Bill Text: IL HB3648 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Creates the Higher Education in Prison Act. Provides that on or before September 1 of the year following the effective date of the Act and each subsequent September 1, the Department of Corrections shall release a report, to be published on the Department of Corrections's Internet website, detailing certain information pertaining to higher education within Department institutions and facilities. Requires the report to be filed with the Governor and General Assembly. Provides that the data provided in the report shall include an aggregate chart at the Department level and individual reports by each correctional institution or facility of the Department of Corrections. Provides that on or before September 1 of the year following the effective date of the Act and each subsequent September 1, each college and university that provides academic programs for committed persons shall report to the Board of Higher Education on enrollment, retention, completion, and student demographics, including race, ethnicity, age, and gender of committed students. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall compile the information and, within 60 days after receipt of such information, issue a report reflecting the information for each institution required to report. Provides that the report must be filed with the Governor and General Assembly and made publicly available on the Board of Higher Education's Internet website.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 23-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-08-11 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0541 [HB3648 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB3648-Engrossed.html

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HB3648 Engrossed LRB103 26177 RJT 52536 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Higher
Education in Prison Act.
Section 5. Higher education in prison programs.
(a) In this Section, "higher education" means
post-secondary academic education at the undergraduate or
graduate level in a community college or university setting.
(b) On or before September 1 of the year following the
effective date of this Act and each subsequent September 1,
the Department of Corrections shall release a report, to be
published on the Department of Corrections's Internet website,
detailing the following information pertaining to higher
education within Department institutions and facilities:
(1) the number of unique individuals involved in adult
basic education, high school equivalency, and credit and
non-credit bearing higher education programs over the
course of the fiscal year;
(2) the racial, ethnic, age, and gender breakdown of
committed persons participating in higher education
programs;
(3) the length of sentence and length of remaining

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sentence of persons enrolled in higher education programs;
(4) the number of committed persons who are on waiting
lists for participation in all educational programs,
including adult basic education, high school equivalency,
and higher education, and the average length of time spent
on each waiting list, including a breakdown by length of
remaining sentence;
(5) the total amount of earned program sentence credit
awarded to committed persons for participating in higher
education programs and the percentage of committed persons
participating in higher education programs that are
awarded earned program sentence credit;
(6) the number, category, and ultimate resolution of
grievances related to higher education programs;
(7) a financial statement that includes annual and
monthly expenditures of Department of Corrections
institutions and facilities on adult basic education, high
school equivalency, and higher education programs; and
(8) an explanation of how participation in adult basic
education, high school equivalency, and higher education
programs is factored into a committed persons' risk
assessment score.
Personal, identifiable information shall be redacted to
protect privacy.
The report must be filed with the Governor and General
Assembly.

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(c) The data provided in the report under subsection (b)
shall include an aggregate chart at the Department level and
individual reports by each correctional institution or
facility of the Department of Corrections.
(d) On or before September 1 of the year following the
effective date of this Act and each subsequent September 1,
each college and university that provides academic programs
for committed persons shall report to the Board of Higher
Education on enrollment, retention, completion, and student
demographics, including the race, ethnicity, age, and gender
of committed students. The Board of Higher Education shall
compile this information and, within 60 days after receipt of
such information, issue a report reflecting the information
for each institution required to report under this Section.
The report must be filed with the Governor and General
Assembly and made publicly available on the Board of Higher
Education's Internet website.