103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3818

 

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Carol Ammons

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 205/9.43 new

    Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to establish the Commission on Higher Education in Prison. Provides that the Commission shall be responsible for assisting the Board in implementing and coordinating the recommendations of the Illinois Higher Education in Prison Task Force. Provides that within the first 3 months after its first meeting, the Commission shall identify recommendations to implement, with a minimum of 3 recommendations per year. Provides that any recommendations that are identified shall expand access to quality higher education in prison in this State and propel this State to being a national exemplar in the area. Sets forth provisions concerning Commission membership, meetings, responsibilities, and dissolution.


LRB103 26176 RJT 52535 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3818LRB103 26176 RJT 52535 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by
5adding Section 9.43 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 205/9.43 new)
7    Sec. 9.43. Commission on Higher Education in Prison.
8    (a) As used in this Section:
9    "Commission" means the Commission on Higher Education in
10Prison established by this Section.
11    "Higher education in prison" means post-secondary academic
12education at the undergraduate and graduate level in both
13community college and university settings.
14    (b) The Board shall establish the Commission on Higher
15Education in Prison. The Commission shall be responsible for
16assisting the Board in implementing and coordinating the
17recommendations of the Illinois Higher Education in Prison
18Task Force. Within the first 3 months after its first meeting,
19the Commission shall identify recommendations to implement,
20with a minimum of 3 recommendations per year. Any
21recommendations that are identified shall expand access to
22quality higher education in prison in this State and propel
23this State to being a national exemplar in the area.

 

 

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1    (c) The Commission shall be composed of all of the
2following members:
3        (1) A representative from the Board, appointed by the
4    Board.
5        (2) A representative from the Illinois Community
6    College Board, appointed by the Illinois Community College
7    Board.
8        (3) A representative from the Department of
9    Corrections, appointed by the Director of Corrections.
10        (4) A representative from the Illinois Coalition for
11    Higher Ed in Prison, appointed by the Governor.
12        (5) A representative from the John Howard Association,
13    appointed by the Governor.
14        (6) A representative from the Illinois Student
15    Assistance Commission, appointed by Illinois Student
16    Assistance Commission.
17        (7) One member of the House of Representatives,
18    appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
19    one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by
20    the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one
21    member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the
22    Senate, and one member of the Senate, appointed by the
23    Minority Leader of the Senate.
24        (8) Four former students of prison education programs,
25    appointed by the Governor. One of these individuals must
26    have served time in a female-designated facility.

 

 

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1        (9) Four current or former educators or administrators
2    of State higher education in prison programs, appointed by
3    the Governor.
4Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.
5    (d) Appointment of members to the Commission shall be made
6within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act
7of the 103rd General Assembly, with the first meeting of the
8Commission to be held at a reasonable period of time
9thereafter. The Commission shall hold at least 6 meetings each
10year. Additional meetings may be scheduled at the call of the
11chairperson.
12    (e) From among the Commission's members, a chairperson
13shall be selected by majority vote of the members during the
14first meeting of the Commission. The chairperson shall preside
15for a one-year term. A chairperson may seek reelection to the
16Commission. A chairperson shall be selected by majority vote
17every year.
18    (f) The term of membership on the Commission shall be for 3
19years.
20    (g) The responsibilities of the Commission shall include
21all of the following:
22        (1) Identifying resources, strategies, and legislative
23    proposals to support the administration and implementation
24    of the Illinois Higher Education in Prison Task Force's
25    recommendations.
26        (2) Exploring the advisability of creating a permanent

 

 

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1    statewide higher education in prison commission or
2    advising body and making final recommendations to the
3    General Assembly regarding such a body.
4        (3) Ensuring that currently incarcerated individuals
5    have the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the
6    work of the Commission on a regular basis and provide
7    critical input about the direction of any statewide policy
8    related to higher education in prison.
9        (4) Presenting, at an annual subject matter hearing,
10    to the General Assembly a report on the Commission's
11    progress and the state of policy and practice in this
12    State. The chairperson of the Commission shall be
13    responsible for fulfilling this obligation. Any
14    accompanying materials shall be made available to the
15    general public on the Board's website.
16        (5) Issuing a final report to the Board, the Governor
17    and the General Assembly. The final report shall capture
18    the full progress of the Commission and how the Commission
19    has fulfilled its responsibilities. This report must be
20    made available to the general public on the Board's
21    website.
22    (h) The Commission members appointed by a State agency
23shall report back to their respective agency on the progress
24of the Commission in fulfilling its responsibilities.
25    (i) The Board shall provide administrative and technical
26support to the Commission and be responsible for administering

 

 

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1the Commission's operations and ensuring that the
2responsibilities of the Commission are met.
3    (j) Upon the release of its final report, the Commission
4shall be dissolved.