SB1340eng 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1340 Engrossed LRB099 03704 NHT 23887 b

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 2-3.160 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.160)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2015)

Sec. 2-3.160. School Security and Standards Task Force.

(a) The School Security and Standards Task Force is created within the State Board of Education to study the security of schools in this State, make recommendations, and draft minimum standards for use by schools to make them more secure and to provide a safer learning environment for the children of this State. The Task Force shall consist of all of the following members:

(1) One member of the public who is a parent and one member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate.

(2) One member of the public who is a parent and one member of the Senate, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(3) One member of the public who is a parent and one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4) One member of the public who is a parent and one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(5) A representative from the State Board of Education, appointed by the Chairperson of the State Board of Education.

(6) A representative from the Department of State Police, appointed by the Director of State Police.

(7) A representative from an association representing Illinois sheriffs, appointed by the Governor.

(8) A representative from an association representing Illinois chiefs of police, appointed by the Governor.

(9) A representative from an association representing Illinois firefighters, appointed by the Governor.

(10) A representative from an association representing Illinois regional superintendents of schools, appointed by the Governor.

(11) A representative from an association representing Illinois principals, appointed by the Governor.

(12) A representative from an association representing Illinois school boards, appointed by the Governor.

(13) A representative from the security consulting profession, appointed by the Governor.

(14) An architect or engineer who specializes in security issues, appointed by the Governor.

Members of the Task Force appointed by the Governor must be individuals who have knowledge, experience, and expertise in the field of security or who have worked within the school system. The appointment of members by the Governor must reflect the geographic diversity of this State.

Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation and shall not be reimbursed for their expenses.

(b) The Task Force shall meet initially at the call of the State Superintendent of Education. At this initial meeting, the Task Force shall elect a member as presiding officer of the Task Force by a majority vote of the membership of the Task Force. Thereafter, the Task Force shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.

(c) The State Board of Education shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force.

(d) The Task Force shall make recommendations for minimum standards for security for the schools in this State. In making those recommendations, the Task Force shall do all of the following:

(1) Gather information concerning security in schools as it presently exists.

(2) Receive reports and testimony from individuals, school district superintendents, principals, teachers, security experts, architects, engineers, and the law enforcement community.

(3) Create minimum standards for securing schools.

(4) Give consideration to securing the physical structures, security staffing recommendations, communications, security equipment, alarms, video and audio monitoring, school policies, egress and ingress, security plans, emergency exits and escape, and any other areas of security that the Task Force deems appropriate for securing schools.

(5) Create a model security plan policy.

(6) Suggest possible funding recommendations for schools to access for use in implementing enhanced security measures.

(7) On or before January 1, 2016 2015, submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor on specific recommendations for changes to the current law or other legislative measures.

(8) On or before July 1, 2016 January 1, 2015, submit a report to the State Board of Education on specific recommendations for model security plan policies for schools to access and use as a guideline. This report is exempt from inspection and copying under Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act.

The Task Force's recommendations may include proposals for specific statutory changes and methods to foster cooperation among State agencies and between this State and local government.

(e) The Task Force is abolished and this Section is repealed on July 2, 2016 1, 2015.

(Source: P.A. 98-695, eff. 7-3-14.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.