Governor JB Pritzker continued working through the 600 bills that were approved by the General Assembly and sent to his desk. Many of the new Public Acts have an immediate effect on school districts. While some of the bills recently signed allow for greater flexibility for local districts, there are many that may also have serious repercussions.
One of the most consequential bills signed into law is HB 2078 (Stuart, D-Collinsville). In yearly increments, HB 2078 increases the minimum teacher salary to $40,000 per year. The minimum salary increase would be phased in as follows:
- Not less than $32,076 for the 2020-2021 school year,
- Not less than $34,576 for the 2021-2022 school year,
- Not less than $37,076 for the 2022-2023 school year, and
- Not less than $40,000 for the 2023-2024 school year.
Following the 2023-24 school year and each year thereafter, subject to review by the General Assembly, the minimum teacher salary shall be increased by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the previous school year. The bill is now Public Act 101-0443, effective January 1, 2020.
New Law May Require Additional Expenditure Report for FY 2020 Grants
Public Act 100-0997, which was enacted on August 20, 2018, made significant changes to the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), including the addition of a section that details new expenditure reporting requirements. Section 125 of GATA requires grantees to submit a new expenditure report in the event that a state or federal grant is executed more than 30 days after the effective date of the grant. Beginning with the FY 2020 grant cycle, any state or federal grant that is executed (i.e., approved by ISBE) more than 30 days after the effective date (i.e., start date) of the grant will require the grantee to submit to ISBE an expenditure report that reflects eligible expenditures made from the grant start date up to and including the date of grant execution.
Federal grants administered by ISBE are processed on a reimbursement basis and will require an expenditure report to be submitted through the approval date if the grant is approved more than 30 days after the effective date. State grants administered by ISBE allow grantees to submit monthly payment schedules with their grant application. Previously, ISBE would voucher all scheduled monthly payments through the month the initial application was approved. Under the new law, if a grant is approved more than 30 days after the start date, ISBE will only voucher an amount equal to the initial expenditure report submitted by the grantee. After the initial expenditure report is processed and paid, ISBE will resume normal vouchering of scheduled payments to the grantee.
Grantees are encouraged to submit their initial FY 2020 grant applications to ISBE in timely fashion so that ISBE program staff can review and approve the grants within the 30-day timeframe. That would allow grantees to avoid having to submit the new expenditure report. In summary, all FY 2020 grants that are approved by ISBE 30 days after the effective date will be subject to the new expenditure report requirement.
Below is a summary of the steps that are necessary to fully execute FY 2020 grants:
- Complete Registration/Prequalification process on the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Grantee Portal and complete the Internal Controls Questionnaire.
- Complete and submit the new FY 2020 Organizational Risk Assessment via IWAS.
- School Districts Only: Complete and submit the Consolidated District Plan.
- Submit FY 2020 grant application(s) to ISBE.
- The respective ISBE program area will review grant application and consider it for approval.
Questions regarding this information can be directed to Kim Lewis at klewis@isbe.net or (217) 782-5256.
OTHER BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW
HB 160 (Flowers, D-Chicago) provides that enhanced penalties for delivering cannabis in a school or on school property does not apply to a violation that occurs on the grounds of a building that is designated as a school but no longer operational. The bill is now Public Act 101-0429, effective August 20, 2019.
HB 822 (Halpin, D-Rock Island) allows school districts to maintain a supply of undesignated glucagon medication for treatment of diabetic symptoms and requires reporting to parents and health care provider within 24 hours when administered. The bill is now Public Act 101-0428, effective August 19, 2019.
HB 2868 (Scherer, D-Decatur) requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to develop a work-based learning database to help facilitate relationships between school districts and businesses, and expand work-based learning in this State. The bill is now Public Act 101-0389, effective August 16, 2019.
SB 1630 (Stewart, R-Freeport) removes school districts from the list of entities excluded from the Definition of the term "parties" in the Automatic Contract Renewal Act. The bill is nowPublic Act 101-0412, effective August 16, 2019.
SB 1658 (Muñoz, D-Chicago) provides that, subject to appropriation or private donations, ISBE shall award grants to school districts to support school safety and security, including: professional development, safety-related upgrades to school buildings, equipment, metal detectors and x-ray machines, and facilities, including school-based health centers. The bill is now Public Act 101-0413, effective January 1, 2020.
SB 1712 (Koehler, D-Peoria), an Alliance Initiative, that exempts from disclosure a public body's credit card numbers, debit card numbers, bank account numbers, Federal Employer Identification Number, security code numbers, passwords, and similar account information. The bill is now Public Act 101-0434, effective January 1, 2020.
SB 1746 (Belt, D-East St. Louis) provides that moneys in the working cash fund may be disbursed in anticipation of state funding received by the school district. The bill is now Public Act 101-0416, effective August 16, 2019.
SB 1941 (Lightford, D-Maywood) changes the requirements for school discipline plan submissions. It establishes a Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments grant program and requires ISBE and participating schools to issue yearly reports on results of the program. The bill is now Public Act 101-0438, effective August 20, 2019.