Senate Sponsors: CRONIN-PARKER-O'MALLEY AND BOWLES. House Sponsors: GASH-CLAYTON-COWLISHAW-SCHOENBERG Short description: DISSECTION ALTERNATIVES ACT Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Creates the Dissection Alternatives Act and amends the School Code. Provides that a public or nonpublic elementary, secondary, or undergraduate student who objects to performing or observing dissection has the right to perform an alternative project instead, and may not be penalized for making that choice. Also provides that teachers of elementary, secondary, and undergraduate students may not be compelled to include dissection in their courses. Requires notice to students and to the parents of elementary and secondary students. Directs the State Board of Education to adopt guidelines and supervise the implementation of the Act. First applies to the 1997-1998 academic year. Effective immediately. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes reference to: New Act 105 ILCS 5/27-14 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to make available to school districts information concerning alternatives to the dissection of animals. Effective immediately. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Adds reference to: New Act Creates the Dissection Alternatives Act. Provides that public elementary and secondary schools may excuse a student from performing or observing dissection and may allow the student to instead perform an alternative project. Provides that students may not be penalized for refusing to participate in or observe dissection. Directs the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Board of Higher Education to provide guidelines for notifying students and parents about courses that include dissection. First applies to the 1997-1998 academic year. Effective immediately. FISCAL NOTE, H-AM 2 (State Board of Education) SB271 would have minimal fiscal impact. Schools may incur additional expense for materials. STATE MANDATES FISCAL NOTE, H-AM 2 (SBE) No change from SBE fiscal note, with H-am 1. STATE DEBT NOTE, ENGROSSED SB271, engrossed, would not impact the level of State debt. STATE DEBT NOTE, H-AM 2 No change from previous State debt note. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 1. (Adopted in Senate only) Recommends that the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 2. Recommends that the bill be amended as follows: Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/1A-2 from Ch. 122, par. 1A-2 105 ILCS 5/2-3.27a new 105 ILCS 5/10-20.12b 105 ILCS 5/17-2.11b new 105 ILCS 5/19-1 from Ch. 122, par. 19-1 105 ILCS 5/22-23 from Ch. 122, par. 22-23 105 ILCS 5/27-20.6 new 105 ILCS 5/34-2.4b from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.4b 105 ILCS 5/34-4.5 new 105 ILCS 10/6 from Ch. 122, par. 50-6 105 ILCS 110/3 from Ch. 122, par. 863 Further amends the bill by changing the title and adding provisions amending the School Code relative to: qualifications for membership on the State Board of Education; the State Board of Education contracting for an audit of Bloom Township High School District 206 and making dissection alternatives available to school districts; determining the residency of pupils in the Chicago public school system; validation of the tax levy of a community unit school district; the definition of school construction for purposes of determining when a sprinkler system must be installed as part of that construction; establishing an Irish Famine study as part of the curriculum of a public school; Chicago attendance centers which apply for and are designated as a small school by the board of education; and creation of the Office of Chronic Truant Adjudication within the Chicago public school system. Authorizes a community unit school district that meets certain statutory criteria to issue additional bonds, notwithstanding its additional indebtedness. Amends the Illinois School Student Records Act to authorize the release of student records to a governmental or social service agency in furtherance of an investigation of a student's school attendance. Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive health Education Act relative to the employment by school districts of personnel certified by an appropriate agency as qualified to administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Effective July 1, 1997. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 99-01-12 Location: Senate Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 1 SENATE - 1 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status