HB0826eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0826 Engrossed LRB100 08319 MLM 18427 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 Section 14-1.09a and by adding Sections 10-20.60 and 34-18.53 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.60 new)

Sec. 10-20.60. School social worker. A school board may employ school social workers who have graduated with a master's or higher degree in social work from an accredited graduate school of social work and have such additional qualifications as may be required by the State Board of Education and who hold a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for school social work pursuant to Section 21B-25 of this Code. Only persons so licensed and endorsed may use the title "school social worker". A school social worker may provide individual and group services to the general student population and to students with disabilities pursuant to Article 14 of this Code and rules set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226, Special Education, adopted by the State Board of Education and may provide support and consultation to administrators, teachers, and other school personnel consistent with their professional qualifications and the provisions of this Code and other applicable laws. School districts may employ a sufficient number of school social workers to address the needs of their students and schools and may maintain the nationally recommended student-to-school social worker ratio of 250 to 1. A school social worker may not provide such services outside his or her employment to any student in the district or districts that employ the school social worker.

(105 ILCS 5/14-1.09a) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.09a)

Sec. 14-1.09a. School social worker. "School Social Worker" means a social worker who has graduated with a master's or higher degree in social work from an accredited graduate school of social work and who has such additional qualifications as may be required by the State Board of Education and who holds a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for school social work pursuant to Section 21B-25 School Service Personnel Certificate endorsed for school social work issued pursuant to Section 21-25 of this Code. Only persons Persons so licensed and endorsed certified may use the title "school social worker". A social worker and may offer school social work services as provided in this Code and other applicable laws and as which are limited to those services set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226, Special Education, pertaining to children between the ages of 3 to 21, promulgated by the State Board of Education, governing the provision of special education and related services to children with disabilities and requirements for the treatment of children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21. School social workers may make evaluations, recommendations or interventions regarding the placement of children in educational programs or special education classes. However, a school social worker shall not provide such services outside his or her employment to any student in the district or districts which employ such school social worker.

(Source: P.A. 86-303.)

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.53 new)

Sec. 34-18.53. School social worker. The board may employ school social workers who have graduated with a master's or higher degree in social work from an accredited graduate school of social work and have such additional qualifications as may be required by the State Board of Education and who hold a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for school social work pursuant to Section 21B-25 of this Code. Only persons so licensed and endorsed may use the title "school social worker". A school social worker may provide individual and group services to the general student population and to students with disabilities pursuant to Article 14 of this Code and rules set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226, Special Education, adopted by the State Board of Education and may provide support and consultation to administrators, teachers, and other school personnel consistent with their professional qualifications and the provisions of this Code and other applicable laws. The school district may employ a sufficient number of school social workers to address the needs of their students and schools and may maintain the nationally recommended student-to-school social worker ratio of 250 to 1. A school social worker may not provide such services outside his or her employment to any student in the district or districts that employ the school social worker.

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