McLean County Times

State Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) wants to know about a bill requiring a school board to adopt written policies related to absences and missed assignments tied to a student's pregnancy before the legislation moves forward.

"Can we hear from one of the opponents," Morrison said to colleagues at a recent House Elementary and Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing and Charter School Committee hearing where lawmakers debated the legislation.

The Illinois Association of School Boards staffer Deanne Sullivan told lawmakers, "there are already three different places in policy that provide what is being sought." The agency would be willing to work with whomever to address their concerns.

Rep. Sonya M. Harper (D-Chicago), who is sponsoring the bill, said, "if there needs to be an amendment here, I have no problem doing that to meet the concerns the school boards have."

A staunch anti-abortion advocate, Morrison has also taken a strong stance against a proposal that would repeal the parental notification law requiring that parents receive a notification when their teenage daughter is considering an abortion procedure.

"It involves life and death," he told the Prairie State Wire. "It involves physical, mental and emotional health. The law recognizes that these minors aren't able to make these life-altering decisions on their own, and that's why we require parental consent on taking medicines, why we prohibit minors from getting tattoos or ear piercings."

Recent legislation, which would fully repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995, was last referred to the Rules Committee.

The measure has the support of at least 11 Democratic lawmakers, including newly installed House Speaker Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside).