Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed a series of bills dealing with education, student safety, and equity among other issues.
On Aug. 20, Pritzker signed SB818 (Villivalam) and HB24 (West), expanding sexual health education in schools. SB818 adds new, voluntary personal health and safety education standards for grades kindergarten through 5th grade and more inclusive education for grades 6 through 12. These standards will include education on concepts like consent and self-advocacy. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will develop the standards and make them available online by Aug. 1, 2022.
“No student should feel stigmatized or excluded in the classroom,” Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) said in a statement. “This legislation puts forth guidelines for an inclusive, culturally competent curriculum to keep students safe and healthy.”
HB24 requires sex education classes to include discussions regarding sexting, including the legal and social consequences of sharing sexually explicit content, identifying bullying and harassment because of sexting, and identifying people who can help those dealing with the consequences of sexting.
The governor also signed HB102 (Carroll), which establishes comprehensive guidelines for schools to follow when assisting students with serious allergies. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will work along with ISBE and Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to create the Childhood Anaphylactic Policy.
“Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can include a wide range of symptoms and can start quickly causing a life-threatening emergency,” IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement. “Allergic reactions can be unpredictable as to when they occur, the type of symptoms, and the severity of symptoms. Because anaphylaxis can occur at any age, including children, it is important for teachers and staff in schools and day cares to know the signs of an allergic reaction and be prepared to act. IDPH will convene allergy experts and pediatricians to develop a policy to help schools and day cares protect children from severe allergic reactions.”
On Aug. 23, Pritzker signed SB1085 (Villanueva), SB815 (Lightford), and HB3359 (Bos). SB1085, Educational Planning Services Consumer Protection Act, creates new consumer protections for prospective college students. It sets guidelines for the terms that can be included in a contract for education planning services, requires that college planning providers translate all disclosures and documents involved in the services, and prohibits providers from charging enrollment or maintenance fees. The bill is effective Jan. 1, 2022.
“The transparency created by this bill will be a breath of fresh air for people in communities who have been generationally preyed upon by unscrupulous educational planning services,” said Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “In the pursuit of the American dream way too many Illinoisans, especially those who are first generation Americans and from low-income communities have been sold a bill of goods that has hampered them with extraordinary amounts of debt for the rest of their lives. Illinois has become a leader in protecting our citizens from these actors and their bad practices.”
SB815 creates the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding, which will study the allocation of state funds to public universities and make recommendations to the General Assembly and publish findings by July 1, 2023. The bill is effective immediately.
HB3359 allows a student’s personal support worker to attend classes with the student and prevents the Illinois Board of Higher Education from charger the worker tuition or fees
“Thanks to the Governor and sponsors of HB 3359, this legislation enables students with disabilities to have the support they need in the classroom and allows for an educational environment where students and adults can thrive, in a thoughtful collaborative, and truly inclusive experience,” said Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Grace Hou.
“Unfortunately, discrimination against the disabled still occurs today, which is why this legislation is so important,” Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) said in a statement. “This sad reality is personal to me as this discrimination happened to a constituent who was denied an opportunity for an education because of his disability, which requires him to have a support worker for assistance. Sadly, this young man was turned away from two local colleges because they wouldn’t allow his support worker to sit with him in class unless the support worker also paid tuition. This is just plain wrong. Discrimination has absolutely no place in our higher education system. Everyone should have the ability for continued education, regardless of their disability. This new law is one step toward pushing disability rights forward here in Illinois. I hope that now no other disabled person will suffer in a similar manner.”
HB3359 is effective immediately.
Allison F. Richard
Legislative Consultant
