HB5489 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 38183 RJT 68316 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5489

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Gregg Johnson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 may provide to its students in grades 9 through 12 a unit of instruction studying the events of labor history. Provides that the instruction may also include information on the rights of workers and employment opportunities. Sets forth the events and information that may be included in the instruction. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for development of the instruction. Provides that the instruction may be provided through an online program or course. Effective July 1, 2024.

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 adding Section 27-23.17 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new)

Sec. 27-23.17. Labor history.

(a) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the school board of a school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 may provide to its students in grades 9 through 12 a unit of instruction studying the events of labor history, which may include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) The railroad strikes of the 19th century.

(2) The Haymarket Square massacre and other uses of force in response to labor unrest.

(3) The role organized labor played during World War II.

(4) The federal Wagner Act, the federal Taft-Hartley Act, and the modern labor peace.

(5) The decline of private sector unions, and the modern resurgence in labor organizing and actions.

(6) The rights and protections that organized labor won.

(7) The roles disadvantaged peoples, racism, and sexism have played in the labor movement.

(b) The unit of instruction may also include information on the rights of workers and employment opportunities, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Prohibitions against misclassification of employees as independent contractors.

(2) Child labor.

(3) Wage and hour protections.

(4) Worker safety.

(5) Workers' compensation.

(6) Unemployment insurance.

(7) Paid sick leave and paid family leave.

(8) The rights and remedies provided by the federal National Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.

A student may be provided information introducing the student to State-approved apprenticeship programs, how to access them, the variety of programs available, and how they can provide an alternative career path for those students who choose not to attend a traditional higher education program.

(c) The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials that may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of instruction under this Section.

(d) The unit of instruction under this Section may be provided through an online program or course.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2024.