HB0908 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 05899 AXK 50920 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB0908

Introduced , by Rep. Jonathan Carroll

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Higher Education Mental Health Act. Provides for legislative findings and purposes. Requires the Board of Higher Education to establish the Advisory Commission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education; provides for the membership and meetings of the Commission. Requires the Commission to conduct a study and prepare reports for the Higher Education Committee of the House of Representatives and the Higher Education Committee of the Senate; specifies the report's requirements. Provides that the Commission is dissolved on the day after it submits its final report. Repeals the Act on June 1, 2023.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Higher Education Mental Health Act.

Section 5. Findings and purposes.

(a) The General Assembly finds the following:

(1) More than 75% of mental health conditions begin before the age of 24.

(2) More than 25% of students 18 years of age or older and under 24 reported a mental health concern.

(3) More than 50% of students 18 years of age or older and under 24 reported having a severe psychological problem.

(4) More than 50% of students 18 years of age or older and under 24 reported feelings of hopelessness.

(5) Higher education counseling centers are devoting more time to rapid-response treatment, with more than 25% of students who sought help reporting that they had intentionally hurt themselves.

(6) Over a 5-year period, counseling center utilization increased by an average of 30% to 40%, while enrollment increased by only 5%, forcing institutions of higher education to provide mental health services to more students without increasing resources.

(b) The purposes of this Act are the following:

(1) To ensure institutions of higher education are provided with accurate information on the mental health concerns facing students.

(2) To provide detailed recommendations that institutions of higher education and this State can use to improve the mental health services available to students and properly treat the rising number of students with mental health issues.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Commission" means the Advisory Commission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education.

"Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education.

Section 15. Commission created.

(a) The Board of Higher Education shall establish a commission to be known as the Advisory Commission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education. The Commission may not be comprised of more than 25 members and must include all of the following members, to be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of this Act:

(1) One Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2) One Representative appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(3) One Senator appointed by the President of the Senate.

(4) One Senator appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(5) One member appointed by the Governor.

(6) One member appointed by the Executive Director.

(7) One member representing the Department of Human Services' Division of Mental Health, appointed by the Secretary of Human Services.

(8) One member from each dean of students' office at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, and Northwestern University, appointed by the Executive Director.

(9) One member from the Student Success Center at Richland Community College, appointed by the Executive Director.

(10) One member from Wellness Services at Southwestern Illinois College, appointed by the Executive Director.

(11) One member from a Wellness Center at the City Colleges of Chicago, appointed by the Executive Director.

(12) One member representing the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, appointed by the Executive Director.

(13) One member representing Mental Health America of Illinois, appointed by the Executive Director.

(14) One member representing an association of administrative and personnel professionals focused on creating an inclusive higher education environment for individuals with disabilities, appointed by the Executive Director.

(15) One member representing an organization of secondary and postsecondary education students with mental health disabilities advocating for mental health services and suicide prevention, appointed by the Executive Director.

(16) The following members representing institutions of higher education of varying size in this State, appointed by the Executive Director:

(A) Three members who are each a family member of an individual who is:

(i) enrolled in an institution of higher education on the date the family member is appointed to the Commission; or

(ii) a former student of an institution of higher education with a mental health disability.

(B) Four members who are individuals with mental health disabilities, at least 2 of whom must be enrolled in an institution of higher education on the date of appointment. Any remaining members must be individuals with a mental health disability who have attended an institution of higher education.

(b) The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but must be reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses, subject to appropriation to the Board of Higher Education and the rules of the appropriate travel control board. The Board of Higher Education and the federal government may provide administrative and other support to the Commission. The Board of Higher Education shall make available to the Commission necessary equipment, supplies, and services.

Section 20. Meetings. No later than 60 days after the appointment of the members of the Commission under Section 15, the Commission shall hold its first meeting, on a date determined by the Board of Higher Education, and must select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the Commission. The vice chairperson must be a member who is a student or former student with a mental health disability. After its first meeting, the Commission must meet at the call of the chairperson, but not more than a total of 8 times.

Section 25. Study and report.

(a) The Commission shall conduct a study and prepare reports for the Higher Education Committee of the House of Representatives and the Higher Education Committee of the Senate that includes all of the following:

(1) Findings from stakeholders, including through the solicitation of public testimony, related to the challenges faced by students with mental health disabilities in institutions of higher education, including:

(A) the services available to students with mental health disabilities at institutions of higher education and the services' effectiveness in supporting these students;

(B) the impact of policies and procedures that help or hinder the goal of providing equal opportunity for students with mental health disabilities, such as reasonable accommodation policies, mandatory and voluntary leave policies, and disciplinary policies;

(C) the use of protected health information of students with mental health disabilities by institutions of higher education, including the extent to which campus-based mental health providers share this information with college or university officials without a student's consent; and

(D) the impact of providing mental health services on a student's academic performance, well-being, and ability to complete college.

(2) Conclusions on the major challenges facing students with mental health disabilities in institutions of higher education.

(3) Recommendations to improve the overall education and retention and graduation of students with mental health disabilities in institutions of higher education, with the goal of helping those students access educational opportunities equal to those of their peers who do not have a disability.

(b) The Commission shall prepare and submit to the Executive Director, the Higher Education Committee of the House of Representatives, and the Higher Education Committee of the Senate all of the following:

(1) An interim report that summarizes the progress of the Commission, along with any interim findings, conclusions, and recommendations, as described in subsection (a).

(2) A final report that states final findings, conclusions, and recommendations, as described in subsection (a).

(c) The reports required under subsection (b) shall be prepared and submitted by the following dates:

(1) in the case of the interim report, no later than one year after the date in which all of the members of the Commission are appointed; and

(2) in the case of the final report, no later than 2 years after the date in which all of the members of the Commission are appointed.

Section 90. Dissolution and repealer.

(a) The Commission is dissolved on the day after the date the Commission submits its final report under Section 25.

(b) This Act is repealed on June 1, 2023.