HB5494 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 36949 RJT 67063 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5494

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 167/15 new

Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education shall display the estimated costs of all required course materials and directly related course fees for no less than 75% of the total number of for-credit courses offered by the public institution of higher education. Sets forth provisions regarding the information to be displayed. Provides that the Board of Higher Education, in consultation with relevant stakeholders and any other interested party identified by the Board of Higher Education, shall adopt, by rule, a list of incidental items that are not required to be reported. Provides that by December 31, 2025, the Board of Higher Education shall submit a report to the General Assembly that details how each public institution of higher education is ensuring compliance with these provisions. Provides that a public institution of higher education shall timely provide to the Board of Higher Education any information that the Board of Higher Education determines is necessary to submit the required report. Provides for rulemaking. Effective immediately.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Public Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 15 as follows:

(110 ILCS 167/15 new)

Sec. 15. Course cost disclosure.

(a) In this Section:

"Relevant stakeholders" means representatives from public institutions of higher education, faculty from public institutions of higher education, students enrolled at public institutions of higher education, and campus bookstores affiliated with public institutions of higher education.

(b) A public institution of higher education shall display, as provided in this Section, the estimated costs of all required course materials and directly related course fees for no less than 75% of the total number of for-credit courses offered by the public institution of higher education. The display of information required by this subsection (b) shall:

(1) be displayed before course registration begins;

(2) include the title and, if available, the International Standard Book Number for each book required for a course; and

(3) appear in the published course schedule that is provided on the Internet or is otherwise provided to students at the time course registration begins for students, including on any affiliated campus bookstore course materials list that may be provided for a course.

(c) The display of information required by subsection (b) of this Section shall apply only to courses for the next non-summer academic term, regardless of whether a public institution of higher education permits students to simultaneously register for successive terms.

(d) The Board of Higher Education, in consultation with relevant stakeholders and any other interested party identified by the Board of Higher Education, shall adopt, by rule, a list of incidental items that are not required to be reported under subsection (b) of this Section.

(e) In determining which courses a public institution of higher education is not required to provide information for under this Section, a public institution of higher education shall prioritize not providing information for a course in which:

(1) the instructor of the course either has changed since the last time the course was taught or will be hired after the deadline for displaying information under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Section; or

(2) the instructor of the course has determined that previously used course materials are no longer effective in delivering the necessary educational outcomes for the course.

(f) In order to ensure compliance with federal law requirements regarding timely and accurate course material information and affordability, including the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act, a public institution of higher education shall establish dates by which faculty or departments must notify the campus bookstore affiliated with the public institution of higher education of required and recommended course materials, so that the bookstore may verify availability, determine prices, source lower cost options if practicable, explore alternatives with faculty if academically appropriate, and maximize the availability of format options for the course materials that are made available to students.

(g) The information that is required to be displayed under this Section shall be:

(1) secured in a manner determined by the public institution of higher education;

(2) aggregated by the campus bookstore affiliated with the public institution higher education; and

(3) displayed for public viewing in the published course schedule and in any other method deemed acceptable by the public institution of higher education, in consultation with the faculty, students, and campus bookstores affiliated with the public institution of higher education.

(h) The faculty and administration of a public institution of higher education are responsible for supplying the information required under this Section to the campus bookstore affiliated with the public institution of higher education according to a process and deadline established by the public institution of higher education for each academic term.

(i) By December 31, 2025, the Board of Higher Education shall submit a report to the General Assembly that details how each public institution of higher education is ensuring compliance with this Section. The Board of Higher Education, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall, by rule, establish metrics to measure compliance with this Section by public institutions of higher education. A public institution of higher education shall timely provide to the Board of Higher Education any information that the Board of Higher Education determines is necessary to submit the report required under this Section.

(j) The Board of Higher Education may adopt any rules necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this Section.

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