103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2724

 

Introduced 2/16/2023, by Rep. Cyril Nichols

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/10-22.6  from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6

    Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions regarding suspension or expulsion of pupils, provides that, when expelling a student, the board shall notify the parents of the nature of the hearing and the option of retaining legal counsel. Provides that, when the suspension period is over, the pupil may return to school. Provides that for a pupil suspended due to gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, a written decision about whether the student can use a school bus shall be made within 15 days of the incident. Provides that a school shall offer written demonstration of remediation efforts excluding out of school suspensions. Provides that schools shall use data to track whether significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity is occurring both in the State and in the district with respect to the incidence, duration, and type of disciplinary removals from placement, including suspensions and expulsions. Provides that, if it is determined that significant disproportionality is occurring, the school shall provide that determination for annual review and, if appropriate, revision of the policies, practices, and procedures used in disciplinary removals to ensure that the policies, practices, and procedures comply with the district's equity requirements. Provides that notice of suspension shall also include other evidence-based alternatives to suspension. Provides that when a student is suspended for more than 4 days, "appropriate and available support services" must include an option for automatically placing the student in an e-learning program or distance learning program through written materials if (1) the removal is for more than 5 consecutive school days; or (2) the child has been subjected to a series of removals that constitute a pattern, because the series of removals total more than 10 school days in a school year, because the child's behavior is substantially similar to the child's behavior in previous incidents that resulted in the series of removals, and because of the effects of additional factors such as the length of each removal, the total amount of time the child has been removed, and the proximity of the removals to one another.


LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2724LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 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 changing Section
510-22.6 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6)
7    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-466)
8    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of pupils; school
9searches.
10    (a) To expel pupils guilty of gross disobedience or
11misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct
12perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20)
13of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such
14expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents
15have been requested to appear at a meeting of the board, or
16with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss their
17child's behavior and been notified of the nature of the
18hearing and the option of retaining legal counsel. Such
19request shall be made by registered or certified mail and
20shall state the time, place and purpose of the meeting. The
21board, or a hearing officer appointed by it, at such meeting
22shall state the reasons for dismissal and the date on which the
23expulsion is to become effective. If a hearing officer is

 

 

HB2724- 2 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written
2summary of the evidence heard at the meeting and the board may
3take such action thereon as it finds appropriate. If the board
4acts to expel a pupil, the written expulsion decision shall
5detail the specific reasons why removing the pupil from the
6learning environment is in the best interest of the school.
7The expulsion decision shall also include a rationale as to
8the specific duration of the expulsion. An expelled pupil may
9be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the
10manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A pupil
11must not be denied transfer because of the expulsion, except
12in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to
13the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
14    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the
15superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
16principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils
17guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend
18pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on the
19school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to subsections
20(b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie
21against them for such suspension. The board may by policy
22authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal,
23assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to
24suspend pupils guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed
2510 school days. The day after the suspension period is over,
26the pupil may return to school. If a pupil is suspended due to

 

 

HB2724- 3 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board
2may suspend the pupil in excess of 10 school days for safety
3reasons. For a pupil suspended due to gross disobedience or
4misconduct on a school bus, a written decision about whether
5the student is permitted to use a school bus shall be made
6within 15 days of the incident that led to the student being
7suspended.
8    Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the
9parents or guardian of a pupil along with a full statement of
10the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to
11a review. Schools shall offer written demonstration of
12remediation efforts excluding out of school suspensions,
13including, but not limited to, attempts at peer meditation,
14in-school suspension, a shorter period of a 3 to 5 day
15suspension, and any previous parent or legal guardian
16communications. Schools shall also use data to track whether
17significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity is
18occurring both in the State and the district with respect to
19the incidence, duration, and type of disciplinary removals
20from placement, including suspensions and expulsions. If it is
21determined that significant disproportionality is occurring,
22the school shall provide that determination for annual review
23and, if appropriate, revision of the policies, practices, and
24procedures used in disciplinary removals to ensure that the
25policies, practices, and procedures comply with the district's
26equity requirements. The school board must be given a summary

 

 

HB2724- 4 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1of the notice, including the reason for the suspension, and
2the suspension length, and other evidence-based alternatives
3to suspension. Upon request of the parents or guardian, the
4school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall review
5such action of the superintendent or principal, assistant
6principal, or dean of students. At such review, the parents or
7guardian of the pupil may appear and discuss the suspension
8with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing officer is
9appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written
10summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After its
11hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its hearing
12officer, the board may take such action as it finds
13appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this
14subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension
15decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or
16misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The
17suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the
18specific duration of the suspension. A pupil who is suspended
19in excess of 20 school days may be immediately transferred to
20an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A
21or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer
22because of the suspension, except in cases in which such
23transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students
24or staff in the alternative program.
25    (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions
26and consequences available to school officials, school

 

 

HB2724- 5 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions,
2are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number
3and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest
4extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them
5only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that
6students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is
7recommended that school officials consider forms of
8non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school
9suspensions or expulsions.
10    (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this
11Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies
12by which school administrators are required to suspend or
13expel students for particular behaviors.
14    (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be
15used only if the student's continuing presence in school would
16pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other
17students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this
18subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to
19other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on
20a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee.
21School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve
22such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the
23length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
24    (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code,
25out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions,
26and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used

 

 

HB2724- 6 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1only if other appropriate and available behavioral and
2disciplinary interventions have been exhausted and the
3student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose
4a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of
5the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or
6interfere with the operation of the school. For purposes of
7this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of other
8students, staff, or members of the school community" and
9"substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the
10operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case
11basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection
12(b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and
13available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been
14exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials
15shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats,
16address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student
17exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the
18suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this
19Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a)
20of this Section, it shall be documented whether other
21interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that
22there were no other appropriate and available interventions.
23    (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer
24than 4 school days shall be provided appropriate and available
25support services during the period of their suspension. For
26purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available

 

 

HB2724- 7 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1support services" shall be determined by school authorities,
2but shall include an option for automatically placing the
3student in an e-learning program or distance learning program
4through written materials if (1) the removal is for more than 5
5consecutive school days; or (2) the child has been subjected
6to a series of removals that constitute a pattern, because the
7series of removals total more than 10 school days in a school
8year, because the child's behavior is substantially similar to
9the child's behavior in previous incidents that resulted in
10the series of removals, and because of the effects of
11additional factors such as the length of each removal, the
12total amount of time the child has been removed, and the
13proximity of the removals to one another. Within the
14suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this
15Section, it shall be documented whether such services are to
16be provided or whether it was determined that there are no such
17appropriate and available services.
18    A school district may refer students who are expelled to
19appropriate and available support services.
20    A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the
21re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school,
22expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting.
23    (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which
24suspended pupils, including those pupils suspended from the
25school bus who do not have alternate transportation to school,
26shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent

 

 

HB2724- 8 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of a pupil's
2parent or guardian to notify school officials that a pupil
3suspended from the school bus does not have alternate
4transportation to school.
5    (c) A school board must invite a representative from a
6local mental health agency to consult with the board at the
7meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be
8the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.
9    (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to
10provide ongoing professional development to teachers,
11administrators, school board members, school resource
12officers, and staff on the adverse consequences of school
13exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom
14management strategies, culturally responsive discipline, the
15appropriate and available supportive services for the
16promotion of student attendance and engagement, and
17developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote
18positive and healthy school climates.
19    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of
20time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a
21case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have
22brought one of the following objects to school, any
23school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event
24that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be
25expelled for a period of not less than one year:
26        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,

 

 

HB2724- 9 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1    "firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined
2    by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code,
3    firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners
4    Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section
5    24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period
6    under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the
7    superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may
8    be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
9        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
10    regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other
11    object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily
12    harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in
13    subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion
14    requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by
15    the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination
16    may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
17Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner
18consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities
19Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or
20expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a
21transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with
22Article 13A of the School Code.
23    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the
24superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
25principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a
26student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel

 

 

HB2724- 10 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2
2calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i)
3that student has been determined to have made an explicit
4threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a
5student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet
6website through which the threat was made is a site that was
7accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or
8was available to third parties who worked or studied within
9the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii)
10the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to
11the safety and security of the threatened individual because
12of his or her duties or employment status or status as a
13student inside the school.
14    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school
15authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as
16lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and
17equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as
18personal effects left in those places and areas by students,
19without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a
20search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General
21Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of
22privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects
23left in these places and areas. School authorities may request
24the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of
25conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking
26lots, and other school property and equipment owned or

 

 

HB2724- 11 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other
2illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including
3searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
4If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces
5evidence that the student has violated or is violating either
6the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules,
7such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and
8disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also
9turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
10    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or
11expulsion from school and all school activities and a
12prohibition from being present on school grounds.
13    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if
14a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any
15public or private school in this or any other state, the
16student must complete the entire term of the suspension or
17expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A
18of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program
19under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the
20school district if there is no threat to the safety of students
21or staff in the alternative program.
22    (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage
23students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic
24difficulties.
25    (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a
26disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude

 

 

HB2724- 12 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen,
2or damaged property.
3    (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall
4apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools,
5special charter districts, and school districts organized
6under Article 34 of this Code.
7    (k) The expulsion of children enrolled in programs funded
8under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements
9under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of
10this Code.
11    (l) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, an in-school
12suspension program provided by a school district for any
13students in kindergarten through grade 12 may focus on
14promoting non-violent conflict resolution and positive
15interaction with other students and school personnel. A school
16district may employ a school social worker or a licensed
17mental health professional to oversee an in-school suspension
18program in kindergarten through grade 12.
19(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21;
20102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
21    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-466)
22    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of pupils; school
23searches.
24    (a) To expel pupils guilty of gross disobedience or
25misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct

 

 

HB2724- 13 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20)
2of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such
3expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents
4or guardians have been requested to appear at a meeting of the
5board, or with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss
6their child's behavior and been notified of the nature of the
7hearing and the option of retaining legal counsel. Such
8request shall be made by registered or certified mail and
9shall state the time, place and purpose of the meeting. The
10board, or a hearing officer appointed by it, at such meeting
11shall state the reasons for dismissal and the date on which the
12expulsion is to become effective. If a hearing officer is
13appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written
14summary of the evidence heard at the meeting and the board may
15take such action thereon as it finds appropriate. If the board
16acts to expel a pupil, the written expulsion decision shall
17detail the specific reasons why removing the pupil from the
18learning environment is in the best interest of the school.
19The expulsion decision shall also include a rationale as to
20the specific duration of the expulsion. An expelled pupil may
21be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the
22manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A pupil
23must not be denied transfer because of the expulsion, except
24in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to
25the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
26    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the

 

 

HB2724- 14 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
2principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils
3guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend
4pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on the
5school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to subsections
6(b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie
7against them for such suspension. The board may by policy
8authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal,
9assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to
10suspend pupils guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed
1110 school days. The day after the suspension period is over,
12the pupil may return to school. If a pupil is suspended due to
13gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board
14may suspend the pupil in excess of 10 school days for safety
15reasons. For a pupil suspended due to gross disobedience or
16misconduct on a school bus, a written decision about whether
17the student is permitted to use a school bus shall be made
18within 15 days of the incident that led to the student being
19suspended.
20    Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the
21parents or guardians of a pupil along with a full statement of
22the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to
23a review. Schools shall offer written demonstration of
24remediation efforts excluding out of school suspensions,
25including, but not limited to, attempts at peer meditation,
26in-school suspension, a shorter period of a 3 to 5 day

 

 

HB2724- 15 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1suspension, and any previous parent or legal guardian
2communications. Schools shall also use data to track whether
3significant disproportionality based on race and ethnicity is
4occurring both in the State and the district with respect to
5the incidence, duration, and type of disciplinary removals
6from placement, including suspensions and expulsions. If it is
7determined that significant disproportionality is occurring,
8the school shall provide that determination for annual review
9and, if appropriate, revision of the policies, practices, and
10procedures used in disciplinary removals to ensure that the
11policies, practices, and procedures comply with the district's
12equity requirements. The school board must be given a summary
13of the notice, including the reason for the suspension, and
14the suspension length, and other evidence-based alternatives
15to suspension. Upon request of the parents or guardians, the
16school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall review
17such action of the superintendent or principal, assistant
18principal, or dean of students. At such review, the parents or
19guardians of the pupil may appear and discuss the suspension
20with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing officer is
21appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written
22summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After its
23hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its hearing
24officer, the board may take such action as it finds
25appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this
26subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension

 

 

HB2724- 16 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or
2misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The
3suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the
4specific duration of the suspension. A pupil who is suspended
5in excess of 20 school days may be immediately transferred to
6an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A
7or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer
8because of the suspension, except in cases in which such
9transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students
10or staff in the alternative program.
11    (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions
12and consequences available to school officials, school
13exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions,
14are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number
15and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest
16extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them
17only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that
18students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is
19recommended that school officials consider forms of
20non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school
21suspensions or expulsions.
22    (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this
23Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies
24by which school administrators are required to suspend or
25expel students for particular behaviors.
26    (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be

 

 

HB2724- 17 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1used only if the student's continuing presence in school would
2pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other
3students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this
4subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to
5other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on
6a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee.
7School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve
8such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the
9length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
10    (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code,
11out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions,
12and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used
13only if other appropriate and available behavioral and
14disciplinary interventions have been exhausted and the
15student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose
16a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of
17the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or
18interfere with the operation of the school. For purposes of
19this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of other
20students, staff, or members of the school community" and
21"substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the
22operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case
23basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection
24(b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and
25available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been
26exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials

 

 

HB2724- 18 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats,
2address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student
3exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the
4suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this
5Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a)
6of this Section, it shall be documented whether other
7interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that
8there were no other appropriate and available interventions.
9    (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer
10than 4 school days shall be provided appropriate and available
11support services during the period of their suspension. For
12purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available
13support services" shall be determined by school authorities,
14but shall include an option for automatically placing the
15student in an e-learning program or distance learning program
16through written materials if (1) the removal is for more than 5
17consecutive school days; or (2) the child has been subjected
18to a series of removals that constitute a pattern, because the
19series of removals total more than 10 school days in a school
20year, because the child's behavior is substantially similar to
21the child's behavior in previous incidents that resulted in
22the series of removals, and because of the effects of
23additional factors such as the length of each removal, the
24total amount of time the child has been removed, and the
25proximity of the removals to one another. Within the
26suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this

 

 

HB2724- 19 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1Section, it shall be documented whether such services are to
2be provided or whether it was determined that there are no such
3appropriate and available services.
4    A school district may refer students who are expelled to
5appropriate and available support services.
6    A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the
7re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school,
8expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting.
9    (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which
10suspended pupils, including those pupils suspended from the
11school bus who do not have alternate transportation to school,
12shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent
13academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of a pupil's
14parents or guardians to notify school officials that a pupil
15suspended from the school bus does not have alternate
16transportation to school.
17    (b-35) In all suspension review hearings conducted under
18subsection (b) or expulsion hearings conducted under
19subsection (a), a student may disclose any factor to be
20considered in mitigation, including his or her status as a
21parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual
22violence, as defined in Article 26A. A representative of the
23parent's or guardian's choice, or of the student's choice if
24emancipated, must be permitted to represent the student
25throughout the proceedings and to address the school board or
26its appointed hearing officer. With the approval of the

 

 

HB2724- 20 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1student's parent or guardian, or of the student if
2emancipated, a support person must be permitted to accompany
3the student to any disciplinary hearings or proceedings. The
4representative or support person must comply with any rules of
5the school district's hearing process. If the representative
6or support person violates the rules or engages in behavior or
7advocacy that harasses, abuses, or intimidates either party, a
8witness, or anyone else in attendance at the hearing, the
9representative or support person may be prohibited from
10further participation in the hearing or proceeding. A
11suspension or expulsion proceeding under this subsection
12(b-35) must be conducted independently from any ongoing
13criminal investigation or proceeding, and an absence of
14pending or possible criminal charges, criminal investigations,
15or proceedings may not be a factor in school disciplinary
16decisions.
17    (b-40) During a suspension review hearing conducted under
18subsection (b) or an expulsion hearing conducted under
19subsection (a) that involves allegations of sexual violence by
20the student who is subject to discipline, neither the student
21nor his or her representative shall directly question nor have
22direct contact with the alleged victim. The student who is
23subject to discipline or his or her representative may, at the
24discretion and direction of the school board or its appointed
25hearing officer, suggest questions to be posed by the school
26board or its appointed hearing officer to the alleged victim.

 

 

HB2724- 21 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1    (c) A school board must invite a representative from a
2local mental health agency to consult with the board at the
3meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be
4the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.
5    (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to
6provide ongoing professional development to teachers,
7administrators, school board members, school resource
8officers, and staff on the adverse consequences of school
9exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom
10management strategies, culturally responsive discipline, the
11appropriate and available supportive services for the
12promotion of student attendance and engagement, and
13developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote
14positive and healthy school climates.
15    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of
16time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a
17case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have
18brought one of the following objects to school, any
19school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event
20that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be
21expelled for a period of not less than one year:
22        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
23    "firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined
24    by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code,
25    firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners
26    Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section

 

 

HB2724- 22 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1    24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period
2    under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the
3    superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may
4    be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
5        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
6    regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other
7    object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily
8    harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in
9    subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion
10    requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by
11    the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination
12    may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
13Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner
14consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities
15Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or
16expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a
17transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with
18Article 13A of the School Code.
19    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the
20superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
21principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a
22student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel
23a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2
24calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i)
25that student has been determined to have made an explicit
26threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a

 

 

HB2724- 23 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet
2website through which the threat was made is a site that was
3accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or
4was available to third parties who worked or studied within
5the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii)
6the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to
7the safety and security of the threatened individual because
8of his or her duties or employment status or status as a
9student inside the school.
10    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school
11authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as
12lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and
13equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as
14personal effects left in those places and areas by students,
15without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a
16search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General
17Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of
18privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects
19left in these places and areas. School authorities may request
20the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of
21conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking
22lots, and other school property and equipment owned or
23controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other
24illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including
25searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
26If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces

 

 

HB2724- 24 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1evidence that the student has violated or is violating either
2the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules,
3such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and
4disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also
5turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
6    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or
7expulsion from school and all school activities and a
8prohibition from being present on school grounds.
9    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if
10a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any
11public or private school in this or any other state, the
12student must complete the entire term of the suspension or
13expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A
14of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program
15under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the
16school district if there is no threat to the safety of students
17or staff in the alternative program. A school district that
18adopts a policy under this subsection (g) must include a
19provision allowing for consideration of any mitigating
20factors, including, but not limited to, a student's status as
21a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual
22violence, as defined in Article 26A.
23    (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage
24students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic
25difficulties.
26    (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a

 

 

HB2724- 25 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude
2requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen,
3or damaged property.
4    (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall
5apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools,
6special charter districts, and school districts organized
7under Article 34 of this Code.
8    (k) The expulsion of children enrolled in programs funded
9under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements
10under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of
11this Code.
12    (l) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, an in-school
13suspension program provided by a school district for any
14students in kindergarten through grade 12 may focus on
15promoting non-violent conflict resolution and positive
16interaction with other students and school personnel. A school
17district may employ a school social worker or a licensed
18mental health professional to oversee an in-school suspension
19program in kindergarten through grade 12.
20(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-466, eff. 7-1-25;
21102-539, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
22    Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
23changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
24that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section
25represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does

 

 

HB2724- 26 -LRB103 28535 RJT 54916 b

1not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes
2made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
3Public Act.