103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2897

 

Introduced 1/26/2024, by Sen. Tom Bennett

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Campus Free Speech Act. Requires the governing board of each public university and community college to develop and adopt a policy on free expression; sets forth what the policy must contain. Requires the Board of Higher Education to create a Committee on Free Expression to issue an annual report. Requires public institutions of higher education to include in their freshman orientation programs a section describing to all students the policies and rules regarding free expression that are consistent with the Act. Contains provisions concerning rules, construction of the Act, and enforcement.


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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Campus
5Free Speech Act.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly
7finds the following:
8        (1) Section 4 of Article I of the Illinois
9    Constitution recognizes that "all persons may speak, write
10    and publish freely, being responsible for the abuse of
11    that liberty. In trials for libel, both civil and
12    criminal, the truth, when published with good motives and
13    for justifiable ends, shall be a sufficient defense".
14        (2) Public institutions of higher education have
15    historically embraced a commitment to freedom of
16    expression in policy.
17        (3) In recent years, some public institutions of
18    higher education have abdicated their responsibility to
19    uphold free-speech principles, and these failures make it
20    appropriate for all public institutions of higher
21    education to restate and confirm their commitment in this
22    regard.
23        (4) In 1974, the Committee on Free Expression at Yale

 

 

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1    University issued a statement known as the Woodward Report
2    that stands as a classic defense of free expression on
3    campuses; in 2015, the Committee on Freedom of Expression
4    at the University of Chicago issued a similar and widely
5    respected report; and in 1967, the Kalven Committee Report
6    of the University of Chicago articulated the principle of
7    institutional neutrality regarding political and social
8    issues and the essential role of such neutrality in
9    protecting freedom of thought and expression at
10    universities. The principles affirmed by these 3 highly
11    regarded reports are inspiring articulations of the
12    critical importance of free expression in higher
13    education.
14        (5) The General Assembly views freedom of expression
15    as being of critical importance and requires that each
16    public institution of higher education ensure free,
17    robust, and uninhibited debate and deliberation by
18    students of public institutions whether on or off campus.
19        (6) The General Assembly has determined that it is a
20    matter of statewide concern that all public institutions
21    of higher education officially recognize freedom of speech
22    as a fundamental right.
 
23    Section 10. Definition. In this Act, "public institution"
24means a public university or public community college in this
25State.
 

 

 

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1    Section 15. Policy on free expression required. The board
2of trustees of a public institution shall develop and adopt a
3policy on free expression that contains, at least, the
4following:
5        (1) A statement that the primary function of an
6    institution of higher education is the discovery,
7    improvement, transmission, and dissemination of knowledge
8    by means of research, teaching, discussion, and debate.
9    This statement shall provide that, to fulfill this
10    function, the institution must strive to ensure the
11    fullest degree of intellectual freedom and free
12    expression.
13        (2) A statement that it is not the proper role of the
14    institution to shield individuals from speech protected by
15    the First Amendment, including, without limitation, ideas
16    and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even
17    deeply offensive.
18        (3) A statement that students and faculty have the
19    freedom to discuss any problem that presents itself, as
20    the First Amendment permits and within the limits of
21    reasonable viewpoint and content-neutral restrictions on
22    time, place, and manner of expression that are consistent
23    with this Act and that are necessary to achieve a
24    significant institutional interest; provided that these
25    restrictions are clear, are published, and provide ample

 

 

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1    alternative means of expression. Students and faculty
2    shall be permitted to assemble and engage in spontaneous
3    expressive activity as long as the activity is not
4    unlawful and does not materially and substantially disrupt
5    the functioning of the institution, subject to the
6    requirements of this Act.
7        (4) A statement that the campuses of the institution
8    are open to speakers invited by students, student groups,
9    or members of the faculty without regard to viewpoint or
10    content of the proposed speech. If a fee applies to a
11    speech by an invited speaker, the inviting students,
12    student groups, or members of the faculty may not be
13    charged greater or lesser amounts based on the viewpoint,
14    content, or expected reaction to the speech.
15        (5) A statement that the outdoor public areas of
16    campuses of the institution are designated public forums,
17    open on the same terms to any speaker, and that any person
18    lawfully present on campus may leaflet, protest, or
19    demonstrate in those outdoor public areas.
20        (6) A provision setting forth the affirmative steps
21    that the institution will take to protect the free-speech
22    rights of invited speakers.
23        (7) A provision that, in all disciplinary cases
24    involving expressive conduct, students are entitled to a
25    disciplinary hearing under published procedures. When
26    suspension for longer than 30 days or expulsion are

 

 

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1    potential penalties, students are entitled to the right to
2    active assistance of counsel.
3        (8) A statement that the institution may not take
4    action, as an institution, on the public policy
5    controversies of the day in such a way as to require
6    students or faculty to publicly espouse any given
7    viewpoint, provided that the institution may prescribe the
8    content of its curriculum.
9        (9) A statement that this policy supersedes and
10    nullifies any prior provisions in the policies and
11    regulations of the institution that restrict speech on
12    campus and are, therefore, inconsistent with this policy
13    on free expression. The institution shall remove or revise
14    any such provisions in its policies and regulations to
15    ensure compatibility with this policy on free expression.
 
16    Section 20. Committee on Free Expression.
17    (a) The Board of Higher Education shall create a single
18Committee on Free Expression consisting of all of the
19following members, all of whom shall serve without
20compensation:
21        (1) One member representing the University of Illinois
22    at Urbana-Champaign, appointed by the university's board
23    of trustees.
24        (2) One member representing the University of Illinois
25    at Springfield, appointed by the university's board of

 

 

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1    trustees.
2        (3) One member representing the University of Illinois
3    at Chicago, appointed by the university's board of
4    trustees.
5        (4) One member representing Southern Illinois
6    University at Carbondale, appointed by the university's
7    board of trustees.
8        (5) One member representing Southern Illinois
9    University at Edwardsville, appointed by the university's
10    board of trustees.
11        (6) One member representing Western Illinois
12    University, appointed by the university's board of
13    trustees.
14        (7) One member representing Eastern Illinois
15    University, appointed by the university's board of
16    trustees.
17        (8) One member representing Illinois State University,
18    appointed by the university's board of trustees.
19        (9) One member representing Northern Illinois
20    University, appointed by the university's board of
21    trustees.
22        (10) One member representing Chicago State University,
23    appointed by the university's board of trustees.
24        (11) One member representing Governors State
25    University, appointed by the university's board of
26    trustees.

 

 

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1        (12) One member representing Northeastern Illinois
2    University, appointed by the university's board of
3    trustees.
4        (13) Three members representing public community
5    colleges, appointed by the Illinois Community College
6    Board at its discretion.
7        (14) Four members representing faculty members, 2
8    appointed by the Board of Higher Education and 2 appointed
9    by the Illinois Community College Board.
10        (15) Four members representing students, 2 appointed
11    by the Board of Higher Education and 2 appointed by the
12    Illinois Community College Board.
13    (b) The Committee on Free Expression shall meet initially
14at the call of the Chairperson of the Board of Higher
15Education, shall select one member as chairperson at its
16initial meeting, and shall thereafter meet at the call of that
17chairperson. The Board of Higher Education shall provide
18administrative and other support to the Committee.
19    (c) The Committee on Free Expression shall report to the
20public, the Board of Higher Education, the Governor, and the
21General Assembly on September 1 of every year. The report
22shall include all of the following:
23        (1) A description of any barriers to or disruptions of
24    free expression within public institutions.
25        (2) A description of the administrative handling and
26    discipline relating to these disruptions or barriers.

 

 

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1        (3) A description of substantial difficulties,
2    controversies, or successes in maintaining a posture of
3    administrative and institutional neutrality with regard to
4    political or social issues.
5        (4) Any assessments, criticisms, commendations, or
6    recommendations the committee sees fit to include.
 
7    Section 25. Freshman orientation information. Public
8institutions shall include in their freshman orientation
9programs a section describing to all students the policies and
10rules regarding free expression that are consistent with this
11Act.
 
12    Section 30. Rules; construction of Act. The Board of
13Higher Education is authorized to adopt rules to further the
14purposes of the policies adopted pursuant to this Act. Nothing
15in this Act shall be construed to prevent public institutions
16from regulating student speech or activity that is prohibited
17by other federal, State, or local laws.
 
18    Section 35. Enforcement. The following persons may bring
19an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin any
20violation of this Act or to recover reasonable court costs and
21attorney's fees:
22        (1) The Attorney General.
23        (2) A person whose expressive rights are violated by a

 

 

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1    violation of this Act.
2    In an action brought under this Act, if the court finds
3that a violation of this Act occurred, the court may award the
4aggrieved person injunctive relief for the violation and shall
5award reasonable court costs and attorney's fees.