HB5416eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5416 Engrossed LRB094 16945 NHT 52224 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 Sections 2-3.137 (added by Public Act 94-225) and 3-14.20 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.137)

Sec. 2-3.137. Inspection and review of school facilities; task force.

(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the documentation of school plan reviews and inspections of school facilities, including the responsible individual's signature. Such documents shall be kept on file by the regional superintendent of schools. The State Board of Education shall also adopt rules for the qualifications of persons performing the reviews and inspections, which must be consistent with the recommendations in the task force's report issued to the Governor and the General Assembly under subsection (b) of this Section.

(b) The State Board of Education shall convene a task force for the purpose of reviewing the documents required under rules adopted under subsection (a) of this Section and making recommendations regarding training and accreditation of individuals performing reviews or inspections required under Section 2-3.12, 3-14.20, 3-14.21, or 3-14.22 of this Code, including regional superintendents of schools and others performing reviews or inspections under the authority of a regional superintendent (such as consultants, municipalities, and fire protection districts).

The task force shall consist of all of the following members:

(1) The Executive Director of the Capital Development Board or his or her designee and a staff representative of the Division of Building Codes and Regulations.

(2) The State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee.

(3) A person appointed by the State Board of Education.

(4) A person appointed by an organization representing school administrators.

(5) A person appointed by an organization representing suburban school administrators and school board members.

(6) A person appointed by an organization representing architects.

(7) A person appointed by an organization representing regional superintendents of schools.

(8) A person appointed by an organization representing fire inspectors.

(9) A person appointed by an organization representing Code administrators.

(10) A person appointed by an organization representing plumbing inspectors.

(11) A person appointed by an organization that represents both parents and teachers.

(12) A person appointed by an organization representing municipal governments in the State.

(13) A person appointed by the State Fire Marshal from his or her office.

(14) A person appointed by an organization representing fire chiefs.

(15) The Director of Public Health or his or her designee.

(16) A person appointed by an organization representing structural engineers.

(17) A person appointed by an organization representing professional engineers.

The task force shall issue a report of its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2006.

(Source: P.A. 94-225, eff. 7-14-05.)

(105 ILCS 5/3-14.20) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.20)

Sec. 3-14.20. Building plans and specifications. To inspect the building plans and specifications, including but not limited to plans and specifications for the heating, ventilating, lighting, seating, water supply, toilets and safety against fire of public school rooms and buildings submitted to him by school boards, and to approve all those which comply substantially with the building code authorized in Section 2-3.12.

If a municipality or, in the case of an unincorporated area, a county or, if applicable, a fire protection district wishes to be notified of plans and specifications received by a regional office of education for any future construction or alteration of a public school facility located within that entity's jurisdiction, then the entity must register this wish with the regional superintendent of schools. Within 10 days after the regional superintendent of schools receives the plans and specifications from a school board and prior to the bidding process, he or she shall notify, in writing, the registered municipality and, if applicable, the registered fire protection district where the school that is being constructed or altered lies that plans and specifications have been received. In the case of an unincorporated area, the registered county shall be notified. If the municipality, fire protection district, or county requests a review of the plans and specifications, then the school board shall submit a copy of the plans and specifications. The municipality and, if applicable, the fire protection district or the county may comment in writing on the plans and specifications based on the building code authorized in Section 2-3.12, referencing the specific code where a discrepancy has been identified, and respond back to the regional superintendent of schools within 15 days after a copy of the plans and specifications have been received or, if needed for plan review, such additional time as agreed to by the regional superintendent of schools. This review must be at no cost to the school district.

If such plans and specifications are not approved or denied approval by the regional superintendent of schools within 3 months after the date on which they are submitted to him or her, the school board may submit such plans and specifications directly to the State Superintendent of Education for approval or denial.

Inspections of school construction and alterations may be performed by qualified construction inspectors acting on behalf of municipalities or, if applicable, counties or fire protection districts who register with the regional superintendent of schools. These inspections must be based on the building code authorized in Section 2-3.12 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 94-225, eff. 7-14-05.)