HB2521 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)

SCH CD-CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK
Last Action
07/01/2025 - House: Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
105 ILCS 5/10-21.9  from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.9
105 ILCS 5/34-18.5  from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.5
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the School Code. Includes game officials in provisions requiring applicants for employment with a school district to undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history records check and check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database.

House Floor Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
105 ILCS 5/10-21.9  
105 ILCS 5/34-18.5  
Adds reference to:
105 ILCS 25/1.3 new  
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that an association or other entity that has, as one of its purposes, promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within the State shall require applicants for licensure as an official to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records check to determine if such applicants have been convicted of any disqualifying, enumerated criminal or drug offenses or have been convicted, within 7 years of the application for employment with the school district, of any other felony under the laws of the State or of any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in the State, would have been punishable as a felony under the laws of the State. Requires the Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall furnish, pursuant to a fingerprint-based criminal history records check, records of convictions, forever and hereafter, until expunged, to the executive director for the association or entity that requested the check. Provides that the association executive shall further perform a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database for each applicant once every 5 years that an applicant remains licensed by the association. Provides that pending full clearance of all background check requirements, the prospective official must be supervised at all times by an individual who received a qualifying result on all background check components. Effective July 1, 2026.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
105 ILCS 25/1.3 new  
Adds reference to:
105 ILCS 25/1.30 new  
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that the Illinois High School Association shall be responsible for licensing all game officials. Provides that each applicant for licensure is required, as a condition of licensure, to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records check to determine if such applicant has been convicted of any disqualifying, specified criminal or drug offenses. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall charge applicants a fee for conducting the criminal history records check, which shall be deposited into the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the actual cost of the records check. Requires the Illinois High School Association to perform a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database for each applicant once every 5 years that an applicant remains licensed by the Illinois High School Association. Provides that pending full check clearance, a prospective game official must be supervised at all times by an individual who has received full check clearance.
Actions
DateChamberAction
02/03/2025HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias
02/03/2025HouseChief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Joyce Mason
02/04/2025HouseFirst Reading
02/04/2025HouseReferred to Rules Committee
03/04/2025HouseAssigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
03/19/2025HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 009-000-000
03/20/2025HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
03/26/2025HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
03/26/2025HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
04/07/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Joyce Mason
04/07/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
04/08/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
04/09/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr
04/09/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 008-000-000
04/10/2025HouseChief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Jeff Keicher
04/10/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason
04/10/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha
04/10/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt
04/10/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles Meier
04/10/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul Jacobs
04/10/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
04/10/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
04/10/2025HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 109-000-000
04/10/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Ugaste
04/10/2025HouseRemoved Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul Jacobs
04/10/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh
04/14/2025SenateArrive in Senate
04/14/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading
04/14/2025SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
04/14/2025SenateFirst Reading
04/14/2025SenateReferred to Assignments
05/06/2025SenateAssigned to Criminal Law
05/06/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
05/06/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
05/07/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Criminal Law
05/09/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones
05/09/2025SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025
05/13/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
05/13/2025SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
05/14/2025SenateDo Pass as Amended Criminal Law; 009-000-000
05/14/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 15, 2025
05/15/2025SenateSecond Reading
05/15/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 20, 2025
05/21/2025SenateThird Reading - Passed; 058-000-000
05/21/2025HouseArrived in House
05/21/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1
05/27/2025SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán
07/01/2025HouseRule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee