Bill Text: IL HB0011 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that a provision that allows out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative schools to be used only if other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted does not apply to a student who is determined to have possessed on school grounds a product that is prohibited from being sold or otherwise distributed to the student under the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-09 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB0011 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB0011-Introduced.html

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB0011

Introduced , by Rep. Dave Severin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/10-22.6 from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6

Amends the School Code. Provides that a provision that allows out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative schools to be used only if other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted does not apply to a student who is determined to have possessed on school grounds a product that is prohibited from being sold or otherwise distributed to the student under the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of Tobacco Products Act. Effective immediately.
LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b

A BILL FOR

HB0011LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 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
510-22.6 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6)
7 (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-466)
8 Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of students; school
9searches.
10 (a) To expel students guilty of gross disobedience or
11misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct
12perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20)
13of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such
14expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents
15have been requested to appear at a meeting of the board, or
16with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss their
17child's behavior. Such request shall be made by registered or
18certified mail and shall state the time, place and purpose of
19the meeting. The board, or a hearing officer appointed by it,
20at such meeting shall state the reasons for dismissal and the
21date on which the expulsion is to become effective. If a
22hearing officer is appointed by the board, the hearing officer
23shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence

HB0011- 2 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1heard at the meeting and the board may take such action thereon
2as it finds appropriate. If the board acts to expel a student,
3the written expulsion decision shall detail the specific
4reasons why removing the student from the learning environment
5is in the best interest of the school. The expulsion decision
6shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of
7the expulsion. An expelled student may be immediately
8transferred to an alternative program in the manner provided
9in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A student must not be
10denied transfer because of the expulsion, except in cases in
11which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety
12of students or staff in the alternative program.
13 (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the
14superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
15principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend
16students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to
17suspend students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on
18the school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to
19subsections (b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action
20shall lie against them for such suspension. The board may by
21policy authorize the superintendent of the district or the
22principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any
23school to suspend students guilty of such acts for a period not
24to exceed 10 school days. If a student is suspended due to
25gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board
26may suspend the student in excess of 10 school days for safety

HB0011- 3 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1reasons.
2 Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the
3parents or guardian of a student along with a full statement of
4the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to
5a review. The school board must be given a summary of the
6notice, including the reason for the suspension and the
7suspension length. Upon request of the parents or guardian,
8the school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall
9review such action of the superintendent or principal,
10assistant principal, or dean of students. At such review, the
11parents or guardian of the student may appear and discuss the
12suspension with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing
13officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board
14a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After
15its hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its
16hearing officer, the board may take such action as it finds
17appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this
18subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension
19decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or
20misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The
21suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the
22specific duration of the suspension.
23 (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions
24and consequences available to school officials, school
25exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions,
26are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number

HB0011- 4 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest
2extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them
3only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that
4students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is
5recommended that school officials consider forms of
6non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school
7suspensions or expulsions.
8 (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this
9Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies
10by which school administrators are required to suspend or
11expel students for particular behaviors.
12 (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be
13used only if the student's continuing presence in school would
14pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other
15students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this
16subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to
17other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on
18a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee.
19School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve
20such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the
21length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
22 (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code or unless a
23student is determined to have possessed on school grounds a
24product that is prohibited from being sold or otherwise
25distributed to the student under the Prevention of Tobacco Use
26by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of

HB0011- 5 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1Tobacco Products Act, out-of-school suspensions of longer than
23 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative
3schools may be used only if other appropriate and available
4behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted
5and the student's continuing presence in school would either
6(i) pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or
7members of the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt,
8impede, or interfere with the operation of the school. For
9purposes of this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of
10other students, staff, or members of the school community" and
11"substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the
12operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case
13basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection
14(b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and
15available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been
16exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials
17shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats,
18address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student
19exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the
20suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this
21Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a)
22of this Section, it shall be documented whether other
23interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that
24there were no other appropriate and available interventions.
25 (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer
26than 3 school days shall be provided appropriate and available

HB0011- 6 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1support services during the period of their suspension. For
2purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available
3support services" shall be determined by school authorities.
4Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of
5this Section, it shall be documented whether such services are
6to be provided or whether it was determined that there are no
7such appropriate and available services.
8 A school district may refer students who are expelled to
9appropriate and available support services.
10 A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the
11re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school,
12expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting. In
13consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State
14Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft
15and publish guidance for the re-engagement of students who are
16suspended out-of-school, expelled, or returning from an
17alternative school setting in accordance with this Section and
18Section 13A-4 on or before July 1, 2025.
19 (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which
20suspended students, including those students suspended from
21the school bus who do not have alternate transportation to
22school, shall have the opportunity to make up work for
23equivalent academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of
24a student's parent or guardian to notify school officials that
25a student suspended from the school bus does not have
26alternate transportation to school.

HB0011- 7 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1 (c) A school board must invite a representative from a
2local mental health agency to consult with the board at the
3meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be
4the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.
5 (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to
6provide ongoing professional development to all school
7personnel, school board members, and school resource officers,
8on the requirements of this Section and Section 10-20.14, the
9adverse consequences of school exclusion and justice-system
10involvement, effective classroom management strategies,
11culturally responsive discipline, trauma-responsive learning
12environments, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 3-11,
13the appropriate and available supportive services for the
14promotion of student attendance and engagement, and
15developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote
16positive and healthy school climates.
17 (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of
18time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a
19case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have
20brought one of the following objects to school, any
21school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event
22that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be
23expelled for a period of not less than one year:
24 (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
25 "firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined
26 by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code,

HB0011- 8 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1 firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners
2 Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section
3 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period
4 under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the
5 superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may
6 be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
7 (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
8 regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other
9 object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily
10 harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in
11 subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion
12 requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by
13 the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination
14 may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
15Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner
16consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities
17Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or
18expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a
19transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with
20Article 13A of the School Code.
21 (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the
22superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
23principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a
24student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel
25a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2
26calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i)

HB0011- 9 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1that student has been determined to have made an explicit
2threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a
3student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet
4website through which the threat was made is a site that was
5accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or
6was available to third parties who worked or studied within
7the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii)
8the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to
9the safety and security of the threatened individual because
10of the individual's duties or employment status or status as a
11student inside the school.
12 (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school
13authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as
14lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and
15equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as
16personal effects left in those places and areas by students,
17without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a
18search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General
19Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of
20privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects
21left in these places and areas. School authorities may request
22the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of
23conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking
24lots, and other school property and equipment owned or
25controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other
26illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including

HB0011- 10 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
2If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces
3evidence that the student has violated or is violating either
4the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules,
5such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and
6disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also
7turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
8 (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or
9expulsion from school and all school activities and a
10prohibition from being present on school grounds.
11 (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if
12a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any
13public or private school in this or any other state, the
14student must complete the entire term of the suspension or
15expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A
16of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program
17under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the
18school district if there is no threat to the safety of students
19or staff in the alternative program.
20 (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage
21students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic
22difficulties.
23 (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a
24disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude
25requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen,
26or damaged property.

HB0011- 11 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1 (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall
2apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools,
3special charter districts, and school districts organized
4under Article 34 of this Code.
5 (k) The expulsion of students enrolled in programs funded
6under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements
7under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of
8this Code.
9 (l) An in-school suspension program provided by a school
10district for any students in kindergarten through grade 12 may
11focus on promoting non-violent conflict resolution and
12positive interaction with other students and school personnel.
13A school district may employ a school social worker or a
14licensed mental health professional to oversee an in-school
15suspension program in kindergarten through grade 12.
16(Source: P.A. 102-539, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
17103-594, eff. 6-25-24; 103-896, eff. 8-9-24; revised 9-25-24.)
18 (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-466)
19 Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of students; school
20searches.
21 (a) To expel students guilty of gross disobedience or
22misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct
23perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20)
24of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such
25expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents

HB0011- 12 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1or guardians have been requested to appear at a meeting of the
2board, or with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss
3their child's behavior. Such request shall be made by
4registered or certified mail and shall state the time, place
5and purpose of the meeting. The board, or a hearing officer
6appointed by it, at such meeting shall state the reasons for
7dismissal and the date on which the expulsion is to become
8effective. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, the
9hearing officer shall report to the board a written summary of
10the evidence heard at the meeting and the board may take such
11action thereon as it finds appropriate. If the board acts to
12expel a student, the written expulsion decision shall detail
13the specific reasons why removing the student from the
14learning environment is in the best interest of the school.
15The expulsion decision shall also include a rationale as to
16the specific duration of the expulsion. An expelled student
17may be immediately transferred to an alternative program in
18the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A
19student must not be denied transfer because of the expulsion,
20except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a
21threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative
22program.
23 (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the
24superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
25principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend
26students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to

HB0011- 13 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1suspend students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on
2the school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to
3subsections (b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action
4shall lie against them for such suspension. The board may by
5policy authorize the superintendent of the district or the
6principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any
7school to suspend students guilty of such acts for a period not
8to exceed 10 school days. If a student is suspended due to
9gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board
10may suspend the student in excess of 10 school days for safety
11reasons.
12 Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the
13parents or guardians of a student along with a full statement
14of the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right
15to a review. The school board must be given a summary of the
16notice, including the reason for the suspension and the
17suspension length. Upon request of the parents or guardians,
18the school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall
19review such action of the superintendent or principal,
20assistant principal, or dean of students. At such review, the
21parents or guardians of the student may appear and discuss the
22suspension with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing
23officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board
24a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After
25its hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its
26hearing officer, the board may take such action as it finds

HB0011- 14 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this
2subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension
3decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or
4misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The
5suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the
6specific duration of the suspension.
7 (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions
8and consequences available to school officials, school
9exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions,
10are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number
11and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest
12extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them
13only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that
14students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is
15recommended that school officials consider forms of
16non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school
17suspensions or expulsions.
18 (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this
19Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies
20by which school administrators are required to suspend or
21expel students for particular behaviors.
22 (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be
23used only if the student's continuing presence in school would
24pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other
25students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this
26subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to

HB0011- 15 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on
2a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee.
3School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve
4such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the
5length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
6 (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code or unless a
7student is determined to have possessed on school grounds a
8product that is prohibited from being sold or otherwise
9distributed to the student under the Prevention of Tobacco Use
10by Persons under 21 Years of Age and Sale and Distribution of
11Tobacco Products Act, out-of-school suspensions of longer than
123 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative
13schools may be used only if other appropriate and available
14behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted
15and the student's continuing presence in school would either
16(i) pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or
17members of the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt,
18impede, or interfere with the operation of the school. For
19purposes of this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of
20other students, staff, or members of the school community" and
21"substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the
22operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case
23basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection
24(b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and
25available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been
26exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials

HB0011- 16 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats,
2address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student
3exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the
4suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this
5Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a)
6of this Section, it shall be documented whether other
7interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that
8there were no other appropriate and available interventions.
9 (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer
10than 3 school days shall be provided appropriate and available
11support services during the period of their suspension. For
12purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available
13support services" shall be determined by school authorities.
14Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of
15this Section, it shall be documented whether such services are
16to be provided or whether it was determined that there are no
17such appropriate and available services.
18 A school district may refer students who are expelled to
19appropriate and available support services.
20 A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the
21re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school,
22expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting. In
23consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State
24Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft
25and publish guidance for the re-engagement of students who are
26suspended out-of-school, expelled, or returning from an

HB0011- 17 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1alternative school setting in accordance with this Section and
2Section 13A-4 on or before July 1, 2025.
3 (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which
4suspended students, including those students suspended from
5the school bus who do not have alternate transportation to
6school, shall have the opportunity to make up work for
7equivalent academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of
8a student's parents or guardians to notify school officials
9that a student suspended from the school bus does not have
10alternate transportation to school.
11 (b-35) In all suspension review hearings conducted under
12subsection (b) or expulsion hearings conducted under
13subsection (a), a student may disclose any factor to be
14considered in mitigation, including his or her status as a
15parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual
16violence, as defined in Article 26A. A representative of the
17parent's or guardian's choice, or of the student's choice if
18emancipated, must be permitted to represent the student
19throughout the proceedings and to address the school board or
20its appointed hearing officer. With the approval of the
21student's parent or guardian, or of the student if
22emancipated, a support person must be permitted to accompany
23the student to any disciplinary hearings or proceedings. The
24representative or support person must comply with any rules of
25the school district's hearing process. If the representative
26or support person violates the rules or engages in behavior or

HB0011- 18 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1advocacy that harasses, abuses, or intimidates either party, a
2witness, or anyone else in attendance at the hearing, the
3representative or support person may be prohibited from
4further participation in the hearing or proceeding. A
5suspension or expulsion proceeding under this subsection
6(b-35) must be conducted independently from any ongoing
7criminal investigation or proceeding, and an absence of
8pending or possible criminal charges, criminal investigations,
9or proceedings may not be a factor in school disciplinary
10decisions.
11 (b-40) During a suspension review hearing conducted under
12subsection (b) or an expulsion hearing conducted under
13subsection (a) that involves allegations of sexual violence by
14the student who is subject to discipline, neither the student
15nor his or her representative shall directly question nor have
16direct contact with the alleged victim. The student who is
17subject to discipline or his or her representative may, at the
18discretion and direction of the school board or its appointed
19hearing officer, suggest questions to be posed by the school
20board or its appointed hearing officer to the alleged victim.
21 (c) A school board must invite a representative from a
22local mental health agency to consult with the board at the
23meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be
24the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.
25 (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to
26provide ongoing professional development to all school

HB0011- 19 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1personnel, school board members, and school resource officers
2on the requirements of this Section and Section 10-20.14, the
3adverse consequences of school exclusion and justice-system
4involvement, effective classroom management strategies,
5culturally responsive discipline, trauma-responsive learning
6environments, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 3-11,
7the appropriate and available supportive services for the
8promotion of student attendance and engagement, and
9developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote
10positive and healthy school climates.
11 (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of
12time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a
13case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have
14brought one of the following objects to school, any
15school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event
16that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be
17expelled for a period of not less than one year:
18 (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
19 "firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined
20 by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code,
21 firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners
22 Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section
23 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period
24 under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the
25 superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may
26 be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.

HB0011- 20 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1 (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
2 regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other
3 object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily
4 harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in
5 subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion
6 requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by
7 the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination
8 may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
9Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner
10consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities
11Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or
12expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a
13transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with
14Article 13A of the School Code.
15 (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the
16superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
17principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a
18student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel
19a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2
20calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i)
21that student has been determined to have made an explicit
22threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a
23student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet
24website through which the threat was made is a site that was
25accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or
26was available to third parties who worked or studied within

HB0011- 21 -LRB104 03326 LNS 13348 b
1the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii)
2the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to
3the safety and security of the threatened individual because
4of the individual's duties or employment status or status as a
5student inside the school.
6 (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school
7authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as
8lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and
9equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as
10personal effects left in those places and areas by students,
11without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a
12search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General
13Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of
14privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects
15left in these places and areas. School authorities may request
16the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of
17conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking
18lots, and other school property and equipment owned or
19controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other
20illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including
21searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
22If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces
23evidence that the student has violated or is violating either
24the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules,
25such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and
26disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also

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1turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
2 (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or
3expulsion from school and all school activities and a
4prohibition from being present on school grounds.
5 (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if
6a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any
7public or private school in this or any other state, the
8student must complete the entire term of the suspension or
9expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A
10of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program
11under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the
12school district if there is no threat to the safety of students
13or staff in the alternative program. A school district that
14adopts a policy under this subsection (g) must include a
15provision allowing for consideration of any mitigating
16factors, including, but not limited to, a student's status as
17a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual
18violence, as defined in Article 26A.
19 (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage
20students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic
21difficulties.
22 (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a
23disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude
24requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen,
25or damaged property.
26 (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall

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1apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools,
2special charter districts, and school districts organized
3under Article 34 of this Code.
4 (k) Through June 30, 2026, the expulsion of students
5enrolled in programs funded under Section 1C-2 of this Code is
6subject to the requirements under paragraph (7) of subsection
7(a) of Section 2-3.71 of this Code.
8 (k-5) On and after July 1, 2026, the expulsion of children
9enrolled in programs funded under Section 15-25 of the
10Department of Early Childhood Act is subject to the
11requirements of paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section
1215-30 of the Department of Early Childhood Act.
13 (l) An in-school suspension program provided by a school
14district for any students in kindergarten through grade 12 may
15focus on promoting non-violent conflict resolution and
16positive interaction with other students and school personnel.
17A school district may employ a school social worker or a
18licensed mental health professional to oversee an in-school
19suspension program in kindergarten through grade 12.
20(Source: P.A. 102-466, eff. 7-1-25; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21;
21102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-594, eff. 6-25-24; 103-896, eff.
228-9-24; revised 9-25-24.)
23 Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
24changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
25that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section

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1represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does
2not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes
3made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
4Public Act.
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