Government Relations - Current Bills - Western Illinois University

Current Bill Status

Bill Number: HB3819
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Cross - Elizabeth Coulson
Current Status: 10/23/2003 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Upon the condition that House Bill 3412 as passed by the 93rd General Assembly becomes law, amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prohibits the intentional solicitation and acceptance of gifts by and the offering and making of gifts to executive and legislative officers and employees and certain family members from specified prohibited sources. Makes certain exceptions. Provides for the appointment of Inspectors General in the executive and legislative branches and by the Auditor General to investigate alleged violations of the Act. Provides for the appointment of an executive ethics commission and a legislative ethics commission to hear complaints of violations, impose fines, and recommend discipline. Preempts home rule and requires units of local government and school districts to adopt similar gift bans. Amends the Open Meetings Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, and the Personnel Code to make conforming changes. Repeals the Whistle Blower Protection Act and the State Gift Ban Act. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB3844
Sponsor: Rep. James Meyer
Current Status: House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that the tuition rate for a member or dependent of a member of the Illinois National Guard, United States Coast Guard, or United States Armed Forces must not exceed the tuition rate for Illinois residents if the member is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days and the member´s domicile or permanent duty station is in this State. Requires a university´s board of trustees to adopt a policy governing the tuition rate for persons who no longer qualify for the tuition rate established in these amendatory provisions but who remain continuously enrolled at the university and to report this policy to the Board of Higher Education. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB3855
Sponsor: Rep. James Meyer
Current Status: House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Campus Demonstrations Policy Act. Prohibits the regulation of the time, place, and manner of speech and assembly by the administration of a State-supported institution of higher learning from being more restrictive than necessary to protect normal academic and institutional activities. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB3874
Sponsor: Rep. Chapin Rose
Current Status: 11/04/2003 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the University of Illinois Trustees Act, Southern Illinois University Management Act, Chicago State University Law, Eastern Illinois University Law, Governors State University Law, Illinois State University Law, Northeastern Illinois University Law, Northern Illinois University Law, and Western Illinois University Law. Provides that the Governor must appoint trustees from a list of nominees submitted by the university´s alumni association. Each list must contain the name of at least 3 qualified individuals who are affiliated with each political party that is eligible for appointment. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB3877
Sponsor: Rep. Dan Brady
Current Status: 11/04/2003 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that if a person is on active military duty and stationed in Illinois, then a university´s governing board shall deem that person and any of his or her dependents Illinois residents for tuition purposes. Effective July 1, 2004.

Bill Number: HB3901
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Black
Current Status: House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that, in the case of a civil action brought to enforce the Act, the court shall (now, may) conduct an in camera examination of the verbatim record of a closed meeting (now, as it finds appropriate) in order to determine whether there has been a violation of the Act and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, shall (now, may) conduct an in camera examination of the verbatim record of a closed meeting in order to determine what portions, if any, must be made available to the parties for use as evidence in the prosecution. Effective January 1, 2004.

Bill Number: HB3902
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Black
Current Status: House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Election Code. Authorizes local election authorities to establish programs in which Illinois college students may serve as election judges in precincts where they are not entitled to vote. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB3939
Sponsor: Rep. Ricca Slone
Current Status: 11/20/2003 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Governor´s Office of Management and Budget Act, and the State Comptroller Act. Requires the Governor´s Office of Management and Budget to develop program objectives and performance measures for State programs and agencies. Provides that the program objectives and performance measures must incorporate specified performance management practices. Requires the program objectives and performance measures to be used in budgets prepared for fiscal years 2007 and thereafter. Provides that the Comptroller shall, in cooperation with the Governor´s Office of Management and Budget, compile and publish the data developed under the specified performance management practices. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB4073
Sponsor: Rep. Monique Davis
Current Status: House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Creates the Higher Education Commission Act. Creates the Higher Education Commission to establish criteria for the tenure of public university professors, to be submitted to each university for use in making tenure decisions. Requires each university to submit all decisions to grant or deny tenure to the Commission for approval.

Bill Number: HB4141
Sponsor: Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia
Current Status: House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Creates the College Student Voter Registration Act. Beginning July 1, 2006, requires public universities, colleges, and community colleges in Illinois to (i) provide voter registration to students as part of the school registration process, (ii) specifically ask eligible students if they wish to register to vote, and (iii) request appointment of a sufficient number of deputy voter registrars.

Bill Number: HB4247
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Black
Current Status: 01/30/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Open Meetings Act. Prohibits the inspection of the verbatim record of a closed meeting, including for discovery purposes, in a judicial proceeding other than in a judicial proceeding to determine whether the Act has been violated. Requires (now, permits) a court´s examination of verbatim records in a civil proceeding to be conducted in camera. Requires that the initial examination in a criminal proceeding must be in camera, but other examinations need not be in camera. Removes the authority of an administrative hearing officer to redact information that may qualify under the attorney-client privilege.

Bill Number: HB4361
Sponsor: Rep. Daniel J. Burke - Donald L. Moffitt - Michael K. Smith - Ricca Slone
Current Status: 2/3/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Creates the Fire Sprinkler Dormitory Act. Contains only a short title provision. Effective January 1, 2005.

Bill Number: HB4392
Sponsor: Rep. Jay C. Hoffman

Current Status: 2/3/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that materials prepared or compiled with respect to internal audits of public bodies shall not be exempt from inspection and copying. Effective July 1, 2004.

Bill Number: HB4409
Sponsor: Rep. Angelo Saviano

Current Status: 2/3/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Teacher and Chicago Teacher Articles, provides that a participant may establish, without paying contributions, up to 5 years of credit for military service immediately following employment, and removes certain restrictions relating to wartime. In those Articles and the State Employee and State Universities Articles, changes the method of calculating interest when establishing credit for military service not immediately following employment. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB4510
Sponsor: Rep. Dan Reitz
Current Status: 2/3/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Property Tax Code to allow a member of an elected board of review to hold other lucrative public office or public employment if not for a governmental body that levies real estate taxes. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois to allow a governing board member to be an employee of the federal government.

Bill Number: HB4526
Sponsor: Rep. Sara Feigenholtz
Current Status: 2/3/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board to determine the type of extended health insurance coverage that State universities must offer to recent graduates. Provides that the coverage must be similar to what the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) provides for workers. Requires each State university to offer this standard extended health insurance coverage to its recent graduates.

Bill Number: HB4686
Sponsor: Rep. Marlow H. Colvin
Current Status: 2/4/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois and amends the Public Community College Act. Requires public institutions of higher education to allow a currently enrolled student who is called to active military service to complete any unfinished courses at a later date at no additional charge, unless course credit has already been given. Provides that the student must be given priority over other students in reenrolling in the course or courses. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB4713
Sponsor: Rep. Jack D. Franks
Current Status: 2/4/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois and amends the Public Community College Act. Requires public institutions of higher education to allow a currently enrolled student who is called to active military service to withdraw from the courses he or she is taking, with a full refund of tuition and fees, and complete the courses at a later date. Provides that the student must be given priority over other students in reenrolling in the courses.

Bill Number: HB4744
Sponsor: Rep. Kevin A. McCarthy
Current Status: 2/4/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes changes concerning the Monetary Award Program. Removes a provision that provides that a grant is applicable to tuition and fees for 2 semesters or 3 quarters in an academic year. Removes provisions concerning part-time and summer term enrollment. Provides that the maximum grant amount shall be $4,968 during an academic year (instead of for 2 semesters or 3 quarter of full-time enrollment). Provides that an applicant is ineligible for assistance after the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours (instead of 10 semesters or 15 quarters) of award payments. Effective July 1, 2004.

Bill Number: HB5054
Sponsor: Rep. Ricca Slone
Current Status: 2/5/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Creates the University Tuition Stabilization Act and amends the State Finance Act. Creates the University Tuition Stabilization Fund as a special fund in the State treasury to reduce the need for State universities to increase tuition in fiscal years of State budgetary shortfalls. Provides that a university´s use of tuition revenues shall not exceed 99.5% of the estimated tuition revenues for the fiscal year when estimated State general funds revenues exceed the prior fiscal year´s estimated general funds revenues by more than 4% (instead, the university shall deposit a total amount equal to 0.5% of the estimated tuition revenues into the Fund). Provides that a university´s use of tuition revenues shall not exceed 99% of the estimated tuition revenues for the fiscal year when estimated State general funds revenues exceed the prior fiscal year´s estimated general funds revenues by more than 4% for 2 or more consecutive fiscal years (instead, the university shall deposit a total amount equal to 1% of the estimated tuition revenues into the Fund). Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be appropriated to universities for budget years (i) in which the rate of insured unemployment in this State equals or exceeds 6%, as determined by the Department of Employment Security, or (ii) in which the amount of State funds budgeted for universities is equal to or less than the amount appropriated to universities the prior fiscal year. Effective July 1, 2004.

Bill Number: HB6574
Sponsor: Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson
Current Status: 2/6/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts the e-mail addresses of university students, employees, and governing board members from the Act´s copying and inspection requirements. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB6621
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Watson - Richard P. Myers - William B. Black - Ed Sullivan Jr.
Current Status: 2/9/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: 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.

Bill Number: HB6623
Sponsor: Rep. Chapin Rose
Current Status: 2/9/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that Monetary Award Program grants also apply to the summer term (now, summer term assistance is made separately on an individual basis according to Illinois Student Assistance Commission policy). Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB6627
Sponsor: Rep. Richard P. Myers
Current Status: 2/9/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board to study privatization of student living at public universities and report to the General Assembly by January 1, 2006. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB6628
Sponsor: Rep. Richard P. Myers
Current Status: 2/9/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers´ Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2004, the tax with respect to textbooks required for use at State universities and public community colleges or certain other institutions of higher learning is imposed under these Acts at the rate of 1.25% (eliminating the State´s portion of the tax). Authorizes the Department of Revenue to adopt rules. Amends the State Finance Act to adjust the distribution with respect to this tax. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB6630
Sponsor: Rep. Roger L. Eddy - Ruth Munson
Current Status: 2/9/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Creates the College and University Electronic Textbook Act. Upon request, requires a publisher of a textbook that is adopted for instructional use at a college or university to furnish the college or university with an electronic version of the textbook if the textbook is for a literary subject or, for a textbook for a nonliterary subject, if the technology is available to convert the textbook directly to a format compatible with braille translation software. Provides that a publisher may not charge a price for this electronic version that exceeds the price it charges for the print or electronic media version of the textbook. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: HB6843
Sponsor: Rep. Jay C. Hoffman
Current Status: 2/9/2004 House Referred to Rules Committee: Description: Amends the Capital Development Board Act to provide, notwithstanding other provisions of the Act, that community college districts are subject to the Local Government Professional Services Selection Act and that universities and the Illinois Community College Board are subject to the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act. Amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act to provide that selection shall be conducted by the Capital Development Board on behalf of universities and the Illinois Community College Board unless waived by the Executive Director of CDB. Amends the Local Government Professional Services Selection Act (i) to provide that selection shall be conducted by the Capital Development Board on behalf of political subdivisions, including without limitation community college districts, for projects that are funded in whole or in part by the State unless waived by the Executive Director of CDB and (ii) to remove an exception to the requirements of the Act when the political subdivision "has a satisfactory relationship for services with one or more firms". Effective July 1, 2004.

Bill Number: SB2157
Sponsor: Sen. William R. Haine
Current Status: Senate Referred to Rules: Description: Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that an employee is entitled to receive service credit for up to 2 years (now up to one year) of unused sick leave. Effective immediately.

Bill Number: SB2408
Sponsor: Sen. Lawrence M. Walsh
Current Status: 2/3/2004 Senate Referred to Rules: Description: Amends various Acts relating to the governance of the public universities in Illinois. Provides that to be eligible for a partial tuition waiver, a child must be a natural, biological offspring or an adopted child or a stepchild of an eligible employee prior to his or her retirement. Requires the board of trustees of each university to offer 50% tuition waivers for undergraduate education to the children of persons receiving a retirement or disability retirement annuity under the Illinois Pension Code based on at least 20 years of service with one or more than one public university. Effective July 1, 2004.

Bill Number: SB2860
Sponsor: Sen. Edward Petka

Current Status: 2/6/2004 Senate Referred to Rules: Description: Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Prohibits public universities from using money appropriated from the General Revenue Fund or the Education Assistance Fund for group insurance payments to Central Management Services to cover persons other than employees and legal dependents and spouses of employees.

Bill Number: SB3106
Sponsor: Sen. Louis S. Viverito
Current Status: 2/6/2004 Senate Referred to Rules: Description: Amends the Open Meetings Act to allow members of a public body to attend a meeting by electronic means, subject to certain limitations. Requires the physical presence of the person testifying in any contested case, as defined in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, unless all parties waive the requirement of physical presence. Requires minutes of all public bodies to reflect whether members were physically present or present by electronic means. Provides that a quorum of the members must be physically present for the public body to vote on the issuance of bonds. Allows a public body to adopt rules concerning attendance at meetings by electronic means. Prohibits electronic communication during the course of a meeting of a public body between members of the public body who are physically present at the meeting. Makes other changes.

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