Illinois S.B. 2071

Illinois S.B. 2071

Teacher Conduct, Licensure Suspension and Revocation

Provides that it is a state attorney's duty to notify the state superintendent of education, the applicable regional superintendent of schools, and the superintendent of the employing school district or the chief school administrator of the employing nonpublic school, upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the school code of any of certain sex offenses or felony convictions, including the offense of grooming and traveling to meet a minor. Requires teachers institutes to include training on educator ethics and teacher/student conduct. Clarifies 105 ILCS 5/10-21.9(c) to provide that no school board may knowingly employ a person who has been convicted of any offense that would subject him or her to certification suspension or revocation pursuant to Section 21-23a of the School Code. Transfers responsibility for beginning certificate suspension and revocation proceedings from the appropriate regional superintendent of schools to the state superintendent. Requires the superintendent of the employing school board to provide written notification to the regional and state superintendents of any certificate holder whom he or she has reasonable cause to believe has committed an intentional act of abuse or neglect with the result of making a child an abused child or a neglected child, and that act resulted in the certificate holder's dismissal or resignation from the school district.

Requires local boards, at least once every two years, to conduct in-service training on educator ethics, teacher-student conduct, and school employee-student conduct for all personnel. Provides that no one who has been convicted of an offense set forth in Section 21-23a of the School Code may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools. Adds circumstances under which an applicant with a felony conviction may submit character references or other written
material before such a conviction or other information regarding the applicant's character may be used by the state superintendent of education as a basis for denying the application. Clarifies that the state superintendent of education has the exclusive authority to initiate certificate suspension or revocation, including for child abuse or neglect. Provides that the state superintendent is not under obligation to initiate an investigation of a certificate holder if the Department of Children and Family Services is investigating the same or substantially similar allegations. Provides that if the state superintendent of education does not receive a request for a hearing within 10 days after the individual receives notice, the suspension or revocation must immediately take effect in accordance with the notice. Clarifies that a hearing will act as a stay of proceedings until the state teacher certification board issues a decision. Repeals and replaces certain other existing language regarding hearings and repeals/suspensions of certificates.

Adds "conspiracy to commit first degree murder " and "attempted conspiracy to commit first degree murder" to crimes enumerated in 105 ILCS 5/21-23a for which a conviction is grounds for revocation of certification. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB2071lv.pdf

Source:
www.ilga.gov/legislation

Status: Signed into law Status Date: 08/13/2009

Illinois S.B. 2071
Teacher Conduct, Licensure Suspension and Revocation
Provides that it is a state attorney's duty to notify the state superintendent of education, the applicable regional superintendent of schools, and the superintendent of the employing school district or the chief school administrator of the employing nonpublic school, upon the conviction of any individual known to possess a certificate issued under the school code of any of certain sex offenses or felony convictions, including the offense of grooming and traveling to meet a minor. Requires teachers institutes to include training on educator ethics and teacher/student conduct. Clarifies 105 ILCS 5/10-21.9(c) to provide that no school board may knowingly employ a person who has been convicted of any offense that would subject him or her to certification suspension or revocation pursuant to Section 21-23a of the School Code. Transfers responsibility for beginning certificate suspension and revocation proceedings from the appropriate regional superintendent of schools to the state superintendent. Requires the superintendent of the employing school board to provide written notification to the regional and state superintendents of any certificate holder whom he or she has reasonable cause to believe has committed an intentional act of abuse or neglect with the result of making a child an abused child or a neglected child, and that act resulted in the certificate holder's dismissal or resignation from the school district. Requires local boards, at least once every two years, to conduct in-service training on educator ethics, teacher-student conduct, and school employee-student conduct for all personnel. Provides that no one who has been convicted of an offense set forth in Section 21-23a of the School Code may be certified to teach or supervise in the public schools. Adds circumstances under which an applicant with a felony conviction may submit character references or other written material before such a conviction or other information regarding the applicant's character may be used by the state superintendent of education as a basis for denying the application. Clarifies that the state superintendent of education has the exclusive authority to initiate certificate suspension or revocation, including for child abuse or neglect. Provides that the state superintendent is not under obligation to initiate an investigation of a certificate holder if the Department of Children and Family Services is investigating the same or substantially similar allegations. Provides that if the state superintendent of education does not receive a request for a hearing within 10 days after the individual receives notice, the suspension or revocation must immediately take effect in accordance with the notice. Clarifies that a hearing will act as a stay of proceedings until the state teacher certification board issues a decision. Repeals and replaces certain other existing language regarding hearings and repeals/suspensions of certificates. Adds "conspiracy to commit first degree murder " and "attempted conspiracy to commit first degree murder" to crimes enumerated in 105 ILCS 5/21-23a for which a conviction is grounds for revocation of certification. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB2071lv.pdf
Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation
Status: Signed into law	Status Date: 08/13/2009