Public Act 099-0395
 
SB1457 EnrolledLRB099 07646 NHT 27777 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by
adding Section 9.34 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 205/9.34 new)
    Sec. 9.34. Military Prior Learning Assessment Task Force.
    (a) The Military Prior Learning Assessment Task Force is
created within the Board of Higher Education. The Task Force
shall study and make recommendations on how to best effectuate
the recognition of military learning for academic credit,
industry-recognized credentials, and college degrees through
the use of the Prior Learning Assessment. The Task Force shall
be comprised of all of the following members:
        (1) A representative from the Board of Higher
    Education, who shall chair the Task Force, appointed by the
    Board of Higher Education.
        (2) A representative from the Illinois Community
    College Board appointed by the Illinois Community College
    Board.
        (3) A representative from the Department of Veterans'
    Affairs appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
        (4) A representative from the Illinois Discharged
    Servicemember Task Force appointed by the Illinois
    Discharged Servicemember Task Force.
        (5) A representative from the Illinois Student
    Assistance Commission appointed by the Illinois Student
    Assistance Commission.
        (6) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
    Speaker of the House of Representatives.
        (7) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
        (8) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
    President of the Senate.
        (9) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
    Minority Leader of the Senate.
        (10) Three faculty representatives, one from a public
    university, one from a public community college, and one
    from a private institution, appointed by the Board of
    Higher Education in consultation with the Illinois
    Community College Board and their advisory groups.
        (11) Two presidents of Illinois colleges and
    universities appointed by the Board of Higher Education in
    consultation with the Illinois Community College Board.
        (12) A representative from the Illinois Joining Forces
    Education Working Group appointed by the Illinois Joining
    Forces Education Working Group.
        (13) A representative of a nonprofit organization that
    is recognized as having expertise in the area of the Prior
    Learning Assessment appointed by the Board of Higher
    Education.
        (14) A representative from the Office of the State Fire
    Marshal appointed by the State Fire Marshal.
    Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation
and may not be reimbursed for their expenses.
    The Board of Higher Education shall provide administrative
and other support to the Task Force.
    (b) The Task Force's study shall without limitation:
        (1) Examine the history of the Prior Learning
    Assessment and its impact on active military and student
    veterans in today's educational landscape.
        (2) Examine policies and practices in other states to
    identify best practices in the Prior Learning Assessment
    for active military and student veterans.
        (3) Determine current policies and practices in this
    State, including existing Prior Learning Assessment
    methods being utilized among this State's public and
    private colleges and universities in connection with
    active military and student veterans.
        (4) Review the quality standards necessary to
    adequately assess military learning based on experience
    and non-credit education and training for purposes of
    awarding academic credit.
        (5) Consider alternative means to award academic
    credit for active military and student veterans.
        (6) Consider transferability of academic credit
    awarded by the Prior Learning Assessment and student
    mobility.
        (7) Consider the importance of recognition of
    industry-recognized credentials by colleges and
    universities for the purpose of awarding academic credit.
        (8) Consider the acceptance of industry-recognized
    credentials and academic credit credentials or degrees by
    licensing bodies.
    (c) The Task Force shall report its findings and
recommendations to the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois
Community College Board, the Illinois Student Assistance
Commission, the State Board of Education, the Department of
Veterans' Affairs, the Illinois Discharged Servicemember Task
Force, the General Assembly, and the Governor on or before
December 1, 2016.
    (d) This Section is repealed on December 1, 2017.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.