Mussman Bill to Prevent Teachers Guilty of Sexual Misconduct from Teaching Elsewhere Signed Into Law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill – Continuing her efforts to make Illinois schools a better learning environment, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, passed a law to prevent teachers with sexual misconduct convictions from teaching elsewhere.

“Anyone with sexual misconduct violations should not be near our children, especially not in school environments where those adults are in unique positions of access and trust,” Mussman said. “My legislation will put further barriers between these offenders and Illinois’ children and hinder the ability of predatory actors to move between school districts undetected.”

House Bill 4316 requires enhanced recordkeeping and inter-district sharing of indications of sexual misconduct. This bill is backed by the Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago Public Schools and the Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents. It passed the House and Senate—where it was sponsored by Senator John Connor—with strong bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Pritzker on Friday.

“The key to public safety is acting proactively to safeguard those who need to be protected the most,” Mussman said. “We should do everything possible to protect our young people in school, and this law is the next step in that work. I’d like to thank Senator Connor for his help getting this legislation through the Senate, Survivor Advocate Faith Colson for her essential contributions, and Governor Pritzker for his assistance as well.”