North Cook News

For veteran state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine), the jury is still out when it comes to House Bill 3149.

“I’m requesting more information on this,” Morrison told lawmakers during a recent House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter School Committee hearing. “We’re seeking partisan leave.”

As it is, HB 3149, which has already been opposed by at least 124 witnesses, seeks to amend the school code to establish that the duties of the regional superintendent of schools include the job of inspecting the energy conservation measures of schools under the code. The measure also seeks to “make changes concerning definitions, the evaluation and submission of guaranteed energy savings contract proposals, performance reviews, the award of a contract, the written guarantee, installment payment contracts and lease purchase agreements, cost savings, and available funds.”

As a member of the House Elementary & Secondary Education committee, Morrison has had as loud a voice as anyone on the state’s educational system over the last several months as the lingering COVID-19 crisis has sown chaos and confusion.

He recently co-sponsored a bill aimed at easing the financial burden remote learning has placed on the backs of parents across the state.  

“We have hundreds of thousands of Illinois students back in school but not back in the classroom,” he posted on his website. “Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines make it very difficult for many school districts to begin in-person instruction and parents have been left scrambling to figure out how to best provide for their kids’ education at home.”

House Bill 5834 would also establish an income tax credit for guardians of students for education expenses related to online learning. Among the items covered by the credit would be computers, printers, Internet access and tutors. The measure would also create a tax credit for business owners who aid employees in covering the added cost.