IASB Legislative Report 102-26

Delivered via email: January 7, 2022
 

Illinois General Assembly Kicks off Spring 2022 Session 

The 102nd Illinois General Assembly met in Springfield on January 5th to officially kick off the 2022 spring legislative session but finding a quorum to come to order was not a straightforward proposition. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 led to the cancellation of two session days so far and more in the weeks to come. However, the House took action to allow for remote committee meetings to continue. The Senate already had the necessary rules in place to allow for remote meetings. While most work will be virtual to begin the session, there are still important substantive actions taking place.
 
 
The General Assembly passed three bills this past week, including a cleanup to the vote- by-mail provisions of the Election Code, A trailer bill to the recent major criminal justice reform, and a new judicial redistricting map. While legislating during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois General Assembly has made it a habit of passing impactful legislation at a rapid pace. It appears that that trend will continue in 2022.
 

Bills in Senate Committees Week of January 10th 

Senate Education, Virtual Room 1, January 11, 11:30 a.m. 

SB 569 Villivalam, (D-Chicago) Requires a school district to provide to students enrolled in grades 10 through 12 the opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test and consult with a military recruiter during regular school hours and in a location situated on school grounds. 

Senate Behavioral and Mental Health, Virtual Room 3, January 11, 3:30 PM 

SB 2945 Fine (D-Glenview) Establishes the Statewide 9-8-8 Trust Fund in the State treasury. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department of Human Services for the purposes of creating and maintaining a statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis system. 
 

Bills in House Committees Week of January 10th 

House Consumer Protection, Virtual Room 3, January 11, 4:00 p.m. 

HB 209 Mussman, (D-Schaumburg) Provides that a food service establishment, including schools, may not permit employees to use latex gloves in the preparation and handling of food.
 
House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools, Virtual Room 2, January 12, 2:00 p.m. 
 
HB 2859 Swanson, (R-Woodhull) Provides that a school district seeking to employ a substitute teacher may use information in the Educator Licensure Information System rather than initiating its own criminal history records check.