093_HB2899

 
                                     LRB093 07592 NHT 07771 b

 1        AN ACT concerning teachers.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
 5    2-3.131 and 2-3.132 as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.131 new)
 7        Sec.  2-3.131.  Teacher   signing   bonus.   Subject   to
 8    appropriation,  the  State Board of Education shall establish
 9    and administer  a  program  to  provide  signing  bonuses  to
10    teachers  who  contract  with the State Board of Education to
11    teach in a public school, for  a  minimum  of  5  consecutive
12    school  years,  in  a  school district that has a shortage of
13    teachers or  in  a  subject  area  that  has  a  shortage  of
14    teachers.  The  State  Board of Education shall determine the
15    amount of the bonus. A teacher who receives a  signing  bonus
16    under  this  program  shall  not be deemed an employee of the
17    State. The State Board  of  Education  may  adopt  any  rules
18    necessary  to  carry  out  its  responsibilities  under  this
19    Section.

20        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.132 new)
21        Sec. 2-3.132.  Teacher loan repayment program. Subject to
22    appropriation,  the  State Board of Education shall establish
23    and administer a loan  repayment  program  for  teachers  who
24    contract  with  the  State  Board  of Education to teach in a
25    public school, for a minimum of 5 consecutive  school  years,
26    in  a school district that has a shortage of teachers or in a
27    subject area that has a  shortage  of  teachers.  Under  this
28    program,  each school year the State Board of Education shall
29    award a grant to a teacher under contract in an  amount  that
30    equals  50%  of  the amount in higher education student loans
 
                            -2-      LRB093 07592 NHT 07771 b
 1    that the person must repay that school year. The State  Board
 2    of  Education shall encourage recipients to use the grants to
 3    pay off their educational loans. The State Board of Education
 4    may  adopt   any   rules   necessary   to   carry   out   its
 5    responsibilities under this Section.

 6        Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on July
 7    1, 2003.