Substitute House Bill No. 7217 introduces significant revisions to education statutes, particularly focusing on financial reporting, budgeting processes, and student health assessments. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill requires superintendents to provide local boards of education with detailed financial information during the preparation of itemized estimates for school maintenance, including original and actual amounts for the two preceding fiscal years and the current fiscal year. The bill also repeals and substitutes existing language in Section 10-222 to ensure timely submission of these estimates to financial authorities. Additionally, it mandates that proposed budgets for regional school districts include similar financial details, enhancing transparency and accountability in budgeting processes. The bill further establishes requirements for health assessments, including annual vision screenings for students and mandates that no health assessment can occur without parental presence or notification.

Moreover, the bill modifies regulations surrounding student suspensions, limiting out-of-school suspensions for younger students and requiring immediate parental notification when physical restraint or seclusion is used. It expands the requirement for alternative education opportunities to all students aged 16 to 18 who are expelled, regardless of prior expulsions. The bill also updates memoranda of understanding between local boards of education and law enforcement regarding school resource officers, emphasizing daily interactions and training in social-emotional learning. Other provisions include allowing regional boards to transfer reserve funds for educational purposes, ensuring that contracts for school construction are awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, and establishing a pilot program for student enrollment to promote diversity. Overall, the bill aims to enhance educational funding management, improve student health screenings, and foster accountability in school operations.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-222, 10-233m, 10-153b, 10-206
ED Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-222, 10-233m, 10-153b, 10-206
File No. 648: 10-222, 10-233m, 10-153b, 10-206