Public Act 094-0957
 		





SB2778 Enrolled
LRB094 19017 RAS 54509 b






    AN ACT concerning higher education.

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


 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
Volunteer Emergency Worker Higher Education Protection Act.
 
    Section 5. Definitions. For the purposes of this Section:
    "Institution of higher education" means the University of 
Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State 
University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State 
University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois 
University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois 
University, the public community colleges of this State, and 
any other public universities, colleges, and community 
colleges now or hereafter established or authorized by law.
    "Volunteer emergency worker" means a volunteer emergency 
worker as defined in the Volunteer Emergency Worker Job 
Protection Act.
 
    Section 10. Accommodation policy. Each public institution 
of higher education must adopt a policy that reasonably 
accommodates any student who is a volunteer emergency worker in 
regard to absence from class caused by the performance of his 
or her duties as a volunteer emergency worker.  This policy 
shall include a grievance procedure by which a student who 
believes that he or she has been unreasonably denied this 
accommodation may seek redress.

 
    Section 15. Publication of policy. Each institution of 
higher education must publish the policy adopted under Section 
10 of this Act in a handbook, manual, or other similar document 
regularly provided to faculty and students.
 
    Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding 
Section 8.30 as follows:
 
    (30 ILCS 805/8.30 new)
    Sec. 8.30. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 
of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the 
implementation of any mandate created by the Volunteer 
Emergency Worker Higher Education Protection Act.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on July 
1, 2006.




Effective Date:  7/1/2006