HB3797 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10530 LNS 20605 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3797

Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/21B-80

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to create a system for the automatic suspension of a license if the holder of that license has been convicted of a crime under the Sex Offenses Article of the Criminal Code of 2012 or a crime that requires registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act.

A BILL FOR

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 21B-80 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/21B-80)

Sec. 21B-80. Conviction of certain offenses as grounds for disqualification for licensure or suspension or revocation of a license.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Drug offense" means any one or more of the following offenses:

(1) Any offense defined in the Cannabis Control Act, except those defined in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) of Section 4 and subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 5 of the Cannabis Control Act and any offense for which the holder of a license is placed on probation under the provisions of Section 10 of the Cannabis Control Act, provided that if the terms and conditions of probation required by the court are not fulfilled, the offense is not eligible for this exception.

(2) Any offense defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, except any offense for which the holder of a license is placed on probation under the provisions of Section 410 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, provided that if the terms and conditions of probation required by the court are not fulfilled, the offense is not eligible for this exception.

(3) Any offense defined in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, except any offense for which the holder of a license is placed on probation under the provision of Section 70 of that Act, provided that if the terms and conditions of probation required by the court are not fulfilled, the offense is not eligible for this exception.

(4) Any attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in items (1) through (3) of this definition.

(5) Any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of the offenses listed in items (1) through (4) of this definition. The changes made by Public Act 96-431 to this definition are declaratory of existing law.

"Sentence" includes any period of supervised release or probation that was imposed either alone or in combination with a period of incarceration.

"Sex or other offense" means any one or more of the following offenses:

(A) Any offense defined in Article 9 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; Sections 11-6, 11-9 through 11-9.5, inclusive, and 11-30 (if punished as a Class 4 felony) of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; Sections 11-14.1 through 11-21, inclusive, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; Sections 11-23 (if punished as a Class 3 felony), 11-24, 11-25, and 11-26 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; Section 10-5.1, subsection (c) of Section 10-9, and Sections 11-6.6, 11-11, 12-3.05, 12-3.3, 12-6.4, 12-7.1, 12-34, 12-34.5, and 12-35 of the Criminal Code of 2012; and Sections 11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40, 11-1.50, 11-1.60, 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15, 12-16, 12-32, 12-33, 12C-45, and 26-4 (if punished pursuant to subdivision (4) or (5) of subsection (d) of Section 26-4) of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012.

(B) Any attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in item (A) of this definition.

(C) Any offense committed or attempted in any other state that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of the offenses listed in items (A) and (B) of this definition.

(b) Whenever the holder of any license issued pursuant to this Article or applicant for a license to be issued pursuant to this Article has been convicted of any drug offense, other than as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith suspend the license or deny the application, whichever is applicable, until 7 years following the end of the sentence for the criminal offense. If the conviction is reversed and the holder is acquitted of the offense in a new trial or the charges against him or her are dismissed, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith terminate the suspension of the license.

(b-5) Whenever the holder of a license issued pursuant to this Article or applicant for a license to be issued pursuant to this Article has been charged with attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, soliciting, or committing any sex or other offense, as enumerated under item (A) of subsection (a), first degree murder, or a Class X felony or any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of the foregoing offenses, the State Superintendent of Education shall immediately suspend the license or deny the application until the person's criminal charges are adjudicated through a court of competent jurisdiction. If the person is acquitted, his or her license or application shall be immediately reinstated.

(c) Whenever the holder of a license issued pursuant to this Article or applicant for a license to be issued pursuant to this Article has been convicted of attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, soliciting, or committing any sex or other offense, as enumerated under item (A) of subsection (a), first degree murder, or a Class X felony or any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of the foregoing offenses, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith suspend the license or deny the application, whichever is applicable. If the conviction is reversed and the holder is acquitted of that offense in a new trial or the charges that he or she committed that offense are dismissed, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith terminate the suspension of the license. When the conviction becomes final, the State Superintendent of Education shall forthwith revoke the license.

(d) The State Board of Education shall create a system for the automatic suspension of a license issued pursuant to this Article if the holder of that license has been convicted of a crime under Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 2012 or a crime that requires registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-531, eff. 8-23-19; 102-552, eff. 1-1-22.)