State Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) was one of seven Democrats who purposely skipped a state House committee vote in the spring legislative session on a measure that would eliminate all penalties for parents who allow their children to repeatedly skip school.
Instead, parents will “complete a parent education course or undergo family counseling,” paid for by the state. The measure passed 15-8, with five committee members not voting.
State Rep. Deb Conroy (D- Villa Park)
Also skipping the vote were Rep. Andy Skoog (D-Peru), Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg), Rep. Kate Cloonen (D-Kankakee), Rep. Carol Sente (D-Buffalo Grove), Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Springfield) and Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-Bensenville).
All face competitive elections this fall.
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) routinely substitutes such lawmakers so they can avoid potentially controversial committee votes.
House Bill 4240, sponsored by Chicago Democrats Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago Auburn-Gresham) and Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago Austin), was popular in districts where truancy rates are higher, such as Chicago, where 27 percent of students are “chronically truant,” according to the Illinois State Board of Education.
In contrast, in Salt Creek District 48 (Villa Park) and Queen Bee District 16 (Glendale Heights), the truancy rate is zero. In Marquardt District 15 (Glendale Heights), it is 6.5 percent; in DuPage County School District 45 (Villa Park) and Glenbard Township High School District, it is 1.3 percent.
Statewide, the average is 8.7 percent.
The House Elementary and Secondary Education Curriculum Policies Committee includes 28 members.
Yes
Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora)
Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Port Byron)
Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Hillside)
Rep. Sonya M. Harper (D-Chicago)
Rep. Camille Y. Lilly (D-Chicago)
Rep. Christian I. Mitchell (D-Chicago)
Rep. Elgie R. Sims (D-Chicago)
Rep. Mary E. Flowers (D-Chicago)- Substitute for Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago)
Rep. Patrick Verschoore (D-Rock Island)- Substitute for Cloonen
Rep. William Davis (D-East Hazel Crest)- Substitute for Conroy
Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago)- Substitute for Mussman
Rep. Eddie L. Jackson, Sr. (D-East St. Louis)- Substitute for Sente
Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago)- Substitute for Skoog
Rep. Frances Hurley (D-Chicago)-Substitute for Willis
Rep. Arthur Turner (D-Chicago)- Substitute for Scherer
No
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield)
Rep. Charles Meier (R-Highland)
Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-Pontiac)
Rep. John Cavaletto (R-Salem)
Rep. Fred Crespo (D-Streamwood)
Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Sycamore)
Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford)
Rep. Randy Frese (R-Quincy)
NV
Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago)
Rep. Sheri Jesiel (R-Antioch)
Rep. Donald L. Moffitt (R-Galesburg)
Rep. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove)
Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake)
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