HB3818ham001 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Carol Ammons

Filed: 3/24/2023

10300HB3818ham001 LRB103 26176 RJT 59938 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3818

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3818 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.43 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.43 new)

Sec. 9.43. Commission on Higher Education in Prison.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Commission" means the Commission on Higher Education in Prison established by this Section.

"Higher education in prison" means post-secondary academic education at the undergraduate and graduate level in both community college and university settings.

(b) The Board shall establish the Commission on Higher Education in Prison. The Commission shall be responsible for assisting the Board in implementing and coordinating the recommendations of the Illinois Higher Education in Prison Task Force. Within the first 3 months after its first meeting, the Commission shall identify recommendations to implement, with a minimum of 3 recommendations per year. 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.

(c) The Commission shall be composed of all of the following members:

(1) The Executive Director of the Board or the Executive Director's designee, who shall serve as a co-chairperson of the Commission.

(2) The Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board or the Executive Director's designee, who shall serve as a co-chairperson of the Commission.

(3) A representative from the Department of Corrections, appointed by the Director of Corrections.

(4) A representative from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, appointed by Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

(5) A representative from the Illinois Coalition for Higher Ed in Prison, appointed by the Governor.

(6) A representative from the John Howard Association, appointed by the Governor.

(7) One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member of the Senate, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(8) Six formerly incarcerated students, one of whom must have served time in a female-designated facility, or administrators of higher education in prison programs, each representing a different program and Department of Corrections facility, appointed by Illinois Community College Board.

(9) One administrator of a higher education in prison program of a 4-year institution of higher education who represents a program at a Department of Corrections facility not already represented on the Commission, appointed by the Board.

(10) One administrator of a higher education in prison program of a 2-year institution of higher education, including a public community college, who represents a program at a Department of Corrections facility not already represented on the Commission, appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.

Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.

(d) Appointment of members to the Commission shall be made within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, with the first meeting of the Commission to be held at a reasonable period of time thereafter. The Commission shall hold at least 6 meetings each year. Additional meetings may be scheduled at the call of the chairperson.

(e) The term of membership on the Commission shall be for 3 years.

(f) The responsibilities of the Commission shall include all of the following:

(1) Identifying resources, strategies, and legislative proposals to support the administration and implementation of the Illinois Higher Education in Prison Task Force's recommendations.

(2) Exploring the advisability of creating a permanent statewide higher education in prison commission or advising body and making final recommendations to the General Assembly regarding such a body.

(3) Ensuring that currently incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the work of the Commission on a regular basis and provide critical input about the direction of any statewide policy related to higher education in prison.

(4) Presenting, at an annual subject matter hearing, to the General Assembly a report on the Commission's progress and the state of policy and practice in this State. The chairperson of the Commission shall be responsible for fulfilling this obligation. Any accompanying materials shall be made available to the general public on the Board's website.

(5) Issuing a final report to the Board, the Governor and the General Assembly. The final report shall capture the full progress of the Commission and how the Commission has fulfilled its responsibilities. This report must be made available to the general public on the Board's website.

(g) The Commission members appointed by a State agency shall report back to their respective agency on the progress of the Commission in fulfilling its responsibilities.

(h) The Board shall provide administrative and technical support to the Commission and be responsible for administering the Commission's operations and ensuring that the responsibilities of the Commission are met.

(i) Upon the release of its final report, the Commission shall be dissolved.".