STUDENT TRANSFER ACHIEVEMENT Senate SponsorsSen. Dan Kotowski-Kimberly A. Lightford, Steve Stadelman-Michael E. Hastings-Jacqueline Y. Collins, Pamela J. Althoff and Emil Jones, III House Sponsors(Rep. Fred Crespo-Norine K. Hammond-Linda Chapa LaVia-Barbara Wheeler-Carol Ammons, Thomas M. Bennett, Thaddeus Jones, Al Riley, Jack D. Franks, Carol Sente, Cynthia Soto and La Shawn K. Ford) 8/7/2015SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0316 New Act30 ILCS 805/8.39 newCreates the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Provides that a public community college student who earns an associate degree for transfer granted pursuant to the Act is deemed eligible for transfer into the baccalaureate program of a State university if the student (1) completes 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to a State university and (2) obtains a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Requires a community college district to develop and grant associate degrees for transfer that meet the requirements of the Act. Requires a State university to guarantee admission with junior status to any community college student who meets all of the requirements of the Act. Provides that a State university shall grant a local community college student priority admission and admission to a program or major that is similar to his or her community college major or area of emphasis. Provides that a student admitted under the Act shall receive priority over all other community college transfer students. Sets forth provisions concerning coursework, reviews and reports by the Board of Higher Education, and implementation of the Act. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that a community college student who earns an associate degree for transfer, an Associate of Arts, or an Associate of Science that is consistent with degree requirements of the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education and aligned with the policies and procedures of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (rather than an associate degree for transfer), is deemed eligible for transfer. Removes provisions providing that a community college student is deemed eligible for transferring into the baccalaureate program of a State university upon completion of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter units and a minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis. Provides that without the approval of the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education, a community college district may not impose any requirements for a student to be eligible for an associate degree for transfer and subsequent admission to a State university. Provides that non-transfer coursework must not be counted as part of the transferrable units required. Provides that a State university shall admit and grant junior status in a program, subject to available program capacity, to any Illinois community college student who meets Act requirements, who has completed all lower-division prerequisites, and who meets the admission requirements of the State university's program or major (rather than a State university shall guarantee admission with junior status to any community college student who meets Act requirements). Removes provisions providing that a State university shall grant a local community college student priority admission and admission to a program or major that is similar to his or her community college major or area of emphasis. Provides that a State university may not require a transferring student to take more than 60 additional semester units beyond the lower-division major requirements for majors requiring 120 semester units, provided that the student remains enrolled in the same program of study and has completed university major transfer requirements. Removes provisions providing that a State university may require a transferring student to take additional courses at the State university so long as the student is not required to take any more than 60 additional semester units or 90 quarter units at the State university. Provides that a State university may not require transferring students to repeat courses that are articulated with (instead of similar to) those taken at the community college and counted toward an associate degree for transfer. Provides that the General Assembly encourages State universities and community colleges to facilitate the seamless transfer of credits toward a baccalaureate degree. 2/5/2015SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Dan Kotowski 2/5/2015SenateFirst Reading 2/5/2015SenateReferred to Assignments 2/17/2015SenateAssigned to Higher Education 2/23/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford 3/6/2015SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve Stadelman 3/11/2015SenatePostponed - Higher Education 3/13/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael E. Hastings 3/18/2015SenatePostponed - Higher Education 3/24/2015SenateDo Pass Higher Education; 010-001-000 3/24/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 25, 2015 4/21/2015SenateSecond Reading 4/21/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 22, 2015 4/22/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins 4/23/2015SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Pamela J. Althoff 4/24/2015SenateRule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 15, 2015 5/8/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Dan Kotowski 5/8/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 5/12/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Dan Kotowski 5/12/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments 5/12/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8(b-1), the following amendment will remain in the Committee on Assignments 5/12/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Higher Education 5/13/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Higher Education; 012-000-000 5/13/2015SenateRecalled to Second Reading 5/13/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted; Kotowski 5/13/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading 5/13/2015SenateThird Reading - Passed; 053-000-000 5/13/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) 5/13/2015HouseArrived in House 5/13/2015HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Fred Crespo 5/14/2015HouseFirst Reading 5/14/2015HouseReferred to Rules Committee 5/18/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 22, 2015 5/18/2015HouseAssigned to Higher Education Committee 5/18/2015HouseMotion Filed to Suspend Rule 21 Higher Education Committee; Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie 5/18/2015HouseMotion Prevailed 5/19/2015HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 016-000-000 5/19/2015HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/19/2015HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond 5/19/2015HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia 5/19/2015HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Wheeler 5/19/2015HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons 5/20/2015HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 5/20/2015HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 5/22/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Thomas M. Bennett 5/22/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones 5/22/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2015 5/25/2015SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III 5/26/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Al Riley 5/28/2015HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 116-000-000 5/28/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jack D. Franks 5/28/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Sente 5/28/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Cynthia Soto 5/28/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. La Shawn K. Ford 5/28/2015SenatePassed Both Houses 6/26/2015SenateSent to the Governor 8/7/2015SenateGovernor Approved 8/7/2015SenateEffective Date January 1, 2016 8/7/2015SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0316