SB1663eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1663 Engrossed LRB100 11280 NHT 21632 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Career and Workforce Transition Act is amended by changing Sections 10 and 15 and by adding Section 20 as follows:

(110 ILCS 151/10)

Sec. 10. Transfer of credits.

(a) A public community college district shall accept up to 30 credit hours transferred from an institution that has been approved under Section 15 of this Act if a student has completed one of the following programs at that institution:

(1) Medical Assisting.

(2) Medical Coding.

(3) Dental Assisting.

(4) HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning).

(5) Welding.

(6) Pharmacy Technician. The program must, at a minimum, be a 9-month program and use a credit-hour system.

(b) The public community college district may accept the credits as direct equivalent credits or prior learning credits, as determined by the district and consistent with the accrediting standards and institutional and residency requirements of the Board, the Higher Learning Commission, other State and national accreditors, and State licensing bodies, as appropriate.

(Source: P.A. 99-468, eff. 1-1-16.)

(110 ILCS 151/15)

Sec. 15. Board approval of institution.

(a) The Board may approve an institution as an institution from which credits may be transferred under Section 10 of this Act if all of the following conditions set forth in subsection (b) of Section 20 of this Act have been met. are met:

(1) The institution has submitted all proper documentation and application materials that the Board requests.

(2) The institution has successfully completed a full term of national accreditation without probation, without being denied accreditation, and without withdrawing an application.

(3) The Board has verified the institution's good standing during the period of its national accreditation. Credit transfers from the institution may be made only during the verified accreditation period. An institution that is under review due to probation, that is denied accreditation, or that withdraws an application for national accreditation may not be approved under this Section.

(b) The Board shall post on its website a list of all institutions that have received Board approval. Approved institutions must be listed on the Board's website beginning on January 5, 2018.

(c) All decisions of the Board that result in non-approval of an institution may be appealed within 30 days by that institution after notification has been provided by the Board in the form of a letter delivered by certified mail. During the 30-day appeal process, the institution must be provided with information outlining the reasons for the institution's non-approval by the Board, giving the institution the opportunity to properly address the areas of contention. A decision regarding the appeal must be rendered no later than 60 days after the conclusion of the 30-day appeal process.

(Source: P.A. 99-468, eff. 1-1-16.)

(110 ILCS 151/20 new)

Sec. 20. Board approval of program.

(a) In this Section, "program" means any of the programs listed under subsection (a) of Section 10 of this Act.

(b) The Board may approve a program as eligible for credit acceptance if all of the following conditions have been met:

(1) The institution has submitted all documentation pertaining to the institution's structure, accreditation and permit of approval, enrollment, and student information and the completed application requested by the Board.

(2) The institution has submitted all documentation regarding its academic programs and curriculum for review by the Board. The institution shall comply with the Board of Higher Education's academic catalog requirements. The institution shall make all disclosures required under Section 37 of the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012. The disclosure shall contain all required information for the most recent 12-month reporting period of July 1 through June 30 and may also include the information for each 12-month reporting period during the institution's 5-year national accreditation term. The information submitted shall also include federally mandated graduation and job placement rates.

(3) The institution has successfully completed a full term of national accreditation without probation, without being denied accreditation, and without withdrawing an application.

(4) The Board has verified the institution's good standing during the period of its national accreditation. The institution shall provide any documents that validate its good standing with its national accreditor.

(5) The Board has verified the institution's good standing with the Board of Higher Education. The institution shall provide any documents that validate its good standing with the Board of Higher Education.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.