101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5578

 

Introduced , by Rep. Michelle Mussman

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/22-89 new

    Amends the School Code. Prohibits an employee of a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school from engaging in sexual contact or sexual conduct with a student who is enrolled at the school or who is a participant in a student activity sponsored by the school or the school district, unless the employee is no more than 3 years older than the student or participant and, at the time of the contact or conduct, the employee and the student or participant were in a romantic relationship that began before the employee was with the school or school district. Provides that this prohibition applies regardless of whether the student consents to the sexual contact or conduct and regardless of the student's age. Sets forth provisions concerning reporting and training. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5578LRB101 15683 NHT 66675 b

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
522-89 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/22-89 new)
7    Sec. 22-89. Prohibited sexual conduct by school employees;
8training.
9    (a) In this Section:
10    "Employee" means a person who is employed by, volunteering
11at, or under contract with a school, with or without proper
12licensure or certification, or who otherwise operates with the
13permission of a school authority, including, but not limited
14to, a teacher, an administrator, support staff, or a volunteer.
15    "School" means a public or nonpublic elementary or
16secondary school.
17    "Student" means a person who is enrolled in school.
18    (b) An employee of a school is prohibited from engaging in
19sexual contact or sexual conduct with a person the employee
20knows, or should know, is a student at the school or is a
21participant in a student activity sponsored by the school or
22the school district, unless the employee is no more than 3
23years older than the student or participant and, at the time of

 

 

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1the contact or conduct, the employee and the student or
2participant were in a romantic relationship that began before
3the employee was with the school or school district.
4    The prohibition under this subsection (b) applies
5regardless of whether the student consents to the sexual
6contact or sexual conduct and regardless of the student's age.
7Prohibited sexual contact or sexual conduct under this
8subsection (b) includes, but is not limited to, touching,
9kissing, sexual intercourse, lewd conduct, or a romantic
10relationship.
11    Each school year, a school shall include, as part of the
12written school policy information it provides to its students
13and the parents or guardians of its students, mention of the
14prohibition under this subsection (b).
15    (c) A school shall allow a report of a suspected violation
16of subsection (b) of this Section to be made anonymously by a
17student, the parent or guardian of a student, or an employee. A
18school shall assign one person to whom all reports of suspected
19violations of subsection (b) of this Section are to be made.
20That person shall ensure that all reports of suspected
21violations of subsection (b) of this Section are filed in a
22single location and shall forward those reports to the regional
23superintendent of schools of the educational service region
24where the school is located.
25    (d) A school shall provide annual training on all of the
26following to all employees who interact with students:

 

 

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1        (1) How to physically prevent a violation of subsection
2    (b) of this Section by taking measures to ensure classrooms
3    are secure and empty after students have left the school
4    building after school hours and by preventing an employee
5    and a student from being alone in a classroom, particularly
6    after school hours.
7        (2) Clearly defined examples of violations of
8    subsection (b) of this Section and the consequences for
9    violating subsection (b) of this Section and examples of
10    how a violation of subsection (b) of this Section leads to
11    sexual abuse.
12        (3) An explanation of and role-playing the necessary
13    vigilance needed to see and report suspected violations of
14    subsection (b) of this Section by not being reluctant to be
15    wrong and to cause potential harm to a colleague because
16    the alternative is being wrong and potentially harming a
17    student.
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19becoming law.