During the hearing with the Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee, House Bill 577, the bill on youth suicide awareness and prevention, got 19 yes votes and will advance to the House Floor.
Prior to voting for the bill, state Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) asked for the Illinois State Board of Education’s stand on the bill. “I am curious as far as ISBE being neutral rather than a proponent, any reason for that?” Severin asked. “I would like to see them being a proponent rather than just neutral or Is that something that’s pretty much their standard that they go neutral on something rather than a proponent of it.”
Severin stated that he is voting for the bill but would like to know any reason behind ISBE’s position.
Rep. Dave Severin
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“I’m going to be with you on this,” he told Rep. Lindsey LaPointe. “I was just curious if there’s any underlying meaning to it."
LaPointe (D-Chicago) confirmed that it is the “practice of ISBE to be primarily neutral on bills because of such a high volume of bills that come in front of them.
At the end of the hearing, Severin was added as a co-sponsor of the bill that would amend the school code with regard to youth suicide awareness and prevention.
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