HB6621 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 17215 NHT 42881 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB6621

Introduced 02/09/04, by Jim Watson - Richard P. Myers - William B. Black - Ed Sullivan Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 205/9.30 new
110 ILCS 305/35 new
110 ILCS 520/20 new
110 ILCS 660/5-130 new
110 ILCS 665/10-130 new
110 ILCS 670/15-130 new
110 ILCS 675/20-135 new
110 ILCS 680/25-130 new
110 ILCS 685/30-140 new
110 ILCS 690/35-135 new
110 ILCS 805/3-21	from Ch. 122, par. 103-21
110 ILCS 805/3-26.5 new

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act, various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois, and the Public Community College Act. Requires public institutions of higher education to establish a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. Requires the policy to provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the institution shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. Provides that the student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. Provides that if the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service. Effective July 1, 2004.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning higher education.

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

Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.30 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.30 new)

Sec. 9.30. Students called to active military service; guidelines. The Board shall establish guidelines to assist public institutions of higher education in establishing policies regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service.

Section 10. The University of Illinois Act is amended by adding Section 35 as follows:

(110 ILCS 305/35 new)

Sec. 35. Students called to active military service; policy. The Board of Trustees shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the university shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 15. The Southern Illinois University Management Act is amended by adding Section 20 as follows:

(110 ILCS 520/20 new)

Sec. 20. Students called to active military service; policy. The Board shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the university shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 20. The Chicago State University Law is amended by adding Section 5-130 as follows:

(110 ILCS 660/5-130 new)

Sec. 5-130. Students called to active military service; policy. The Board shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the university shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 25. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 10-130 as follows:

(110 ILCS 665/10-130 new)

Sec. 10-130. Students called to active military service; policy. The Board shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the university shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 30. The Governors State University Law is amended by adding Section 15-130 as follows:

(110 ILCS 670/15-130 new)

Sec. 15-130. Students called to active military service; policy. The Board shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the university shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 35. The Illinois State University Law is amended by adding Section 20-135 as follows:

(110 ILCS 675/20-135 new)

Sec. 20-135. Students called to active military service; policy. The Board shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the university shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 40. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 25-130 as follows:

(110 ILCS 680/25-130 new)

Sec. 25-130. Students called to active military service; policy. The Board shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the university shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 45. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 30-140 as follows:

(110 ILCS 685/30-140 new)

Sec. 30-140. Students called to active military service; policy. The Board shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the university shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 50. The Western Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 35-135 as follows:

(110 ILCS 690/35-135 new)

Sec. 35-135. Students called to active military service; policy. The Board shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the university shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 55. The Public Community College Act is amended by changing Section 3-21 and by adding Section 3-26.5 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/3-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 103-21)

Sec. 3-21. The board of community college districts shall have the duties enumerated in the Sections following this Section and preceding Section 3-30 Sections 3-22 through 3-29.2.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Article to the contrary, when bonds are issued by any district and the purposes for which such bonds have been issued have been accomplished and paid for in full and there remains funds on hand in such bond and interest account, the board by resolution may transfer such excess to the fund of the district which bears the nearest relation to the purpose for which the bonds from which such excess funds arose were issued.

(Source: P.A. 86-1246.)

(110 ILCS 805/3-26.5 new)

Sec. 3-26.5. Students called to active military service; policy. The board shall establish, pursuant to guidelines of the Board of Higher Education, a policy regarding currently enrolled students who are called to or enlist in active military service. The policy shall provide that any student enrolled in a course or courses at the community college shall not incur academic or financial penalties by virtue of performing military service on behalf of the United States. The student must be permitted the option of either completing the course or courses at a later date without penalty or withdrawing from the course or courses with a full refund of fees paid. If the student chooses to withdraw, the student's record shall reflect that the withdrawal is due to active military service.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on July 1, 2004.