A controversial bill that would codify the ability for the Illinois State Board of Education to punish local school districts for not following health guidance such as COVID-19 executive orders has been assigned to a committee.
State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr., D-Chicago, is the sponsor of the House Bill 4135. He said he’s been in talks with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration and the Board of Education about the bill. It was assigned to the House Rules Committee Friday.
Critics of the bill say it acknowledges ISBE doesn’t have the authority it is wielding by putting schools on probation for not following mask mandates.
Gonzalez said that’s not the case.
“It just reinforces and adds policy to it,” Gonzalez said. “It just removes any ambiguity to it and just puts it explicitly into statute.”
State Rep. Adam Niemerg opposes mask mandates. He said Gonzalez’s bill is a power grab.
“It takes away authority from school boards,” Niemerg said. “And at the end of the day, what’s the point of having anybody on the school board if these kinds of bills are going to be passed by the Legislature. I believe in local control.”
The summation of the bill is as follows:
Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education may issue, refuse to issue, or revoke recognition for schools. Amends certain provisions of the School Code with respect to public health requirements issued by the Department of Public Health when a public health emergency is declared by the Governor. Allows the State Board to revoke recognition for schools that fail to comply with the public health requirements. In provisions concerning the registration and recognition of nonpublic schools, requires a nonpublic school to comply with public health requirements. Prohibits a school board from passing any resolution that contravenes any of the public health requirements. Makes similar changes to provisions concerning the licensure powers of the State Board of Education. Requires schools to investigate complaints of noncompliance with the public health requirements; sets forth complaint procedures. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may require a school to operate fully remotely if the public health requirements are not followed. Sets forth penalty provisions. Provides for rulemaking by the State Board of Education. Makes a corresponding change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
On Friday the bill was referred to the Rules Committee.
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