Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB 2846

Amends the Private College Act and the Academic Degree Act. Provides that a nonprofit institution owned, controlled, and operated and maintained by a bona fide church, religious denomination, or religious organization comprised of multi-denominational members of the same well-recognized religion, lawfully operating as a nonprofit religious corporation pursuant to the Religious Corporation Act, is exempt from the Acts if (i) the education is limited to instruction in the principles of that church, religious denomination, or religious organization or to courses offered for the purpose of training the adherents of that church, religious denomination, or religious organization in the care of the sick in accordance with its religious tenets and (ii) the diploma or degree is limited to evidence of completion of that education and the meritorious recognition upon which any honorary degree is conferred is limited to the principles of that church, religious denomination, or religious organization. Sets forth requirements and prohibitions concerning the awarding of degrees and diplomas by such an institution. Requires the institution to annually file with the Board of Higher Education evidence to demonstrate its status as a nonprofit religious corporation under the Religious Corporation Act. Effective July 1, 2014.

Adds, as a requirement for receiving an exemption, that the institution's handbook for students include the following statement: "This religious degree is not accredited by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.". Requires the institution's degrees to reflect the nature of the degree title, such as "religious associate's degree", "religious bachelor's degree", "religious master's degree", or "religious doctorate degree" (instead of "associate of religious studies", "bachelor of religious studies", "master of divinity", or "doctor of divinity").

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 1. Adds, as a requirement for receiving an exemption, that the institution's handbook for students include the following statement: "This religious degree is not approved (rather than accredited) by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.". Provides that exempt institutions may not award degrees in any area other than religion (rather than degrees in any area of physical science). Provides that any degree or diploma granted in any area of study under the amendatory provisions shall contain on its face, under the written description of the title of the degree being conferred, the statement, "Not Approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education" (instead of requiring the degree or diploma to contain on its face, in the written description of the title of the degree being conferred, a reference to the theological or religious aspect of the degree's subject area). Removes the amendatory language that provides that awarded degrees shall reflect the nature of the degree title, such as "religious associate's degree", "religious bachelor's degree", "religious master's degree", or "religious doctorate degree", and the degree title of "associate of arts", "associate of science", "bachelor of arts", "bachelor of science", "master of arts", "master of science", "doctor of philosophy", or "Ph.D." may be awarded only if the institution obtains a certificate of approval or is authorized to award such a degree and is approved as a degree granting institution. Effective July 1, 2014.

Date	Chamber	Action
1/13/2015	Senate	Session Sine Die

Date	Chamber	Action
1/30/2014	Senate	Filed with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine
1/30/2014	Senate	First Reading
1/30/2014	Senate	Referred to Assignments
2/11/2014	Senate	Assigned to Higher Education
2/19/2014	Senate	Postponed - Higher Education
3/4/2014	Senate	Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine
3/4/2014	Senate	Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
3/5/2014	Senate	Postponed - Higher Education
3/5/2014	Senate	Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Higher Education
3/19/2014	Senate	Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
3/20/2014	Senate	Postponed - Higher Education
3/26/2014	Senate	Do Pass as Amended Higher Education; 010-000-000
3/26/2014	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 27, 2014
4/1/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine
4/1/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments
4/2/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine
4/2/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments
4/7/2014	Senate	Second Reading
4/7/2014	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 8, 2014
4/7/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Higher Education
4/7/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Assignments Refers to Higher Education
4/8/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Postponed - Higher Education
4/8/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommend Do Adopt Higher Education; 010-000-000
4/8/2014	Senate	Recalled to Second Reading
4/8/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted; Haine
4/8/2014	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
4/8/2014	Senate	Third Reading - Passed; 055-000-000
4/8/2014	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)
4/9/2014	House	Arrived in House
4/9/2014	House	Chief House Sponsor Rep. Frank J. Mautino
4/9/2014	House	First Reading
4/9/2014	House	Referred to Rules Committee
4/10/2014	House	Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. David McSweeney
4/28/2014	House	Assigned to Higher Education Committee
5/7/2014	House	Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia
5/7/2014	House	Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
5/13/2014	House	Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 008-005-000
5/14/2014	House	Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
5/15/2014	House	Second Reading - Short Debate
5/15/2014	House	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/23/2014	House	Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 30, 2014
5/30/2014	House	Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
1/13/2015	Senate	Session Sine Die