HB2685 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 11346 AAS 21434 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2685

Introduced 2/6/2025, by Rep. William "Will" Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new

Amends the School Code. Requires the Illinois State Board of Education to create the Licensed School Librarian Task Force, which shall meet a minimum of 4 times and shall submit, no later than 12 months after the first convening of the Task Force, a final report to the Governor and the General Assembly containing recommendations, including, but not limited to, recommendations for how to ensure Illinois public elementary and secondary schools consider, budget appropriate resources for, and employ licensed school librarians in future academic years from available State and local resources. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 1. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) Licensed school librarians help students acquire unique skills not taught in the classroom and information and technology skills that are essential for students.

(2) Academic research provides significant evidence indicating the value added to students' academic development by the presence of a strong school library program led by a licensed school librarian.

(3) The presence of full-time licensed school librarians and appropriate support staff who implement a quality, school-integrated library services program is directly related to student educational gains.

(4) Quality school library programs staffed by licensed school librarians help close the achievement gap of students who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

(5) Curtailment of school library instructional programs has had a negative impact on students' achievement in kindergarten through grade 12 learning environments and the ability of youth to appropriately and fully utilize the resources of public and academic libraries.

(6) There is an interdependence among types of libraries within a community, school libraries are at the center of this ecosystem, and school libraries provide the beginning of a lifelong connection to academic and public libraries throughout Illinois.

(7) Government has the responsibility to ensure that every child in the state of Illinois receives a strong foundation in literacy.

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.206 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.206 new)

Sec. 2-3.206. Licensed School Librarian Task Force.

(a) As used in this Section, "licensed school librarian" means an individual who holds a Professional Educator License with a library information specialist endorsement through the State Board.

(b) The State Board shall establish and convene the licensed school librarian Task Force within 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

(c) The Task Force shall include the following members:

(1) Two members appointed by the State Board.

(2) One member from a statewide organization representing licensed school librarians appointed by the Secretary of State.

(3) One member from a statewide educational group whose members include licensed school librarians appointed by the Secretary of State.

(4) One member from each of the Illinois regional library systems appointed by the Secretary of State.

(5) One member from an Illinois university that offers a library information specialist endorsement program appointed by the Governor.

(6) One member appointed by the President of the Senate.

(7) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(8) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(9) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

The Chairperson of the State Board, or his or her designee, shall be a nonvoting member of the Task Force and shall serve as Chairperson of the Task Force. Members of the Task Force shall serve for the entirety of the Task Force without compensation. If a vacancy occurs in Task Force's membership, it shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the entirety of the Task Force. A quorum of Task Force members is not required for the Task Force to convene or meet.

(d) The State Board shall provide administrative and technical support to the Task Force.

(e) The Task Force shall meet a minimum of 4 times and shall submit, no later than 12 months after the first convening of the Task Force, a final report to the Governor and the General Assembly containing recommendations, including, but not limited to, recommendations for how to ensure Illinois public elementary and secondary schools consider, budget appropriate resources for, and employ licensed school librarians in future academic years from available State and local resources. The Task Force shall also make recommendations on appropriate library resources when licensed school librarians are unable to staff or be employed in school libraries that serve students in public elementary and secondary schools. The Task Force is dissolved upon submission of its report.

(f) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2027.

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