[ Search ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
| [ Introduced ] | [ Engrossed ] | [ Enrolled ] |
| [ House Amendment 001 ] |
91_SB1426gms
State of Illinois
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Springfield, Illinois 62706
George H. Ryan
GOVERNOR
July 7, 2000
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois State Senate
91st General Assembly
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(b) of the Illinois
Constitution of 1970, I hereby veto and return Senate Bill
1426 entitled "AN ACT in relation to education."
Senate Bill 1426 makes a number of changes to the
Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the Unified Code of Corrections
and the School Code. Included in the bill is a provision
that a minor who is placed on probation or supervision may be
required to attend an educational program at a facility other
than the school where the offense occurred. The bill also
provides an option for individual school districts to
implement a policy that would assure that a child serve the
full term of a suspension or expulsion from school, with an
option for alternative education.
I agree that school districts should have options to
protect the children enrolled in their schools. I am
concerned, however, that Senate Bill 1426 would allow a
school district to implement a policy that would force an
expelled student to serve the full term of an expulsion
without allowing the district to admit the student to the
school before the full term of the expulsion is completed. I
am also deeply concerned that alternative education is not
assured for students who are suspended or expelled. I
believe alternative education should be a mandatory condition
of any suspension or expulsion from a public or private
school in Illinois.
Even though Senate Bill 1426 only speaks to an expelled
or suspended student transferring in from another school, I
believe that signing this bill would send an inappropriate
message that problem students are better off on the streets
than in an alternative school environment. I have considered
making a specific recommendation for change to Senate Bill
1426; however, I believe there are too many issues to address
through the limited amendatory veto powers granted to me by
the Illinois State Constitution. Therefore, I believe my
only recourse is to veto this legislation.
For this reason, I hereby veto and return Senate Bill
1426.
Sincerely,
George H. Ryan
GOVERNOR