BILL TO END SCHOOL-BASED TICKETING PASSES BOTH HOUSES
Senate Bill 1519, which Prohibits Municipal Tickets as a Disciplinary Consequence in Public Schools, Will Now Head to the Governor’s Desk
(Springfield) – Senate Bill 1519 (Villa/Ford) passed the House, marking the culmination of years of advocacy and negotiations to end municipal ticketing in Illinois schools. The measure prohibits students from receiving a ticket as a disciplinary consequence for municipal ordinance violations during school and requires the public reporting of law enforcement referrals. “This bill helps create an environment where students can learn from their mistakes without being unnecessarily funneled into the justice system,” said Aimee Galvin, Government Affairs Director with Stand for Children.
“Black and Latino students are disproportionately ticketed, and the result is more students being pushed into a system designed for adults, placing financial hardships on working families while not addressing the root cause of misbehavior,” said State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago). “This bill will once and for all prohibit monetary fines as a form of discipline for Illinois students.”
Stand for Children and the Debt Free Justice Coalition have been working to ban municipal ticketing as a form of school-based discipline because of its ineffective and discriminatory nature. “The practice of municipal ticketing is not an evidence-based way to discipline students or curb student behavior,” said Angie Jimenez an Attorney with the National Center for Youth Law. “Tickets are administered at unequal rates between districts, resulting in a patchwork of justice across the state.” In 2022, ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune analyzed ticketing data for 86% of all public high school students in Illinois and reported that 11,800 tickets were issued across 70% of those school districts between 2019-2021. These tickets not only had a disproportionate impact on Black students but also forced students to miss class to attend municipal hearings, placed an undue financial burden on families with fines up to $750, and put students in the municipal court system with limited protections.
SB 1519 eliminates the unjust consequences of municipal ticketing in schools while not disrupting the relationship between school resource officers, law enforcement, and schools. “We wanted to ensure students are able to receive discipline that matches their behavior while maintaining law enforcement’s ability to address criminal offenses within schools,” shared State Representative La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago). The bill represents a significant milestone for Illinois as community organizations continue to collaborate on how to create better futures for all children. “Ultimately, schools are a unique setting where students can learn accountability and responsibility in a place that prioritizes their wellbeing. Senate Bill 1519 creates more opportunities for schools to exercise that ability and opens up the door for more restorative practices that teach students how to be better members of their communities.”
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Stand for Children Illinois is a non-partisan education advocacy organization that fights for educational equity. Stand partners with parents to support their education journey and become strong advocates, and it advocates for proven policies and funding so that all students receive a high-quality, relevant education. Learn more about our work at stand.org/illinois.
