SPRINGFIELD – A new law championed by State Senator Karina Villa addresses the discriminatory disciplinary practice of ticketing in schools.
“Our schools should be places of learning and growth – not entry points into the justice system,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “When we treat student behavior with fines and tickets, we fail to address the real issues and risk derailing a young person’s future. This law is a critical step in replacing punitive discipline with supportive solutions that help students thrive.”
In 2015, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law ending the ability of schools to issue monetary fines to students for disciplinary infractions at school. However, students in schools across the state continue to be fined due to the practice of students being referred to law enforcement for school-related behavior.
Villa led Senate Bill 1519 to address this issue following an investigation that revealed that Black and Latino students were ticketed at disproportionate rates. Between 2019 and 2021, 11,950 tickets were issued with fines as high as $750.
The new law ensures that no person is allowed to issue a fine or fee to a student as a disciplinary consequence for behavior during school. The law also requires school districts with a school resource officer to have a memorandum of understanding with their local law enforcement agency establishing that SROs are properly trained and do not use fines or tickets for disciplinary infractions.
“School ticketing practices disproportionately target Black and Latino students from working-class families, imposing financial burdens that many simply cannot afford,” said Villa. “Banning this practice addresses the educational disparities faced by students of color and builds the fair and supportive learning environment they deserve.”
Senate Bill 1519 was signed into law Wednesday and is effective immediately.
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