McHenry Times

Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) strongly objects to Rep. Anne Stava-Murray’s (D-Downers Grove) House Bill 2622 which amends the School Visitation Rights Act. The bill would hold employers liable in a civil action if they terminate employees for absences to attend school conferences.

According to the bill, employers would have the burden of proof to establish that termination “is not related to an employee's absence for attendance at a school conference, behavioral meeting, or academic meeting.”

“I believe what we’re looking at here is legislation again that offers up a solution … in search of a problem, to allow for a civil cause of action or something that I dare say would never occur,” Reick argued. “I think what we're doing is we’re again creating a sclerotic effect in law, making it more difficult for us to — I just I don't know what to say about this bill. I mean to provide a civil cause of action in a situation like this is simply overkill. We had agreed before, there haven’t been any noted instances of a violation of that law. I don't see any reason why we need to add to it. I urge a no vote.”

While Stava-Murray can’t say if there have been any instances of retaliatory discharge, she said that parents in her district are concerned because they don’t have any assurances that the law will be followed through. She says the bill, “closes that concern by making that employer liable for civil action.”

Reick pointed out that the bill from 2019 passed unanimously and said that Stava-Murray’s HB2622 is “making a problem where one does not exist.”

HB2622 passed 65-44 in the House on April 20. If enacted into law, it will take effect on Aug. 1, 2021.