Bill Amendment: IL HB4990 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly

NOTE: For additional amemendments please see the Bill Drafting List
Bill Title: HIGHER ED-PREVENT SEX VIOLENCE

Status: 2026-06-01 - Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee [HB4990 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB4990-Senate_Amendment_003.html

Sen. Graciela Guzm�n

Filed: 5/22/2026

 

 


 

 


 
10400HB4990sam003LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4990

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 4990, AS AMENDED,
3by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
4following:
 
5    "Section 5. The Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher
6Education Act is amended by changing Sections 5, 10, 15, 20,
725, and 30 and by adding Section 40 as follows:
 
8    (110 ILCS 155/5)
9    Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:
10    "Annual report" means the annual report required to be
11submitted by a higher education institution to the Attorney
12General and the Department of Human Rights under subsection
13(b) of Section 9.21 of the Board of Higher Education Act that
14includes the comprehensive policy adopted under Section 10 of
15this Act and the written notification of survivor's rights and
16options required under Section 15 of this Act.    

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 2 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    "Awareness programming" means institutional action
2designed to communicate the prevalence of sexual violence,
3including without limitation training, poster and flyer
4campaigns, electronic communications, films, guest speakers,
5symposia, conferences, seminars, or panel discussions.
6    "Bystander intervention" includes without limitation the
7act of challenging the social norms that support, condone, or
8permit sexual violence.
9    "Complainant" means a student who files a complaint
10alleging violation of the comprehensive policy through the
11higher education institution's complaint resolution procedure.
12    "Comprehensive policy" means a policy created and
13implemented by a higher education institution to address
14student allegations of sexual violence, domestic violence,
15dating violence, and stalking, and sexual harassment.
16    "Complaint advisor" means a person chosen by a complainant
17or respondent to advise the complainant or respondent
18regarding the complaint resolution procedure, who may
19accompany the complainant or respondent to any meeting,
20interview, or hearing with the individual or individuals who
21will resolve a complaint related to an alleged violation of
22the comprehensive policy and who may be appointed by a higher
23education institution for a party at the request of that
24party. "Complaint advisor" includes, but is not limited to, an
25attorney. "Complaint advisor" does not include a complainant's
26confidential advisor, unless the complainant requests that the

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 3 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1confidential advisor serve as the complainant's complaint
2advisor and the confidential advisor agrees to serve as such.    
3    "Confidential advisor" means a person who is employed or
4contracted by a higher education institution to provide
5emergency and ongoing support to student survivors of sexual
6violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and
7sexual harassment, with the training, duties, and
8responsibilities described in Section 20 of this Act.
9"Confidential advisor" does not include a complainant's
10complaint advisor, unless the complainant requests that the
11confidential advisor serve as the complainant's complaint
12advisor and the confidential advisor agrees to serve as such.    
13    "Dating violence" means any act of abuse committed by a
14person who is or has been in a romantic or intimate
15relationship with a survivor.
16    "Digital sexual harassment" means technology-facilitated
17abusive acts, including, but not limited to, repeated,
18unwelcome electronic communications based on sex or containing
19sexually-explicit material, and actual or threatened
20dissemination of a private or digitally altered sexual image
21without the depicted individual's consent, as defined in
22Section 5 of the Civil Remedies for Nonconsensual
23Dissemination of Private Sexual Images Act.
24    "Domestic violence" means any act of abuse as defined in
25the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.    
26    "Higher education institution" means a public university,

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 4 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1a public community college, or an independent, not-for-profit
2or for-profit higher education institution located in this
3State.
4    "Lack of capacity" means an inability to give knowing and
5affirming consent.    
6    "Primary prevention programming" means institutional
7action and strategies intended to prevent sexual violence
8before it occurs by means of changing social norms and other
9approaches, including without limitation training, poster and
10flyer campaigns, electronic communications, films, guest
11speakers, symposia, conferences, seminars, or panel
12discussions.
13    "Respondent" means a student involved in the complaint
14resolution procedure who has been accused of violating a
15higher education institution's comprehensive policy.
16    "Retaliation" means any action taken against a person,
17including, but not limited to, intimidation, threats,
18coercion, or discrimination, to purposefully or knowingly
19interfere with any right or privilege secured by this Act or
20Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 because
21that person reported information, made a complaint, testified,
22assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any
23manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing, including
24in an informal resolution process. "Retaliation" includes
25actions by a student, a higher education institution, an
26employee or other individual authorized by a higher education

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 5 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1institution to provide aid, a benefit, or a service under an
2education program or activity of the higher education
3institution, or a third party acting on behalf of a higher
4education institution or a respondent.    
5    "Sexual harassment" means unwelcome sex-based conduct,
6including, but not limited to, unwanted sexual advances,
7unwanted requests for sexual favors, or any unwanted verbal,
8nonverbal, or physical conduct that is sex-based or that is
9related to a person's sex, sexual orientation, or gender
10identity, toward a student that (i) a reasonable person would
11view as substantially interfering with the student's
12educational performance or participation in a program or
13activity of a higher education institution, including, but not
14limited to, any mental or physical health impacts, any new or
15increased challenges with focusing on academics or activities,
16any fear or anxiety about attending class or activities, or
17the need to alter routines or class or activity schedules to
18avoid another student, or (ii) creates an environment that a
19reasonable person would consider to be intimidating, hostile,
20or offensive. "Sexual harassment" includes digital sexual
21harassment.    
22    "Sexual violence" means physical sexual acts attempted or
23perpetrated against a person's will or when a person is
24incapable of giving consent, including without limitation
25rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse, and sexual
26coercion.

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 6 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    "Stalking" has the meaning given to that term in the
2Stalking No Contact Order Act.    
3    "Survivor" means a student enrolled at a higher education
4institution who has self-identified as having experienced
5sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or    
6stalking, or sexual harassment while enrolled at a higher
7education institution.
8    "Survivor-centered" means a systematic focus on the needs
9and concerns of a survivor of sexual violence, domestic
10violence, dating violence, or stalking, or sexual harassment    
11that (i) ensures the compassionate and sensitive delivery of
12services in a nonjudgmental manner; (ii) ensures an
13understanding of how trauma affects survivor behavior; (iii)
14maintains survivor safety, privacy, and, if possible,
15confidentiality; and (iv) recognizes that a survivor is not
16responsible for the sexual violence, domestic violence, dating
17violence, or stalking, or sexual harassment.
18    "Trauma-informed response" means a response involving an
19understanding of the complexities of sexual violence, domestic
20violence, dating violence, or stalking, or sexual harassment    
21through training centered on the neurobiological impact of
22trauma, the influence of societal myths and stereotypes
23surrounding sexual violence, domestic violence, dating
24violence, or stalking, or sexual harassment, and understanding
25the behavior of perpetrators. "Trauma-informed response"
26includes empowering survivors to make their own decisions

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 7 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1regarding care, healing, supportive measures, and whether to
2report or engage with systems and then supporting those
3decisions.    
4(Source: P.A. 99-426, eff. 8-21-15.)
 
5    (110 ILCS 155/10)
6    Sec. 10. Comprehensive policy.     
7    (a) All On or before August 1, 2016, all higher education
8institutions shall adopt a comprehensive policy concerning
9sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and    
10stalking, and sexual harassment consistent with governing
11federal and State law. The higher education institution's
12comprehensive policy shall include, at a minimum, all of the
13following components:
14        (1) A definition of consent that, at a minimum,
15    recognizes that (i) consent is a freely given agreement to
16    sexual activity, (ii) a person's lack of verbal or
17    physical resistance or submission resulting from the use
18    or threat of force does not constitute consent, (iii) a
19    person's manner of dress does not constitute consent, (iv)
20    a person's consent to past sexual activity does not
21    constitute consent to future sexual activity, (v) a
22    person's consent to engage in sexual activity with one
23    person does not constitute consent to engage in sexual
24    activity with another, (vi) a person can withdraw consent
25    at any time, and (vii) a person cannot consent to sexual

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 8 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    activity if that person is unable to understand the nature
2    of the activity or give knowing consent due to
3    circumstances, including without limitation the following:
4            (A) the person has a lack of capacity is
5        incapacitated due to the use or influence of alcohol
6        or drugs;
7            (B) the person is asleep or unconscious;
8            (C) the person is under age; or
9            (D) the person has a lack of capacity is
10        incapacitated due to a mental disability.
11        Nothing in this Section prevents a higher education
12    institution from defining consent in a more demanding
13    manner.
14        (2) Procedures that students of the higher education
15    institution may follow if they choose to report an alleged
16    violation of the comprehensive policy, regardless of where
17    the incident of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating
18    violence, or stalking, or sexual harassment occurred,
19    including all of the following:
20            (A) Name and contact information for the Title IX
21        coordinator, campus law enforcement or security, local
22        law enforcement, and the community-based sexual
23        assault crisis center.
24            (B) The name, title, and contact information for
25        confidential advisors and other confidential resources
26        and a description of what confidential reporting

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 9 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1        means.
2            (C) Information regarding the various individuals,
3        departments, or organizations to whom a student may
4        report a violation of the comprehensive policy,
5        specifying for each individual and entity (i) the
6        extent of the individual's or entity's reporting
7        obligation, (ii) the extent of the individual's or
8        entity's ability to protect the student's privacy, and
9        (iii) the extent of the individual's or entity's
10        ability to have confidential communications with the
11        student.
12            (D) An option for students to electronically
13        report.
14            (E) An option for students to anonymously report.
15            (F) An option for students to confidentially
16        report.
17            (G) An option for reports by third parties and
18        bystanders. However, while third parties and
19        bystanders may report, the higher education
20        institution may not compel a survivor's participation
21        in a complaint resolution procedure.    
22            (H) Information about how the higher education
23        institution prohibits and responds to retaliation and
24        the process for reporting retaliation under the
25        comprehensive policy.    
26        (3) The higher education institution's procedure for

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 10 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    responding to a report of an alleged incident of sexual
2    violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking,
3    or sexual harassment, including without limitation (i)
4    assisting and interviewing the survivor, (ii) identifying
5    and locating witnesses, (iii) contacting and interviewing
6    the respondent, (iv) contacting and cooperating with law
7    enforcement, when applicable, and (v) providing
8    information regarding the importance of preserving
9    physical evidence of the sexual violence and the
10    availability of a medical forensic examination at no
11    charge to the survivor, and (vi) providing information
12    about how the higher education institution prohibits and
13    responds to retaliation and the process for reporting
14    retaliation under the comprehensive policy.
15        (4) A statement of the higher education institution's
16    obligation to provide survivors with concise information,
17    written in plain language, concerning the survivor's
18    rights and options, upon receiving a report of an alleged
19    violation of the comprehensive policy, as described in
20    Section 15 of this Act.
21        (5) The name, address, and telephone number of the
22    medical facility nearest to each campus of the higher
23    education institution where a survivor may have a medical
24    forensic examination completed at no cost to the survivor,
25    pursuant to the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency
26    Treatment Act.

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 11 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1        (6) The name, telephone number, address, and website
2    URL, if available, of community-based, State, and national
3    sexual assault crisis centers.
4        (7) A statement notifying survivors of the interim    
5    protective and supportive measures and accommodations    
6    reasonably available from the higher education institution
7    that a survivor may request in response to an alleged
8    violation of the comprehensive policy, including without
9    limitation changes to academic, living, dining,
10    transportation, and working situations, obtaining and
11    enforcing campus no contact orders, and how the higher
12    education institution supports the honoring of an order of
13    protection or no contact order entered by a State civil or
14    criminal court.
15        (8) The higher education institution's complaint
16    resolution procedures if a student alleges violation of
17    the comprehensive violence policy, including, at a
18    minimum, the guidelines set forth in Section 25 of this
19    Act.
20        (9) A statement of the range of sanctions the higher
21    education institution may impose following the
22    implementation of its complaint resolution procedures in
23    response to an alleged violation of the comprehensive
24    policy. Sanctions may include, but are not limited to,
25    suspension, expulsion, or removal of the student found,
26    after complaint resolution procedures, to be in violation

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 12 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    of the comprehensive policy of the higher education
2    institution.
3        (10) A statement of the higher education institution's
4    obligation to include an amnesty provision that provides
5    immunity to any student who reports, in good faith, an
6    alleged violation of the higher education institution's
7    comprehensive policy to a responsible employee, as defined
8    by federal law, so that the reporting student will not
9    receive a disciplinary sanction by the higher education    
10    institution for a student conduct violation, such as
11    underage drinking or possession or use of a controlled
12    substance, that is revealed in the course of such a
13    report, unless the institution determines that the
14    violation was egregious, including without limitation an
15    action that places the health or safety of any other
16    person at significant or serious risk.
17        (11) A statement of the higher education institution's
18    prohibition on retaliation against those who, in good
19    faith, report or disclose an alleged violation of the
20    comprehensive policy, file a complaint, or otherwise
21    participate in the complaint resolution procedure and
22    available sanctions for individuals who engage in
23    retaliatory conduct.
24    (b) On or before August 1, 2027, each higher education
25institution shall update its comprehensive policy to ensure
26compliance with this amendatory Act of the 104th General

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 13 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1Assembly.
2    (c) Each higher education institution shall act in
3accordance with its comprehensive policy. Beginning August 1,
42027, any party that is aggrieved by a material failure of a
5higher education institution to substantially comply with this
6Section may bring a civil lawsuit. The lawsuit must be brought
7no later than 4 years after the alleged violation of this
8Section. The court may not find that a higher education
9institution violated this Section if the higher education
10institution demonstrates substantial compliance in good faith
11with its comprehensive policy, adopted pursuant to this
12Section, and applicable law in effect at the time of the
13alleged violation. If the court finds by a preponderance of
14the evidence that a higher education institution acted with
15deliberate indifference in violating this Section or in
16disregarding the safety of the aggrieved party, the court may
17award actual and punitive damages. Punitive damages may be
18awarded only if there is evidence of intentional misconduct or
19deliberate indifference regarding student safety. The court,
20as it deems appropriate, may grant, as relief, a permanent or
21preliminary negative or mandatory injunction, temporary
22restraining order, or other order.
23    Upon a motion, a court shall award reasonable attorney's
24fees and costs, including expert witness fees and other
25litigation expenses, to a plaintiff who is a prevailing party
26in any action brought under this subsection (c). In awarding

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 14 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1reasonable attorney's fees, the court shall consider the
2degree to which the relief obtained relates to the relief
3sought.
4    (d) Except where emergency injunctive relief is sought, an
5aggrieved party must provide written notice to the higher
6education institution identifying the alleged violation and
7allow the higher education institution 30 days to cure or
8address the alleged noncompliance prior to filing a civil
9action under subsection (c), to be referred to as the 30-day
10period to cure. The aggrieved party may bring a civil lawsuit
11after the higher education institution's 30-day period to
12cure. Emergency injunctive relief shall be limited to ongoing
13or imminent violations of this Section. The applicable statute
14of limitations shall toll during the 30-day period to cure.    
15    (e) Nothing in this Section may be construed to require an
16exhaustion of any administrative complaint process, other than
17as provided in subsection (d), before civil law remedies may
18be pursued.
19    (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section,
20if the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that a
21higher education institution has engaged in a material
22violation of Section 10, the Attorney General may commence a
23civil action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois
24to obtain appropriate equitable and declaratory relief.
25    (g) Nothing in this Section may be construed to limit the
26authority of the Attorney General to bring an action or seek

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 15 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1relief under the Illinois Human Rights Act or any other
2applicable law.
3    (h) Nothing in this Section shall preclude any other
4remedy or relief available to an aggrieved party under
5applicable law.    
6(Source: P.A. 99-426, eff. 8-21-15; 99-741, eff. 8-5-16;
7100-1087, eff. 1-1-19.)
 
8    (110 ILCS 155/15)
9    Sec. 15. Student notification of rights and options.
10    (a) Upon On or before August 1, 2016, upon being notified
11of an alleged violation of the comprehensive policy by or on
12behalf of a student, each higher education institution shall,
13at a minimum, provide the survivor, when identified, with a
14concise notification, written in plain language, of the
15survivor's rights and options, including without limitation:
16        (1) the survivor's right to report or not report the
17    alleged incident to the higher education institution, law
18    enforcement, or both, including information about the
19    survivor's right to privacy and which reporting methods
20    are confidential, as well as the survivor's right to
21    participate or not participate in any investigation into
22    the alleged incident;
23        (2) the contact information for the higher education
24    institution's Title IX coordinator or coordinators,
25    confidential advisors, a community-based sexual assault

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 16 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    crisis center, campus law enforcement, and local law
2    enforcement;
3        (3) the survivor's right to request and receive
4    assistance from campus authorities in notifying law
5    enforcement;
6        (4) the survivor's ability to request interim    
7    protective and supportive measures and accommodations for
8    survivors, including without limitation changes to
9    academic, living, dining, working, and transportation
10    situations and , obtaining and enforcing a campus-issued
11    order of protection or no contact order, if such
12    protective and supportive measures and accommodations are
13    reasonably available, and an order of protection or no
14    contact order in State court;
15        (5) the higher education institution's ability to
16    provide assistance, upon the survivor's request, in
17    accessing and navigating campus and local health and
18    mental health services, counseling, and advocacy services;
19    and
20        (6) a summary of the higher education institution's
21    complaint resolution procedures, under Section 25 of this
22    Act, if the survivor reports a violation of the
23    comprehensive policy; and .
24        (7) information about how the higher education
25    institution prohibits and responds to retaliation and the
26    process for reporting retaliation under the comprehensive

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 17 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    policy.    
2    (b) Within 12 hours after receiving an electronic report
3or by the next business day for other reports, the higher
4education institution shall respond to the electronic    
5reporter. If the reporter is not the survivor, the higher
6education institution shall also contact the survivor, if
7known, by the next business day following receipt of the
8report. The separate responses to the reporter and the
9survivor must and, at a minimum, provide the information
10described in subdivisions (1) through (7) (6) of subsection
11(a) of this Section and a list of available resources. The
12higher education institution may choose the manner in which it
13responds including, but not limited to, through verbal or
14electronic communication. Nothing in this subsection (b)
15limits a higher education institution's obligations under
16subsection (a) of this Section.
17(Source: P.A. 99-426, eff. 8-21-15.)
 
18    (110 ILCS 155/20)
19    Sec. 20. Confidential advisor.
20    (a) Each higher education institution shall provide
21students with access to confidential advisors to provide
22emergency and ongoing support to survivors of sexual violence.
23    (b) The confidential advisors may not be individuals on
24campus who are designated as responsible employees under Title
25IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972. Nothing in

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 18 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1this Section precludes a higher education institution from
2partnering with a community-based sexual assault crisis center
3to provide confidential advisors.
4    (b-5) A confidential advisor is separate from a complaint
5advisor, unless the complainant and confidential advisor agree
6to have the confidential advisor also serve as the complaint
7advisor. Unless prohibited by Title IX of the federal
8Education Amendments of 1972 or other federal law, a
9complainant has a right to have both a support person, which
10may be the confidential advisor if the person so chooses, and a
11complaint advisor at any meeting or proceeding related to an
12alleged violation of the comprehensive policy or under Title
13IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972. The higher
14education institution must not require or appoint a
15confidential advisor to serve as the complainant's complaint
16advisor.    
17    (c) All confidential advisors shall receive 40 hours of
18training on sexual violence, if they have not already
19completed this 40-hour training, before being designated a
20confidential advisor and shall attend a minimum of 6 hours of
21ongoing education training annually on issues related to
22sexual violence to remain a confidential advisor. Confidential
23advisors shall also receive periodic training on the campus
24administrative processes, interim protective and supportive    
25measures and accommodations, and complaint resolution
26procedures.

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 19 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    (d) In the course of working with a survivor, each
2confidential advisor shall, at a minimum, do all of the
3following:
4        (1) Inform the survivor of the survivor's choice of
5    possible next steps regarding the survivor's reporting
6    options and possible outcomes, including without
7    limitation reporting pursuant to the higher education
8    institution's comprehensive policy and notifying local law
9    enforcement.
10        (2) Notify the survivor of resources and services for
11    survivors of sexual violence, including, but not limited
12    to, student services available on campus and through
13    community-based resources, including without limitation
14    sexual assault crisis centers, medical treatment
15    facilities, counseling services, legal resources, medical
16    forensic services, and mental health services. A
17    confidential advisor must inform the survivor if
18    requesting or receiving certain resources or services may
19    affect confidentiality.    
20        (3) Inform the survivor of the survivor's rights and
21    the higher education institution's responsibilities
22    regarding orders of protection, no contact orders, or
23    similar lawful orders issued by the higher education
24    institution or a criminal or civil court.
25        (4) Provide confidential services to and have
26    privileged, confidential communications with survivors of

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 20 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    sexual violence in accordance with Section 8-804 of the
2    Code of Civil Procedure.
3        (5) Upon the survivor's request and as appropriate,
4    liaise with campus officials, community-based sexual
5    assault crisis centers, or local law enforcement and, if
6    requested, assist the survivor with contacting and
7    reporting to campus officials, campus law enforcement, or
8    local law enforcement. A confidential advisor must inform
9    the survivor if requesting or receiving certain resources
10    or services may affect confidentiality.    
11        (6) Upon the survivor's request, liaise with the
12    necessary campus authorities to secure interim protective
13    and supportive measures and accommodations for the
14    survivor.
15        (7) Upon the survivor's request, liaise with the
16    necessary campus authorities to assist the survivor in
17    responding to and advocating against any retaliation by
18    the respondent or any other individual, including agents
19    of the higher education institution.    
20(Source: P.A. 99-426, eff. 8-21-15.)
 
21    (110 ILCS 155/25)
22    Sec. 25. Complaint resolution procedures.
23    (a) On or before August 1, 2016, each campus of a higher
24education institution shall adopt one procedure to resolve
25complaints of alleged student violations of the comprehensive

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 21 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1policy.
2    (b) For each campus, a higher education institution's
3complaint resolution procedures for allegations of student
4violation of the comprehensive policy shall provide, at a
5minimum, all of the following:
6        (1) Complainants and respondents alleging student
7    violation of the comprehensive policy shall have the right
8    to have opportunity to request that the complaint
9    resolution procedure begin promptly and be completed
10    within 120 days after the complaint was received by the
11    higher education institution. A reasonable extension of
12    this timeframe is allowed on a case-by-case basis for good
13    cause, with notice to the parties that includes the reason
14    for the delay. Written notification must be provided to
15    the complainant and the respondent if the complaint
16    resolution procedure extends beyond 120 days. Both parties
17    shall have the right to the consideration of any
18    additional protective and supportive measures that may be
19    necessary due to a delay in the complaint resolution
20    procedure proceed in a timely manner.
21        (2) The higher education institution shall determine
22    the individuals who will resolve complaints of alleged
23    student violations of the comprehensive policy.
24        (3) All individuals whose duties include resolution of
25    complaints of student violations of the comprehensive
26    policy shall receive a minimum of 8 to 10 hours of annual

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 22 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    training on issues related to sexual violence, domestic
2    violence, dating violence, and stalking, and sexual
3    harassment and how to conduct the higher education
4    institution's complaint resolution procedures, in addition
5    to the annual training required for employees as provided
6    in subsection (c) of Section 30 of this Act. The initial
7    training must be completed prior to such individuals
8    participating in the investigation of or resolution of
9    complaints.    
10        (4) The higher education institution shall have a
11    sufficient number of individuals trained to resolve
12    complaints so that (i) a substitution can occur in the
13    case of a conflict of interest or recusal and (ii) an
14    individual or individuals with no prior involvement in the
15    initial determination or finding hear any appeal brought
16    by a party.
17        (4.5) The higher education institution may consolidate
18    complaints by a complainant against more than one
19    respondent or by more than one complainant against one or
20    more respondents if the allegations arise out of the same
21    facts or circumstances and if the higher education
22    institution provides the complainant with a timely written
23    notice of its intent to consolidate and offers the
24    complainant a reasonable opportunity to respond. However,
25    in a consolidated complaint resolution proceeding, the
26    individual or individuals resolving the complaints must

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 23 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    take reasonable measures to protect the privacy of each
2    complainant and respondent.    
3        (5) The individual or individuals resolving a
4    complaint shall use a preponderance of the evidence
5    standard to determine whether the alleged violation of the
6    comprehensive policy occurred.
7        (6) The complainant and respondent shall (i) receive
8    notice of the individual or individuals with authority to
9    make a finding or impose a sanction in their proceeding
10    before the individual or individuals initiate contact with
11    either party and (ii) have the opportunity to request a
12    substitution if the participation of an individual with
13    authority to make a finding or impose a sanction poses a
14    conflict of interest.
15        (7) The higher education institution shall have a
16    procedure to determine interim protective and supportive    
17    measures and accommodations available pending the
18    resolution of the complaint. Such protective and
19    supportive measures must not be overly burdensome to
20    either party or result in excluding either party from
21    participation in, denying either party the benefits of, or
22    subjecting either party to discrimination under any
23    education program or activity or otherwise interfere with
24    any right or privilege secured by this Act or Title IX of
25    the federal Education Amendments of 1972.    
26        Nothing in this Section prohibits a higher education

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 24 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    institution from following its emergency or regular
2    removal or expulsion processes.    
3        If the higher education institution determines that,
4    to provide reasonable protective and supportive measures,
5    it must burden either the complainant or the respondent,
6    the higher education institution must minimize the burden
7    on the complainant to the extent possible, unless the
8    higher education institution is obligated to address the
9    protective and supportive measures under Title IX of the
10    federal Education Amendments of 1972 and Title IX requires
11    burdening the complainant instead of the respondent.    
12        The higher education institution shall provide or
13    facilitate reasonable protective and supportive measures
14    within the scope of services, programs, and accommodations
15    reasonably available through the higher education
16    institution and bear the cost of those reasonable
17    protective and supportive measures. The higher education
18    institution shall have a procedure for providing
19    reasonable protective and supportive measures to all
20    students who report sexual violence, domestic violence,
21    dating violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. Those
22    protective and supportive measures shall be available even
23    if a student does not file a formal complaint, the
24    student's complaint is dismissed, or there is no finding
25    of responsibility in the complaint resolution procedure.    
26        Protective and supportive measures may include, but

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 25 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    are not limited to, counseling; extensions of deadlines;
2    granting requests to change enrollment options after
3    deadlines and other course-related adjustments; campus
4    escort services; increased security and monitoring of
5    certain areas of the campus; campus no contact orders and
6    honoring protective orders entered by a civil or criminal
7    court; leaves of absence to seek medical care, legal
8    assistance, counseling, safety planning, advocacy, or
9    other assistance without penalty from the higher education
10    institution; excused absences to attend, participate in,
11    or prepare for a court, campus, administrative, or
12    quasi-judicial proceeding; training and education programs
13    related to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating
14    violence, stalking, or sexual harassment; and changes in a
15    class schedule, a campus employment or work schedule,
16    housing, or an extracurricular or other activity.    
17        A higher education institution must make a good faith
18    effort to accommodate requests for reasonable protective
19    and supportive measures. Each request for protective and
20    supportive measures must be evaluated on an individualized
21    basis to determine the reasonableness of the request, and,
22    if the original request is determined to be unreasonable,
23    the higher education institution must consider alternative
24    reasonable protective and supportive measures to address
25    the party's needs. The major or course enrolled in by the
26    party, on its own, is not a reason to deny protective and

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 26 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    supportive measures. If the higher education institution
2    cannot grant a survivor's request and a comparable
3    alternative is not available, the higher education
4    institution must consider whether there are any other
5    reasonably available options that could support the
6    survivor or meet the survivor's needs and offer those
7    options to the survivor.    
8        (8) Any proceeding, meeting, or hearing held to
9    resolve complaints of alleged student violations of the
10    comprehensive policy shall protect the privacy of the
11    participating parties and witnesses.
12        (9) The complainant, regardless of this person's level
13    of involvement in the complaint resolution procedure, and
14    the respondent shall have the opportunity to provide or
15    present evidence and witnesses on their behalf during the
16    complaint resolution procedure.
17        (9.5) The higher education institution may not
18    distribute any evidence that includes a private or
19    intentionally digitally altered sexual image by physical
20    or electronic means, except as required by law, a
21    subpoena, or a court order. The complainant, the
22    respondent, and each party's complaint advisor shall have
23    the opportunity to view physical or electronic copies of
24    any private or intentionally digitally altered sexual
25    image evidence in person in a higher education institution
26    office and only in the presence of the individual

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 27 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    resolving the complaint, a Title IX coordinator or a
2    member of the Title IX coordinator's staff, or the legal
3    counsel representing the higher education institution. If
4    either party is unable to view this evidence in person,
5    that party and the party's complainant advisor may view it
6    temporarily via an electronic procedure established by the
7    higher education institution that ensures confidentiality.
8    Each party and each party's complaint advisor must not
9    create physical or electronic copies of private or
10    intentionally digitally altered sexual image evidence. All
11    private or intentionally digitally altered sexual image
12    evidence must be kept in the strictest of confidence by
13    the higher education institution and its employees during
14    and after the completion of the complaint resolution
15    procedure, and evidence shall be retained as required
16    under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy
17    Act of 1974.    
18        (10) The complainant, and the respondent, and each
19    party's complaint advisor may not directly question the
20    other party cross examine one another, but may, at the
21    discretion and direction of the individual or individuals
22    resolving the complaint, suggest questions to be posed to
23    the other party by the individual or individuals resolving
24    the complaint and respond to the other party. This
25    prohibition on direct questioning does not apply to any
26    complaint resolution procedure that involves a complaint

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 28 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    that the higher education institution is obligated to
2    address under Title IX of the federal Education Amendments
3    of 1972 if, at the time of the complaint resolution
4    procedure, Title IX rules require allowing
5    cross-examination by the parties' complaint advisors. If
6    Title IX rules require allowing cross-examination by the
7    parties' complaint advisors, the higher education
8    institution must appoint a complaint advisor for any party
9    that does not have one.    
10        (11) Both parties may request and must be allowed to
11    have a complaint an advisor of their choice accompany them
12    to any meeting or proceeding related to an alleged
13    violation of the comprehensive policy, provided that the
14    involvement of the complaint advisor does not result in
15    undue delay of the meeting or proceeding. The complaint    
16    advisor must comply with any rules in the higher education
17    institution's complaint resolution procedure regarding the
18    advisor's role. If the complaint advisor violates the
19    rules or engages in behavior or advocacy that harasses,
20    abuses, or intimidates either party, a witness, or an
21    individual resolving the complaint, that advisor may be
22    prohibited from further participation.
23        (12) The complainant and the respondent may not be
24    compelled to testify, if the complaint resolution
25    procedure involves a hearing, in the presence of the other
26    party. If a party invokes this right, the higher education

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 29 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    institution shall provide a procedure by which each party
2    can, at a minimum, hear the other party's testimony.
3        (12.5) Survivors of sexual violence, domestic
4    violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual harassment
5    have a right to have a support person of their choosing,
6    including a confidential advisor, at any meeting or
7    proceeding related to an alleged violation of the
8    comprehensive policy or under Title IX of the federal
9    Education Amendments of 1972. If a support person violates
10    the rules or engages in behavior that harasses, abuses, or
11    intimidates either party, a witness, or an individual
12    resolving the complaint, that support person may be
13    prohibited from further participation. Nothing in this
14    paragraph (12.5) prohibits a higher education institution
15    from allowing respondents to have their own support
16    person.    
17        (13) The complainant and the respondent are entitled
18    to simultaneous, written notification of the results of
19    the complaint resolution procedure, including information
20    regarding appeal rights, within 7 days of a decision or
21    sooner if required by State or federal law.
22        (14) The complainant and the respondent shall, at a
23    minimum, have the right to timely appeal the complaint
24    resolution procedure's findings or imposed sanctions if
25    the party alleges (i) a procedural error occurred, (ii)
26    new information exists that would substantially change the

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 30 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    outcome of the finding, or (iii) the sanction is
2    disproportionate with the violation. The individual or
3    individuals reviewing the findings or imposed sanctions
4    shall not have participated previously in the complaint
5    resolution procedure and shall not have a conflict of
6    interest with either party. The complainant and the
7    respondent shall receive written notice of an appeal and
8    the alleged grounds for appeal within 7 days after the
9    appeal was submitted to the higher education institution,
10    and the nonappealing party shall be provided an
11    opportunity to submit a response to the higher education
12    institution. The complainant and the respondent shall
13    receive notice of the appeal decision in writing within 7
14    days after the conclusion of the review of findings or
15    sanctions or sooner if required by federal or State law.
16        (15) The higher education institution shall not
17    disclose the identity of the complainant survivor or the
18    respondent, except as necessary to resolve the complaint
19    or to implement interim protective and supportive measures
20    and accommodations or when provided by State or federal
21    law.
22(Source: P.A. 99-426, eff. 8-21-15.)
 
23    (110 ILCS 155/30)
24    Sec. 30. Campus training, education, and awareness.
25    (a) On or before August 1, 2016, a higher education

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 31 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1institution shall prominently publish, timely update, and have
2easily available on its Internet website all of the following
3information:
4        (1) The higher education institution's comprehensive
5    policy, as well as options and resources available to
6    survivors.
7        (2) The higher education institution's student
8    notification of rights and options described in Section 15
9    of this Act.
10        (3) The name and contact information for all of the
11    higher education institution's Title IX coordinators.
12        (4) An explanation of the role of (i) Title IX
13    coordinators, including deputy or assistant Title IX
14    coordinators, under Title IX of the federal Education
15    Amendments of 1972, (ii) responsible employees under Title
16    IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972, (iii)
17    campus security authorities under the federal Jeanne Clery
18    Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime
19    Statistics Act, and (iv) mandated reporters under the
20    Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and the reporting
21    obligations of each, as well as the level of
22    confidentiality each is allowed to provide to reporting
23    students under relevant federal and State law.
24        (5) The name, title, and contact information for all
25    confidential advisors, counseling services, and
26    confidential resources that can provide a confidential

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 32 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    response to a report and a description of what
2    confidential reporting means.
3        (6) The telephone number and website URL for
4    community-based, State, and national hotlines providing
5    information to sexual violence survivors.
6    (b) Beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year, each
7higher education institution shall provide sexual violence
8primary prevention and awareness programming for all students
9who attend one or more classes on campus, which shall include,
10at a minimum, annual training as described in this subsection
11(b). Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit the
12higher education institution's ability to conduct additional
13ongoing sexual violence primary prevention and awareness
14programming.
15    Each higher education institution's annual training shall,
16at a minimum, provide each student who attends one or more
17classes on campus information regarding the higher education
18institution's comprehensive policy, including without
19limitation the following:
20        (1) the institution's definitions of consent,
21    inability to consent, and retaliation as they relate to
22    sexual violence;
23        (2) reporting to the higher education institution,
24    campus law enforcement, and local law enforcement;
25        (3) reporting to the confidential advisor or other
26    confidential resources;

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 33 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1        (4) available survivor services; and
2        (5) strategies for bystander intervention and risk
3    reduction.
4    At the beginning of each academic year, each higher
5education institution shall provide each student of the higher
6education institution with an electronic copy or hard copy of
7its comprehensive policy, procedures, and related protocols.
8    (c) A Beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year, a higher
9education institution shall provide annual survivor-centered
10and trauma-informed response training to any employee of the
11higher education institution who is involved in (i) the
12receipt of a student report of an alleged incident of sexual
13violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, or
14sexual harassment, (ii) the referral or provision of services
15to a survivor, or (iii) any campus complaint resolution
16procedure that results from an alleged incident of sexual
17violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, or
18sexual harassment. Employees falling under this description
19include without limitation the Title IX coordinator, members
20of the higher education institution's campus law enforcement,
21and campus security. An enrolled student at or a contracted
22service provider of the higher education institution with the
23employee responsibilities outlined in clauses (i) through
24(iii) of this paragraph shall also receive annual
25survivor-centered and trauma-informed response training.
26    The higher education institution shall design the training

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 34 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1to improve the trainee's ability to understand (i) the higher
2education institution's comprehensive policy; (ii) the
3relevant federal and State law concerning survivors of sexual
4violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking,
5and sexual harassment at higher education institutions; (iii)
6the roles of the higher education institution, medical
7providers, law enforcement, and community agencies in ensuring
8a coordinated response to a reported incident of sexual
9violence; (iv) the effects of trauma on a survivor; (v) the
10types of conduct that constitute sexual violence, domestic
11violence, dating violence, and stalking, and sexual
12harassment, including same-sex violence and digital sexual
13harassment; and (vi) consent and the role drugs and alcohol
14use can have on the ability to consent. The training shall also
15seek to improve the trainee's ability to respond with cultural
16sensitivity; provide services to or assist in locating
17services for a survivor, as appropriate; and communicate
18sensitively and compassionately with a survivor of sexual
19violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, or
20sexual harassment.
21(Source: P.A. 99-426, eff. 8-21-15.)
 
22    (110 ILCS 155/40 new)
23    Sec. 40. Civil penalty for annual report noncompliance.
24    (a) The Attorney General may impose a civil penalty on a
25higher education institution for failure to submit a complete

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 35 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1annual report, as required under subsection (b) of Section
29.21 of the Board of Higher Education Act.
3    (b) Before imposing a civil penalty under this Section,
4the Attorney General shall provide to a higher education
5institution written notice of the reasons for the Attorney
6General's decision to impose a civil penalty on the higher
7education institution and shall give the higher education
8institution 30 calendar days after receipt of the notice to
9comply with subsection (b) of Section 9.21 of the Board of
10Higher Education Act.
11    (c) A civil penalty imposed under this Section may not
12exceed:
13        (1) $500 for a first violation;
14        (2) $1,500 for a second violation; and
15        (3) $2,500 for a third or subsequent violation.
16    (d) The Attorney General may waive any civil penalty
17imposed under this Section.
18    (e) In determining the amount of the civil penalty imposed
19under this Section, the Attorney General shall consider the
20size of the higher education institution and the gravity of
21the violation.    
 
22    Section 10. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by
23changing Section 8-804 as follows:
 
24    (735 ILCS 5/8-804)

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 36 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    Sec. 8-804. Confidential advisor.
2    (a) This Section is intended to protect students at higher
3education institutions in this State who are survivors of
4sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking,
5or sexual harassment from public disclosure of communications
6they make in confidence to confidential advisors. Because of
7the fear, stigma, and trauma that often result from incidents
8of gender-based sexual violence, many survivors hesitate to
9report or seek help, even when it is available at no cost to
10them. As a result, they not only fail to receive needed medical
11care and emergency counseling, but may lack the psychological
12support necessary to report the incident of sexual violence to
13the higher education institution or law enforcement.
14    (b) In this Section:
15    "Confidential advisor" means a person who is employed or
16contracted by a higher education institution to provide
17emergency and ongoing support to survivors of sexual violence    
18with the training, duties, and responsibilities described in
19Section 20 of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher
20Education Act.
21    "Dating violence" has the meaning given to that term in
22the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act.
23    "Domestic violence" has the meaning given to that term in
24the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act.
25    "Gender-based violence" means sexual violence, domestic
26violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual harassment.    

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 37 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1    "Higher education institution" means a public university,
2a public community college, or an independent, not-for-profit
3or for-profit higher education institution located in this
4State.
5    "Sexual harassment" has the meaning given to that term in
6the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act.    
7    "Sexual violence" has the meaning given to that term in
8the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act means
9physical sexual acts attempted or perpetrated against a
10person's will or when a person is incapable of giving consent,
11including without limitation rape, sexual assault, sexual
12battery, sexual abuse, and sexual coercion.
13    "Stalking" has the meaning given to that term in the
14Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act.    
15    "Survivor" has the meaning given to that term in the
16Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act means a
17student who has experienced sexual violence while enrolled at
18a higher education institution.
19    (c) All communications between a confidential advisor and
20a survivor pertaining to an incident of sexual violence shall
21remain confidential, unless the survivor consents to the
22disclosure of the communication in writing, the disclosure
23falls within one of the exceptions outlined in subsection (d)
24of this Section, or failure to disclose the communication
25would violate State or federal law. Communications include all
26records kept by the confidential advisor in the course of

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 38 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1providing the survivor with services related to the incident
2of sexual violence.
3    (d) The confidential advisor may disclose confidential
4communications between the confidential advisor and the
5survivor if failure to disclose would result in a clear,
6imminent risk of serious physical injury to or death of the
7survivor or another person.
8    The confidential advisor shall have no obligation to
9report crimes to the higher education institution or law
10enforcement, except to report to the Title IX coordinator, as
11defined by Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of
121972, on a monthly basis the number and type of incidents of
13sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking,
14and sexual harassment reported exclusively to the confidential
15advisor in accordance with the higher education institution's
16reporting requirements under subsection (b) of Section 9.21 of
17the Board of Higher Education Act and under federal law.
18    If, in any judicial proceeding, a party alleges that the
19communications are necessary to the determination of any issue
20before the court and written consent to disclosure has not
21been given, the party may ask the court to consider ordering
22the disclosure of the communications. In such a case,
23communications may be disclosed if the court finds, after in
24camera examination of the communication, that the
25communication is relevant, probative, and not unduly
26prejudicial or inflammatory or is otherwise clearly

 

 

10400HB4990sam003- 39 -LRB104 18294 AAS 38178 a

1admissible; that other evidence is demonstrably unsatisfactory
2as evidence of the facts sought to be established by the
3communication or communications; and that disclosure is more
4important to the interests of substantial justice than
5protection from injury to the confidential advisor-survivor
6relationship, to the survivor, or to any other individual whom
7disclosure is likely to harm.
8    (e) This privilege shall not preclude an individual from
9asserting a greater privilege under federal or State law that
10applies.
11(Source: P.A. 99-426, eff. 8-21-15.)
 
12    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
132027.".
feedback