100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB0726

 

Introduced , by Rep. Thaddeus Jones

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/27-20.4  from Ch. 122, par. 27-20.4
110 ILCS 305/100 new
110 ILCS 520/85 new
110 ILCS 660/5-195 new
110 ILCS 665/10-195 new
110 ILCS 670/15-195 new
110 ILCS 675/20-200 new
110 ILCS 680/25-195 new
110 ILCS 685/30-205 new
110 ILCS 690/35-200 new
110 ILCS 805/3-29.11 new

    Amends the School Code and various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. With respect to the requirement that the events of Black History be taught in every public elementary school and high school, provides that a student may not complete the 8th grade or graduate from high school without studying this material and that a school may meet this requirement through an online program or course. Requires every public institution of higher education and community college to offer a course studying the events of Black History. Allows public institutions of higher education and community colleges to meet the requirement by offering an online course.


LRB100 05893 MLM 15919 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0726LRB100 05893 MLM 15919 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
527-20.4 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/27-20.4)  (from Ch. 122, par. 27-20.4)
7    Sec. 27-20.4. Black History Study. Every public elementary
8school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit
9of instruction studying the events of Black History, including
10the history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and
11the vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall
12include not only the contributions made by individual
13African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities and
14sciences to the economic, cultural and political development of
15the United States and Africa, but also the socio-economic
16struggle which African-Americans experienced collectively in
17striving to achieve fair and equal treatment under the laws of
18this nation. The studying of this material shall constitute an
19affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the
20dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every
21form of discrimination in their lives and careers. In no event
22may a student complete the 8th grade or graduate from high
23school without studying this material.

 

 

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1    The State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make
2available to all school boards instructional materials,
3including those established by the Amistad Commission, which
4may be used as guidelines for development of a unit of
5instruction under this Section; provided, however, that each
6school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of
7instruction time which shall qualify as a unit of instruction
8satisfying the requirements of this Section.
9    A school may meet the requirements of this Section through
10an online program or course.
11(Source: P.A. 94-285, eff. 7-21-05.)
 
12    Section 10. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
13adding Section 100 as follows:
 
14    (110 ILCS 305/100 new)
15    Sec. 100. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of
16the Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a
17course studying the events of Black History, including the
18history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the
19vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include
20not only the contributions made by individual
21African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities,
22and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political
23development of the United States and Africa, but also the
24socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced

 

 

HB0726- 3 -LRB100 05893 MLM 15919 b

1collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
2under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall
3constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
4respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever
5eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
6    The University may meet the requirements of this Section by
7offering an online course.
 
8    Section 15. The Southern Illinois University Management
9Act is amended by adding Section 85 as follows:
 
10    (110 ILCS 520/85 new)
11    Sec. 85. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of the
12Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a
13course studying the events of Black History, including the
14history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the
15vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include
16not only the contributions made by individual
17African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities,
18and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political
19development of the United States and Africa, but also the
20socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced
21collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
22under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall
23constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
24respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever

 

 

HB0726- 4 -LRB100 05893 MLM 15919 b

1eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
2    The University may meet the requirements of this Section by
3offering an online course.
 
4    Section 20. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
5adding Section 5-195 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 660/5-195 new)
7    Sec. 5-195. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of
8the Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a
9course studying the events of Black History, including the
10history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the
11vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include
12not only the contributions made by individual
13African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities,
14and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political
15development of the United States and Africa, but also the
16socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced
17collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
18under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall
19constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
20respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever
21eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
22    The University may meet the requirements of this Section by
23offering an online course.
 

 

 

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1    Section 25. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
2by adding Section 10-195 as follows:
 
3    (110 ILCS 665/10-195 new)
4    Sec. 10-195. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of
5the Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a
6course studying the events of Black History, including the
7history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the
8vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include
9not only the contributions made by individual
10African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities,
11and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political
12development of the United States and Africa, but also the
13socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced
14collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
15under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall
16constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
17respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever
18eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
19    The University may meet the requirements of this Section by
20offering an online course.
 
21    Section 30. The Governors State University Law is amended
22by adding Section 15-195 as follows:
 
23    (110 ILCS 670/15-195 new)

 

 

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1    Sec. 15-195. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of
2the Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a
3course studying the events of Black History, including the
4history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the
5vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include
6not only the contributions made by individual
7African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities,
8and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political
9development of the United States and Africa, but also the
10socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced
11collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
12under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall
13constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
14respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever
15eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
16    The University may meet the requirements of this Section by
17offering an online course.
 
18    Section 35. The Illinois State University Law is amended by
19adding Section 20-200 as follows:
 
20    (110 ILCS 675/20-200 new)
21    Sec. 20-200. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of
22the Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a
23course studying the events of Black History, including the
24history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the

 

 

HB0726- 7 -LRB100 05893 MLM 15919 b

1vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include
2not only the contributions made by individual
3African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities,
4and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political
5development of the United States and Africa, but also the
6socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced
7collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
8under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall
9constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
10respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever
11eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
12    The University may meet the requirements of this Section by
13offering an online course.
 
14    Section 40. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
15amended by adding Section 25-195 as follows:
 
16    (110 ILCS 680/25-195 new)
17    Sec. 25-195. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of
18the Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a
19course studying the events of Black History, including the
20history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the
21vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include
22not only the contributions made by individual
23African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities,
24and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political

 

 

HB0726- 8 -LRB100 05893 MLM 15919 b

1development of the United States and Africa, but also the
2socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced
3collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
4under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall
5constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
6respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever
7eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
8    The University may meet the requirements of this Section by
9offering an online course.
 
10    Section 45. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended
11by adding Section 30-205 as follows:
 
12    (110 ILCS 685/30-205 new)
13    Sec. 30-205. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of
14the Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a
15course studying the events of Black History, including the
16history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the
17vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include
18not only the contributions made by individual
19African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities,
20and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political
21development of the United States and Africa, but also the
22socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced
23collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
24under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall

 

 

HB0726- 9 -LRB100 05893 MLM 15919 b

1constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
2respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever
3eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
4    The University may meet the requirements of this Section by
5offering an online course.
 
6    Section 50. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
7by adding Section 35-200 as follows:
 
8    (110 ILCS 690/35-200 new)
9    Sec. 35-200. Black History course. Subject to Section 7 of
10the Board of Higher Education Act, the University shall offer a
11course studying the events of Black History, including the
12history of the African slave trade, slavery in America, and the
13vestiges of slavery in this country. These events shall include
14not only the contributions made by individual
15African-Americans in government and in the arts, humanities,
16and sciences to the economic, cultural, and political
17development of the United States and Africa, but also the
18socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced
19collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
20under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall
21constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
22respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever
23eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
24    The University may meet the requirements of this Section by

 

 

HB0726- 10 -LRB100 05893 MLM 15919 b

1offering an online course.
 
2    Section 55. The Public Community College Act is amended by
3adding Section 3-29.11 as follows:
 
4    (110 ILCS 805/3-29.11 new)
5    Sec. 3-29.11. Black History course. Subject to Section 7
6of the Board of Higher Education Act, every community college
7shall offer a course studying the events of Black History,
8including the history of the African slave trade, slavery in
9America, and the vestiges of slavery in this country. These
10events shall include not only the contributions made by
11individual African-Americans in government and in the arts,
12humanities, and sciences to the economic, cultural, and
13political development of the United States and Africa, but also
14the socio-economic struggle that African-Americans experienced
15collectively in striving to achieve fair and equal treatment
16under the laws of this nation. The taking of this course shall
17constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to
18respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever
19eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers.
20    A community college may meet the requirements of this
21Section by offering an online course.