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| [ Engrossed ] | [ Enrolled ] | [ Senate Amendment 001 ] |
90_SB0876
105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g
Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of
Education to file a separate annual report each February,
beginning in 1998, describing each provision of the School
Code for which waivers have been issued or renewed at any
time prior to the date shown on the report and the percentage
of school districts in the State for whom the provision is
waived as of the report date. Provides that if the provision
is waived for over 50% of the school districts in the State,
the State Board of Education shall recommend the repeal of
the provision and shall not be required to apply or enforce
the provision in districts for whom the provision is not
currently waived. Effective immediately.
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1 AN ACT to amend the School Code by changing Section
2 2-3.25g.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing
6 Section 2-3.25g as follows:
7 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g)
8 Sec. 2-3.25g. Waiver or modification of mandates within
9 the School Code and administrative rules and regulations.
10 Notwithstanding any other provisions of this School Code or
11 any other law of this State to the contrary, school districts
12 may petition the State Board of Education for the waiver or
13 modification of the mandates of this School Code or of the
14 administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the State
15 Board of Education. Waivers or modifications of
16 administrative rules and regulations and modifications of
17 mandates of this School Code may be requested when a school
18 district demonstrates that it can address the intent of the
19 rule or mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical
20 manner or when necessary to stimulate innovation or improve
21 student performance. Waivers of mandates of the School Code
22 may be requested when the waivers are necessary to stimulate
23 innovation or improve student performance. Waivers may not
24 be requested from laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to
25 special education, teacher certification, or teacher tenure
26 and seniority.
27 School districts, as a matter of inherent managerial
28 policy, and any Independent Authority established under
29 Section 2-3.25f may submit an application for a waiver or
30 modification authorized under this Section. Each application
31 must include a written request by the school district or
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1 Independent Authority and must demonstrate that the intent of
2 the mandate can be addressed in a more effective, efficient,
3 or economical manner or be based upon a specific plan for
4 improved student performance and school improvement. Any
5 district requesting a waiver or modification for the reason
6 that intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more
7 economical manner shall include in the application a fiscal
8 analysis showing current expenditures on the mandate and
9 projected savings resulting from the waiver or modification.
10 Applications and plans developed by school districts must be
11 approved by each board of education following a public
12 hearing on the application and plan and the opportunity for
13 the board to hear testimony from educators directly involved
14 in its implementation, parents, and students. The public
15 hearing must be preceded by at least one published notice
16 occurring at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper
17 of general circulation within the school district that sets
18 forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of
19 the hearing. The school district must notify in writing the
20 affected exclusive collective bargaining agent of the
21 district's intent to seek approval of a waiver or
22 modification and of the hearing to be held to take testimony
23 from educators. The affected exclusive collective bargaining
24 agents shall be allowed to attend such public hearing.
25 A request for a waiver or modification of administrative
26 rules and regulations or for a modification of mandates
27 contained in this School Code shall be submitted to the State
28 Board of Education within 15 days after approval by the board
29 of education. Following receipt of the request, the State
30 Board shall have 45 days to review the application and
31 request. If the State Board fails to disapprove the
32 application within that 45 day period, the waiver or
33 modification shall be deemed granted. The State Board may
34 disapprove any request if it is not based upon sound
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1 educational practices, endangers the health or safety of
2 students or staff, compromises equal opportunities for
3 learning, or fails to demonstrate that the intent of the rule
4 or mandate can be addressed in a more effective, efficient,
5 or economical manner or have improved student performance as
6 a primary goal. Any request disapproved by the State Board
7 may be appealed to the General Assembly by the requesting
8 school district as outlined in this Section.
9 A request for a waiver from mandates contained in this
10 School Code shall be submitted to the State Board within 15
11 days after approval by the board of education. The State
12 Board shall review the applications and requests for
13 completeness and shall compile the requests in reports to be
14 filed within the General Assembly. The State Board shall
15 file reports outlining the waivers requested by school
16 districts and appeals by school districts of requests
17 disapproved by the State Board with the Senate, the House of
18 Representatives, and the Secretary of State before October 1,
19 1995, and thereafter before each May 1 and October 1. The
20 General Assembly may disapprove the report of the State Board
21 in whole or in part within 30 calendar days after each house
22 of the legislature next convenes after the report is filed by
23 adoption of a resolution by a record vote of the majority of
24 members elected in each house. If the General Assembly fails
25 to disapprove any waiver request or appealed request within
26 such 30 day period, the waiver or modification shall be
27 deemed granted. Any resolution adopted by the General
28 Assembly disapproving a report of the State Board in whole or
29 in part shall be binding on the State Board.
30 An approved waiver or modification may remain in effect
31 for a period not to exceed five school years and may be
32 renewed upon application by the school district.
33 In February of 1998 and in February of each year
34 thereafter the State Board of Education shall prepare and
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1 file a separate report with the General Assembly setting
2 forth:
3 (1) a description of each provision of the School
4 Code for which waivers have been issued or renewed at any
5 time prior to the date shown on the report;
6 (2) the number of school districts in the State on
7 the date shown on the report; and
8 (3) for each provision described in item (1), the
9 number of school districts in the State for whom the
10 provision is waived as of the date shown on the report.
11 If the number of school districts for whom the same provision
12 of the School Code is waived exceeds 50% of the number of
13 school districts in the State at the time the annual report
14 is filed, the State Board (i) shall certify that provision to
15 the General Assembly along with a recommendation that
16 legislation to repeal the provision be enacted, and (ii)
17 shall not be required to apply or enforce the provision in or
18 with respect to any school district for whom that provision
19 is not currently waived.
20 (Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
21 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22 becoming law.