103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5489

 

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Gregg Johnson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new

    Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 may provide to its students in grades 9 through 12 a unit of instruction studying the events of labor history. Provides that the instruction may also include information on the rights of workers and employment opportunities. Sets forth the events and information that may be included in the instruction. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Provides that the instruction may be provided through an online program or course. Effective July 1, 2024.


LRB103 38183 RJT 68316 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5489LRB103 38183 RJT 68316 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
527-23.17 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new)
7    Sec. 27-23.17. Labor history.
8    (a) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the school
9board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9
10through 12 may provide to its students in grades 9 through 12 a
11unit of instruction studying the events of labor history,
12which may include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
13        (1) The railroad strikes of the 19th century.
14        (2) The Haymarket Square massacre and other uses of
15    force in response to labor unrest.
16        (3) The role organized labor played during World War
17    II.
18        (4) The federal Wagner Act, the federal Taft-Hartley
19    Act, and the modern labor peace.
20        (5) The decline of private sector unions, and the
21    modern resurgence in labor organizing and actions.
22        (6) The rights and protections that organized labor
23    won.

 

 

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1        (7) The roles disadvantaged peoples, racism, and
2    sexism have played in the labor movement.
3    (b) The unit of instruction may also include information
4on the rights of workers and employment opportunities,
5including, but not limited to, all of the following:
6        (1) Prohibitions against misclassification of
7    employees as independent contractors.
8        (2) Child labor.
9        (3) Wage and hour protections.
10        (4) Worker safety.
11        (5) Workers' compensation.
12        (6) Unemployment insurance.
13        (7) Paid sick leave and paid family leave.
14        (8) The rights and remedies provided by the federal
15    National Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Public Labor
16    Relations Act.
17    A student may be provided information introducing the
18student to State-approved apprenticeship programs, how to
19access them, the variety of programs available, and how they
20can provide an alternative career path for those students who
21choose not to attend a traditional higher education program.
22    (c) The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and
23make available to all school boards instructional materials
24that may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of
25instruction under this Section.
26    (d) The unit of instruction under this Section may be

 

 

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1provided through an online program or course.
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
32024.