093_HB3293

 
                                     LRB093 09928 NHT 10179 b

 1        AN ACT concerning teacher incentives.

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

 4        Section 5.  The School Code is amended by adding  Section
 5    2-3.131 as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.131 new)
 7        Sec. 2-3.131.  Quality teacher incentive program.
 8        (a)  The  State  Board  of  Education shall implement and
 9    administer a quality teacher incentive program.   Under  this
10    program,  the  State  Board  of Education shall provide, from
11    appropriations made for  the  purposes  of  this  Section,  a
12    signing bonus of $1,500 to each eligible teacher.
13        (b)  A  teacher  is  eligible  under  this program if the
14    person has graduated from a regionally accredited institution
15    in the top 25% of his or her class, has an  Initial  Teaching
16    Certificate,   and  agrees  to  teach  for  a  minimum  of  3
17    consecutive years in a public school in this State that is on
18    the State Board of Education's financial watch list.
19        (c)  A teacher who has received  a  signing  bonus  under
20    this  program  and  leaves  employment with the public school
21    before the end of the 3-year commitment  must  reimburse  the
22    State in the amount of $1,500, unless the teacher has left to
23    accept a teaching position with another public school in this
24    State that is on the financial watch list.
25        (d)  A  teacher  who  receives a signing bonus under this
26    program shall not be deemed an employee of the State.
27        (e)  The State Board of Education  may  adopt  any  rules
28    necessary  to  carry  out  its  responsibilities  under  this
29    Section.

30        Section  99.   Effective  date.  This Act takes effect on
 
                            -2-      LRB093 09928 NHT 10179 b
 1    July 1, 2003.