HB 4896

Abstract

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning sexual misconduct in schools, provides that guidelines established for certain situations and all available methods for how to report staff-student boundary violations within a school and to external agencies must be posted on the website, if any, of each school district, charter school, or nonpublic school and must be included in any staff, student, or parent handbook provided by the school district, charter school, or nonpublic school. In provisions concerning an employment history review, provides that a job applicant shall provide the name, address, telephone number, and other relevant contact information of the applicant's current employer only if the applicant has direct contact with children or students at the applicant's current employer. Provides that for a substitute employee licensed by the State Board of Education and seeking employment in more than one school district, the employment history review shall be conducted by the regional office of education or intermediate service center in which the school districts are located. Provides for when this review is required and how the review remains valid, and provides for immunity for regional offices of education and intermediate service centers. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. In provisions concerning sexual misconduct in schools, provides that guidelines established for certain situations and all available methods for how to report staff-student boundary violations within a school and to external agencies must be posted on the website, if any, of each school district, charter school, or nonpublic school and must be included in any staff, student, and (instead of or) parent handbook provided by the school district, charter school, or nonpublic school (instead of nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school). In provisions concerning an employment history review, requires a job applicant to provide the name, address, telephone number, and other relevant contact information of the applicant's current employer only if the applicant has direct contact with children or students at the applicant's current employer. Provides that for a licensed substitute teacher who is seeking employment in more than one school district, a school district's regional office of education or intermediate service center may collect and share specified information and records. Provides that a regional office of education's or intermediate service center's participation in the employment history review shall be limited to collecting such information and records and sharing the information and records with the school district or school districts. Sets forth other provisions concerning a regional office of education's or intermediate service center's participation in the employment history review and how long the review remains valid. Provides that if, at any time, a school district has information or records that the school district would have immunity from liability to share as part of an employment history review, then the school district and its employees are immune from liability on specified terms if sharing such information or records with the regional office of education or intermediate service center that maintains the applicable approved substitute list. Makes corresponding changes.