Rock Island Today

Michael W. Halpin introduced SB0187 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 17, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a social work associate endorsement on an Educator License with stipulations may be issued to an applicant who (i) holds a degree from a graduate program of social work that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education and (ii) has an active license through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act as either a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement is authorized to perform responsibilities associated with traditional social work practice, subject to the restrictions in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act regarding independent clinical practice, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions in a multi-tiered system of support. Provides that all responsibilities of the holder of a social work associate endorsement shall be performed in consultation with an individual who holds a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school social work. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement is not authorized to perform Tier 3 multi-tiered system of support interventions or participate in the individualized education program process or the federal Section 504 plan process for any student with a disability. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement may not be employed by a school district or any other entity to replace any presently employed Professional Educator License holder with a school support personnel endorsement who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason. Provides that an applicant for a social work associate endorsement is not required to pass a content area test under the Code. Makes related changes. Effective immediately."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Educator Licensure Article of the Illinois School Code to introduce a social work associate endorsement on an Educator License with stipulations. This endorsement may be issued to individuals with a graduate degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education-approved program, holding active licensure as a clinical social worker or social worker in Illinois. The endorsement permits responsibilities in traditional social work within educational settings, adhering to the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act restrictions, specifically on Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions in a multi-tiered support system. Tier 3 interventions, participation in individualized education programs, and 504 plans for students with disabilities are excluded. Endorsement holders must consult with licensed professional educators with school support personnel endorsements. They cannot replace current Professional Educator License holders and are exempt from passing a content area test. The bill is effective immediately.

Michael W. Halpin has proposed another three bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Halpin graduated from Roger Williams University in 2001 with a BA and again in 2008 from University of Illinois with a JD.

Michael W. Halpin is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 36th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Neil Anderson in 2023.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB0187	01/17/2025	Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Provides that a social work associate endorsement on an Educator License with stipulations may be issued to an applicant who (i) holds a degree from a graduate program of social work that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education and (ii) has an active license through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act as either a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement is authorized to perform responsibilities associated with traditional social work practice, subject to the restrictions in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act regarding independent clinical practice, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions in a multi-tiered system of support. Provides that all responsibilities of the holder of a social work associate endorsement shall be performed in consultation with an individual who holds a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school social work. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement is not authorized to perform Tier 3 multi-tiered system of support interventions or participate in the individualized education program process or the federal Section 504 plan process for any student with a disability. Provides that the holder of a social work associate endorsement may not be employed by a school district or any other entity to replace any presently employed Professional Educator License holder with a school support personnel endorsement who otherwise would not be replaced for any reason. Provides that an applicant for a social work associate endorsement is not required to pass a content area test under the Code. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.
SB0172	01/17/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that a foreign national may not make, directly or indirectly, a contribution to a ballot initiative committee or an independent expenditure committee for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters, and neither a ballot initiative committee nor an independent expenditure committee may knowingly solicit or accept a contribution from a foreign national for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters. Provides that a foreign national may not make an independent expenditure for the purpose of influencing any question of public policy to be submitted to the voters. Effective immediately.
SB0173	01/17/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of county commissioners of a county with a population of less than 100,000 may, by ordinance or resolution, dissolve a municipal board of election commissioners within that county and transfer its functions to the county clerk.
SB0188	01/17/2025	Amends the Out-of-State Person Subject to Involuntary Admission on an Inpatient Basis Mental Health Treatment Act. Extends the repeal date of the Act from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2031. Effective immediately.
SB0189	01/17/2025	Amends the Swimming Facility Act. Provides that the rules adopted by the Department of Public Health shall permit sporting good equipment systems and fitness equipment systems to be installed in swimming facilities if the sporting good equipment system or fitness equipment system is designed for pool use and installed in accordance with the safe-use parameters specified by the manufacturer. Provides that sporting good equipment systems and fitness equipment systems that meet those requirements shall not be considered an obstruction.
SB0190	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes changes to the definition of "managerial employee", including that, unless the sheriff and the union have mutually agreed otherwise, or are already recognized by the Act, the "undersheriff", "chief deputy", or "superintendent of the jail" shall be defined as a managerial employee. In the definition of "supervisor", provides that that the term includes only those individuals who devote a preponderance of their employment time to exercising that authority, State supervisors and sworn State police officers notwithstanding. In the definition of "supervisor", also provides that the Illinois Labor Relations Board, or the relevant panel with jurisdiction, shall consider, as evidence of bargaining unit inclusion or exclusion, applicable civil service law, ordinances, personnel codes, provisions regarding boards of fire and police commissioners in the Illinois Municipal Code, and the Sheriff's Merit System Law.
SB0068	01/13/2025	Creates the Judicial Domestic Violence Training Act. Requires the Judicial Education Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to develop and implement a domestic violence continuing education program for judges and relevant court personnel. Provides that the continuing education program shall be required training for all judges every 2 years and shall be held at every biennial Education Conference and every new judge seminar.