Homeschooling, transit reform hot button issues as Springfield faces May deadline
CHICAGO (WGN) — Lawmakers in Springfield continue to debate hot button measures before their session ends in May, including a proposal that would change homeschooling in Illinois and another to bail out Chicago-area transit agencies.
Among the most controversial bills this session has been House Bill 2827, which would require home school parents to report information to regional offices about academic progress and, in some cases, health and vaccination records.
Bill would create Illinois framework to regulate homeschooling
Advocates in favor of regulation argue it could prevent abuse and educational neglect, but some home schooling parents for months have slammed the proposal.
'HB2827 criminalizes parents for doing the right thing on behalf of their children and their education,' said Juan Rangel, CEO of The Urban Center.
The bill would require the State Board of Education create a home school 'declaration' form and set requirements for homeschool administrators.
'A person who is, for some tragic reason, hellbent on abusing a child would decide not to do that because they have to fill out a declaration form,' said Chris Butler. 'Nothing about what we know of the human experience suggests there's that kind of easy solution to these big problems.'
Lawmakers are also considering a bailout of Chicago-area transit agencies. Set to run out of federal COVID relief money, the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace need nearly one billion dollars combined, but lawmakers are demanding reforms.
'I agree, completely agree, money can't come unless you've got real reform, Gov. JB Pritzker said. 'I would add: Whatever we do with regard to transit, there has to be a component that focuses on downstate transit. This can't just be about Chicago and surrounding areas.'
Proposal would merge Chicago's four transit agencies into one
Chicagoland transit heads push back on proposal to combine agencies
A plan to merge all four transit agencies has so far stalled at the statehouse. Instead, a coalition of labor groups and lawmakers are throwing support behind a separate bill that would put the RTA in charge of streamlining transit fares.
There's also a push to create a transit police force.
'We come across individuals who are mentally unstable or who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and simply struggling with every day life issues,' said CTA employee Cassie Collins.
State Rep. Marcus Evans has said her mother would not ride the CTA's Red Line 'under any circumstances,' citing safety concerns.
'Ask yourself: Are you putting your daughter or sister on the Red Line south and riding it? You're not doing it. Correct?,' he said.
Chicagoland transit agencies detail 'doomsday' scenarios without state help
Transit riders decry potential cuts to CTA, Metra, Pace at RTA board meeting
The RTA says 40 percent of local train and bus routes could be cut if Springfield doesn't act by the end of May, but state money is already tight. And ss lawmakers negotiate a final state budget behind closed doors, the governor says any additional spending will have to be matched with cuts.
'I'm happy to discuss how we might change the balanced budget that I introduced, but again you're got to just figure out how to make the numbers work,' Pritzker said.
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