HB3798eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3798 Engrossed LRB103 27895 RJT 54273 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 adding Section 2-3.196 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.196 new)

Sec. 2-3.196. Paid school social worker internships; grant program.

(a) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, all internships for school social workers must be paid internships.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to school districts to assist in the funding of these paid internships.

(c) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications to the grant program under subsection (b), and funds shall be distributed annually. Higher priority shall be given to schools that demonstrate a shortage of school social workers, which is determined by the average ratio of school social workers to students in the target school district over the preceding 3 school years.

(d) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall produce an annual report on the grant program in cooperation with the school districts participating in the program. The report shall include information on which school districts received grants and how much money was disseminated. This report shall be posted on the State Board of Education's website by October 31, 2024 and each year thereafter.

(e) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of this Section.

Section 10. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.43 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.43 new)

Sec. 9.43. School social worker field placement grants.

(a) In this Section, "racial minority" means a person who is a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident immigrant of the United States and who is:

(1) Black;

(2) Hispanic;

(3) Asian American; or

(4) American Indian or Alaskan Native.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the Board shall award competitive grants on an annual basis to colleges and universities in this State to fund field placements for social workers.

(c) Subject to appropriation, colleges and universities shall annually disseminate a request for applications from students under the grant program under subsection (b), and funds shall be distributed annually.

(d) Colleges and universities, upon receiving funding under subsection (c), shall provide applications to students eligible for this funding. A college or university shall give priority to applicants who are members of a racial minority.

(e) Each college or university that receives funds under this Section shall provide an annual report to the Board. This report shall include the number of students who received funds and the racial background of these students. The Board shall post the report from each college or university on the Board's website by October 31, 2024 and each year thereafter.

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