102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1784

 

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new
105 ILCS 5/34-21.9 new
110 ILCS 305/120 new
110 ILCS 520/100 new
110 ILCS 660/5-210 new
110 ILCS 665/10-210 new
110 ILCS 670/15-210 new
110 ILCS 675/20-215 new
110 ILCS 680/25-210 new
110 ILCS 685/30-220 new
110 ILCS 690/35-215 new
110 ILCS 805/3-29.14 new

    Amends the School Code and various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Provides that the governing board of each school district, public university, and community college district must allow a student athlete to modify his or her athletic or team uniform for the purpose of modesty in clothing or attire that is in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion. Provides that a modification to the uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. Provides that the student is responsible for all costs associated with the modification of the uniform, but allows a school or institution of higher education to provide the modification to its students. Provides that the school or the institution must approve the request from a student to modify the uniform to ensure that the modification does not pose a safety hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. Sets forth requirements for modified headgear. Effective immediately.


LRB102 16111 CMG 21485 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1784LRB102 16111 CMG 21485 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 adding Sections
510-20.73 and 34-21.9 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.73 new)
7    Sec. 10-20.73. Modification of athletic or team uniform
8permitted.
9    (a) A school board must allow a student athlete to modify
10his or her athletic or team uniform for the purpose of modesty
11in clothing or attire that is in accordance with the
12requirements of his or her religion. The modification of the
13athletic or team uniform may include, but is not limited to,
14the wearing of a hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a
15student chooses to modify his or her athletic or team uniform,
16the student is responsible for all costs associated with the
17modification of the uniform. However, nothing in this Section
18prohibits a school from providing the modification to the
19student.
20    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
21athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
22subsection (a) must be approved by the school board. The
23school board shall reasonably accommodate the student's

 

 

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1request. At a minimum, any modification of the athletic or
2team uniform must not interfere with the movement of the
3student or pose a safety hazard to the student or to other
4athletes or players. The modification of headgear is permitted
5if the headgear:
6        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
7    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
8        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
9        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
10    players;
11        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
12    and neck; and
13        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
14    (105 ILCS 5/34-21.9 new)
15    Sec. 34-21.9. Modification of athletic or team uniform
16permitted.
17    (a) The board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
18her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
19in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
20his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team
21uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
22hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to
23modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
24responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
25the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits a

 

 

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1school from providing the modification to the student.
2    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
3athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
4subsection (a) must be approved by the board. The board shall
5reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
6any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
7interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
8hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
9modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
10        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
11    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
12        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
13        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
14    players;
15        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
16    and neck; and
17        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
18    Section 10. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
19adding Section 120 as follows:
 
20    (110 ILCS 305/120 new)
21    Sec. 120. Modification of athletic or team uniform
22permitted.
23    (a) The Board of Trustees must allow a student athlete to
24modify his or her athletic or team uniform due to the

 

 

SB1784- 4 -LRB102 16111 CMG 21485 b

1observance of modesty in clothing or attire in accordance with
2the requirements of his or her religion. The modification of
3the athletic or team uniform may include, but is not limited
4to, the wearing of a hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a
5student chooses to modify his or her athletic or team uniform,
6the student is responsible for all costs associated with the
7modification of the uniform. However, nothing in this Section
8prohibits the University from providing the modification to
9the student.
10    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
11athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
12subsection (a) must be approved by the Board, who shall
13reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
14any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
15interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
16hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
17modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
18        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
19    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
20        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
21        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
22    players;
23        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
24    and neck; and
25        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 

 

 

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1    Section 15. The Southern Illinois University Management
2Act is amended by adding Section 100 as follows:
 
3    (110 ILCS 520/100 new)
4    Sec. 100. Modification of athletic or team uniform
5permitted.
6    (a) The Board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
7her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
8in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
9his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team
10uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
11hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to
12modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
13responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
14the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the
15University from providing the modification to the student.
16    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
17athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
18subsection (a) must be approved by the Board, who shall
19reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
20any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
21interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
22hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
23modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
24        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
25    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;

 

 

SB1784- 6 -LRB102 16111 CMG 21485 b

1        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
2        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
3    players;
4        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
5    and neck; and
6        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
7    Section 20. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
8adding Section 5-210 as follows:
 
9    (110 ILCS 660/5-210 new)
10    Sec. 5-210. Modification of athletic or team uniform
11permitted.
12    (a) The Board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
13her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
14in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
15his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team
16uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
17hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to
18modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
19responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
20the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the
21University from providing the modification to the student.
22    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
23athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
24subsection (a) must be approved by the Board, who shall

 

 

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1reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
2any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
3interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
4hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
5modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
6        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
7    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
8        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
9        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
10    players;
11        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
12    and neck; and
13        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
14    Section 25. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
15by adding Section 10-210 as follows:
 
16    (110 ILCS 665/10-210 new)
17    Sec. 10-210. Modification of athletic or team uniform
18permitted.
19    (a) The Board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
20her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
21in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
22his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team
23uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
24hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to

 

 

SB1784- 8 -LRB102 16111 CMG 21485 b

1modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
2responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
3the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the
4University from providing the modification to the student.
5    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
6athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
7subsection (a) must be approved by the Board, who shall
8reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
9any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
10interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
11hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
12modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
13        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
14    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
15        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
16        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
17    players;
18        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
19    and neck; and
20        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
21    Section 30. The Governors State University Law is amended
22by adding Section 15-210 as follows:
 
23    (110 ILCS 670/15-210 new)
24    Sec. 15-210. Modification of athletic or team uniform

 

 

SB1784- 9 -LRB102 16111 CMG 21485 b

1permitted.
2    (a) The Board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
3her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
4in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
5his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team
6uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
7hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to
8modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
9responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
10the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the
11University from providing the modification to the student.
12    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
13athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
14subsection (a) must be approved by the Board, who shall
15reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
16any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
17interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
18hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
19modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
20        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
21    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
22        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
23        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
24    players;
25        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
26    and neck; and

 

 

SB1784- 10 -LRB102 16111 CMG 21485 b

1        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
2    Section 35. The Illinois State University Law is amended
3by adding Section 20-215 as follows:
 
4    (110 ILCS 675/20-215 new)
5    Sec. 20-215. Modification of athletic or team uniform
6permitted.
7    (a) The Board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
8her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
9in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
10his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team
11uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
12hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to
13modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
14responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
15the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the
16University from providing the modification to the student.
17    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
18athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
19subsection (a) must be approved by the Board, who shall
20reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
21any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
22interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
23hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
24modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:

 

 

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1        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
2    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
3        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
4        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
5    players;
6        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
7    and neck; and
8        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
9    Section 40. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
10amended by adding Section 25-210 as follows:
 
11    (110 ILCS 680/25-210 new)
12    Sec. 25-210. Modification of athletic or team uniform
13permitted.
14    (a) The Board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
15her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
16in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
17his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team
18uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
19hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to
20modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
21responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
22the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the
23University from providing the modification to the student.
24    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her

 

 

SB1784- 12 -LRB102 16111 CMG 21485 b

1athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
2subsection (a) must be approved by the Board, who shall
3reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
4any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
5interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
6hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
7modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
8        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
9    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
10        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
11        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
12    players;
13        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
14    and neck; and
15        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
16    Section 45. The Northern Illinois University Law is
17amended by adding Section 30-220 as follows:
 
18    (110 ILCS 685/30-220 new)
19    Sec. 30-220. Modification of athletic or team uniform
20permitted.
21    (a) The Board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
22her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
23in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
24his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team

 

 

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1uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
2hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to
3modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
4responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
5the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the
6University from providing the modification to the student.
7    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
8athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
9subsection (a) must be approved by the Board, who shall
10reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
11any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
12interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
13hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
14modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
15        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
16    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
17        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
18        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
19    players;
20        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
21    and neck; and
22        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
23    Section 50. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
24by adding Section 35-215 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (110 ILCS 690/35-215 new)
2    Sec. 35-215. Modification of athletic or team uniform
3permitted.
4    (a) The Board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
5her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
6in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
7his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team
8uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
9hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to
10modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
11responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
12the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the
13University from providing the modification to the student.
14    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
15athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
16subsection (a) must be approved by the Board, who shall
17reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
18any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not
19interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
20hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
21modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
22        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
23    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
24        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
25        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
26    players;

 

 

SB1784- 15 -LRB102 16111 CMG 21485 b

1        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
2    and neck; and
3        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
4    Section 55. The Public Community College Act is amended by
5adding Section 3-29.14 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 805/3-29.14 new)
7    Sec. 3-29.14. Modification of athletic or team uniform
8permitted.
9    (a) A board must allow a student athlete to modify his or
10her athletic or team uniform due to the observance of modesty
11in clothing or attire in accordance with the requirements of
12his or her religion. The modification of the athletic or team
13uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a
14hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to
15modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is
16responsible for all costs associated with the modification of
17the uniform. However, nothing in this Section prohibits the
18community college from providing the modification to the
19student.
20    (b) The request from a student to modify his or her
21athletic or team uniform for the purposes described in
22subsection (a) must be approved by the board. The board shall
23reasonably accommodate the student's request. At a minimum,
24any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not

 

 

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1interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety
2hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The
3modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
4        (1) is black, white, the predominate color of the
5    uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
6        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
7        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
8    players;
9        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the face
10    and neck; and
11        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
 
12    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
13becoming law.