IL HB0017

Adds three new commemorative holidays to Illinois schools: January 15 (Humanitarian Day, recognizing human and civil rights with the color white), April 4 (Victims of Violence Wholly Day, promoting non-violence with the color black), and August 28 (Dream Day, honoring spiritual and moral principles of peoplehood with black and white colors)

Requires public elementary and high schools to include in their Black History curriculum the Gettysburg Address, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech" (August 28, 1963), and President Barack Obama's victory speech (November 4, 2008)

Maintains that commemorative holidays are regular school days and requires school boards to include instruction about commemorated persons, activities, or events on the holiday or at other appropriate times during the school year

Directs the State Board of Education to prepare and make available instructional materials to school boards for teaching about commemorated holidays and Black History

Exempts the state from reimbursing school districts for implementation costs under the State Mandates Act