SB0457: EDUCATION-TECH

Legislative Summary

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, including funding for any administrative costs reasonably incurred by the State Board of Education, upon the execution of one or more required statewide master contracts entered by the State Board of Education and annually thereafter, the State Board of Education shall notify school districts of any prepackaged meal options, including, but not limited to, halal and kosher food options, available for purchase under a statewide master contract for the upcoming school year. Requires the State Board to enter into one or more statewide master contracts to purchase religious dietary food options, and sets forth provisions concerning the contracts. Amends the University of Illinois Hospital Act. Provides that the University of Illinois Hospital shall offer religious dietary food options that comply with federal and State nutritional guidelines. Amends the Halal Food Act. Provides that any halal food product offered by a State-owned or State-operated facility shall be purchased from a halal-certified vendor; defines "State-owned or State-operated facility". Provides that any person, organization, or vendor falsely representing a food product it provides as halal or falsely representing itself as a halal-certified vendor is subject to penalties under the Act. Amends the Kosher Food Act. Defines "kosher". Makes substantially similar changes with regard to kosher food products at State facilities. Provides that a violation of the provisions concerning State facility kosher food products is a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for the second and each subsequent offense. Amends the Facilities Article of the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that any Department of Corrections facility that provides food services or cafeteria services for which food products are provided or offered for sale shall also offer religious dietary food options that comply with federal and State nutritional guidelines. Specifies that nothing in the provisions concerning Department of Corrections facilities providing religious dietary food options is intended to expand any Department of Corrections facility's obligations beyond that required under federal law. Contains a severability clause. Effective June 1, 2024.