101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2609
 
Introduced , by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.176 new

     Amends the School Code to create the Office of School Safety within the State Board of Education. Provides for the Office's duties. Requires the Office to create a grant program for expenditures related to improving school safety.  Provides that grant funds must be used for school security improvements, including training and safety-related upgrades to school buildings, equipment (including metal detectors and x-ray machines), and facilities. Specifies the grant application requirements. Effective January 1, 2020.
  


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
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1    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended  by adding Section 
52-3.176 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.176 new)
7    Sec. 2-3.176. Office of School Safety.
8    (a) There is created an Office of School Safety within the 
9State Board of Education. The Director of the Office shall be 
10appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
11    (b) The Office has all of the following duties: 
12        (1) Create model practices for school safety. The State 
13    Board must provide any necessary resources or staff 
14    requested by the Office to create the model practices under 
15    this paragraph.
16        (2) Coordinate with school districts and nonpublic 
17    schools to compile blueprints and geographic information 
18    system maps for all schools. The Office must keep all 
19    blueprints and maps confidential unless a law enforcement 
20    agency requests access to the blueprints or maps.
21        (3) Offer, or contract with another party to offer, 
22    training for school employees on school safety. Training 
23    subjects may include trauma-informed care and how adverse 
 
 
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1    childhood experiences have an impact on a child's 
2    development and may increase a child's need for counseling 
3    or support. If a school district or nonpublic school 
4    receives a grant for the training under this paragraph, the 
5    Office may charge a fee for the training.
6        (4)  Seek and apply for federal funds related to school 
7    safety improvements. 
8    (c) The Office shall create a grant program for 
9expenditures related to improving school safety. The Office 
10must accept grant applications under this subsection from 
11public school boards and the governing bodies of charter 
12schools and nonpublic schools. Grant funds must be used for 
13school security improvements, including training and 
14safety-related upgrades to school buildings, equipment 
15(including metal detectors and x-ray machines), and 
16facilities. An application submitted under this subsection 
17must include all of the following: 
18        (1) A school safety plan.
19        (2) Blueprints of each school building and facility or, 
20    if a school has already submitted to the Office blueprints 
21    under paragraph (2) of subsection (b), a certification that 
22    the blueprints submitted are current.
23        (3) A proposed plan of expenditure of the grant moneys. 
 
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
251, 2020.