January 1, 2008
Adult Entertainment Facility,
Public Act: 95-0047
Adult bookstores and video stores are currently prohibited from being located within 1,000 feet of a school. This Act clarifies that an adult bookstore and video store is one in which 25% or more of its merchandise is sexually explicit material.
Cell Phones – Prohibition,
Public Act: 95-0338
The Act prohibits a person under the age of 19 years (instead of 18 years) who holds an instruction permit or a graduated license from driving on a roadway while using a wireless phone, except for emergency purposes.
Civil Rights Act – Gender,
Public Act: 95-0541
The Act provides that gender (at present, race, color, or national origin) is a characteristic for which a person shall not be discriminated against by any unit of State, county or local government in Illinois.
Gang Resistance Education,
Public Act: 95-0198
The Act provides that, in addition to providing for instruction in bullying prevention, each school district may provide instruction in gang resistance.
Mandate Waiver Limit for PE,
Public Act: 95-0223
The Act limits waivers from the physical education mandate to two years and only allows them to be renewed two times.
School Bus – Call Numbers,
Public Act: 95-0176
The Act requires that each school bus display at the rear of the bus a visible and readable sign indicating the telephone number of the owner of the school bus, and indicating that the number is to be called to report erratic driving by the school bus driver. The owner of each school bus shall establish procedures for accepting and documenting these calls.
Sex Offender – Early Voting,
Public Act: 95-0440
The Act provides that when a qualified elector’s precinct polling place is a school and the elector will be unable to enter the school to vote because the elector is a child sex offender, the elector may vote early or by absentee ballot. It also requires that an election authority that designates permanent or temporary early voting polling places must designate at least one that a child sex offender may lawfully enter. Further, the Act amends the Criminal Code in the provision prohibiting a child sex offender from entering a school, to remove language providing that a child sex offender has the right to be present in a school building to vote. Finally, it provides that it is a Class 4 felony for a child sex offender to knowingly be present within 100 feet of a bus stop when one or more persons under the age of 18 are present at the site.
Special Education – Autism,
Public Act: 95-0257
The Act provides that, in the development of the individualized education program for a student who has a disability on the autism spectrum, the IEP team shall consider and specifically address the following factors:
the verbal and nonverbal communication needs of the child
the need to develop social interaction skills and proficiencies
the needs resulting from the child’s unusual responses tosensory experiences
the needs resulting from resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines
the needs resulting from engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements
the need for any positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports to address behavioral difficulties resulting from autism spectrum disorder; and
other needs resulting from the child’s disability that impact progress in the general curriculum, including social and emotional development.
Vision Exam Requirement,
Public Act: 95-0671
The Act requires all children enrolling in kindergarten, and any student enrolling in a public or private school for the first time, to have an eye examination. The child shall present proof of having been examined within the previous year before October 15th of the school year or the school may hold the child’s report card until on of the following occurs: (i) the child presents proof of a completed eye examination or (ii) the child presents proof that an eye examination will take place within 60 days after October 15th. The Act requires the Department of Public Health to establish a waiver for children who show an undue burden or a lack of access to an eligible physician and requires every school to report to the ISBE by June 30 the number of children who have received the required eye examination.
Whistleblower Act, Public Act 95-0128
The Act includes school districts as employers
that are covered under the Whistle Blower Protection Act.