SPRINGFIELD – Imagine a scenario like this: There's a knock at the door. A mom tells her kids to work on their math assignment while she answers the door. There she finds representatives from the Department of Public Health demanding to be allowed to come in and confirm her "home school students" are complying with emergency health orders. Orders that demand the school's pupils be separated by six feet, wear COVID masks and be screened for symptoms. If found not to be in compliance, the Department could close the school.
Crazy? Impossible?
HB 2789 is a measure that passed the Democrat-controlled Illinois House last Friday and is now on its way to being heard in the Democrat-controlled Illinois Senate would set the path for such a scenario, critics say.
In Illinois, a home school is a private school. A private school is a non-public school. HB 2789 gives the Department of Public Health new and ruling powers over both non-public and public schools during a health emergency like the one Illinois is still experiencing after 13 months.
Ironically, the Illinois State Board of Education and the Department of Public Health is reportedly opposing the amendment that will add non-public schools to their oversight.
It's the Illinois Education Association – one of two major teachers' unions in Illinois – that is pushing HB 2789.
"It would be a travesty for Christian, home and other private schools if this bill were to become law, giving the state ability to close them down," said Rev. Bob VandenBosch of Concerned Christian Americans, who lobbies on behalf of a coalition of Illinois Christian schools.
But that's exactly what the HB 2789 would do, according to a summary of the bill:
Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall establish requirements by rule for providing in-person instruction at nonpublic schools and public schools that include, but are not limited to, personal protective equipment, cleaning and hygiene, social distancing, occupancy limits, symptom screening, onsite isolation protocols, and shall provide those requirements to nonpublic schools and public schools with the assistance of the Illinois State Board of Education.
Provides that upon receipt of a complaint that a school cannot or is not complying with the Department's rules, the Department or local public health department shall investigate the complaint. Provides that if upon investigation, a school is found to be in violation of the rules, the Department has the authority to take the appropriate action necessary to promote the health or protect the safety of students, staff, and the public, including, but not limited to, closure of a classroom, gym, library, lunch room, or any other school space until such time that the Department determines that the violation or violations have been remedied.
David Smith, Executive Director of the Illinois Family Institute and a homeschooling father, said discovering who was in support and who was in opposition to the bill made a difference and emphasized that the effort is yet another power grab.
“We were surprised to learn that the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Health were opposed to HB 2789. But then we learned that the Illinois Education Association was behind the push to pass this tyrannical proposal," Smith said.
"This legislation solves nothing that local county health departments don’t already have the authority to do. It simply centralizes authority by empowering state bureaucrats who are not directly accountable to local voters. This power grab should alarm every liberty-loving resident of the state of Illinois.”
The measure, sponsored in the House by Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg), passed with a vote along party lines last Friday. Now sponsored by state Senator Christopher Belt (D-East St Louis), HB 2789 will be heard shortly in the Illinois Senate.
Both VandenBosch and Smith agreed the bill's movement could be slowed down with enough pressure from constituents, despite the control of Democrats of both chambers and the Governor's Mansion.
Those concerned with protecting the religious liberties and parental rights and opposing this effort are encouraged to call their senators at 217.782.2000 or email their lawmakers.
