* No word yet on Rep. Martwick’s bill to appoint the Cook County Assessor /s…

A measure to require the Chicago Public School Board be elected by voters, rather than appointed by the city’s mayor, advanced out of committee Wednesday.

State Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, said his bill codifies a popular idea that some city residents have been seeking for years.

“It’s something I’ve been pushing for for a while,” he said. “It’s something that I think the citizens of Chicago deserve.”

Martwick said he’s confident Gov. J.B. Pritzker will sign it if it were to pass.

A representative from the city of Chicago opposed the move in committee Wednesday morning, saying the new mayor, whoever she is, should have the ability to appoint a new member. […]

If passed, there would be 20 subdivisions for Chicago Public Schools with districts drawn by the Illinois General Assembly. The first election would be for the 2023 consolidated primary elections.

So, Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton will be in charge of drawing the maps?

* Northwest Herald…

A lawmaker has filed a bill in response to a Northwest Herald investigation that would amend the state’s school code to require school districts to report any investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against a school employee or contractor to parents.

On Monday, state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, filed House Bill 3819 to address concerns raised after a Northwest Herald investigation revealed Community High School District 155 officials knew in August – months before notifying parents – about a police probe into allegations against a Crystal Lake Central High School teacher later charged with felony grooming of an underage girl for sex.

After a two-week internal investigation in the school district’s human resources department, 48-year-old Matthew R. Fralick was allowed to return to his high school classroom.

Filed in Springfield on Monday, McSweeney’s bill would amend the state’s School Code to require any school district that takes disciplinary action against an educator or contractor due to allegations involving an offense that is sexually motivated to report the allegation – including the person’s name – to parents and guardians.

* Illinois News Network…

Illinois lawmakers have set the wheels in motion to allow for power provider Exelon’s nuclear fleet, as well as wind and solar power providers, to sell energy to a state authority that opponents say will give it preferential pricing over coal and natural gas sources.

Testimony about how the legislation would affect costs for ComEd ratepayers differed, so what it means for consumers isn’t clear.

The move is a response to wholesale power grid operator PJM Interconnection Inc. separating Exelon’s nuclear power from other sources’ bids because Exelon gets subsidies from the state and would be able to undercut coal plants and others looking to sell energy commitments on the wholesale power market.

“The clean capacity procurement provisions in this bill are driven by new federal regulations that change the way the regional grid operator, PJM in the northern part of the state, procures its generating capacities,” said Rep. Larry Walsh, D-Joliet. “Under these regulations, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, would undercut key provisions of the Future Energy Jobs Act … including the development of clean energy like wind and solar and our existing clean energy resources.”

Exelon said in a government filing last month that its Dresden, Byron and Braidwood stations were at risk for “early retirement” due to economic conditions related to the bidding process.