Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB2967 Latest Draft

Bill / Engrossed Version Filed 03/25/2025

                            HB2967 EngrossedLRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed  LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed  LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  AN ACT concerning education.
2  Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3  represented in the General Assembly:
4  Section 5. The Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher
5  Education Act is amended by changing Section 35 as follows:
6  (110 ILCS 155/35)
7  Sec. 35. Sexual misconduct climate survey.
8  (a) As used in this Section:
9  "Base survey" means a base set of common questions
10  recommended by the Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct
11  Climate Surveys and approved by the Executive Director of the
12  Board of Higher Education and Executive Director of the
13  Illinois Community College Board.
14  "Student" means a person who is enrolled in a public or
15  private degree-granting, post-secondary higher education
16  institution, whether part-time, full-time, or as an extension
17  student, including any person who has taken a leave of absence
18  or who has withdrawn from the higher education institution due
19  to being a victim of sexual misconduct.
20  "Trauma informed" means an understanding of the
21  complexities of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating
22  violence, or stalking through training centered on the
23  neurobiological impact of trauma, the influence of societal

 

  HB2967 Engrossed  LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 2 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  myths and stereotypes surrounding sexual violence, domestic
2  violence, dating violence, or stalking, and understanding the
3  behavior of perpetrators.
4  (b) Beginning after the effective date of this amendatory
5  Act of the 104th General Assembly, each higher education
6  institution shall biennially conduct a sexual misconduct
7  climate survey of all students at the institution Each higher
8  education institution shall annually conduct a sexual
9  misconduct climate survey of all students at the institution.
10  Each higher education institution's sexual misconduct climate
11  survey shall include the base survey, which the Board of
12  Higher Education or Illinois Community College Board,
13  whichever is applicable, shall provide to the institution
14  every 2 years. Each institution may append its own
15  campus-specific questions to the base survey if questions do
16  not require the disclosure of any personally identifying
17  information by the students and are trauma informed. The Board
18  of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board, in
19  consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, as
20  necessary, shall review any complaints submitted by students
21  who believe that questions included in the campus sexual
22  misconduct climate survey are traumatizing. Within 120 days
23  after completion of a sexual misconduct climate survey, but no
24  later than one year after the Board of Higher Education or
25  Illinois Community College Board, whichever is applicable,
26  issued the last base survey, each institution shall compile a

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 3 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  summary of the results of the sexual misconduct climate
2  survey, including, but not limited to, the complete aggregated
3  results for each base survey question, and shall submit the
4  summary to the Board of Higher Education or Illinois Community
5  College Board, as well as publish the summary on the
6  institution's website in an easily accessible manner.
7  (c) The Task Force on Campus Sexual Misconduct Climate
8  Surveys is created. The Task Force shall consist of the
9  following members:
10  (1) the Executive Director of the Board of Higher
11  Education or a designee, who shall serve as chairperson;
12  (2) the Governor or a designee;
13  (3) one member of the Senate, appointed by the
14  President of the Senate;
15  (4) one member of the House of Representatives,
16  appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
17  (5) one member of the Senate, appointed by the
18  Minority Leader of the Senate;
19  (6) one member of the House of Representatives,
20  appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
21  Representatives;
22  (7) the Attorney General or a designee;
23  (8) the Director of Public Health or a designee; and
24  (9) the Executive Director of the Illinois Community
25  College Board or a designee;
26  (10) the following members appointed by the Board of

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 4 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  Higher Education:
2  (A) one member who is a student attending a public
3  higher education institution in Illinois;
4  (B) one member who is a student attending a
5  private higher education institution in Illinois;
6  (C) one member who is a representative of the
7  University of Illinois recommended by the president of
8  the university;
9  (D) one member who is a representative of private
10  colleges and universities recommended by the
11  Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and
12  Universities;
13  (E) one member who is a chief student service
14  officer at a public or private university; and
15  (F) one member with expertise in institutional
16  research within a 4-year institution of higher
17  education;
18  (11) the following members appointed by the Illinois
19  Community College Board:
20  (A) one member who is a student attending a
21  community college in Illinois;
22  (B) one member who is a representative of the
23  community college system recommended by the Illinois
24  Council of Community College Presidents;
25  (C) one member who is a chief student service
26  officer at a community college;

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 5 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  (D) one member with expertise in institutional
2  research within a 2-year institution of higher
3  education; and
4  (12) (9) the following members appointed by the
5  Governor:
6  (A) (Blank); one member who is a student attending
7  a public higher education institution in Illinois;
8  (B) (Blank); one member who is a student attending
9  a private higher education institution in Illinois;
10  (C) (Blank); one member who is a student attending
11  a community college in Illinois;
12  (D) (Blank); one member who is a representative of
13  the University of Illinois recommended by the
14  president of the university;
15  (E) (Blank); one member who is a representative of
16  the Illinois Community College Board;
17  (F) (Blank); one member who is a representative of
18  private colleges and universities recommended by the
19  Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and
20  Universities;
21  (G) 3 members who are representatives of survivors
22  of sexual assault recommended by the Illinois
23  Coalition Against Sexual Assault, with one
24  specifically representing survivors in rural
25  communities and one specifically representing
26  survivors in urban communities;

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 6 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  (H) one member who is a representative of a
2  non-profit legal services organization that provides
3  legal representation to victims of campus sexual
4  assault in Illinois;
5  (I) one member who is a representative recommended
6  by the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence;
7  (J) one member who is a representative recommended
8  by Equality Illinois;
9  (K) one member who is a representative of an
10  immigrant rights advocacy organization;
11  (L) one member who is a representative recommended
12  by the Every Voice Coalition or any successor
13  organization of the Every Voice Coalition;
14  (M) one member who is a researcher with experience
15  in the development and design of sexual misconduct
16  climate surveys; and
17  (N) one member who is a researcher of statistics,
18  data analytics, or econometrics with experience in
19  higher education survey analysis.
20  The Task Force shall hold its first meeting as soon as
21  practicable after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
22  the 102nd General Assembly. Administrative and other support
23  for the Task Force shall be provided by the Board of Higher
24  Education. Members of the Task Force shall serve 2-year terms
25  that commence on the date of appointment. Members shall
26  continue to serve until their successors are appointed. Any

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 7 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. Any
2  vacancy occurring other than by expiration of the term shall
3  be filled for the balance of the unexpired term. A majority of
4  the Task Force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
5  of any business.
6  Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation
7  but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in
8  the performance of their duties if funds are available.
9  However, the higher education institution in which a student
10  member is enrolled may compensate that student for
11  participating on the Task Force through a work-study program
12  or by providing a stipend to support the work of the student
13  member on the Task Force.
14  (d) The Task Force shall develop and recommend to the
15  Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board
16  the base survey for distribution to higher education
17  institutions and provide the Board of Higher Education and
18  Illinois Community College Board with any related
19  recommendations regarding the content, timing, and application
20  of the base survey. The Task Force shall deliver the base
21  survey and related recommendations, including, but not limited
22  to, recommendations on achieving statistically valid response
23  rates, to the Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community
24  College Board no less often than every 2 years and for the
25  first time on or before July 31, 2023. Beginning after the
26  effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 8 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  Assembly, Thereafter, the Task Force shall meet to recommend
2  updates and revisions to the base survey in the year 2025 and
3  in the year 2027 to review the results of the survey and to
4  implement updates and improvements. The Task Force is
5  dissolved after the completion of the 2027 base survey. After
6  the dissolution of the Task Force, the Executive Director of
7  the Board of Higher Education or a designee and the Executive
8  Director of the Illinois Community College Board or a designee
9  shall review the base survey every 2 years to consider any
10  feedback that has been received and to implement improvements.
11  (e) In developing the base survey, the Task Force shall:
12  (1) utilize best practices from peer-reviewed research
13  and consult with individuals with expertise in the
14  development and use of sexual misconduct climate surveys
15  by higher education institutions, specifically the survey
16  design should consider survey length and time to complete,
17  respondent experience, minimization of question
18  redundancy, and question skip logic and branching
19  dependent on the respondent answers;
20  (2) review sexual misconduct climate surveys that have
21  been developed and previously utilized by higher education
22  institutions in Illinois and by other states that mandate
23  campus climate surveys;
24  (3) provide opportunities for written comment from
25  survivors and organizations that work directly with
26  survivors of sexual misconduct to ensure the adequacy and

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 9 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  appropriateness of the proposed content;
2  (4) consult with institutions on strategies for
3  optimizing the effectiveness of the survey;
4  (5) account for the diverse needs and differences of
5  higher education institutions; and
6  (6) review the base survey to ensure that the strategy
7  for gathering information is trauma informed.
8  (f) The base survey shall gather information on topics,
9  including, but not limited to:
10  (1) the number and type of incidents, both reported to
11  the higher education institution and unreported to the
12  higher education institution, of sexual misconduct at the
13  higher education institution;
14  (2) when and where incidents of sexual misconduct
15  occurred, such as on campus, off campus, abroad, or
16  online;
17  (3) student awareness of institutional policies and
18  procedures related to campus sexual misconduct;
19  (4) whether a student reported the sexual misconduct
20  to the higher education institution and, if so, to which
21  campus resource such report was made and, if not, the
22  reason for the student's decision not to report;
23  (5) whether a student reported the sexual misconduct
24  to law enforcement and, if so, to which law enforcement
25  agency such report was made;
26  (6) whether a student was informed of or referred to

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 10 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 10 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 10 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  local, State, campus, or other resources or victim support
2  services, including appropriate medical care, advocacy,
3  counseling, and legal services;
4  (7) whether a student was provided information
5  regarding his or her right to protection from retaliation,
6  access to school-based accommodations, and criminal
7  justice remedies;
8  (8) contextual factors, such as the involvement of
9  force, incapacitation, coercion, or drug or alcohol
10  facilitation;
11  (9) demographic information that could be used to
12  identify at-risk groups, including, but not limited to,
13  gender, race, immigration status, national origin,
14  ethnicity, disability status, sexual orientation, and
15  gender identity;
16  (10) perceptions of campus safety among members of the
17  campus community and confidence in the institution's
18  ability to protect against and respond to incidents of
19  sexual misconduct;
20  (11) whether the student has chosen to withdraw or has
21  taken a leave of absence from the institution or
22  transferred to another institution;
23  (12) whether the student has withdrawn from any
24  classes or has been placed on academic probation as a
25  result of the incident; and
26  (13) other questions as determined by the Task Force.

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 10 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 11 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  All questions on the base survey shall be optional or shall
2  offer the student the option to select "I prefer not to answer"
3  as a response on the survey.
4  (g) The sexual misconduct climate survey shall collect
5  anonymous responses and shall not provide for the public
6  disclosure of any personally identifying information. No
7  institution may use or attempt to use information collected
8  through the sexual misconduct climate survey to identify or
9  contact any individual student on campus, nor shall the
10  results of the survey be used as the basis for any type of
11  investigation or disciplinary or legal proceeding.
12  (h) There shall be established within the Office of the
13  Board of Higher Education and the Office of the Illinois
14  Community College Board a data repository for all summaries of
15  sexual misconduct climate surveys submitted by higher
16  education institutions to the Board of Higher Education or
17  Illinois Community College Board in accordance with subsection
18  (b). The Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community
19  College Board shall ensure that the sexual misconduct climate
20  survey data submitted by all applicable institutions is
21  available to the public in an easily accessible manner on the
22  Board of Higher Education's or Illinois Community College
23  Board's website.
24  (i) Each higher education institution shall publish on the
25  institution's website in an easily accessible manner:
26  (1) the campus level results of the survey;

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 12 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 12 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 12 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  (2) the annual security report required under the
2  federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy
3  and Campus Crime Statistics Act;
4  (3) the reports required under Section 9.21 of the
5  Board of Higher Education Act; and
6  (4) a link to the Board of Higher Education's and
7  Illinois Community College Board's statewide data on
8  sexual misconduct climate survey data as set forth in
9  subsection (h).
10  (j) The Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community
11  College Board shall establish rules and procedures, including
12  deadlines for dissemination and collection of survey
13  information, consistent with the purposes of this Section and
14  shall promote effective solicitation to achieve the highest
15  practical response rate, collection, and publication of
16  statistical information gathered from higher education
17  institutions.
18  (k) (Blank). Upon determination, after reasonable notice
19  and opportunity for a hearing, that a higher education
20  institution has violated or failed to carry out any provision
21  of this Section or any rule adopted under this Section, the
22  Board of Higher Education or Illinois Community College Board,
23  whichever is applicable, may impose a civil penalty upon such
24  institution not to exceed $50,000, which shall be adjusted for
25  inflation annually, for each violation. The Board of Higher
26  Education and Illinois Community College Board shall use any

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 12 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b


HB2967 Engrossed- 13 -LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b   HB2967 Engrossed - 13 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
  HB2967 Engrossed - 13 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b
1  such civil penalty funds to provide oversight of this Section
2  and to provide funding to community organizations that provide
3  services to sexual assault victims. The Attorney General may
4  bring an action in the circuit court to enforce the collection
5  of any monetary penalty imposed under this subsection (k).
6  (Source: P.A. 102-325, eff. 8-6-21; 103-288, eff. 7-28-23.)

 

 

  HB2967 Engrossed - 13 - LRB104 10336 LNS 20410 b