The Illinois Senate Tuesday passed legislation designed to level the playing field for public school employees threatened with subcontracting. Illinois Education Association members and staff lobbied hard for HB1347, and saw success when the senate voted 35-16-1 to send the bill to the governor's desk. Seven senators did not vote.
The legislation places much-needed controls on school districts considering subcontracting. Many subcontracting firms prey on districts with cash problems, promising them cost savings but often failing to deliver savings or levels of service comparable to that provided by district employees. This legislation protects both students and education employees.
Senate co-sponsors included; Don Harmon Jeffrey M. Schoenberg, Linda Holmes, Dan Kotowski, Mattie Hunter, Deanna Demuzio, Michael Frerichs, William Haine, Mike Jacobs, Michael Noland, Larry Bomke, A. J. Wilhelmi, David Koehler, John M. Sullivan, Gary Forby, William Delgado, Martin A. Sandoval, Kwame Raoul, Ira Silverstein and Jacqueline Collins.