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Illinois General Assembly· HB 4979Governor Approved

HIGHER ED-SURVEY/BD/REPORT, the official text

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HB4979 Enrolled                     LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   AN ACT concerning education.

2   Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3 represented in the General Assembly:

4   Section 5. The Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher

5 Education Act is amended by changing Section 35 as follows:

6   (110 ILCS 155/35)

7   Sec. 35. Sexual misconduct climate survey.

8   (a) As used in this Section:

9   "Base survey" means a base set of common questions

10 recommended by the Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct

11 Climate Surveys and approved by the Executive Director of the

12 Board of Higher Education and Executive Director of the

13 Illinois Community College Board.

14  "Student" means a person who is enrolled in a public or

15 private degree-granting, post-secondary higher education

16 institution, whether part-time, full-time, or as an extension

17 student, including any person who has taken a leave of absence

18 or who has withdrawn from the higher education institution due

19 to being a victim of sexual misconduct.

20  "Trauma informed" means an understanding of the

21 complexities of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating

22 violence, or stalking through training centered on the

23 neurobiological impact of trauma, the influence of societal
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1 myths and stereotypes surrounding sexual violence, domestic

2 violence, dating violence, or stalking, and understanding the

3 behavior of perpetrators.

4  (b) Beginning after the effective date of this amendatory

5 Act of the 104th General Assembly, each higher education

6 institution shall biennially conduct a sexual misconduct

7 climate survey of all students at the institution. Each higher

8 education institution's sexual misconduct climate survey shall

9 include the base survey, which the Board of Higher Education

10 or Illinois Community College Board, whichever is applicable,

11 shall provide to the institution every 2 years. Each

12 institution may append its own campus-specific questions to

13 the base survey if questions do not require the disclosure of

14 any personally identifying information by the students and are

15 trauma informed. The Board of Higher Education and Illinois

16 Community College Board, in consultation with the Office of

17 the Attorney General, as necessary, shall review any

18 complaints submitted by students who believe that questions

19 included in the campus sexual misconduct climate survey are

20 traumatizing. Within 120 days after completion of a sexual

21 misconduct climate survey, but no later than one year after

22 the Board of Higher Education or Illinois Community College

23 Board, whichever is applicable, issued the last base survey,

24 each institution shall compile a summary of the results of the

25 sexual misconduct climate survey, including, but not limited

26 to, the complete aggregated results for each base survey
    HB4979 Enrolled           -3-   LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1 question, and shall submit the summary to the Board of Higher

2 Education or Illinois Community College Board, as well as

3 publish the summary on the institution's website in an easily

4 accessible manner.

5   (c) The Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct Climate

6 Surveys is created. The Task Force shall consist of the

7 following members:

8   (1) the Executive Director of the Board of Higher

9   Education or a designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

10  (2) the Governor or a designee;

11  (3) one member of the Senate, appointed by the

12  President of the Senate;

13  (4) one member of the House of Representatives,

14  appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

15  (5) one member of the Senate, appointed by the

16  Minority Leader of the Senate;

17  (6) one member of the House of Representatives,

18  appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of

19  Representatives;

20  (7) the Attorney General or a designee;

21  (8) the Director of Public Health or a designee;

22  (9) the Executive Director of the Illinois Community

23  College Board or a designee;

24  (10) the following members appointed by the Board of

25  Higher Education:

26  (A) one member who is a student attending a public
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1   higher education institution in Illinois;

2   (B) one member who is a student attending a

3   private higher education institution in Illinois;

4   (C) one member who is a representative of the

5   University of Illinois recommended by the president of

6   the university;

7   (D) one member who is a representative of private

8   colleges and universities recommended by the

9   Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and

10  Universities;

11  (E) one member who is a chief student service

12  officer at a public or private university; and

13  (F) one member with expertise in institutional

14  research within a 4-year institution of higher

15  education;

16  (11) the following members appointed by the Illinois

17  Community College Board:

18  (A) one member who is a student attending a

19  community college in Illinois;

20  (B) one member who is a representative of the

21  community college system recommended by the Illinois

22  Council of Community College Presidents;

23  (C) one member who is a chief student service

24  office at a community college;

25  (D) one member with expertise in institutional

26  research within a 2-year institution of higher
    HB4979 Enrolled       -5-  LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   education; and

2   (12) the following members appointed by the Governor:

3   (A) (Blank);

4   (B) (Blank);

5   (C) (Blank);

6   (D) (Blank);

7   (E) (Blank);

8   (F) (Blank);

9   (G) 3 members who are representatives of survivors

10  of sexual assault recommended by the Illinois

11  Coalition Against Sexual Assault, with one

12  specifically representing survivors in rural

13  communities and one specifically representing

14  survivors in urban communities;

15  (H) one member who is a representative of a

16  non-profit legal services organization that provides

17  legal representation to victims of campus sexual

18  assault in Illinois;

19  (I) one member who is a representative recommended

20  by the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence;

21  (J) one member who is a representative recommended

22  by Equality Illinois;

23  (K) one member who is a representative of an

24  immigrant rights advocacy organization;

25  (L) one member who is a representative recommended

26  by the Every Voice Coalition or any successor
    HB4979 Enrolled       -6-  LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   organization of the Every Voice Coalition;

2   (M) one member who is a researcher with experience

3   in the development and design of sexual misconduct

4   climate surveys; and

5   (N) one member who is a researcher of statistics,

6   data analytics, or econometrics with experience in

7   higher education survey analysis.

8   The Task Force shall hold its first meeting as soon as

9 practicable after the effective date of this amendatory Act of

10 the 102nd General Assembly. Administrative and other support

11 for the Task Force shall be provided by the Board of Higher

12 Education. Members of the Task Force shall serve 2-year terms

13 that commence on the date of appointment. Members shall

14 continue to serve until their successors are appointed. Any

15 vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any

16 vacancy occurring other than by expiration of the term shall

17 be filled for the balance of the unexpired term. A majority of

18 the Task Force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction

19 of any business.

20  Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation

21 but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in

22 the performance of their duties if funds are available.

23 However, the higher education institution in which a student

24 member is enrolled may compensate that student for

25 participating on the Task Force through a work-study program

26 or by providing a stipend to support the work of the student
    HB4979 Enrolled          -7-  LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1 member on the Task Force.

2   (d) The Task Force shall develop and recommend to the

3 Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board

4 the base survey for distribution to higher education

5 institutions and provide the Board of Higher Education and

6 Illinois Community College Board with any related

7 recommendations regarding the content, timing, and application

8 of the base survey. The Task Force shall deliver the base

9 survey and related recommendations, including, but not limited

10 to, recommendations on achieving statistically valid response

11 rates, to the Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community

12 College Board no less often than every 2 years and for the

13 first time on or before July 31, 2023. Beginning after the

14 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General

15 Assembly, the Task Force shall meet to recommend updates and

16 revisions to the base survey. The Task Force is dissolved

17 after the completion of the 2027 base survey. After the

18 dissolution of the Task Force, the Executive Director of the

19 Board of Higher Education or a designee and the Executive

20 Director of the Illinois Community College Board or a designee

21 shall review the base survey every 2 years to consider any

22 feedback that has been received and to implement improvements.

23  (e) In developing the base survey, the Task Force shall:

24  (1) utilize best practices from peer-reviewed research

25  and consult with individuals with expertise in the

26  development and use of sexual misconduct climate surveys
    HB4979 Enrolled          -8-           LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   by higher education institutions, specifically the survey

2   design should consider survey length and time to complete,

3   respondent experience, minimization of question

4   redundancy, and question skip logic and branching

5   dependent on the respondent answers;

6   (2) review sexual misconduct climate surveys that have

7   been developed and previously utilized by higher education

8   institutions in Illinois and by other states that mandate

9   campus climate surveys;

10  (3) provide opportunities for written comment from

11  survivors and organizations that work directly with

12  survivors of sexual misconduct to ensure the adequacy and

13  appropriateness of the proposed content;

14  (4) consult with institutions on strategies for

15  optimizing the effectiveness of the survey;

16  (5) account for the diverse needs and differences of

17  higher education institutions; and

18  (6) review the base survey to ensure that the strategy

19  for gathering information is trauma informed.

20  (f) The base survey shall gather information on topics,

21 such as including, but not limited to:

22  (1) the number and type of incidents, both reported to

23  the higher education institution and unreported to the

24  higher education institution, of sexual misconduct at the

25  higher education institution;

26  (2) when and where incidents of sexual misconduct
    HB4979 Enrolled    -9-           LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   occurred, such as on campus, off campus, abroad, or

2   online;

3   (3) student awareness of institutional policies and

4   procedures related to campus sexual misconduct;

5   (4) whether a student reported the sexual misconduct

6   to the higher education institution and, if so, to which

7   campus resource such report was made and, if not, the

8   reason for the student's decision not to report;

9   (5) whether a student reported the sexual misconduct

10  to law enforcement and, if so, to which law enforcement

11  agency such report was made;

12  (6) whether a student was informed of or referred to

13  local, State, campus, or other resources or victim support

14  services, including appropriate medical care, advocacy,

15  counseling, and legal services;

16  (7) whether a student was provided information

17  regarding his or her right to protection from retaliation,

18  access to school-based accommodations, and criminal

19  justice remedies;

20  (8) contextual factors, such as the involvement of

21  force, incapacitation, coercion, or drug or alcohol

22  facilitation;

23  (9) demographic information that could be used to

24  identify at-risk groups, including, but not limited to,

25  gender, race, immigration status, national origin,

26  ethnicity, disability status, sexual orientation, and
    HB4979 Enrolled              - 10 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   gender identity;

2   (10) perceptions of campus safety among members of the

3   campus community and confidence in the institution's

4   ability to protect against and respond to incidents of

5   sexual misconduct;

6   (11) whether the student has chosen to withdraw or has

7   taken a leave of absence from the institution or

8   transferred to another institution;

9   (12) whether the student has withdrawn from any

10  classes or has been placed on academic probation as a

11  result of the incident; and

12  (13) other questions as determined by the Task Force.

13 All questions on the base survey shall be optional or shall

14 offer the student the option to select "I prefer not to answer"

15 as a response on the survey.

16  (g) The sexual misconduct climate survey shall collect

17 anonymous responses and shall not provide for the public

18 disclosure of any personally identifying information. No

19 institution may use or attempt to use information collected

20 through the sexual misconduct climate survey to identify or

21 contact any individual student on campus, nor shall the

22 results of the survey be used as the basis for any type of

23 investigation or disciplinary or legal proceeding.

24  (h) There shall be established within the Office of the

25 Board of Higher Education and the Office of the Illinois

26 Community College Board a data repository for all summaries of
    HB4979 Enrolled  - 11 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1 sexual misconduct climate surveys submitted by higher

2 education institutions to the Board of Higher Education or

3 Illinois Community College Board in accordance with subsection

4 (b). The Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community

5 College Board shall ensure that the sexual misconduct climate

6 survey data submitted by all applicable institutions is

7 available to the public in an easily accessible manner on the

8 Board of Higher Education's or Illinois Community College

9 Board's website.

10  (i) Each higher education institution shall publish on the

11 institution's website in an easily accessible manner:

12  (1) the campus level results of the survey;

13  (2) the annual security report required under the

14  federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy

15  and Campus Crime Statistics Act;

16  (3) the reports required under Section 9.21 of the

17  Board of Higher Education Act; and

18  (4) a link to the Board of Higher Education's and

19  Illinois Community College Board's statewide data on

20  sexual misconduct climate survey data as set forth in

21  subsection (h).

22  (j) The Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community

23 College Board shall establish rules and procedures, including

24 deadlines for dissemination and collection of survey

25 information, consistent with the purposes of this Section and

26 shall promote effective solicitation to achieve the highest
    HB4979 Enrolled          - 12 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1 practical response rate, collection, and publication of

2 statistical information gathered from higher education

3 institutions.

4   (k) (Blank).

5 (Source: P.A. 103-288, eff. 7-28-23; 104-127, eff. 1-1-26.)

6   Section 10. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended

7 by changing Section 3 as follows:

8   (110 ILCS 205/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 183)

9   Sec. 3. Terms; vacancies.

10  (a) The members of the Board whose appointments are

11 subject to confirmation by the Senate shall be selected for

12 6-year terms expiring on January 31 of odd numbered years.

13  (b) The members of the Board shall continue to serve after

14 the expiration of their terms until their successors have been

15 appointed.

16  (c) Vacancies on the Board in offices appointed by the

17 Governor shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for

18 the unexpired term. If the appointment is subject to Senate

19 confirmation and the Senate is not in session or is in recess

20 when the appointment is made, the appointee shall serve

21 subject to subsequent Senate approval of the appointment.

22  (d) Each student member shall serve a term of one year

23 beginning on July 1 of each year and serve until a successor is

24 appointed and qualified.
    HB4979 Enrolled     - 13 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   (e) The member of the Board representing public university

2 governing boards and the member of the Board representing

3 private college and university boards of trustees, who are

4 appointed by the Governor but not subject to confirmation by

5 the Senate, shall serve terms of 3 years beginning on July 1.

6 (Source: P.A. 102-1046, eff. 6-7-22; 103-288, eff. 7-28-23.)

7   Section 15. The University of Illinois Act is amended by

8 changing Section 122 as follows:

9   (110 ILCS 305/122)

10  Sec. 122. Academic major report. The Board of Trustees

11 shall provide to each enrolled student, at the time the

12 student declares or changes his or her academic major or

13 program of study, a report that contains relevant,

14 independent, and accurate data related to the student's major

15 or program of study and to the current occupational outlook

16 associated with that major or program of study. The report

17 shall provide the student with all of the following

18 information:

19  (1) The estimated cost of his or her education

20  associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program

21  of study.

22  (2) The average monthly student loan payment over a

23  period of 10 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or

24  her education under paragraph (1).
    HB4979 Enrolled        - 14 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   (3) The percentage of graduate jobs in which average

2   job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a

3   graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of

4   study remains continuously employed with the same employer

5   in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters.

6   (4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an

7   occupation related to that major or program of study.

8   (5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry

9   into an occupation under paragraph (4).

10 (Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

11  Section 20. The Southern Illinois University Management

12 Act is amended by changing Section 102 as follows:

13  (110 ILCS 520/102)

14  Sec. 102. Academic major report. The Board shall provide

15 to each enrolled student, at the time the student declares or

16 changes his or her academic major or program of study, a report

17 that contains relevant, independent, and accurate data related

18 to the student's major or program of study and to the current

19 occupational outlook associated with that major or program of

20 study. The report shall provide the student with all of the

21 following information:

22  (1) The estimated cost of his or her education

23  associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program

24  of study.
    HB4979 Enrolled        - 15 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   (2) The average monthly student loan payment over a

2   period of 10 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or

3   her education under paragraph (1).

4   (3) The percentage of graduate jobs in which average

5   job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a

6   graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of

7   study remains continuously employed with the same employer

8   in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters.

9   (4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an

10  occupation related to that major or program of study.

11  (5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry

12  into an occupation under paragraph (4).

13 (Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

14  Section 25. The Chicago State University Law is amended by

15 changing Section 5-212 as follows:

16  (110 ILCS 660/5-212)

17  Sec. 5-212. Academic major report. The Board shall provide

18 to each enrolled student, at the time the student declares or

19 changes his or her academic major or program of study, a report

20 that contains relevant, independent, and accurate data related

21 to the student's major or program of study and to the current

22 occupational outlook associated with that major or program of

23 study. The report shall provide the student with all of the

24 following information:
    HB4979 Enrolled        - 16 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   (1) The estimated cost of his or her education

2   associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program

3   of study.

4   (2) The average monthly student loan payment over a

5   period of 10 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or

6   her education under paragraph (1).

7   (3) The percentage of graduate jobs in which average

8   job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a

9   graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of

10  study remains continuously employed with the same employer

11  in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters.

12  (4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an

13  occupation related to that major or program of study.

14  (5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry

15  into an occupation under paragraph (4).

16 (Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

17  Section 30. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended

18 by changing Section 10-212 as follows:

19  (110 ILCS 665/10-212)

20  Sec. 10-212. Academic major report. The Board shall

21 provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student

22 declares or changes his or her academic major or program of

23 study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and

24 accurate data related to the student's major or program of
    HB4979 Enrolled        - 17 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1 study and to the current occupational outlook associated with

2 that major or program of study. The report shall provide the

3 student with all of the following information:

4   (1) The estimated cost of his or her education

5   associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program

6   of study.

7   (2) The average monthly student loan payment over a

8   period of 10 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or

9   her education under paragraph (1).

10  (3) The percentage of graduate jobs in which average

11  job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a

12  graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of

13  study remains continuously employed with the same employer

14  in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters.

15  (4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an

16  occupation related to that major or program of study.

17  (5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry

18  into an occupation under paragraph (4).

19 (Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

20  Section 35. The Governors State University Law is amended

21 by changing Section 15-212 as follows:

22  (110 ILCS 670/15-212)

23  Sec. 15-212. Academic major report. The Board shall

24 provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student
    HB4979 Enrolled  - 18 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1 declares or changes his or her academic major or program of

2 study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and

3 accurate data related to the student's major or program of

4 study and to the current occupational outlook associated with

5 that major or program of study. The report shall provide the

6 student with all of the following information:

7   (1) The estimated cost of his or her education

8   associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program

9   of study.

10  (2) The average monthly student loan payment over a

11  period of 10 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or

12  her education under paragraph (1).

13  (3) The percentage of graduate jobs in which average

14  job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a

15  graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of

16  study remains continuously employed with the same employer

17  in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters.

18  (4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an

19  occupation related to that major or program of study.

20  (5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry

21  into an occupation under paragraph (4).

22 (Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

23  Section 40. The Illinois State University Law is amended

24 by changing Section 20-217 as follows:
    HB4979 Enrolled        - 19 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   (110 ILCS 675/20-217)

2   Sec. 20-217. Academic major report. The Board shall

3 provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student

4 declares or changes his or her academic major or program of

5 study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and

6 accurate data related to the student's major or program of

7 study and to the current occupational outlook associated with

8 that major or program of study. The report shall provide the

9 student with all of the following information:

10  (1) The estimated cost of his or her education

11  associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program

12  of study.

13  (2) The average monthly student loan payment over a

14  period of 10 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or

15  her education under paragraph (1).

16  (3) The percentage of graduate jobs in which average

17  job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a

18  graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of

19  study remains continuously employed with the same employer

20  in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters.

21  (4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an

22  occupation related to that major or program of study.

23  (5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry

24  into an occupation under paragraph (4).

25 (Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
    HB4979 Enrolled        - 20 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   Section 45. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is

2 amended by changing Section 25-212 as follows:

3   (110 ILCS 680/25-212)

4   Sec. 25-212. Academic major report. The Board shall

5 provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student

6 declares or changes his or her academic major or program of

7 study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and

8 accurate data related to the student's major or program of

9 study and to the current occupational outlook associated with

10 that major or program of study. The report shall provide the

11 student with all of the following information:

12  (1) The estimated cost of his or her education

13  associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program

14  of study.

15  (2) The average monthly student loan payment over a

16  period of 10 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or

17  her education under paragraph (1).

18  (3) The percentage of graduate jobs in which average

19  job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a

20  graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of

21  study remains continuously employed with the same employer

22  in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters.

23  (4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an

24  occupation related to that major or program of study.

25  (5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry
    HB4979 Enrolled        - 21 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   into an occupation under paragraph (4).

2 (Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

3   Section 50. The Northern Illinois University Law is

4 amended by changing Section 30-222 as follows:

5   (110 ILCS 685/30-222)

6   Sec. 30-222. Academic major report. The Board shall

7 provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student

8 declares or changes his or her academic major or program of

9 study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and

10 accurate data related to the student's major or program of

11 study and to the current occupational outlook associated with

12 that major or program of study. The report shall provide the

13 student with all of the following information:

14  (1) The estimated cost of his or her education

15  associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program

16  of study.

17  (2) The average monthly student loan payment over a

18  period of 10 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or

19  her education under paragraph (1).

20  (3) The percentage of graduate jobs in which average

21  job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a

22  graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of

23  study remains continuously employed with the same employer

24  in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters.
    HB4979 Enrolled        - 22 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   (4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an

2   occupation related to that major or program of study.

3   (5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry

4   into an occupation under paragraph (4).

5 (Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

6   Section 55. The Western Illinois University Law is amended

7 by changing Section 35-217 as follows:

8   (110 ILCS 690/35-217)

9   Sec. 35-217. Academic major report. The Board shall

10 provide to each enrolled student, at the time the student

11 declares or changes his or her academic major or program of

12 study, a report that contains relevant, independent, and

13 accurate data related to the student's major or program of

14 study and to the current occupational outlook associated with

15 that major or program of study. The report shall provide the

16 student with all of the following information:

17  (1) The estimated cost of his or her education

18  associated with pursuing a degree in that major or program

19  of study.

20  (2) The average monthly student loan payment over a

21  period of 10 20 years based on the estimated cost of his or

22  her education under paragraph (1).

23  (3) The percentage of graduate jobs in which average

24  job placement rate within 12 months after graduation for a
    HB4979 Enrolled   - 23 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   graduate who holds a degree in that major or program of

2   study remains continuously employed with the same employer

3   in this State for 3 consecutive fiscal quarters.

4   (4) The average entry-level wage or salary for an

5   occupation related to that major or program of study.

6   (5) The average wage or salary 5 years after entry

7   into an occupation under paragraph (4).

8 (Source: P.A. 102-214, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

9   Section 60. The Higher Education in Prison Act is amended

10 by changing Section 5 as follows:

11  (730 ILCS 225/5)

12  Sec. 5. Higher education in prison programs.

13  (a) In this Section, "higher education" means

14 post-secondary academic education at the undergraduate or

15 graduate level in a community college or university setting.

16  (b) On or before September 1 of the year following the

17 effective date of this Act and each subsequent September 1,

18 the Department of Corrections shall release a report, to be

19 published on the Department of Corrections's Internet website,

20 detailing the following information pertaining to higher

21 education within Department institutions and facilities:

22  (1) the number of unique individuals involved in adult

23  basic education, high school equivalency, and credit and

24  non-credit bearing higher education programs over the
    HB4979 Enrolled      - 24 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   course of the fiscal year;

2   (2) the racial, ethnic, age, and gender breakdown of

3   committed persons participating in higher education

4   programs;

5   (3) the length of sentence and length of remaining

6   sentence of persons enrolled in higher education programs;

7   (4) the number of committed persons who are on waiting

8   lists for participation in all educational programs,

9   including adult basic education, high school equivalency,

10  and higher education, and the average length of time spent

11  on each waiting list, including a breakdown by length of

12  remaining sentence;

13  (5) the total amount of earned program sentence credit

14  awarded to committed persons for participating in higher

15  education programs and the percentage of committed persons

16  participating in higher education programs that are

17  awarded earned program sentence credit;

18  (6) the number, category, and ultimate resolution of

19  grievances related to higher education programs;

20  (7) a financial statement that includes annual and

21  monthly expenditures of Department of Corrections

22  institutions and facilities on adult basic education, high

23  school equivalency, and higher education programs; and

24  (8) an explanation of how participation in adult basic

25  education, high school equivalency, and higher education

26  programs is factored into a committed persons' risk
    HB4979 Enrolled    - 25 - LRB104 19765 LNS 33215 b

1   assessment score.

2   Personal, identifiable information shall be redacted to

3 protect privacy.

4   The report must be filed with the Governor and General

5 Assembly.

6   (c) The data provided in the report under subsection (b)

7 shall include an aggregate chart at the Department level and

8 individual reports by each correctional institution or

9 facility of the Department of Corrections.

10  (d) To facilitate the collection of information on higher

11 education in prison (HEP) programs, each 4-year public or

12 private institution of higher education with HEP degree or

13 certificate programs shall provide the Board of Higher

14 Education with student-level information as part of its

15 regular agency data-collection processes. Each public

16 community college with HEP degree or certificate programs

17 shall provide the Illinois Community College Board with

18 student-level information as part of its regular agency

19 data-collection processes. Upon request, the student-level

20 information shall include the correctional facility in which

21 the HEP program is being offered. The information provided to

22 the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community

23 College Board shall include HEP enrollment and completion data

24 disaggregated by variables, including, but not limited to,

25 race, ethnicity, gender, age, and type of degree or

26 certificate. The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois
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1 Community College Board shall annually make HEP program data
2 publicly available on their Internet websites, as long as
3 public disclosure conforms with State and federal student
4 privacy standards and laws. The Board of Higher Education and
5 the Illinois Community College Board shall determine the form
6 in which HEP program data is made publicly available to
7 protect student privacy.
8 (Source: P.A. 103-541, eff. 1-1-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)

9  Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

10 becoming law.
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