HB5478 Summary

• Requires State Board of Education to collect and post disaggregated data on student referrals to law enforcement by October 31 each year, starting with 2023-2024 school year, organized by school district and including breakdowns by race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, English language learner status, and offense type.

• Prohibits school personnel from issuing monetary fines, fees, or municipal tickets for school-based behavior as disciplinary consequences, though students may still be required to provide restitution for damaged property.

• Prohibits school personnel from referring truant students to local public entities, school resource officers, or peace officers for the purpose of issuing fines or fees, though school districts may still refer custodial parents to municipalities after exhausting supportive services.

• Adds definitions for "school-based behavior" (conduct at school, school-sponsored events, or activities with reasonable relationship to school) and "school personnel" (employees, contractors, and volunteers in schools).

• Clarifies that bill does not modify existing school disciplinary responses, special education discipline procedures, or responses to alleged delinquent or criminal conduct under the School Code, Juvenile Court Act, or Criminal Code of 2012.