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| Public Act 104-0043 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning 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 | ||||
Educational Credit for Firefighting Experience Act. | ||||
Section 5. Definitions. In this Act: | ||||
"Firefighter" means either a career or volunteer | ||||
firefighter. | ||||
"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, a public community college that is included in the | ||||
definition of "Community Colleges" under Section 1-2 of the | ||||
Public Community College Act, and any institution that | ||||
receives funds under Section 35 of the Higher Education | ||||
Student Assistance Act. | ||||
Section 10. Policies and procedures. | ||||
(a) Before June 1, 2027, each institution of higher | ||||
education with an applicable program that offers at least one | ||||
course for credit hours recommended for equivalency by a | ||||
national higher education association that provides credit | ||
recommendations for firefighting training courses and programs | ||
shall adopt a policy regarding its awarding of academic credit | ||
for firefighter training considered applicable to the | ||
requirements of a student's certificate or degree program. The | ||
policy shall apply to any individual who is enrolled in the | ||
institution of higher education and who has successfully | ||
completed a firefighting training course or program as part of | ||
his or her firefighting service that is: | ||
(1) recommended for credit by a national higher | ||
education association that provides credit recommendations | ||
for firefighting training courses and programs; or | ||
(2) otherwise documented as firefighting training or | ||
experience. | ||
(b) Each institution of higher education shall develop a | ||
procedure for receiving the necessary documentation to | ||
identify and verify the firefighting training course or | ||
program that an individual is claiming for academic credit. | ||
(c) Each institution of higher education shall provide a | ||
copy of its policy for awarding academic credit for | ||
firefighter training to any applicant who listed prior or | ||
present firefighting service in his or her admission | ||
application. | ||
(d) Each institution of higher education shall develop and | ||
maintain a list of firefighting training courses and programs | ||
that have qualified for academic credit. | ||
Section 15. Annual policy submission. Each institution of | ||
higher education shall submit its policy for awarding academic | ||
credit for firefighter training to the Board of Higher | ||
Education and the Illinois Community College Board, if | ||
applicable, by March 31, 2027 and by March 31 of each year | ||
thereafter for the policy that is effective in the subsequent | ||
fall semester. The policy shall be incorporated into the | ||
institution's credit for prior learning policies required to | ||
be submitted pursuant to the Credit for Prior Learning Act. | ||