Distributed via Email: August 23, 2019
GOVERNOR ENACTS $40,000 MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY LAW
Governor JB Pritzker continued working through the 600 bills that were approved by the General Assembly and sent to his desk. Many of the new Public Acts have an immediate effect on school districts. While some of the bills recently signed allow for greater flexibility for local districts, there are many that may also have serious repercussions.
One of the most consequential bills signed into law is HB 2078 (Stuart, D-Collinsville) . In yearly increments, HB 2078 increases the minimum teacher salary to $40,000 per year. The minimum salary increase would be phased in as follows:
- Not less than $32,076 for the 2020-2021 school year,
- Not less than $34,576 for the 2021-2022 school year,
- Not less than $37,076 for the 2022-2023 school year, and
- Not less than $40,000 for the 2023-2024 school year.
Following the 2023-24 school year and each year thereafter, subject to review by the General Assembly, the minimum teacher salary shall be increased by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the previous school year. The bill is now Public Act 101-0443, effective January 1, 2020.
OTHER BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW
HB 160 (Flowers, D-Chicago) provides that enhanced penalties for delivering cannabis in a school or on school property does not apply to a violation that occurs on the grounds of a building that is designated as a school but no longer operational. The bill is now Public Act 101-0429, effective August 20, 2019.
HB 822 (Halpin, D-Rock Island) allows school districts to maintain a supply of undesignated glucagon medication for treatment of diabetic symptoms and requires reporting to parents and health care provider within 24 hours when administered. The bill is now Public Act 101-0428, effective August 19, 2019.
HB 2868 (Scherer, D-Decatur) requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to develop a work-based learning database to help facilitate relationships between school districts and businesses, and expand work-based learning in this state. The bill is now Public Act 101-0389, effective August 16, 2019.
SB 1630 (Stewart, R-Freeport) removes school districts from the list of entities excluded from the definition of the term “ parties ” in the Automatic Contract Renewal Act. The bill is now Public Act 101-0412, effective August 16, 2019.
SB 1658 (Muñoz, D-Chicago) provides that, subject to appropriation or private donations, ISBE shall award grants to school districts to support school safety and security, including: professional development, safety-related upgrades to school buildings, equipment, metal detectors and x-ray machines, and facilities, including school-based health centers.The bill is now Public Act 101-0413, effective January 1, 2020.
SB 1712 (Koehler, D-Peoria), an Alliance Initiative, that exempts from disclosure a public body's credit card numbers, debit card numbers, bank account numbers, Federal Employer Identification Number, security code numbers, passwords, and similar account information. The bill is now Public Act 101-0434, effective January 1, 2020 .
SB 1746 (Belt, D-East St. Louis) provides that moneys in the working cash fund may be disbursed in anticipation of state funding received by the school district. The bill is now Public Act 101-0416, effective August 16, 2019.
SB 1941 (Lightford, D-Maywood) changes the requirements for school discipline plan submissions. It establishes a Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments grant program and requires ISBE and participating schools to issue yearly reports on results of the program. The bill is now Public Act 101-0438, effective August 20, 2019.
This legislative report was written and edited by the lobbyists of the Illinois Association of School Boards to provide information to the members of the organizations that comprise the Statewide School Management Alliance.