Summary — HB 2986 (Public Act 104‑0261) — "HOLOCAUST COMM‑SCHOOLS‑MISC"
Status & timeline
- Enacted as Public Act 104‑0261; Governor approved August 15, 2025.
- Effective date: January 1, 2026.
- Chief sponsor: Rep. Diane Blair‑Sherlock. Passed both chambers with multiple amendments (Senate Amendments 001–003; House Amendment 001).
Purpose
- Make broad, cross‑cutting amendments to the Illinois School Code and related laws and revise the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission Act. The act reorganizes certain State Board of Education structures, changes block grant and audit procedures (notably for Chicago), adds detailed rules for speech‑language pathology assistants in schools, adjusts public reporting timelines (school “statement of affairs”), and repeals or removes certain programs and statutes.
Key provisions (high level)
- Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission
- Confirms Commission composition at 22 members: 19 public appointees by the Governor (including one student) plus 3 ex officio members (State Superintendent of Education, Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education, and Director of Veterans' Affairs).
State Board of Education organization
- Terminology changed to identify departments (rather than divisions) within the Board; lists specified departments (e.g., Educator Effectiveness; Fiscal Support Services; Internal Auditor; Human Resources; Legal; Specialized Instruction, Nutrition, and Wellness; Language and Early Childhood Development).
Block grants and Chicago
- Revises treatment/administration of the general education and educational services block grants for a school district with population over 500,000 (Chicago). Includes continued special provisions and reporting/audit requirements; clarifies use and supplement/supplant rules for certain early‑childhood funding.
School audits and financial reporting
- Requires school district auditing firms to file the Annual Financial Report (AFR) with the State Board by February 15 following year‑end (per synopsis).
- House amendment requires each district to submit its audit to the regional superintendent on or before October 15; the regional superintendent must forward a copy to the State Board by November 15. If a district fails to timely supply the regional superintendent, the superintendent may contract or use staff to complete the audit and bill the district.
Statement of affairs / public reporting
- School boards must make available a district “statement of affairs” prior to December 1 annually (posting on district website, providing for State Board posting, copies at the main office, and newspaper publication). The statute prescribes minimum contents for a published summary.
Speech‑language pathology assistants (new/expanded Section 14‑6.03)
- Adds detailed scope of practice, supervision, and limitations for speech‑language pathology assistants (SLP‑A) employed in schools:
- Assistants may provide direct treatment assistance under SLP supervision, conduct screenings (without interpretation), implement documented treatment plans, document progress, assist with assessments and clerical tasks, maintain equipment, act as interpreters when competent, and support research/in‑service activities.
- Prohibitions include administering/ interpreting diagnostic tests, diagnosing feeding/swallowing disorders, participating in conferences or teams without the supervising SLP present, providing counseling, writing/modifying individualized plans, signing formal clinical documents, selecting/discharging students, disclosing confidential clinical information (except to supervising SLP), making referrals, or representing themselves as speech‑language pathologists.
- Supervision standards: practice only under a supervising licensed speech‑language pathologist; direct supervision must occur at least 30% of the assistant’s actual work time (text truncated in source but this is the stated minimum); supervising SLP must meet training/experience requirements; parent/guardian written notification required before a student is served by an assistant.
- Caseload rules: supervising SLP caseload caps referenced (text retains limits up to 80 students, with historical 60‑student cap after Sept 1, 2003 language included).
Repeals / removals
- Repeals or removes multiple provisions/programs across School Code and related Acts, per the bill synopsis. Examples: Mathematics and Science Block Grant Program, Reading Improvement Block Grant programs, School STEAM Grant Program, certain civic education provisions, the Illinois Summer School for the Arts Act, and the Interagency Board for Children who are Deaf or Hard‑of‑Hearing and have an Emotional or Behavioral Disorder Act.
Who is affected
- School districts (especially Chicago Public Schools), regional superintendents, and the State Board of Education (reporting, audit, and block grant administration).
- Speech‑language pathologists and speech‑language pathology assistants (employment, supervision, caseloads, duties).
- Students and parents/guardians (notification requirements; program enrollment rules revised).
- The Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission (membership structure).
- Auditors/accounting firms that prepare school audits and AFRs.
Notes and uncertainties
- The enrolled/public act text reflects multiple floor and committee amendments; some older historical language (e.g., caseload caps referenced to 2003) remains in the statutory text. The uploaded source was partially truncated in places; supervision/time thresholds for SLP‑A (30%) and AFR filing (Feb 15) are drawn from the included provisions and legislative synopsis. For operational guidance and rulemaking, consult the State Board of Education implementing rules and the full Public Act text (P.A. 104‑0261).
