100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2939

 

Introduced , by Rep. Peter Breen

 

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, permitted restrictions, and enforcement.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

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 Constitution
9    recognizes that "all persons may speak, write and publish
10    freely, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. In
11    trials for libel, both civil and criminal, the truth, when
12    published with good motives and for justifiable ends, shall
13    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, public institutions of higher
18    education have abdicated their responsibility to uphold
19    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 as
15    being of critical importance and requires that each public
16    institution of higher education ensure free, robust, and
17    uninhibited debate and deliberation by students of public
18    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 of
21    higher education officially recognize freedom of speech as
22    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 fullest
11    degree of intellectual freedom and free expression.
12        (2) A statement that it is not the proper role of the
13    institution to shield individuals from speech protected by
14    the First Amendment, including, without limitation, ideas
15    and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even
16    deeply offensive.
17        (3) A statement that students and faculty have the
18    freedom to discuss any problem that presents itself, as the
19    First Amendment permits and within the limits of reasonable
20    viewpoint and content-neutral restrictions on time, place,
21    and manner of expression that are consistent with this Act
22    and that are necessary to achieve a significant
23    institutional interest; provided that these restrictions
24    are clear, published, and provide ample alternative means
25    of expression. Students and faculty shall be permitted to

 

 

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1    assemble and engage in spontaneous expressive activity as
2    long as the activity is not unlawful and does not
3    materially and substantially disrupt the functioning of
4    the institution, subject to the requirements of this Act.
5        (4) A statement that any person lawfully present on
6    campus may protest or demonstrate there. The statement
7    shall make clear that protests and demonstrations that
8    infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen
9    to expressive activity shall not be permitted and shall be
10    subject to sanction. This does not prohibit professors or
11    other instructors from maintaining order in the classroom.
12        (5) A statement that the campuses of the institution
13    are open to any speaker whom students, student groups, or
14    members of the faculty have invited.
15        (6) A statement that the public areas of campuses of
16    the institution are traditional public forums, open on the
17    same terms to any speaker.
18        (7) A range of disciplinary sanctions for anyone under
19    the jurisdiction of the institution who interferes with the
20    free expression of others.
21        (8) A provision that, in all disciplinary cases
22    involving expressive conduct, students are entitled to a
23    disciplinary hearing under published procedures,
24    including, at minimum:
25            (A) the right to receive advanced written notice of
26        the charges;

 

 

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1            (B) the right to review the evidence in support of
2        the charges;
3            (C) the right to confront witnesses against them;
4            (D) the right to present a defense;
5            (E) the right to call witnesses;
6            (F) a decision by an impartial arbiter or panel;
7        and
8            (G) the right of appeal.
9        When suspension for longer than 30 days or expulsion
10    are potential penalties, students are entitled to a
11    disciplinary hearing under published procedures,
12    including, at minimum, all of the procedures listed in this
13    subdivision (8), plus the right to active assistance of
14    counsel.
15        (9) A provision that any student who has twice been
16    found responsible for infringing on the expressive rights
17    of others will be suspended for a minimum of one year or
18    expelled.
19        (10) A statement that the institution (i) shall strive
20    to remain neutral, as an institution, on the public policy
21    controversies of the day and (ii) may not take action, as
22    an institution, on the public policy controversies of the
23    day in such a way as to require students or faculty to
24    publicly express a given view of social policy.
25        (11) A statement that this policy supersedes and
26    nullifies any prior provisions in the policies and

 

 

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1    regulations of the institution that restrict speech on
2    campus and are, therefore, inconsistent with this policy on
3    free expression. The institution shall remove or revise any
4    such provisions in its policies and regulations to ensure
5    compatibility with this policy on free expression.
 
6    Section 20. Committee on Free Expression.
7    (a) The Board of Higher Education shall create a single
8Committee on Free Expression consisting of all of the following
9members, all of whom shall serve without compensation but shall
10be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from
11funds appropriated for that purpose:
12        (1) One member representing the University of Illinois
13    at Urbana-Champaign, appointed by the university's board
14    of trustees.
15        (2) One member representing the University of Illinois
16    at Springfield, appointed by the university's board of
17    trustees.
18        (3) One member representing the University of Illinois
19    at Chicago, appointed by the university's board of
20    trustees.
21        (4) One member representing Southern Illinois
22    University at Carbondale, appointed by the university's
23    board of trustees.
24        (5) One member representing Southern Illinois
25    University at Edwardsville, appointed by the university's

 

 

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1    board of trustees.
2        (6) One member representing Western Illinois
3    University, appointed by the university's board of
4    trustees.
5        (7) One member representing Eastern Illinois
6    University, appointed by the university's board of
7    trustees.
8        (8) One member representing Illinois State University,
9    appointed by the university's board of trustees.
10        (9) One member representing Northern Illinois
11    University, appointed by the university's board of
12    trustees.
13        (10) One member representing Chicago State University,
14    appointed by the university's board of trustees.
15        (11) One member representing Governors State
16    University, appointed by the university's board of
17    trustees.
18        (12) One member representing Northeastern Illinois
19    University, appointed by the university's board of
20    trustees.
21        (13) Three members representing public community
22    colleges, appointed by the Illinois Community College
23    Board at its discretion.
24    (b) The Committee on Free Expression shall meet initially
25at the call of the Chairperson of the Board of Higher
26Education, shall select one member as chairperson at its

 

 

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1initial meeting, and shall thereafter meet at the call of that
2chairperson. The Board of Higher Education shall provide
3administrative and other support to the Committee.
4    (c) The Committee on Free Expression shall report to the
5public, the Board of Higher Education, the Governor, and the
6General Assembly on September 1 of every year. The report shall
7include all of the following:
8        (1) A description of any barriers to or disruptions of
9    free expression within public institutions.
10        (2) A description of the administrative handling and
11    discipline relating to these disruptions or barriers.
12        (3) A description of substantial difficulties,
13    controversies, or successes in maintaining a posture of
14    administrative and institutional neutrality with regard to
15    political or social issues.
16        (4) Any assessments, criticisms, commendations, or
17    recommendations the committee sees fit to include.
 
18    Section 25. Freshman orientation information. Public
19institutions shall include in their freshman orientation
20programs a section describing to all students the policies and
21rules regarding free expression that are consistent with this
22Act.
 
23    Section 30. Rules; construction of Act; permitted
24restrictions. The Board of Higher Education is authorized to

 

 

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1adopt rules to further the purposes of the policies adopted
2pursuant to this Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
3prevent public institutions from regulating student speech or
4activity that is prohibited by law. Except as further limited
5by this Act, public institutions shall be allowed to restrict
6student expression only for expressive activity not protected
7by the First Amendment, including all of the following:
8        (1) Violations of State or federal law.
9        (2) Expression that a court has deemed unprotected
10    defamation.
11        (3) Harassment as follows:
12            (A) Peer-on-peer harassment, which is defined as
13        conduct directed by a student toward another
14        individual student, on the basis of that student's
15        membership or perceived membership in a protected
16        class, that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively
17        offensive that it effectively deprives the victim of
18        access to the educational opportunities or benefits
19        provided by the public institution.
20            (B) Quid pro quo sexual harassment, which is
21        defined as explicitly or implicitly conditioning a
22        student's participation in an education program or
23        activity or basing an educational decision on the
24        student's submission to unwelcome sexual advances,
25        requests for sexual favors, or other verbal,
26        nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

 

 

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1        (4) True threats, which are defined as statements meant
2    by the speaker to communicate a serious expression of an
3    intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a
4    particular individual or group of individuals.
5        (5) An unjustifiable invasion of privacy or
6    confidentiality not involving a matter of public concern.
7        (6) An action that unlawfully disrupts the function of
8    the public institution.
9        (7) Reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on
10    expressive activities consistent with subdivision (3) of
11    Section 15 of this Act.
 
12    Section 35. Restriction on expressive conduct;
13enforcement.
14    (a) A public institution may restrict expressive conduct in
15the public areas of campus only if it demonstrates that the
16restriction:
17        (1) is necessary to achieve a compelling governmental
18    interest;
19        (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that
20    compelling governmental interest;
21        (3) leaves open ample other opportunities to engage in
22    the expressive conduct; and
23        (4) provides for spontaneous assembly and the
24    distribution of literature.
25    (b) The following persons may bring an action in a court of

 

 

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1competent jurisdiction to enjoin any violation of this Section
2or to recover reasonable court costs and reasonable attorney
3fees:
4        (1) The Attorney General.
5        (2) A person whose expressive rights are violated by a
6    violation of this Section.
7    (c) In an action brought under subsection (b) of this
8Section, if the court finds that a violation of this Section
9occurred, the court shall award the aggrieved person injunctive
10relief for the violation and shall award reasonable court costs
11and reasonable attorney fees. The court shall also award
12damages of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is higher.
13    (d) A person shall bring an action for a violation of this
14Section within one year after the date the cause of action
15accrues. For the purpose of calculating the one-year limitation
16period, each day that the violation persists or each day that a
17policy in violation of this Section remains in effect
18constitutes a new violation of this Section and shall be
19considered a day that the cause of action has accrued.