IL HB0685

Changes collective bargaining subjects for the Chicago School District from permissive to mandatory, requiring the district to bargain over contracting decisions, layoffs, class size and staffing, academic calendar, and technology use in education.

Converts the language in the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act from "may" to "must" when describing the district's obligation to bargain on these five specified subjects.

Requires disputes or impasses over these mandatory bargaining subjects to be resolved through the dispute resolution process in Section 12 of the Act rather than allowing strikes under Section 13.

Exempts the mandate from State reimbursement requirements under the State Mandates Act, meaning implementation costs fall entirely on the Chicago School District.

Preserves the null and void status of provisions in existing collective bargaining agreements that were invalidated under prior law.