State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Introduced ][ Enrolled ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]

90_SB0876eng

      105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g        from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g
          Amends the School Code.   Requires  the  State  Board  of
      Education  to  file  a  separate annual report each February,
      beginning in 1998, describing each provision  of  the  School
      Code  for  which  waivers  have been issued or renewed at any
      time prior to the date shown on the report and the percentage
      of school districts in the State for whom  the  provision  is
      waived as of the report date.  Provides that if the provision
      is  waived for over 50% of the school districts in the State,
      the State Board of Education shall recommend  the  repeal  of
      the  provision  and shall not be required to apply or enforce
      the provision in districts for  whom  the  provision  is  not
      currently waived.  Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9002187THpk
SB876 Engrossed                                LRB9002187THpk
 1        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  School  Code by changing Section
 2    2-3.25g.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section  5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by changing
 6    Section 2-3.25g as follows:
 7        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g)
 8        Sec. 2-3.25g.  Waiver or modification of mandates  within
 9    the  School  Code  and  administrative rules and regulations.
10    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this School  Code  or
11    any other law of this State to the contrary, school districts
12    may  petition  the State Board of Education for the waiver or
13    modification of the mandates of this School Code  or  of  the
14    administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the State
15    Board    of   Education.    Waivers   or   modifications   of
16    administrative rules and  regulations  and  modifications  of
17    mandates  of  this School Code may be requested when a school
18    district demonstrates that it can address the intent  of  the
19    rule or mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical
20    manner  or  when necessary to stimulate innovation or improve
21    student performance.  Waivers of mandates of the School  Code
22    may  be requested when the waivers are necessary to stimulate
23    innovation or improve student performance.  Waivers  may  not
24    be  requested from laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to
25    special education, teacher certification, or  teacher  tenure
26    and seniority.
27        School  districts,  as  a  matter  of inherent managerial
28    policy,  and  any  Independent  Authority  established  under
29    Section 2-3.25f may submit an application  for  a  waiver  or
30    modification authorized under this Section.  Each application
31    must  include  a  written  request  by the school district or
SB876 Engrossed             -2-                LRB9002187THpk
 1    Independent Authority and must demonstrate that the intent of
 2    the mandate can be addressed in a more effective,  efficient,
 3    or  economical  manner  or  be based upon a specific plan for
 4    improved student performance and  school  improvement.    Any
 5    district  requesting  a waiver or modification for the reason
 6    that intent of  the  mandate  can  be  addressed  in  a  more
 7    economical  manner  shall include in the application a fiscal
 8    analysis showing current  expenditures  on  the  mandate  and
 9    projected  savings resulting from the waiver or modification.
10    Applications and plans developed by school districts must  be
11    approved  by  each  board  of  education  following  a public
12    hearing on the application and plan and the  opportunity  for
13    the  board to hear testimony from educators directly involved
14    in its implementation, parents,  and  students.   The  public
15    hearing  must  be  preceded  by at least one published notice
16    occurring at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper
17    of general circulation within the school district  that  sets
18    forth  the  time,  date, place, and general subject matter of
19    the hearing.  The school district must notify in writing  the
20    affected   exclusive   collective  bargaining  agent  of  the
21    district's  intent  to  seek  approval   of   a   waiver   or
22    modification  and of the hearing to be held to take testimony
23    from educators.  The affected exclusive collective bargaining
24    agents shall be allowed to attend such public hearing.
25        A request for a waiver or modification of  administrative
26    rules  and  regulations  or  for  a  modification of mandates
27    contained in this School Code shall be submitted to the State
28    Board of Education within 15 days after approval by the board
29    of education.  Following receipt of the  request,  the  State
30    Board  shall  have  45  days  to  review  the application and
31    request.   If  the  State  Board  fails  to  disapprove   the
32    application   within  that  45  day  period,  the  waiver  or
33    modification shall be deemed granted.  The  State  Board  may
34    disapprove  any  request  if  it  is  not  based  upon  sound
SB876 Engrossed             -3-                LRB9002187THpk
 1    educational  practices,  endangers  the  health  or safety of
 2    students  or  staff,  compromises  equal  opportunities   for
 3    learning, or fails to demonstrate that the intent of the rule
 4    or  mandate  can be addressed in a more effective, efficient,
 5    or economical manner or have improved student performance  as
 6    a  primary  goal.  Any request disapproved by the State Board
 7    may be appealed to the General  Assembly  by  the  requesting
 8    school district as outlined in this Section.
 9        A  request  for  a waiver from mandates contained in this
10    School Code shall be submitted to the State Board  within  15
11    days  after  approval  by  the board of education.  The State
12    Board  shall  review  the  applications  and   requests   for
13    completeness  and shall compile the requests in reports to be
14    filed within the General Assembly.   The  State  Board  shall
15    file  reports  outlining  the  waivers  requested  by  school
16    districts   and  appeals  by  school  districts  of  requests
17    disapproved by the State Board with the Senate, the House  of
18    Representatives, and the Secretary of State before October 1,
19    1995,  and  thereafter  before each May 1 and October 1.  The
20    General Assembly may disapprove the report of the State Board
21    in whole or in part within 30 calendar days after each  house
22    of the legislature next convenes after the report is filed by
23    adoption  of a resolution by a record vote of the majority of
24    members elected in each house.  If the General Assembly fails
25    to disapprove any waiver request or appealed  request  within
26    such  30  day  period,  the  waiver  or modification shall be
27    deemed  granted.   Any  resolution  adopted  by  the  General
28    Assembly disapproving a report of the State Board in whole or
29    in part shall be binding on the State Board.
30        An approved waiver or modification may remain  in  effect
31    for  a  period  not  to  exceed  five school years and may be
32    renewed upon application by the school district.
33        On or before February 1, 1998, and each year  thereafter,
34    the State Board of Education shall submit a cumulative report
SB876 Engrossed             -4-                LRB9002187THpk
 1    summarizing all types of waiver mandates and modifications of
 2    mandates  granted by the State Board or the General Assembly.
 3    The report shall identify the topic of the waiver along  with
 4    the  number  and percentage of school districts for which the
 5    waiver has been granted.  The report shall also  include  any
 6    recommendations  from the State Board regarding the repeal of
 7    modification of waived mandates.
 8    (Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
 9        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
10    becoming law.

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