Political Fundraisers
(IASSW provides the following information as a service to its
members
and never endorses any particular political candidate. Events are listed in
chronological order.)
If you would like to become more politically involved, IASSW's
Political Action Committee (PAC) would like to help you by buying you a ticket
for a political fundraiser. If you are interested, please contact Mike
Langendorf (crdmike@aol.com) for more
information.
No political fundrasiers are currently scheduled.
What are IASSW's Legislative Concerns?
The Illinois Association of School Social Workers monitors and impacts
upon legislation concerning:
- school violence prevention and intervention
- social work licensure
- teen suicide prevention
- substance abuse prevention
- resources for pregnant and parenting teens
- school drop-out and truancy prevention
- child abuse and neglect
- special education
- increased funding for public education including special
education
- access to all forms of health care, including mental health
- the role of social workers in schools
- students' right to confidentiality
- social work
services in alternative education settings
- school social work services, certification, and continuing professional development
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE By Phil Milsk, IASSW
Legislative Liaison
08/25/09
Good news! The Governor has signed SB 1508 into law as P.A. 96-628. This measure amends the Illinois School Student Records Act to expressly acknowledge school-based clincians' duty of confidentiality and to prohibit adverse employment action or discrimination against a school-based clinician who exercises his or her professional duty to maintain confidentiality. The bill applies to school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists and interns working under the direct supervision of these professionals. The bill does not make any substantive changes in the laws, rules and codes of ethics that define the scope of the duty of confidentiality.
More good news: The Governor followed our advice and issued an amendatory veto of SB 1391. SB 1391 would require the State Board of Education to develop certification standards for Marriage and Family Therapists by rule. Expressing the same concerns we had with the bill, the Governor recommends that the bill instead create a 5 person task force appointed by the State Superintendent of Education to make recommendations with respect to the qualifications needed by MFTs to work in the schools.
The Governor has signed SB 1718 into law. IASSW supported this
legislation. The bill makes changes to the student discipline section of the School
Code by modifying provisions regarding expulsion of a student for bringing
a weapon to a school, to any school-sponsored activity or event, or to any
activity that bears a reasonable relationship to the school. With
respect to the "zero tolerance" language in this section, the bill tightens the
definition of "weapon" to specifically refer to a firearm, knife, brass
knuckles or other knuckle weapon, billy club or another other object if used or
attempted to be used to cause bodily harm. It requires an expulsion for
not less than one year for bringing such a weapon to school, but allows for
a reduced period of expulsion on a case-by-case basis.
The bill is now Public Act 96-633, effective immediately.
02/07/09
The new session of the General Assembly is just getting underway. We have a
new post-impeachment Governor, Pat Quinn. He has not made any major
announcements in terms of appointments to cabinet positions and department
heads. Priorities will be balancing the budget, a capital improvements bill,
apportioning any federal economic stimulus funds that come to Illinois,
government ethics and campaign reform.
CONFIDENTIALITY
We are working on 2 bills, soon to be filed, that would (1) amend section 16
of the Social Work Practice Act regarding disclosure to an administrative
superior and (2) amend the Student Records Act to add social workers to
section 5(f) of the Act regarding confidentiality.
The School Counselors have their own bill, HB 326, which our Legislative
Committee has decided to oppose. Part of our opposition is their bill
creates a new definition of what is confidential not contained in other Acts
and therefore could cause confusion. Also, their bill only pertains to
school counselors and does not include other school personnel such as school
social workers.
NASW is working in collaboration with us to push this legislation.
OTHER BILLS
It's early, and there are thousands of bills yet to be filed. Here are a few
of interest:
HB 90(Lang) would repeal a law that requires public health departments to
notify a school principal when a student is diagnosed with AIDS or HIV.
This law was passed in the '80s when we knew little about the transmission
of HIV. The law tends to stigmatize these students and foster
discrimination. It is also unnecessary because the CDC has mandatory rules
with respect to handling bodily fluids that apply to all students. We
supported an identical bill in 2008.
HB 538(Jefferson) would require any school in a high poverty, high violence
area to have at least one school social worker on staff.
HB 449(Ford) would require the State Board to develop uniform disciplinary
policies which must be adopted by each local school board.
FEDERAL
President Obama has signed the SCHIP reauthorization bill.
Congress continues to debate the economic stimulus bill. Conservative Senate
members are attempting to cut funding out of the package, which could affect
the level of education assistance to the States.
LITIGATION
The State's "moment of silence" law was held unconstitutional by US District
Court Judge Gettleman on January 21, 2009 in the case of Sherman v. Township
High School District 214. The Court permanently enjoined implementation of
the law. An appeal is still possible.
01/22/09
Yesterday Federal District Judge Gettleman issued a decision holding that
the Illinois Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act is unconstitutional in
Sherman v. Township High School District 214. The court permanently
enjoined enforcement of the statute. Subject to reversal on appeal, the
decision takes effect immediately.
01/26/09
As the Senate prepares to take up the reauthorization of the SCHIP program, the
issue of coverage for legal immigrant children will be raised. The House version
of the bill allows coverage of legal immigrant children even if they entered the
country fewer than 5 years prior to making application for the program. See
below.
Children's
Health Bill Must Not Deny Help to Legal Immigrant Children
The U.S. Senate will soon vote on
expanding health coverage for children. But amendments may be offered to deny
coverage to legal immigrant children and pregnant women for 5 years.
Please contact
your Senators toll-free: 1-800-828-0498. Tell them: “Please vote for the
Children's Health Insurance bill so millions of uninsured children can get
health coverage and against amendments to deny or restrict health coverage for
legal immigrant children and pregnant women.” The toll-free number is provided
by Families USA.
Where do things
stand? The House has passed its bill to expand the State Children's Health
Insurance Program (SCHIP), including an end to the current 5-year waiting period
for legal immigrant and new citizen children to receive SCHIP coverage. The
Senate Finance Committee also approved SCHIP legislation and also ended the
5-year denial of benefits. The Senate may start debate on SCHIP Monday night,
and the final vote is expected some time this week. It is very important that
Senators hear that you, like the general public (see below), want legal
immigrant children to be covered.
Talking points
from our friends at the National Council of La Raza, also available on their
website at
http://www.nclr.org/schip
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