* Capitol News Illinois…

A major initiative of a regional carpenters’ union that aims to end wage theft in private construction projects will head to Gov. JB Pritzker.

The long-debated measure allows a worker with a wage theft or fringe benefit grievance against a subcontractor to sue the primary contractor to rectify the situation. The primary contractor is the entity that deals directly with the customer and hires the subcontractors to complete a project.

The bill also requires the subcontractor to compensate the primary contractor for any wages, damages, interest, penalties or attorney fees should the primary contractor be forced to rectify a wage theft claim.

“Construction jobs are unique in that they often feature various subcontractors under one general contractor whose job it is to make sure all laws, including wage-related ones, are being followed,” the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, said in a statement. “This measure will ensure that the hardworking individuals who are employed by subcontractors receive fair compensation should that subcontractor fail to pay them.”

David Roeder at the Sun-Times on the same bill…

The Associated General Contractors of Illinois opposed the measure. That group and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce could not be reached for comment.

The Hispanic American Construction Industry Association fought the bill. In a statement issued in early April, the group cited “the harm it will inflict on up-and-coming construction firms in Illinois and the employees who become victims of wage theft.” It said it contradicts Illinois’ goal of diversifying the construction industry and creates an incentive for cheating.

“Shifting liability for wage theft encourages bad actors to continue stealing from their employees because they know that someone else will be held accountable,” the group said.

A study issued early last year concluded that payroll fraud affects 20% of Illinois construction workers, or about 52,000 people. The study by labor-backed groups, including the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, said some employers skip paying payroll tax, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation.

* Press release…

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) worked with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and the governor’s office to ensure the passage of several pieces of pro-public education legislation during the 2021-22 legislative session in Springfield. This legislation will mean stronger K-12 schools and stronger community colleges and universities for our students, and it will help us address the growing teacher and education support staff shortages in our state.

“We are about to end our second full school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. These have been the hardest years of most of our educators’ careers and are also likely the most difficult two years of our students’ learning careers. Our lawmakers recognized that. They acknowledged that not with mere words, but with action. We thank you for standing by our teachers, support staff, students and communities,” IEA President Kathi Griffin said. “This legislative session brought positive change to every Illinois student from pre-school through college. The legislative initiatives passed by the General Assembly also help to address some of the problems that are leading to the teacher and support staff shortages that are now at a crisis level. But as much great work as we’ve done, more still needs to be done to keep our outstanding, experienced educators in their schools and higher education institutions and to attract bright, ambitious young minds to the profession. We look forward to continuing this important work.”

Legislation passed by lawmakers this session that will have a positive impact on public education:

• Threat Assessment Law Update (HB 4994) – This bill ensures safe schools for all Illinois students. It’s a collaboration between IEA and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The legislation will mean school district administrations are monitored by Regional Offices of Education to make sure they are in compliance with Illinois’ Threat Assessment Law. That law is designed to help prevent active shooter situations and violence in our schools.
• COVID Admin Days and Paycheck Protection (HB 1167) – HB 1167 will provide COVID administrative days to teachers and education support staff who are either vaccinated or who are federally exempt from the vaccine. This ensures teachers and support staff will not have to use sick days for COVID related absences. It also restores any previously used sick days educators may have taken. Included in this legislation is paycheck protection for hourly school employees in the event a school closes for an emergency.
• Special Education Co-Op Bill (HB 3709) - This bill protects collective bargaining rights for special education teachers and support staff by ensuring seniority is maintained when a special education co-op is dissolved or combined with another special education co-op.
• Mental Health Days (HB 4742) – HB 4742 provides education employees can use sick days for mental health related reasons.
• Increased education funding, full pension payment and monies to address teacher shortage (HB 900) -

o Lawmakers allocated an additional $350 million dollars for public education, which means the evidenced-based funding model for K-12 schools was fully funded.
o The legislature approved sending the state’s full payment and additional funding to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS).
o After years of nearly stagnant funding for universities and community colleges, lawmakers approved a significant increase in higher education funding.
o Also included is $400,000 for the Educators Rising Program, which is the community-based movement that encourages Illinois high school students to choose to become teachers.

* More on the mental health days from Quincy’s WGEM TV…

QPS personnel director Lisa Otten said anything that can be done to support teachers mental health is worth doing.

She said right now teachers can use sick days as mental health days. She said the district also offers teachers three free counseling sessions through their insurance plans.

Otten said they’re noticing more teachers taking advantage of those services.

“More of our staff members are using this service, probably because of the mental health needs right now with post-COVID,” she said. “Our families and staff have been through a lot so we are noticing an uptick in of the staff that are using the free counseling services.”

…Adding… Partnership for College Completion…

On the last day of a shortened session, the Illinois General Assembly passed a budget that included a historic $122M increase in the Monetary Award Program (MAP), which will allow 24,000 more students to access the state’s primary need-based aid program. Other higher education highlights include a 5% increase in college and university funding and investments in financial aid programs that will help make college more affordable for students seeking careers with high market demand. The FY23 budget, for example, doubles funding to the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship, which aims to increase the representation of teachers of color in Illinois.

This budget symbolizes a renewed commitment by the state to make college more affordable and accessible, particularly for students who have been historically left out of higher education. The Partnership applauds Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly for advancing a budget that will help put Illinois on track to a more equitable and prosperous future.

Right now, this investment is particularly important with colleges in Illinois and across the country experiencing significant enrollment declines, particularly among Black students and other marginalized populations. While there are many reasons why college enrollment is down across the country– mental health, increased family responsibilities, and the perceived value of a degree– college affordability is perhaps the number one reason why Illinois students and families are not seeking a postsecondary education in the state.

Getting Illinois on track to a truly affordable higher education system requires a reinvestment that is both substantial and targeted. This is because the state disinvested in colleges and universities between 2002 and 2018, pushing institutions to raise their prices to cover the cost of delivering high-quality education. This priced out students from low-income households and students of color, especially from Illinois’ public universities.

Today, the maximum MAP award covers just 32% and 36% of tuition and fees at public universities and colleges, respectively, and thousands of eligible students are denied awards every year when funding runs out. Reversing this trend will require stable and significant investments in both students and the institutions that serve them and the budget passed by the General Assembly last weekend is a significant down payment toward this goal.

With both the increase in MAP funding and expanded eligibility to students seeking certificates or credentials, roughly 24,000 more students will receive a MAP award. The investment will not only increase the number of students served but also increase the percentage of tuition and fees covered by a maximum award, from 32% to 50% at public universities.

* Other stuff…

* Legislation classifying Illinois dispatchers as first responders clears legislature