Bill Status of HB 217   93rd General Assembly

Short Description:  SCH CD-TEXTBOOK WEIGHT STANDRD

House Sponsors
Rep. Sara Feigenholtz and Joseph M. Lyons

Last Action  View All Actions

DateChamber Action
  1/11/2005HouseSession Sine Die

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
105 ILCS 5/2-3.131 new

Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt maximum weight standards for textbooks used by pupils in public elementary and secondary schools. Provides that the weight standards shall take into consideration the health risks to pupils who transport textbooks to and from school each day. Effective immediately.

 Fiscal Note (Illinois State Board of Education)
 The administrative costs of the State Board of Education to establish rules is relatively small; limited primarily to existing staff and contracts to acquire specific expertise in the student health issues raised here. House Bill 217 will establish a state mandate for school districts. Until the maximum weight for textbooks is established, it is difficult to determine how costly this mandate may be. For instance, is this an issue with a single textbook or only if multiple books are carried at the same time to and from school. If districts are required to replace a significant number of textbooks this could be very expensive. It may be impossible to find acceptable textbooks which meet such weight standards. This may also require districts to change scheduling and security regulations.

 State Mandates Fiscal Note (Illinois State Board of Education)
 The administrative costs of the State Board of Education to establish rules is relatively small; limited primarily to existing staff and contracts to acquire specific expertise in the student health issues raised here. House Bill 217 will establish a state mandate for school districts. Until the maximum weight for textbooks is established, it is difficult to determine how costly this mandate may be. For instance, is this an issue with a single textbook or only if multiple books are carried at the same time to and from school. If districts are required to replace a significant number of textbooks this could be very expensive. It may be impossible to find acceptable textbooks which meet such weight standards. This may also require districts to change scheduling and security regulations.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  1/21/2003HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz
  1/23/2003HouseFirst Reading
  1/23/2003HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  1/30/2003HouseAssigned to Elementary and Secondary Education Committee
  2/6/2003HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Joseph M. Lyons
  2/19/2003HouseFiscal Note Filed
  2/19/2003HouseState Mandates Fiscal Note Filed
  3/13/2003HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
  1/11/2005HouseSession Sine Die

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