HB4850 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 33862 JDS 63677 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4850

Introduced 2/7/2024, by Rep. Tony M. McCombie

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the School District Impact Note Act. Requires every bill that could have a negative impact on the finances of a school district in the State or that could cause a school district to expend additional staffing resources to have prepared for it by the Illinois State Board of Education a brief explanatory statement or note describing the bill's anticipated impact on education in the State. Specifies the contents of the note and the circumstances under which the note is to be prepared. Clarifies that the preparation of such a note does not preclude a State official or employee from participating in legislative hearings concerning the bill. Provides that the subject matter of bills submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education shall be kept in strict confidence, and no information relating to the bill or its anticipated impact on education in the State shall be divulged, before the bill's introduction in the General Assembly, by any State official or employee of the State Board, except to the bill's sponsor or his or her designee. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the School District Impact Note Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Impact on education in the State" means the total sum that the State Board estimates school districts in the State will expend to implement a bill and the total number of additional hours that the State Board estimates teachers and school administrators in the State will expend implementing the requirements of a bill.

"State Board" means the Illinois State Board of Education.

Section 10. Applicability. Every bill that could have a negative impact on the finances of a school district in the State or that could cause a school district to expend additional staffing resources shall have prepared for it by the State Board, before second reading in the house of introduction, a brief explanatory statement or note describing the bill's anticipated impact on education in the State.

Section 15. Preparation of the School District Impact Note.

(a) Upon request of the sponsor of a bill described in Section 10, the State Board shall prepare a written note setting forth the information required by Section 10. The note shall be designated as a School District Impact Note and shall be furnished to the sponsor within 10 calendar days after the request. If, because of the complexity of the bill, additional time is required for preparation of the School District Impact Note, the State Board may so notify the sponsor and request an extension of time not to exceed 5 additional days within which to furnish the School District Impact Note. An extension may not, however, be beyond May 15 following the date of the request.

(b) Whenever the sponsor of any bill is of the opinion that no School District Impact Note is necessary, any member of either house may thereafter request that a School District Impact Note be obtained, and in such case, the matter shall be decided by majority vote of those present and voting in the house of which he or she is a member. If the sponsor believes that a School District Impact Note request has been filed in bad faith, the sponsor may ask for a vote to render one or more School District Impact Note requests inapplicable.

(c) Whenever a bill is amended on the floor of either house in a manner as to bring it within the description of bills set forth in Section 10, a majority of that house may propose that no action be taken upon the amendment until the sponsor of the amendment presents a School District Impact Note to the members.

Section 20. Content of the School District Impact Note.

(a) The School District Impact Note shall be factual, brief, and concise and shall provide as reliable of a statement of the bill's anticipated impact on education in the State as is possible under the circumstances. The School District Impact Note shall include both the immediate financial impact and, if determinable or reasonably foreseeable, the long-range financial impact of the bill, as well as short-term and long-term estimates of additional staffing needs. The School District Impact Note must also state whether the bill will have a disparate impact on the finances or staffing needs of school districts in the State.

(b) No comment or opinion shall be included in the School District Impact Note with regard to the merits of the bill for which the School District Impact Note is prepared; however, technical or mechanical defects in the bill may be noted. The School District Impact Note shall be signed by the State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee.

Section 25. Participation in hearing. The fact that a School District Impact Note is prepared for any bill shall not preclude or restrict the appearance before any committee of the General Assembly of any State official or employee who desires to be heard in support of or in opposition to the bill.

Section 30. Confidentiality. The subject matter of bills submitted to the State Board shall be kept in strict confidence by the State Board, and no information relating to the bill or its anticipated impact on education in the State shall be divulged, before the bill's introduction in the General Assembly, by any State official or employee of the State Board, except to the bill's sponsor or his or her designee.

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