Springfield, IL (WAND) – An Illinois House Democrat has filed legislation to provide new protections for teachers and school staff receiving threats.

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) told WAND News that people should face criminal charges if they threaten teachers, principals, or other school leaders.

Teachers across the state have confronted school boards over recent years to address the rise in student violence. Yet, parents and guardians are also leaving many educators and administrators terrified to go to work.

“I don’t live this life. I don’t really know what they’re dealing with day to day, but they’re telling me that they don’t want to be attacked by parents,” Evans said. “They don’t want to be sometimes attacked by students. You know, they just want to do their job.”

Evans said teachers, principals and administrators at public and private schools should receive the same protection as public officials and human service providers. If his bill passes, people could face criminal charges for threatening school staff with bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement, or restraint, among others.

“No matter how frustrated a parent is about educational strategy or decisions, physical violence should never be accepted,” Evans said. “When we accept it and we do nothing, then it won’t go away. It just becomes a norm.”

Evans believes people threatening school staff should be charged with a Class 3 felony for their first offense. His bill calls for a Class 2 felony charge for a second or subsequent offense. He stressed there should be zero tolerance for violence.

“Most of the teachers and administrators are women,” Evans said. “In my community, it’s a lot of Black women, and they’re being attacked. Women should not be going to work to be attacked.”

The Democrat filed House Bill 4090 last month, but he hopes to talk with his colleagues and advocates to gain support for the plan before the spring session starts in January.