On Friday, May 13, 2022, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed SB3914 into law as Public Act 102-0866, effective immediately. This bill expands the definition of sick leave under the Illinois School Code to include mental or behavioral health complications for full-time teachers and eligible employees. The amended text of Section 24-5 of the Illinois School Code now reads as follows:

“Sick leave shall be interpreted to mean personal illness, mental or behavioral health complications, quarantine at home, or serious illness or death in the immediate family or household. The school board may require a certificate from a physician licensed in Illinois to practice medicine and surgery in all its branches, a mental health professional licensed in Illinois providing ongoing care or treatment to the teacher or employee, a chiropractic physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, a licensed physician assistant, or, if the treatment is by prayer or spiritual means, a spiritual adviser or practitioner of the teacher’s or employee’s faith as a basis for pay during leave after an absence of 3 days for personal illness or as the school board may deem necessary in other cases.”

The full text of Public Act 102-0866 can be found at: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=102-0866

Authored by: