Lake County Gazette

State Rep. David McSweeney's bill aimed at protecting students from predatory treatment from educators is now working its way through the legislature.

House Bill 5914 was recently granted a subject matter hearing by the general assembly. The proposal comes on the heels of a recent Chicago Tribune investigation that found over the last decade at least 72 school employees, who underwent only minimal background checks, are alleged to have sexually abused Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students.

“The Tribune’s investigation shined a light on a pervasive problem at CPS and highlighted the serious lapses in state law that allowed them to grossly mishandle sexual abuse cases,” McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) said in a press release. “This is a statewide problem and we need to address it now.”

Among other essentials, HB 5914 would require school boards to report all credible cases of sexual assault or abuse by a licensed educator to the Illinois State Board of Education, monitor the process with regard to each individual background check conducted by school districts and make it a crime for a school authority figure to engage in a sexual relationship with a student regardless of age.

“Parents entrust teachers and administrators with their children; and at every level here, we failed them,” McSweeney added in the release. “It is completely unacceptable, but I appreciate that the House and Senate are moving swiftly to take action and are committed to protecting our students. HB 5914 is comprehensive, reasonable legislation that marks a solid step forward toward that end.”

Thus far, HB 5914 boasts 63 House sponsors, with Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) serving as chief House co-sponsor and Sen. Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) standing as a Senate sponsor.