102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0225

 

Introduced 1/22/2021, by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr.

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.173

    Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning substitute teacher recruiting firms, provides that an individual hired by a recruiting firm may teach no more than 5 consecutive days per licensed teacher who is under a collective bargaining agreement.


LRB102 02615 CMG 12618 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0225LRB102 02615 CMG 12618 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
52-3.173 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.173)
7    Sec. 2-3.173. Substitute teachers; recruiting firms.
8    (a) In this Section, "recruiting firm" means a company
9with expertise in finding qualified applicants for positions
10and screening those potential workers for an employer.
11    (b) By January 1, 2019, the State Board of Education shall
12implement a program and adopt rules to allow school districts
13to supplement their substitute teacher recruitment for
14elementary and secondary schools with the use of recruiting
15firms, subject to the other provisions of this Section. To
16qualify for the program, a school district shall demonstrate
17to the State Board that, because of the severity of its
18substitute teacher shortage, it is unable to find an adequate
19amount of substitute or retired teachers and has exhausted all
20other efforts. Substitute teachers provided by a recruiting
21firm must adhere to all mandated State laws, rules, and
22screening requirements for substitute teachers not provided by
23a recruiting firm and must be paid on the same wage scale as

 

 

HB0225- 2 -LRB102 02615 CMG 12618 b

1substitute teachers not provided by a recruiting firm. This
2Section shall not be construed to require school districts to
3use recruiting firms for substitute teachers. A school
4district may not use a recruiting firm under this Section to
5circumvent any collective bargaining agreements or State laws,
6rules, or screening requirements for teachers. A school
7district may not reduce the number of full-time staff members
8of a department as a result of hiring a substitute teacher
9recruiting firm. In the event of a teacher's strike, a school
10district may not use a recruiting firm to hire a substitute
11teacher. An individual hired by a recruiting firm may teach no
12more than 5 consecutive days per licensed teacher who is under
13a collective bargaining agreement.
14    (c) A school district organized under Article 34 of this
15Code may contract with a substitute teacher recruiting firm
16under this Section only if the district meets the following
17requirements:
18        (1) certifies to the State Board of Education that it
19    has adequate funds to fill and pay for all substitute
20    teacher positions;
21        (2) prioritizes existing substitute teachers over
22    substitute teachers from recruiting firms;
23        (3) files copies of all substitute teacher contracts
24    with the State Board of Education; and
25        (4) requires that the substitute teacher recruiting
26    firm file an annual report with the school district that

 

 

HB0225- 3 -LRB102 02615 CMG 12618 b

1    would include the number of substitute teachers that were
2    placed in the district, the total cost of the contract to
3    the district, and the percentage of substitute teacher
4    openings that were filled.
5    (d) A substitute teacher recruiting firm may enter into an
6agreement with a labor organization that has a collective
7bargaining agreement with a school district.
8(Source: P.A. 100-813, eff. 8-13-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)