SB2287 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 14252 NHT 63123 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2287

Introduced 10/28/2019, by Sen. Cristina Castro

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 305/120 new
110 ILCS 520/100 new
110 ILCS 660/5-210 new
110 ILCS 665/10-210 new
110 ILCS 670/15-210 new
110 ILCS 675/20-215 new
110 ILCS 680/25-210 new
110 ILCS 685/30-220 new
110 ILCS 690/35-215 new
110 ILCS 947/84 new

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities. Sets forth requirements concerning mandatory student fees, including the establishment of a system of internal controls over mandatory student fees, an assessment of each mandatory student fee, and the establishment of separate funds. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires an institution of higher learning to provide a financial aid shopping sheet to each prospective student as part of the institution's financial aid offer to that student. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to develop a model format for the shopping sheet; sets forth what the model shopping sheet must include. Requires each institution to utilize either the model shopping sheet or the most current financial aid shopping sheet developed by the United States Department of Education or the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Effective July 1, 2020.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by adding Section 120 as follows:

(110 ILCS 305/120 new)

Sec. 120. Student fee transparency. The Board of Trustees shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop written policies and procedures that establish a system of internal controls over the development and management of mandatory student fees and ensure that these controls are applied consistently. The written policies shall define who is responsible for the assessment or adjustment of the mandatory student fees and shall include guidelines for monitoring whether mandatory student fee revenue is used efficiently and for the intended purpose.

(2) Assess each of the University's mandatory student fees individually and document the criteria and justification for any adjustments made to the fees. For each mandatory student fee, the documentation shall include, at a minimum, the purpose of the student fee, the criteria used to determine its rate, the projected mandatory fee revenue, and the appropriate use of the revenue.

(3) Establish a separate fund in the University's budget for each mandatory student fee to promote transparency of fee revenue and expenditures.

(4) Implement accounting procedures that establish a process to accurately identify transactions related to mandatory student fee activity and the expenditures related to each of the mandatory student fees.

(5) Include in the University's description of its mandatory student fees all uses of the fee moneys, including salaries.

Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management Act is amended by adding Section 100 as follows:

(110 ILCS 520/100 new)

Sec. 100. Student fee transparency. The Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop written policies and procedures that establish a system of internal controls over the development and management of mandatory student fees and ensure that these controls are applied consistently. The written policies shall define who is responsible for the assessment or adjustment of the mandatory student fees and shall include guidelines for monitoring whether mandatory student fee revenue is used efficiently and for the intended purpose.

(2) Assess each of the University's mandatory student fees individually and document the criteria and justification for any adjustments made to the fees. For each mandatory student fee, the documentation shall include, at a minimum, the purpose of the student fee, the criteria used to determine its rate, the projected mandatory fee revenue, and the appropriate use of the revenue.

(3) Establish a separate fund in the University's budget for each mandatory student fee to promote transparency of fee revenue and expenditures.

(4) Implement accounting procedures that establish a process to accurately identify transactions related to mandatory student fee activity and the expenditures related to each of the mandatory student fees.

(5) Include in the University's description of its mandatory student fees all uses of the fee moneys, including salaries.

Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by adding Section 5-210 as follows:

(110 ILCS 660/5-210 new)

Sec. 5-210. Student fee transparency. The Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop written policies and procedures that establish a system of internal controls over the development and management of mandatory student fees and ensure that these controls are applied consistently. The written policies shall define who is responsible for the assessment or adjustment of the mandatory student fees and shall include guidelines for monitoring whether mandatory student fee revenue is used efficiently and for the intended purpose.

(2) Assess each of the University's mandatory student fees individually and document the criteria and justification for any adjustments made to the fees. For each mandatory student fee, the documentation shall include, at a minimum, the purpose of the student fee, the criteria used to determine its rate, the projected mandatory fee revenue, and the appropriate use of the revenue.

(3) Establish a separate fund in the University's budget for each mandatory student fee to promote transparency of fee revenue and expenditures.

(4) Implement accounting procedures that establish a process to accurately identify transactions related to mandatory student fee activity and the expenditures related to each of the mandatory student fees.

(5) Include in the University's description of its mandatory student fees all uses of the fee moneys, including salaries.

Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 10-210 as follows:

(110 ILCS 665/10-210 new)

Sec. 10-210. Student fee transparency. The Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop written policies and procedures that establish a system of internal controls over the development and management of mandatory student fees and ensure that these controls are applied consistently. The written policies shall define who is responsible for the assessment or adjustment of the mandatory student fees and shall include guidelines for monitoring whether mandatory student fee revenue is used efficiently and for the intended purpose.

(2) Assess each of the University's mandatory student fees individually and document the criteria and justification for any adjustments made to the fees. For each mandatory student fee, the documentation shall include, at a minimum, the purpose of the student fee, the criteria used to determine its rate, the projected mandatory fee revenue, and the appropriate use of the revenue.

(3) Establish a separate fund in the University's budget for each mandatory student fee to promote transparency of fee revenue and expenditures.

(4) Implement accounting procedures that establish a process to accurately identify transactions related to mandatory student fee activity and the expenditures related to each of the mandatory student fees.

(5) Include in the University's description of its mandatory student fees all uses of the fee moneys, including salaries.

Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended by adding Section 15-210 as follows:

(110 ILCS 670/15-210 new)

Sec. 15-210. Student fee transparency. The Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop written policies and procedures that establish a system of internal controls over the development and management of mandatory student fees and ensure that these controls are applied consistently. The written policies shall define who is responsible for the assessment or adjustment of the mandatory student fees and shall include guidelines for monitoring whether mandatory student fee revenue is used efficiently and for the intended purpose.

(2) Assess each of the University's mandatory student fees individually and document the criteria and justification for any adjustments made to the fees. For each mandatory student fee, the documentation shall include, at a minimum, the purpose of the student fee, the criteria used to determine its rate, the projected mandatory fee revenue, and the appropriate use of the revenue.

(3) Establish a separate fund in the University's budget for each mandatory student fee to promote transparency of fee revenue and expenditures.

(4) Implement accounting procedures that establish a process to accurately identify transactions related to mandatory student fee activity and the expenditures related to each of the mandatory student fees.

(5) Include in the University's description of its mandatory student fees all uses of the fee moneys, including salaries.

Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended by adding Section 20-215 as follows:

(110 ILCS 675/20-215 new)

Sec. 20-215. Student fee transparency. The Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop written policies and procedures that establish a system of internal controls over the development and management of mandatory student fees and ensure that these controls are applied consistently. The written policies shall define who is responsible for the assessment or adjustment of the mandatory student fees and shall include guidelines for monitoring whether mandatory student fee revenue is used efficiently and for the intended purpose.

(2) Assess each of the University's mandatory student fees individually and document the criteria and justification for any adjustments made to the fees. For each mandatory student fee, the documentation shall include, at a minimum, the purpose of the student fee, the criteria used to determine its rate, the projected mandatory fee revenue, and the appropriate use of the revenue.

(3) Establish a separate fund in the University's budget for each mandatory student fee to promote transparency of fee revenue and expenditures.

(4) Implement accounting procedures that establish a process to accurately identify transactions related to mandatory student fee activity and the expenditures related to each of the mandatory student fees.

(5) Include in the University's description of its mandatory student fees all uses of the fee moneys, including salaries.

Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 25-210 as follows:

(110 ILCS 680/25-210 new)

Sec. 25-210. Student fee transparency. The Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop written policies and procedures that establish a system of internal controls over the development and management of mandatory student fees and ensure that these controls are applied consistently. The written policies shall define who is responsible for the assessment or adjustment of the mandatory student fees and shall include guidelines for monitoring whether mandatory student fee revenue is used efficiently and for the intended purpose.

(2) Assess each of the University's mandatory student fees individually and document the criteria and justification for any adjustments made to the fees. For each mandatory student fee, the documentation shall include, at a minimum, the purpose of the student fee, the criteria used to determine its rate, the projected mandatory fee revenue, and the appropriate use of the revenue.

(3) Establish a separate fund in the University's budget for each mandatory student fee to promote transparency of fee revenue and expenditures.

(4) Implement accounting procedures that establish a process to accurately identify transactions related to mandatory student fee activity and the expenditures related to each of the mandatory student fees.

(5) Include in the University's description of its mandatory student fees all uses of the fee moneys, including salaries.

Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 30-220 as follows:

(110 ILCS 685/30-220 new)

Sec. 30-220. Student fee transparency. The Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop written policies and procedures that establish a system of internal controls over the development and management of mandatory student fees and ensure that these controls are applied consistently. The written policies shall define who is responsible for the assessment or adjustment of the mandatory student fees and shall include guidelines for monitoring whether mandatory student fee revenue is used efficiently and for the intended purpose.

(2) Assess each of the University's mandatory student fees individually and document the criteria and justification for any adjustments made to the fees. For each mandatory student fee, the documentation shall include, at a minimum, the purpose of the student fee, the criteria used to determine its rate, the projected mandatory fee revenue, and the appropriate use of the revenue.

(3) Establish a separate fund in the University's budget for each mandatory student fee to promote transparency of fee revenue and expenditures.

(4) Implement accounting procedures that establish a process to accurately identify transactions related to mandatory student fee activity and the expenditures related to each of the mandatory student fees.

(5) Include in the University's description of its mandatory student fees all uses of the fee moneys, including salaries.

Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 35-215 as follows:

(110 ILCS 690/35-215 new)

Sec. 35-215. Student fee transparency. The Board shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop written policies and procedures that establish a system of internal controls over the development and management of mandatory student fees and ensure that these controls are applied consistently. The written policies shall define who is responsible for the assessment or adjustment of the mandatory student fees and shall include guidelines for monitoring whether mandatory student fee revenue is used efficiently and for the intended purpose.

(2) Assess each of the University's mandatory student fees individually and document the criteria and justification for any adjustments made to the fees. For each mandatory student fee, the documentation shall include, at a minimum, the purpose of the student fee, the criteria used to determine its rate, the projected mandatory fee revenue, and the appropriate use of the revenue.

(3) Establish a separate fund in the University's budget for each mandatory student fee to promote transparency of fee revenue and expenditures.

(4) Implement accounting procedures that establish a process to accurately identify transactions related to mandatory student fee activity and the expenditures related to each of the mandatory student fees.

(5) Include in the University's description of its mandatory student fees all uses of the fee moneys, including salaries.

Section 50. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 84 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/84 new)

Sec. 84. Financial aid shopping sheet.

(a) An institution shall provide a financial aid shopping sheet to each prospective student as part of the institution's financial aid offer to that student. The purpose of the shopping sheet shall be to provide prospective students and their families with clear information on the costs, loan options, and estimated debt that the student will incur in attending the institution and to allow students and families to easily evaluate and compare financial aid packages from different institutions.

(b) The Commission shall develop a model format for the shopping sheet required by subsection (a). Each institution shall utilize either the model format developed by the Commission or the most current financial aid shopping sheet developed by the United States Department of Education or the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The model shopping sheet developed by the Commission shall include, at a minimum, all of the following information:

(1) The total cost for one year of attendance at the institution, including tuition, student fees, room and board costs, the cost of books and materials, and transportation and other educational costs.

(2) The total amount per year of grants and scholarships awarded to the student, including any grants and scholarships from the institution, federal grants, State grants, or other scholarships.

(3) The total net amount the student will owe for one year of attendance at the institution, after taking into account any grants and scholarships.

(4) The total amount per year of student loans and work study funds that the student is eligible for, broken down by federal Perkins Loans, federal Direct Subsidized Loans, federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and federal, State, or institutional work study funds.

(5) The median borrowing in federal loans for undergraduate study at the institution and the average monthly payment over 10 years for this amount.

(6) The percentage of students from the institution who defaulted on their student loans.

(7) In the case of an institution that offers primarily associate degrees, the percentage of students at the institution who graduate within 3 years as compared to the average percentage at other institutions that offer primarily associate degrees. In the case of an institution that offers primarily baccalaureate degrees, the percentage of students at the institution who graduate within 6 years as compared to the average percentage at other institutions that offer primarily baccalaureate degrees.

(c) The Commission, in developing the model format for the shopping sheet, shall consider any sample or model formats for a financial aid shopping sheet developed by the United States Department of Education or the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

(d) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2020.