SB0275 EngrossedLRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
5amended by adding Section 5-715 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 5/5-715 new)
7    Sec. 5-715. Expedited licensure for service members and
8spouses.
9    (a) In this Section, "service member" means any person who,
10at the time of application under this Section, is an active
11duty member of the United States Armed Forces or any reserve
12component of the United States Armed Forces or the National
13Guard of any state, commonwealth, or territory of the United
14States or the District of Columbia or whose active duty service
15concluded within the preceding 2 years before application.
16    (b) Each director of a department that issues an
17occupational or professional license is authorized to and shall
18issue an expedited temporary occupational or professional
19license to a service member who meets the requirements under
20this Section. The temporary occupational or professional
21license shall be valid for 6 months after the date of issuance
22or until a license is granted or a notice to deny a license is
23issued in accordance with rules adopted by the department

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 2 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1issuing the license, whichever occurs first. No temporary
2occupational or professional license shall be renewed. The
3service member shall apply to the department on forms provided
4by the department. An application must include proof that:
5        (1) the applicant is a service member;
6        (2) the applicant holds a valid license in good
7    standing for the occupation or profession issued by another
8    state, commonwealth, possession, or territory of the
9    United States, the District of Columbia, or any foreign
10    jurisdiction and the requirements for licensure in the
11    other jurisdiction are determined by the department to be
12    substantially equivalent to the standards for licensure of
13    this State;
14        (3) the applicant is assigned to a duty station in this
15    State or has established legal residence in this State;
16        (4) a complete set of the applicant's fingerprints has
17    been submitted to the Department of State Police for
18    statewide and national criminal history checks, if
19    applicable to the requirements of the department issuing
20    the license; the applicant shall pay the fee to the
21    Department of State Police or to the fingerprint vendor for
22    electronic fingerprint processing; no temporary
23    occupational or professional license shall be issued to an
24    applicant if the statewide or national criminal history
25    check discloses information that would cause the denial of
26    an application for licensure under any applicable

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 3 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1    occupational or professional licensing Act;
2        (5) the applicant is not ineligible for licensure
3    pursuant to Section 2105-165 of the Civil Administrative
4    Code of Illinois;
5        (6) the applicant has submitted an application for full
6    licensure; and
7        (7) the applicant has paid the required fee; fees shall
8    not be refundable.
9    (c) Each director of a department that issues an
10occupational or professional license is authorized to and shall
11issue an expedited temporary occupational or professional
12license to the spouse of a service member who meets the
13requirements under this Section. The temporary occupational or
14professional license shall be valid for 6 months after the date
15of issuance or until a license is granted or a notice to deny a
16license is issued in accordance with rules adopted by the
17department issuing the license, whichever occurs first. No
18temporary occupational or professional license shall be
19renewed. The spouse of a service member shall apply to the
20department on forms provided by the department. An application
21must include proof that:
22        (1) the applicant is the spouse of a service member;
23        (2) the applicant holds a valid license in good
24    standing for the occupation or profession issued by another
25    state, commonwealth, possession, or territory of the
26    United States, the District of Columbia, or any foreign

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 4 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1    jurisdiction and the requirements for licensure in the
2    other jurisdiction are determined by the department to be
3    substantially equivalent to the standards for licensure of
4    this State;
5        (3) the applicant's spouse is assigned to a duty
6    station in this State or has established legal residence in
7    this State;
8        (4) a complete set of the applicant's fingerprints has
9    been submitted to the Department of State Police for
10    statewide and national criminal history checks, if
11    applicable to the requirements of the department issuing
12    the license; the applicant shall pay the fee to the
13    Department of State Police or to the fingerprint vendor for
14    electronic fingerprint processing; no temporary
15    occupational or professional license shall be issued to an
16    applicant if the statewide or national criminal history
17    check discloses information that would cause the denial of
18    an application for licensure under any applicable
19    occupational or professional licensing Act;
20        (5) the applicant is not ineligible for licensure
21    pursuant to Section 2105-165 of the Civil Administrative
22    Code of Illinois;
23        (6) the applicant has submitted an application for full
24    licensure; and
25        (7) the applicant has paid the required fee; fees shall
26    not be refundable.

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 5 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1    (d) All relevant experience of a service member in the
2discharge of official duties, including full-time and
3part-time experience, shall be credited in the calculation of
4any years of practice in an occupation or profession as may be
5required under any applicable occupational or professional
6licensing Act. All relevant training provided by the military
7and completed by a service member shall be credited to that
8service member as meeting any training or education requirement
9under any applicable occupational or professional licensing
10Act, provided that the training or education is determined by
11the department to be substantially equivalent to that required
12under any applicable Act and is not otherwise contrary to any
13other licensure requirement.
14    (e) A department may adopt any rules necessary for the
15implementation and administration of this Section and shall by
16rule provide for fees for the administration of this Section.
 
17    Section 10. The School Code is amended by changing Section
1821B-20 as follows:
 
19    (105 ILCS 5/21B-20)
20    Sec. 21B-20. Types of licenses. Before July 1, 2013, the
21State Board of Education shall implement a system of educator
22licensure, whereby individuals employed in school districts
23who are required to be licensed must have one of the following
24licenses: (i) a professional educator license; (ii) a

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 6 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1professional educator license with stipulations; or (iii) a
2substitute teaching license. References in law regarding
3individuals certified or certificated or required to be
4certified or certificated under Article 21 of this Code shall
5also include individuals licensed or required to be licensed
6under this Article. The first year of all licenses ends on June
730 following one full year of the license being issued.
8    The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
9State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may adopt such
10rules as may be necessary to govern the requirements for
11licenses and endorsements under this Section.
12        (1) Professional Educator License. Persons who (i)
13    have successfully completed an approved educator
14    preparation program and are recommended for licensure by
15    the Illinois institution offering the educator preparation
16    program, (ii) have successfully completed the required
17    testing under Section 21B-30 of this Code, (iii) have
18    successfully completed coursework on the psychology of,
19    the identification of, and the methods of instruction for
20    the exceptional child, including without limitation the
21    learning disabled, (iv) have successfully completed
22    coursework in methods of reading and reading in the content
23    area, and (v) have met all other criteria established by
24    rule of the State Board of Education shall be issued a
25    Professional Educator License. All Professional Educator
26    Licenses are valid until June 30 immediately following 5

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 7 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1    years of the license being issued. The Professional
2    Educator License shall be endorsed with specific areas and
3    grade levels in which the individual is eligible to
4    practice.
5        Individuals can receive subsequent endorsements on the
6    Professional Educator License. Subsequent endorsements
7    shall require a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework
8    in the endorsement area, unless otherwise specified by
9    rule, and passage of the applicable content area test.
10        (2) Educator License with Stipulations. An Educator
11    License with Stipulations shall be issued an endorsement
12    that (i) is non-renewable, (ii) limits the license holder
13    to one particular position, or (iii) does not require
14    completion of an approved educator program or any
15    combination of items (i) through (iii) of this paragraph
16    (2).
17        An individual with an Educator License with
18    Stipulations must not be employed by a school district or
19    any other entity to replace any presently employed teacher
20    who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason.
21        An Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
22    with the following endorsements:
23            (A) Provisional educator. A provisional educator
24        endorsement in a specific content area or areas on an
25        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
26        applicant who holds an educator license with a minimum

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 8 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1        of 15 semester hours in content coursework from another
2        state, U.S. territory, or foreign country and who, at
3        the time of applying for an Illinois license, does not
4        meet the minimum requirements under Section 21B-35 of
5        this Code, but does, at a minimum, meet both of the
6        following requirements:
7                (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
8            bachelor's degree, unless a master's degree is
9            required for the endorsement, from a regionally
10            accredited college or university or, for
11            individuals educated in a country other than the
12            United States, the equivalent of a minimum of a
13            bachelor's degree issued in the United States,
14            unless a master's degree is required for the
15            endorsement.
16                (ii) Has passed a test of basic skills and
17            content area test, as required by Section 21B-30 of
18            this Code.
19    However, a provisional educator endorsement for principals
20    may not be issued, nor may any person with a provisional
21    educator endorsement serve as a principal in a public
22    school in this State. In addition, out-of-state applicants
23    shall not receive a provisional educator endorsement if the
24    person completed an alternative licensure program in
25    another state, unless the program has been determined to be
26    equivalent to Illinois program requirements.

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 9 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1        Notwithstanding any other requirements of this
2    Section, a service member or spouse of a service member may
3    obtain a Professional Educator License with Stipulations,
4    and a provisional educator endorsement in a specific
5    content area or areas, if he or she holds a valid teaching
6    certificate or license in good standing from another state,
7    meets the qualifications of educators outlined in Section
8    21B-15 of this Code, and has not engaged in any misconduct
9    that would prohibit an individual from obtaining a license
10    pursuant to Illinois law, including without limitation any
11    administrative rules of the State Board of Education;
12    however, the service member or spouse may not serve as a
13    principal under the Professional Educator License with
14    Stipulations or provisional educator endorsement.
15        In this Section, "service member" means any person who,
16    at the time of application under this Section, is an active
17    duty member of the United States Armed Forces or any
18    reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the
19    National Guard of any state, commonwealth, or territory of
20    the United States or the District of Columbia.
21        A provisional educator endorsement is valid until June
22    30 immediately following 2 years of the license being
23    issued, during which time any remaining testing and
24    coursework deficiencies must be met. Failure to satisfy all
25    stated deficiencies shall mean the individual, including
26    any service member or spouse who has obtained a

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 10 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1    Professional Educator License with Stipulations and a
2    provisional educator endorsement in a specific content
3    area or areas, is ineligible to receive a Professional
4    Educator License at that time. A provisional educator
5    endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations shall
6    not be renewed.
7            (B) Alternative provisional educator. An
8        alternative provisional educator endorsement on an
9        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an
10        applicant who, at the time of applying for the
11        endorsement, has done all of the following:
12                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
13            college or university with a minimum of a
14            bachelor's degree.
15                (ii) Successfully completed the first phase of
16            the Alternative Educator Licensure Program for
17            Teachers, as described in Section 21B-50 of this
18            Code.
19                (iii) Passed a test of basic skills and content
20            area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
21            Code.
22            The alternative provisional educator endorsement
23        is valid for 2 years of teaching and may be renewed for
24        a third year by an individual meeting the requirements
25        set forth in Section 21B-50 of this Code.
26            (C) Alternative provisional superintendent. An

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 11 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1        alternative provisional superintendent endorsement on
2        an Educator License with Stipulations entitles the
3        holder to serve only as a superintendent or assistant
4        superintendent in a school district's central office.
5        This endorsement may only be issued to an applicant
6        who, at the time of applying for the endorsement, has
7        done all of the following:
8                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
9            college or university with a minimum of a master's
10            degree in a management field other than education.
11                (ii) Been employed for a period of at least 5
12            years in a management level position in a field
13            other than education.
14                (iii) Successfully completed the first phase
15            of an alternative route to superintendent
16            endorsement program, as provided in Section 21B-55
17            of this Code.
18                (iv) Passed a test of basic skills and content
19            area tests required under Section 21B-30 of this
20            Code.
21            The endorsement may be registered for 2 fiscal
22        years in order to complete one full year of serving as
23        a superintendent or assistant superintendent.
24            (D) Resident teacher endorsement. A resident
25        teacher endorsement on an Educator License with
26        Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who, at the

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 12 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1        time of applying for the endorsement, has done all of
2        the following:
3                (i) Graduated from a regionally accredited
4            institution of higher education with a minimum of a
5            bachelor's degree.
6                (ii) Enrolled in an approved Illinois educator
7            preparation program.
8                (iii) Passed a test of basic skills and content
9            area test, as required under Section 21B-30 of this
10            Code.
11            The resident teacher endorsement on an Educator
12        License with Stipulations is valid for 4 years of
13        teaching and shall not be renewed.
14            A resident teacher may teach only under the
15        direction of a licensed teacher, who shall act as the
16        resident mentor teacher, and may not teach in place of
17        a licensed teacher. A resident teacher endorsement on
18        an Educator License with Stipulations shall no longer
19        be valid after June 30, 2017.
20            (E) Career and technical educator. A career and
21        technical educator endorsement on an Educator License
22        with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who has
23        a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework from a
24        regionally accredited institution of higher education,
25        has passed a test of basic skills required under
26        Section 21B-30 of this Code, and has a minimum of 2,000

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 13 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1        hours of experience in the last 10 years outside of
2        education in each area to be taught.
3            The career and technical educator endorsement on
4        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until
5        June 30 immediately following 5 years of the
6        endorsement being issued.
7            (F) Provisional career and technical educator. A
8        Provisional career and technical educator endorsement
9        on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued
10        to an applicant who has a minimum of 8,000 hours of
11        work experience in the skill for which the applicant is
12        seeking the endorsement. It is the responsibility of
13        each employing school board and regional office of
14        education to provide verification, in writing, to the
15        State Superintendent of Education at the time the
16        application is submitted that no qualified teacher
17        holding a Professional Educator License or an Educator
18        License with Stipulations with a career and technical
19        educator endorsement is available and that actual
20        circumstances require such issuance.
21            The provisional career and technical educator
22        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
23        is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of
24        the endorsement being issued and may be renewed only
25        one time for 5 years if the individual passes a test of
26        basic skills, as required under Section 21B-30 of this

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 14 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1        Code, and has completed a minimum of 20 semester hours
2        from a regionally accredited institution.
3            (G) Transitional bilingual educator. A
4        transitional bilingual educator endorsement on an
5        Educator License with Stipulations may be issued for
6        the purpose of providing instruction in accordance
7        with Article 14C of this Code to an applicant who
8        provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all
9        of the following requirements:
10                (i) Possesses adequate speaking, reading, and
11            writing ability in the language other than English
12            in which transitional bilingual education is
13            offered.
14                (ii) Has the ability to successfully
15            communicate in English.
16                (iii) Either possessed, within 5 years
17            previous to his or her applying for a transitional
18            bilingual educator endorsement, a valid and
19            comparable teaching certificate or comparable
20            authorization issued by a foreign country or holds
21            a degree from an institution of higher learning in
22            a foreign country that the State Educator
23            Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
24            the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
25            regionally accredited institution of higher
26            learning in the United States.

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 15 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1            A transitional bilingual educator endorsement
2        shall be valid for prekindergarten through grade 12, is
3        valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of
4        the endorsement being issued, and shall not be renewed.
5            Persons holding a transitional bilingual educator
6        endorsement shall not be employed to replace any
7        presently employed teacher who otherwise would not be
8        replaced for any reason.
9            (H) Language endorsement. In an effort to
10        alleviate the shortage of teachers speaking a language
11        other than English in the public schools, an individual
12        who holds an Educator License with Stipulations may
13        also apply for a language endorsement, provided that
14        the applicant provides satisfactory evidence that he
15        or she meets all of the following requirements:
16                (i) Holds a transitional bilingual
17            endorsement.
18                (ii) Has demonstrated proficiency in the
19            language for which the endorsement is to be issued
20            by passing the applicable language content test
21            required by the State Board of Education.
22                (iii) Holds a bachelor's degree or higher from
23            a regionally accredited institution of higher
24            education or, for individuals educated in a
25            country other than the United States, holds a
26            degree from an institution of higher learning in a

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 16 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1            foreign country that the State Educator
2            Preparation and Licensure Board determines to be
3            the equivalent of a bachelor's degree from a
4            regionally accredited institution of higher
5            learning in the United States.
6                (iv) Has passed a test of basic skills, as
7            required under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
8            A language endorsement on an Educator License with
9        Stipulations is valid for prekindergarten through
10        grade 12 for the same validity period as the
11        individual's transitional bilingual educator
12        endorsement on the Educator License with Stipulations
13        and shall not be renewed.
14            (I) Visiting international educator. A visiting
15        international educator endorsement on an Educator
16        License with Stipulations may be issued to an
17        individual who is being recruited by a particular
18        school district that conducts formal recruitment
19        programs outside of the United States to secure the
20        services of qualified teachers and who meets all of the
21        following requirements:
22                (i) Holds the equivalent of a minimum of a
23            bachelor's degree issued in the United States.
24                (ii) Has been prepared as a teacher at the
25            grade level for which he or she will be employed.
26                (iii) Has adequate content knowledge in the

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 17 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1            subject to be taught.
2                (iv) Has an adequate command of the English
3            language.
4            A holder of a visiting international educator
5        endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations
6        shall be permitted to teach in bilingual education
7        programs in the language that was the medium of
8        instruction in his or her teacher preparation program,
9        provided that he or she passes the English Language
10        Proficiency Examination or another test of writing
11        skills in English identified by the State Board of
12        Education, in consultation with the State Educator
13        Preparation and Licensure Board.
14            A visiting international educator endorsement on
15        an Educator License with Stipulations is valid for 3
16        years and shall not be renewed.
17            (J) Paraprofessional educator. A paraprofessional
18        educator endorsement on an Educator License with
19        Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who holds a
20        high school diploma or its recognized equivalent and
21        either holds an associate's degree or a minimum of 60
22        semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited
23        institution of higher education or has passed a test of
24        basic skills required under Section 21B-30 of this
25        Code. The paraprofessional educator endorsement is
26        valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 18 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1        the endorsement being issued and may be renewed through
2        application and payment of the appropriate fee, as
3        required under Section 21B-40 of this Code. An
4        individual who holds only a paraprofessional educator
5        endorsement is not subject to additional requirements
6        in order to renew the endorsement.
7        (3) Substitute Teaching License. A Substitute Teaching
8    License may be issued to qualified applicants for
9    substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools,
10    prekindergarten through grade 12. Substitute Teaching
11    Licenses are not eligible for endorsements. Applicants for
12    a Substitute Teaching License must hold a bachelor's degree
13    or higher from a regionally accredited institution of
14    higher education.
15        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for 5 years and
16    may be renewed if the individual has passed a test of basic
17    skills, as authorized under Section 21B-30 of this Code. An
18    individual who has passed a test of basic skills for the
19    first licensure renewal is not required to retake the test
20    again for further renewals.
21        Substitute Teaching Licenses are valid for substitute
22    teaching in every county of this State. If an individual
23    has had his or her Professional Educator License or
24    Educator License with Stipulations suspended or revoked or
25    has not met the renewal requirements for licensure, then
26    that individual is not eligible to obtain a Substitute

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 19 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1    Teaching License.
2        A substitute teacher may only teach in the place of a
3    licensed teacher who is under contract with the employing
4    board. If, however, there is no licensed teacher under
5    contract because of an emergency situation, then a district
6    may employ a substitute teacher for no longer than 30
7    calendar days per each vacant position in the district if
8    the district notifies the appropriate regional office of
9    education within 5 business days after the employment of
10    the substitute teacher in the emergency situation. An
11    emergency situation is one in which an unforeseen vacancy
12    has occurred and (i) a teacher is unable to fulfill his or
13    her contractual duties or (ii) teacher capacity needs of
14    the district exceed previous indications, and the district
15    is actively engaged in advertising to hire a fully licensed
16    teacher for the vacant position.
17        There is no limit on the number of days that a
18    substitute teacher may teach in a single school district,
19    provided that no substitute teacher may teach for longer
20    than 90 school days for any one licensed teacher under
21    contract in the same school year. A substitute teacher who
22    holds a Professional Educator License or Educator License
23    with Stipulations shall not teach for more than 120 school
24    days for any one licensed teacher under contract in the
25    same school year. The limitations in this paragraph (3) on
26    the number of days a substitute teacher may be employed do

 

 

SB0275 Engrossed- 20 -LRB097 04073 RLJ 44112 b

1    not apply to any school district operating under Article 34
2    of this Code.
3(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)