* Chalkbeat…

Illinois state lawmakers filed two bills last week aimed at reversing the Chicago Board of Education’s decisions to rethink school choice policies and remove school resource officers from campuses.

The bills focus on board moves that have drawn both support and sharp pushback in recent months from school communities and elected officials. Those decisions include a plan to reconsider the district’s system of school choice — including charter, selective enrollment, magnet, and gifted schools — and to create a new school safety plan that bans the use of school resource officers, or on-campus police. […]

Both bills have gathered support from other Chicago-based state lawmakers and powerful allies, including House Speaker Chris Welch. […]

One of the state bills, House Bill 5008, would allow local school councils to contract with the Chicago Police Department for school resource officers. It would counteract a board vote two weeks ago to create a new school safety policy by June 27 that would end the use of school resource officers, effectively removing officers from 39 schools that currently have them, by next year. […]

The second bill, House Bill 5766, would prevent the closure of any school with selective admissions criteria — such as the city’s 11 selective high schools — until Feb. 1, 2027. The bill also calls for a halt to any changes to admissions criteria for selective schools or any decrease in funding to selective schools until 2027.

* Sun-Times…

Annoying “junk” fees added to your purchases are the target of proposed legislation in Springfield, an effort that mirrors a national campaign to rein in surprise charges and increase transparency in pricing.

The legislation by state Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, and state Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, would mandate upfront disclosures of the total price of goods or services for a wide range of industries, from entertainment to housing. It would also give the attorney general’s office more power to go after companies that add surprise fees.

A hearing is expected to be held Tuesday before the Illinois House Consumer Protection Committee. […]

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul supports the legislation, saying in a statement that junk fees are responsible for “decreasing trust in the marketplace and putting honest businesses at a disadvantage.” […]

The legislation dovetails with President Joe Biden’s effort to curtail junk fees. Such surprise fees cost Americans “tens of billions of dollars per year,” according to the Federal Trade Commission.

* WAND…

Illinois state lawmakers could help many survivors of gun violence by passing plans this year to re-open cold cases and provide more transparency on homicide investigations. Advocates argue this policy could finally give their families closure.

Black Illinoisans are 37 times more likely to die from gun violence than white residents. Black murders are also 23% less likely to be solved than murders of white people, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. […]

[Rep. Kam Buckner] and other Democratic lawmakers hope to pass a plan allowing immediate family members to petition law enforcement to review unsolved murder cases after three years of inactivity. Advocates told the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee Monday that families cannot properly heal unless they receive frequent updates from police that potentially lead to arrest. […]

A separate bill could require every law enforcement agency in Illinois to publish monthly data on homicides, arrests of alleged perpetrators, and the status of homicide investigations. Law enforcement would be tasked with submitting the information to Illinois State Police and their official website for the public to view.

* WGEM…

Illinois lawmakers are looking at a proposal that could remove an affirmative defense for someone accused of hazing.

Sponsored by state Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, the bill would remove the defense for someone accused of hazing that their victim agreed to participate in a hazardous situation.

Stadelman said it means someone agreeing to be somewhere hazing could happen isn’t a defense for the person accused of hazing them.

“It just strengthens the state’s law,” Stadelman said. “It’ll just encourage more people to come forward and not have to be put on a witness stand and try to explain why they were at the event in the first place or in a situation in the first place when the situation was not their fault to begin with.”

The bill has already passed out of the Senate Special Committee on Criminal Law and Public Safety. It now heads to the Senate floor.

* HB5563 is assigned to tomorrow’s Labor and Commerce Committee…

Creates the Child Labor Law of 2024. Reinserts provisions of the Child Labor Law. Sets forth additional provisions concerning definitions; exemptions; employer requirements; restrictions on employment of minors; employment certificates; civil penalties; and criminal penalties. Repeals the Child Labor Law. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2025, except provisions concerning minors featured in vlogs and trust funds are effective July 1, 2024.

* Sen. Natalie Toro…

State Senator Natalie Toro is leading a measure to make work permits more accessible and attainable to new arrivals.

“Filling out a lengthy work permit application alone, in a language you may not be fluent in, while in a crowded, noisy shelter, can be very difficult for new arrivals to complete accurately,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “This legislation will ensure new arrivals have expert support in the confusing application process, so that they are able to join the workforce more seamlessly.”

Senate Bill 3296 would create a grant program for community-based organizations to receive funding to help them provide free assistance to newly arrived immigrants going through the work permit application process. By establishing this program and providing grants to local organizations, Toro hopes new arrivals would be able to receive support more quickly so they can start their career and settle in the city sooner.

Nearly 5,000 immigrants in Chicago shelters qualify for work permits, but only 30% of those who qualify are currently employed. That’s because while many qualify, the process of applying and securing a work permit is largely inaccessible for new arrivals. The process is time-consuming and complex, and is more difficult with a long portion completely in English. For new arrivals who may not fully understand English and are experiencing a lot of instability, tackling the application process can seem insurmountable. […]

Senate Bill 3296 has been assigned to the Senate Appropriations – Health and Human Services Committee.

* Illinois Education Association’s fact sheet for HB4652 and SB3215…

Background
Student teaching is an important experience that gives students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in their teacher preparation programs. Not unlike internships in other professions, student teaching prepares candidates to assume the responsibilities of their chosen profession. However, unlike other professions where paid internships are now standard, student teaching remains unpaid.

Issue
Student teaching requires candidates to do the work of a full-time teacher which severely limits their ability to stay gainfully employed. Student teaching is a significant financial stressor which deters many students from pursuing a degree in education.

Illinois statute allows for paid student teaching, but few school districts or institutes of higher education can financially support these programs. The Illinois Education Association (IEA) believes that student teachers should receive compensation during this important practicum experience.

Paid student teaching significantly reduces the financial stress of pursuing a degree in education and will encourage more students to enter the teaching profession. States such as Oklahoma, Michigan, Colorado, and Maryland provide their candidates with a student teaching stipend.

Rationale for Support
Illinois’ student teachers deserve compensation. This bill will strengthen and diversify our teacher pipeline – ensuring that all student teachers receive fair compensation for their labor.

* House Republican Press release…

Who: House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, State Representative Bill Hauter, and State Representative Dave Severin

What: Leader McCombie and House Republican members will discuss the ongoing issues at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and new legislation filed to provide solutions.

When: 11:15 AM on Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Where: Capitol Blueroom in Springfield (event will also be streamed on Blueroom Stream)