HB3818 Summary

• Establishes the Commission on Higher Education in Prison within the Board of Higher Education to implement and coordinate recommendations from the Illinois Higher Education in Prison Task Force.

• Commission must identify a minimum of 3 recommendations per year within 3 months of its first meeting, aimed at expanding access to quality higher education in prison statewide.

• Commission composition includes 23 members: representatives from state agencies, legislative leaders, 4 formerly incarcerated individuals (including at least 1 woman), and 4 current or former higher education administrators in prisons.

• Responsibilities include identifying resources and legislative proposals for implementation, exploring a permanent statewide higher education commission, ensuring incarcerated individuals participate in Commission work, and presenting annual reports to the General Assembly.

• Commission members serve 3-year terms without compensation, hold at least 6 meetings annually, and the Commission dissolves upon release of its final report.