99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1457

 

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Pamela J. Althoff

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 205/9.34 new

    Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Creates the Military Prior Learning Assessment Task Force within the Board of Higher Education to study and make recommendations on how to best effectuate the recognition of military learning for academic credit, industry-recognized credentials, and college degrees through the use of the Prior Learning Assessment. Sets forth the membership of the task force and what the task force's study must include. Requires the task force to report its findings and recommendations on or before December 1, 2016. Repeals these provisions on December 1, 2017. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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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 9.34 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 205/9.34 new)
7    Sec. 9.34. Military Prior Learning Assessment Task Force.
8    (a) The Military Prior Learning Assessment Task Force is
9created within the Board of Higher Education. The Task Force
10shall study and make recommendations on how to best effectuate
11the recognition of military learning for academic credit,
12industry-recognized credentials, and college degrees through
13the use of the Prior Learning Assessment. The Task Force shall
14be comprised of all of the following members:
15        (1) A representative from the Board of Higher
16    Education, who shall chair the Task Force, appointed by the
17    Board of Higher Education.
18        (2) A representative from the Illinois Community
19    College Board appointed by the Illinois Community College
20    Board.
21        (3) A representative from the Department of Veterans'
22    Affairs appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
23        (4) A representative from the Illinois Discharged

 

 

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1    Servicemember Task Force, appointed by the Illinois
2    Discharged Servicemember Task Force.
3        (5) A representative from the Illinois Student
4    Assistance Commission appointed by the Illinois Student
5    Assistance Commission.
6        (6) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
7    Speaker of the House of Representatives.
8        (7) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
9    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
10        (8) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
11    President of the Senate.
12        (9) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
13    Minority Leader of the Senate.
14        (10) Three faculty representatives, one from a public
15    university, one from a public community college, and one
16    from a private institution, appointed by the Board of
17    Higher Education in consultation with the Illinois
18    Community College Board and their advisory groups.
19        (11) Two presidents of Illinois colleges and
20    universities appointed by the Board of Higher Education in
21    consultation with the Illinois Community College Board.
22        (12) A representative from the Illinois Joining Forces
23    Education Working Group appointed by the Illinois Joining
24    Forces Education Working Group.
25        (13) A representative of a nonprofit organization that
26    is recognized as having expertise in the area of the Prior

 

 

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1    Learning Assessment appointed by the Board of Higher
2    Education.
3    Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation
4and may not be reimbursed for their expenses.
5    The Board of Higher Education shall provide administrative
6and other support to the Task Force.
7    (b) The Task Force's study shall without limitation:
8        (1) Examine the history of the Prior Learning
9    Assessment and its impact on active military and student
10    veterans in today's educational landscape.
11        (2) Examine policies and practices in other states to
12    identify best practices in the Prior Learning Assessment
13    for active military and student veterans.
14        (3) Determine current policies and practices in this
15    State, including existing Prior Learning Assessment
16    methods being utilized among this State's public and
17    private colleges and universities in connection with
18    active military and student veterans.
19        (4) Review the quality standards necessary to
20    adequately assess military learning based on experience
21    and non-credit education and training for purposes of
22    awarding academic credit.
23        (5) Consider alternative means to award academic
24    credit for active military and student veterans.
25        (6) Consider transferability of academic credit
26    awarded by the Prior Learning Assessment and student

 

 

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1    mobility.
2        (7) Consider the importance of recognition of
3    industry-recognized credentials by colleges and
4    universities for the purpose of awarding academic credit.
5        (8) Consider the acceptance of industry-recognized
6    credentials and academic credit credentials or degrees by
7    licensing bodies.
8    (c) The Task Force shall report its findings and
9recommendations to the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois
10Community College Board, the Illinois Student Assistance
11Commission, the State Board of Education, the Department of
12Veterans' Affairs, the Illinois Discharged Servicemember Task
13Force, the General Assembly, and the Governor on or before
14December 1, 2016.
15    (d) This Section is repealed on December 1, 2017.
 
16    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17becoming law.