Collins-Sponsored Legislation to Expand Family Leave for Education Support Staff Signed Into Law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Education support staff will have access to family leave under a new law sponsored by state Rep. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, as part of her work to ensure that every Illinoisans has support for their health and wellbeing.

“Teachers may be the most recognizable part of a school apart from students, but workers including secretaries, teacher’s aides, school bus drivers, cafeteria workers and others help ensure our kids have the very best educational and school experience,” Collins said. “These support professionals are the unsung heroes of our schools and they deserve the benefits needed to take care of themselves and their families.”

Collins sponsored House Bill 12 to expand the number of employees eligible for family and medical leave. Previously, educational employees needed to work 1,250 hours to receive family and medical leave, but many education support staff professionals had trouble reaching this number due to the limited numbers of school days that they were eligible to work. Under the new law, education support staff professionals will be eligible for family and medical leave once they reach 1,000 hours worked. The legislation becomes effective Jan. 1, 2022.

“The ability to take family and medical leave should not be a privilege that only some employees receive,” Collins added. “This measure is one step towards ensuring that all workers in Illinois are treated fairly.”