IllinoisIllinois schools check staff histories and define repeated grooming as abuse
Illinois law defines repeated grooming behavior toward a child as abuse and requires schools and contractors to check work histories for child-facing jobs.
What it does
The law defines two or more grooming-directed acts or communications toward a child as abuse when a reasonable person would understand them as meant to lead to a sex offense or sexual misconduct.
Schools and contractors must check applicants’ work histories for jobs involving direct contact with children or students, including asking past employers about relevant allegations and job actions.
School districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools must set staff rules for keeping professional boundaries with students and explain how people can report violations.
Argument forChildren may get earlier attention when repeated grooming behavior by a caregiver or another responsible person meets the law’s definition of abuse.
Argument againstSchools and contractors may take longer to hire for child-facing jobs because they must gather and review applicants’ work histories first.
More detail
The law defines a pattern of certain grooming behavior toward a child as child abuse. This definition covers conduct by a parent, immediate family member, person responsible for the child’s welfare, person living in the child’s home, or parent’s romantic partner. A reasonable person must understand the conduct as intended to groom, seduce, solicit, lure, or entice the child to commit a sex offense or engage in sexual misconduct. Examples include sexual or romantic invitations, requests for dates, romantic or sexual talk, and suggestive comments.
Schools and contractors must review work histories before hiring applicants for jobs involving direct contact with children or students. The rules cover permanent and temporary jobs at schools or school contractors that involve direct contact with children or students. Applicants must list relevant current and former employers and authorize them to share requested information. The review covers sexual misconduct allegations and related job or license actions, except allegations later found false, unfounded, or unsubstantiated. Applicants who do not provide required information may not be hired for covered jobs. Past employers must provide requested information within 20 days after receiving a request.
Schools must set staff conduct rules for maintaining professional boundaries with students and reporting violations. This applies to school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools. The policy must cover situations such as transporting students, taking their photos or videos, and contacting them outside an employee’s professional role. Schools must post the policy and reporting methods on their websites, if any, and include them in staff, student, and parent handbooks. Breaking the policy or failing to report a violation may lead to discipline, including dismissal.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 10Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0831Latest
- Aug 10Effective Date January 1, 2027
- Aug 10Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 26Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 31Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jackie Haas
- Vote recorded Concurrence, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 31Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Coffey, Jr.
- May 31Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha
- May 31Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond
- May 31Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tony M. McCombie
- May 31Passed Both Houses
- May 31House Concurs
- May 31Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 117-000-000
- May 30Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 012-000-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 29Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 29Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
- May 29Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Michelle Mussman
- May 29Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Li Arellano, Jr.
- May 29Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1
- May 29Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Darby A. Hills
- May 29Arrived in HouseMinor
- May 29Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve McClure
- May 29Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Sally J. Turner
- May 29Third Reading - Passed; 056-000-000Passed Senate
- May 28Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 29, 2026
- May 28Second ReadingMinor
- May 26Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 27, 2026Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 26Do Pass as Amended Education; 013-000-000
- May 26Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 AdoptedMajor
- May 22Rule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2026
- May 21Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education
- May 20Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
- May 20Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Lakesia CollinsMinor
- May 19Assigned to EducationMinor
- May 19Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 22, 2026
- Apr 16Referred to Assignments
- Apr 16First ReadingMinor
- Apr 16Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins
- Apr 16Placed on Calendar Order of First ReadingMinor
- Apr 16Arrive in SenateMinor
- Apr 15Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro
- Apr 15Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Fred Crespo
- Apr 15Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 110-000-000Passed House
- Apr 15Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- Apr 15House Floor Amendment No. 2 AdoptedMajor
- Apr 15House Floor Amendment No. 1 AdoptedMajor
- Apr 14House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 012-000-000Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee
- Apr 10Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Apr 10Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Apr 9House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Michelle MussmanMinor
- Apr 9House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 011-000-000Minor
- Apr 8House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee
- Apr 8House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- Apr 8House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Michelle MussmanMinor
- Mar 19Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Mar 18Do Pass / Short Debate Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 011-001-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Assigned to Adoption & Child Welfare CommitteeMinor
- Jan 30Referred to Rules Committee
- Jan 30First ReadingMinor
- Jan 22Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Michelle MussmanIntroduced
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