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.

HJR 4: TEACHR OF THE YEAR-NAME CHANGE (Assigned 2/4/2009) Urges the State Board of Education to rename the Illinois Teacher of the Year Award the Willard Carl Widerberg Illinois Teacher of the Year Award.

HB 281: SCHOOL CD-FOOD ALLERGIES MGMT (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code to require that the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Public Health, develop and make available to each school board guidelines for the management of students with life-threatening food allergies. Recommends that each school board be required to implement a policy based on these guidelines no later than January 1, 2011. Effective immediately.

HB 80: SCH CD-ST BD ED-REPLACE MEMBRS (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the Governor's Office of Management and Budget Act and the School Code. Provides that anything submitted by the State Board of Education to the Governor or the Governor's Office of Management and Budget under the Governor's Office of Management and Budget Act must also be submitted simultaneously to the General Assembly. Terminates the term of each member of the State Board of Education who is in office on the effective date of the amendatory Act and provides for new appointed members to take office. Provides for successors to be appointed for terms of 6 (instead of 4) years. Establishes a Nomination Panel to provide a list of nominees to the Governor for appointment to the State Board, with the Panel appointing those members not selected by the Governor within a certain timeframe. Provides that appointments by the Governor and Panel must be confirmed by the Senate by two-thirds of its members by record vote. Provides that any appointment not acted upon within a certain timeframe shall be deemed to have received the advice and consent of the Senate. Makes changes concerning vacancies on the State Board. Provides that the State Board may remove for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office any member of the State Board by a two-thirds vote in favor of removal. Makes changes concerning the appointment of a State Superintendent of Education. Creates a State Board of Education Advisory Board. Adds provisions governing ex parte communications received from the Governor or his or her official representative, employee, or attorney. Makes other changes. Contains a severability clause. Effective immediately.

HB 16: SCH CD-4 YEAR OLDS-ATTEND SCH (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the School Code. Allows children who have attended preschool and will attain the age of 5 years on or before December 1 of the year of the 2009-2010 school term and each school term thereafter to attend school upon commencement of such term (now, a child must attain age 5 on or before September 1). Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2009.

HB 19: SCH CD-CHI-HAND WASHING REQ (Assigned 2/4/2009) Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that under the Chicago Board of Education's policies and rules concerning infectious disease, the Board shall require that all students wash their hands with an antiseptic soap or detergent before consuming any meal at school and shall establish nationally accepted standards and provide the facilities, materials, and supervision necessary to implement the handwashing requirement. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.