Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB1426

Amends the School Code. With respect to the exceptions to the requirement that a school board award contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $10,000 to the lowest responsible bidder, removes the exceptions for contracts for the purchase of natural gas when the cost is less than that offered by a public utility and for utility services such as light and heat. Provides that a school board must award utility contracts, such as natural gas or electricity, involving an expenditure in excess of $10,000 to the lowest responsible bidder. Provides that if a school district joins a utility consortium, then that consortium must award utility contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $10,000 to the lowest responsible bidder. Effective immediately.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. With respect to school districts other than Chicago, requires that certain contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $25,000 or a lower amount as required by local policy (rather than $10,000) be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Makes changes concerning the exceptions to this requirement, including an exception for contracts for services of corporations possessing a high degree of professional skill where ability and fitness play an important part, contracts for food services, and contracts for repair, maintenance, remodeling, renovation, or construction involving an expenditure not to exceed $50,000 (rather than $20,000). Adds an exception for contracts for the provision of motor vehicle fuel. Provides that a school board must either award electricity contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $25,000 to the lowest responsible bidder or procure electricity through a request for proposals process similar to the process set forth in the Article of the School Code concerning school energy conservation. Provides that if a school district joins a utility consortium, then that consortium must either award electricity contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $25,000 to the lowest responsible bidder or procure electricity through a request for proposals process similar to the process set forth in the Article of the School Code concerning school energy conservation. Effective immediately.

With respect to the requirement that a school board award contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $10,000 to the lowest responsible bidder, removes the exception for contracts for the provision of motor vehicle fuel.

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that the gross disobedience or misconduct for which a school board (except Chicago) may expel pupils includes that perpetuated by electronic means. Provides that a school board (including Chicago) may suspend or by regulation authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a student for a certain period of time or may expel a student for a definite period of time if (i) that student has been determined to have made an explicit threat on an Internet web site against a school employee, a student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet web site through which the threat was made is a site that was accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or was available to third parties who worked or studied within the school grounds at the time the threat was made, or (iii) the threat could be reasonably interpreted as bearing a reasonable relationship to the safety and security of the threatened individual because of his or her duties or employment status or status as a student inside the school.

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