North Egypt News

State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Marion) is one of at least six lawmakers pushing a bill in Springfield that would allow teachers and staff who have been working in-person during the pandemic to purchase a day toward their retirement for each day that they’ve been in session.

“It was brought to me by staff and teachers," Severin told the House Personnel & Pensions Committee of House Bill 2997. “I don’t want to vote on this today. I’d like to bring this back in a shell bill.”

While admitting there is still work to be done in language pertaining to the bill, Severin pointed out it already has the support of such agencies as the Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Education Association.           

“There are some opponents,” he added. “It’s an opportunity for teachers and administrators, an opportunity to take advantage of days they’ve basically put themselves in harm’s way to be in school.”

Severin later told Sen. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) that as currently constructed, the bill does not cover Chicago Public Schools, but that could change while the bill is being worked on in its shell bill form.  

Serving in the 117th District since 2018, Severin sits on the House’s Appropriations-Higher Education, Elementary & Secondary Education School Curriculum Policies, Higher Education, Mental Health, Veterans’ Affairs and Energy & Environment committees.

The veteran lawmaker easily won re-election last November, defeating Timothy Arview with nearly 86% of the vote in the Republican primary and running unopposed in the General Election.

The 117th District includes all or parts of Benton, Buckner, Bush, Cambria, Carbondale, Carterville, Christopher, Crab Orchard, Creal Springs, Energy, Ewing, Freeman Spur, Granville, Hanaford, Herrin, Hurst, Johnston City, Macedonia, Marion, McLeansboro, Mulkeytown, North City, Orient, Pittsburg, Royalton, Sesser, Spillertown, Stonefort, Thompsonville, Valier, West City, West Frankfort, Whitelash and Zeigler.