HB2012eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2012 Engrossed LRB094 02841 NHT 32842 b

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 34-18.33 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.33 new)

Sec. 34-18.33. Closure of school. Prior to the board voting to close any school in the district, the board shall announce its intention to do so at least 6 months prior to the vote. Before the vote, the board shall conduct 3 public hearings, each in a separate location, at times and places determined by the board. The time of place of each hearing must be chosen to ensure maximum participation within the school's local attendance area.

If a preponderance of the testimony at the hearings is in opposition to the closure, the board and any parties opposing the closure must submit to federal mediation. A mediator from the National Mediation Board shall be appointed to work with the board and the opposing parties to determine whether the school should be closed.

If there is no resolution within 60 days after submitting to mediation, the board may not close the school until the question of closing the school has been submitted to the electors of the school's local attendance area at a regular election and approved by a majority of the electors voting on the question. The board must certify the question to the proper election authority, which must submit the question at an election in accordance with the Election Code. The election authority must submit the question in substantially the following form:

Shall the Chicago Board of Education be authorized to close (insert name of school)?

The election authority must record the votes as "Yes" or "No".

If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in the affirmative, the board may close the school. If a majority of the electors voting on the question vote in the negative, the board may not attempt to close the school during the current school year or the following school year.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.30 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.30 new)

Sec. 8.30. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.