SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — On Aug. 17, Gov. Rod Blagojevich approved a bill to apply new rules for school boards that outsource support services.

Under the new law, districts are not allowed to enter into a contract during collective bargaining, and contracts are limited to two years.

In addition, both the district and the contractor must make cost projections for each expense category, which cannot be increased during the contract. The school board must provide a cost comparison, and a minimum of two public hearings to discuss the proposal must be held.

The contractor must match the wage and benefits package of current employees and offer positions to all qualified employees displaced by the contract. The contractor must also list the number of employees providing the services, wages, a minimum 3-year cost projection and information about the criminal and disciplinary records of the employees.

The new law went into effect Aug. 17. It does not apply to districts where non-instructional services were already being provided by a third party on the effective date.

The bill was supported by teacher unions and public employee unions. School bus contractors were among its opponents.

In a recent newsletter, the National School Transportation Association urged its members to fight any similar legislation in other states.