Education (School Safety)

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Provides that school districts and private schools in the State shall consider the use of mobile panic alert systems in the development of their school emergency and crisis response plans. Provides that the mobile panic alert system, if used, shall be known as "Alyssa's Alert" and shall be capable of connecting to diverse emergency service technologies to ensure real-time coordination between multiple first responder agencies. Provides that the mobile panic alert system, if used, must be capable of integrating with local, public-safety, answering-point infrastructures to transmit 9-1-1 calls and mobile activations. Requires the State Board of Education to conduct market research, in consultation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, to identify whether an existing market of supply of mobile panic alert systems that satisfy the requirements under the amendatory provisions is available in the State from multiple vendors for use by school districts. Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, to develop standards for a mobile panic alert system. Requires the State Board of Education to establish and administer a Mobile Panic Alert System Grant Program. Provides that school districts and private schools may apply to the State Board of Education for a Program grant to obtain a mobile panic alert system in order to better prepare for emergency responses. Provides that Program grants shall be awarded from moneys appropriated for that purpose from the Mobile Panic Alert System Grant Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.

Amends the School Code. With respect to the suspension or expulsion of a student, requires all evidence, including, but not limited to, video evidence and written materials, held by a school district that has led to the decision to suspend or expel the student to be given to the student's parents or guardians before a suspension or expulsion hearing. Effective immediately.

Recognizes and affirms the profound importance of service animals in supporting the safety, health, independence, and academic success of students with disabilities across Illinois. Encourages all Illinois school districts to continue fostering respect for individuals who use service animals and to promote awareness of the rights and responsibilities established under federal and state law. Urges state agencies, including the Illinois State Board of Education, to review existing policies, administrative rules, oversight practices, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that all Illinois schools fully comply with disability rights laws governing service-animal access, including appropriate staff training, consistent implementation, and timely resolution of barriers or complaints.

Amends the School Code. Requires a policy on bullying to establish escalating interventions for students who engage in known, pervasive, and persistent bullying. Provides that in the event of the death by suicide of a student enrolled in a school district, the school district shall initiate a complete and transparent investigation to determine whether bullying or harassment related to the educational environment played a contributing role; sets forth investigation requirements. Requires the school district, upon completion of the investigation, to prepare a written investigative report summarizing findings, conclusions, and recommended corrective actions; sets forth report requirements. Allows the State Board of Education to review the report for compliance and to require a corrective action plan or an additional review if deficiencies are identified.

Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning in-service training programs for teachers, administrators, and school support personnel, provides that the training regarding health conditions of students shall include the proper handling of service animals in the school setting and the instruction on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, as it pertains to the school environment, shall include the proper handling of service animals, the rights of students who use service animals, and appropriate interactions with service animals.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the State Board of Education shall establish a pilot program in 5 school districts requiring pupils in prekindergarten through grade 12 to receive developmental etiquette education. Provides that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, every school district in this State shall require pupils in prekindergarten through grade 12 to receive developmental etiquette education. Sets forth the grades and instruction for developmental etiquette education, and requires feedback and evaluations. Provides that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil in grade 12 must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete developmental etiquette education.

Amends the School Code. Expands the definitions of "isolated time out" or "time out", "physical restraint" or "restraint", and "time out". Removes exceptions to the prohibition of prone restraint. Removes language providing that the parents or guardian of a student and the State Superintendent of Education shall be informed whenever isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint is used. Establishes complaint procedures to replace the complaint procedures set forth in the State Board of Education's rules. Provides that staff members responsible for implementing isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint must be trained in accordance with the system of non-violent intervention adopted by the school district and must be trained at least once every 2 years in a session that is not less than 6 hours. Requires the State Board to convene a group of stakeholders to annually review: (1) data associated with the use of physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out, and efforts made by public entities to reduce these practices; (2) strategies to reduce physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out; (3) decisions made by the State Board related to physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out; (4) student behavior and behavioral interventions that can be use as an alternative to physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out; and (5) professional development needed for public entities in behavioral interventions to ensure the proper use of physical restraint, time out, and isolated time out. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Prohibits municipal ordinances that regulate truants from including a fine or fee for violations or providing for enforcement by citation. Amends the School Code. Requires a memorandum of understanding between a local law enforcement agency and a school district for any school district that uses a school resource officer; sets forth requirements for the memorandum. Provides that a student is prohibited from being issued a monetary fine or fee by any person (rather than providing that a student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee) as a disciplinary consequence. Prohibits school personnel of a school district from referring a student to any other local public entity or a local law enforcement agency for that entity or agency to issue the student a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence. Prohibits a school district from referring a truant, chronic truant, or truant minor to any other local public entity for that local public entity to issue the child's parent or guardian a fine or a fee as punishment for the child's truancy. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. Provides that Local Emergency Planning Committees and the State Emergency Response Commission shall partner with schools and school districts regarding safety threats posed by storage and transport of hazardous substances near schools. Provides requirements for a comprehensive emergency response plan to go into effect. Details duties of the State Emergency Response Commission, working in consultation with Local Emergency Planning Committees and schools, with respect to planning and preparedness. Provides for rulemaking by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. Directs the Illinois Emergency Response Commission and Local Emergency Response Committees to create a timeline for compliance with the requirements of the amendatory Act not to exceed 2 years. Defines terms.

Amends the School Safety Drill Act. Requires the State Board of Education and the Office of the Fire Marshal to develop clear and definitive guidelines to school districts, private schools, and first responders as to how to develop threat assessment procedures, rapid entry response plans, and cardiac emergency response plans. Requires the State Board of Education and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to cooperate to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the amendatory Act. Grants emergency rulemaking powers to the State Board of Education and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to implement the provisions of the amendatory Act for a period not to exceed 180 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the State Board of Education to provide school districts with standards outlining what steps or consideration shall be included within the school district's threat assessment procedure. Makes a corresponding change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Effective immediately.