HB3185eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3185 Engrossed LRB100 11276 NHT 21622 b

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The State Universities Civil Service Act is amended by changing Sections 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f, 36g, 36g-1, 36h, 36j, 36o, 36p, and 36s as follows:

(110 ILCS 70/36b) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b1)

Sec. 36b. Creation.

(1) A classified civil service system to be known as the State Universities Civil Service System is hereby created, and is hereinafter referred to as the University System.

(2) The purpose of the University System is to establish a sound program of personnel administration for the Illinois Community College Board, State Community College of East St. Louis (abolished under Section 2-12.1 of the Public Community College Act), 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 University of Illinois, the State Universities Civil Service System, the State Universities Retirement System, the State Scholarship Commission, and the Board of Higher Education. All certificates, appointments and promotions to positions in these agencies and institutions shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness, to be ascertained by examination, except as specified in Section 36e.

(3) The University State Universities Civil Service System hereby created shall be a separate entity of the State of Illinois and shall be under the control of a Board to be known as the University Civil Service Merit Board, and is hereinafter referred to as the Merit Board.

(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

(110 ILCS 70/36c) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b2)

Sec. 36c. The merit board. The Merit Board shall be composed of 11 members, 3 of whom shall be members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Trustees of Governors State University, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, and one of whom shall be a member of the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University. The 7 new members required to be elected to the Merit Board by their respective Boards of Trustees shall replace the 2 persons who, until the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995, served as members of the Merit Board elected from the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities and the Board of Regents; and the terms of the members elected to the Merit Board from the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities and the Board of Regents shall terminate on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995. The members of the Merit Board shall be elected by the respective Boards in which they hold membership and they shall serve at the pleasure of the electing Boards.

All members of the Merit Board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for any traveling expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Merit Board.

The Merit Board shall determine the number necessary for a quorum, elect its own chairperson chairman and set up an Executive Committee of its own members which shall have all of the powers of the Merit Board except as limited by the Merit Board.

The Merit Board shall cause to be elected a committee of not less than eleven members to be made up of Civil Service Employees, six of whom shall be nominated by and from the Civil Service Employees of the University of Illinois and one of whom shall be nominated by and from the Civil Service Employees of each of the other institutions specified in Section 36e, who will function in an advisory capacity to the Merit Board on all matters pertaining to the University System. This Advisory Committee shall meet at least quarterly and members of the Committee shall be reimbursed by their respective employers for time lost from work and for expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Committee.

(Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96.)

(110 ILCS 70/36d) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b3)

Sec. 36d. Powers and duties of the Merit Board. The Merit Board shall have the power and duty: -

(1) To approve a classification plan prepared under its direction, assigning to each class positions of substantially similar duties. The Merit Board shall have power to delegate to its Executive Director the duty of assigning each position in the classified service to the appropriate class in the classification plan approved by the Merit Board.

(2) To prescribe the duties of each class of positions and the qualifications required by employment in that class.

(3) To prescribe the range of compensation for each class or to fix a single rate of compensation for employees in a particular class; and to establish other conditions of employment which an employer and employee representatives have agreed upon as fair and equitable. The Merit Board shall direct the payment of the "prevailing rate of wages" in those classifications in which, on January 1, 1952, any employer is paying such prevailing rate and in such other classes as the Merit Board may thereafter determine. "Prevailing rate of wages" as used herein shall be the wages paid generally in the locality in which the work is being performed to employees engaged in work of a similar character. Each employer covered by the University System shall be authorized to negotiate with representatives of employees to determine appropriate ranges or rates of compensation or other conditions of employment and may recommend to the Merit Board for establishment the rates or ranges or other conditions of employment which the employer and employee representatives have agreed upon as fair and equitable. Any rates or ranges established prior to January 1, 1952, and hereafter, shall not be changed except in accordance with the procedures herein provided.

(4) To recommend to the institutions and agencies specified in Section 36e standards for hours of work, holidays, sick leave, overtime compensation and vacation for the purpose of improving conditions of employment covered therein and for the purpose of insuring conformity with the prevailing rate principal.

(5) To prescribe standards of examination for each class, the examinations to be related to the duties of such class. The Merit Board shall have power to delegate to the Executive Director and his or her staff the preparation, conduct and grading of examinations. Examinations may be written, oral, by statement of training and experience, in the form of tests of knowledge, skill, capacity, intellect, aptitude; or, by any other method, which in the judgment of the Merit Board is reasonable and practical for any particular classification. Different examining procedures may be determined for the examinations in different classifications but all examinations in the same classification shall be uniform.

(6) To authorize the continuous recruitment of personnel and to that end, to delegate to the Executive Director and his or her staff the power and the duty to conduct open and continuous competitive examinations for all classifications of employment.

(7) To cause to be established, from the results of examinations, registers for each class of positions in the classified service of the University State Universities Civil Service System, of the persons who shall attain the minimum mark fixed by the Merit Board for the examination; and such persons shall take rank upon the registers as candidates in the order of their relative excellence as determined by examination, without reference to priority of time of examination.

(8) To provide by its rules for promotions in the classified service. Vacancies shall be filled by promotion whenever practicable. For the purpose of this paragraph, an advancement in class shall constitute a promotion.

(8.5) To issue subpoenas to secure the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books and papers in the course of any investigation or hearing conducted pursuant to the Act.

(9) (Blank). To set a probationary period of employment of no less than 6 months and no longer than 12 months for each class of positions in the classification plan, the length of the probationary period for each class to be determined by the Director.

(10) To provide by its rules for employment at regular rates of compensation of persons with physical disabilities in positions in which the disability does not prevent the individual from furnishing satisfactory service.

(11) To make and publish rules, to carry out the purpose of the University State Universities Civil Service System and for examination, appointments, transfers and removals and for maintaining and keeping records of the efficiency of officers and employees and groups of officers and employees in accordance with the provisions of Sections 36b to 36q, inclusive, and said Merit Board may from time to time make changes in such rules.

(12) To appoint an Executive a Director who shall appoint staff to and such assistants and other clerical and technical help as may be necessary efficiently to administer Sections 36b to 36q, inclusive. To authorize the Executive Director to appoint a Designated Employer Representative an assistant resident at the place of employment of each employer specified in Section 36e, and this Designated Employer Representative assistant may be authorized to give examinations and to certify names from the regional registers provided in Section 36k. The enumeration of specific duties and powers that the Merit Board may delegate to the Executive Director in this Section does not preclude the Merit Board from delegating other duties and powers to the Executive Director.

(13) To submit to the Governor of this state on or before November 1 of each year prior to the regular session of the General Assembly a report of the University System's business and an estimate of the amount of appropriation from state funds required for the purpose of administering the University System.

(14) To authorize the creation and use of pilot programs to further the goals of the Act, which may be inconsistent with any rules adopted by the Merit Board, provided that such programs are of limited duration and do not reduce any rights or benefits of employees subject to this Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

(110 ILCS 70/36e) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b4)

Sec. 36e. Coverage. All employees of the Illinois Community College Board, State Community College of East St. Louis (abolished under Section 2-12.1 of the Public Community College Act), 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 University of Illinois, the University State Universities Civil Service System, the State Universities Retirement System, the State Scholarship Commission, and the Board of Higher Education, shall be covered by the University System described in Sections 36b to 36q, inclusive, of this Act, except the following persons:

(1) The members and officers of the Merit Board and the board of trustees, and the commissioners of the institutions and agencies covered hereunder;

(2) The presidents and vice-presidents of each educational institution;

(3) Other principal administrative employees of each institution and agency as determined by the Merit Board;

(4) The teaching, research and extension faculties of each institution and agency;

(5) Students employed under rules prescribed by the Merit Board, without examination or certification.

(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

(110 ILCS 70/36f) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b5)

Sec. 36f. Examinations.

(a) All examinations given under the University System shall be open to all applicants who are citizens of or residents in the State of Illinois and who can qualify by training and experience for the position for which application is made. In examinations for technical positions for which no qualified residents of this State are available the residence requirement may be waived.

(b) Examinations may be written; oral; by statement of training and experience; in the form of tests of knowledge, skill, capacity, intellect, or aptitude; or by any other method which, in the judgment of the Merit Board, is reasonable and practical for any particular classification. The examinations shall be practical and shall relate to the classification for which the examination is given. No question in any examination shall relate to political or religious affiliation or racial origins of the examinee.

(c) Different examining procedures may be determined for the examinations in different classifications, but all examinations in the same classification must be uniform. The examination requirement for the initial appointment, entry level position only, of law enforcement personnel may be waived if an applicant has satisfied all the requirements established by the Illinois Police Training Act for appointment of law enforcement officers and if the Merit Board allows for such a waiver by rule. Additional positions, entry level only, may have the examination requirement waived if the occupational standards are regulated by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, as designated by the Merit Board and provided for in adopted rules.

(Source: Laws 1951, p. 1289.)

(110 ILCS 70/36g) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b6)

Sec. 36g. Appropriate For the granting of appropriate preference in entrance examinations to qualified persons who have been members of the armed forces of the United States or to qualified persons who, while citizens of the United States, were members of the armed forces of allies of the United States in time of hostilities with a foreign country, and to certain other persons as set forth in this Section.

(a) As used in this Section:

(1) "Time of hostilities with a foreign country" means any period of time in the past, present, or future during which a declaration of war by the United States Congress has been or is in effect or during which an emergency condition has been or is in effect that is recognized by the issuance of a Presidential proclamation or a Presidential executive order and in which the armed forces expeditionary medal or other campaign service medals are awarded according to Presidential executive order.

(2) "Armed forces of the United States" means the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard. Service in the Merchant Marine that constitutes active duty under Section 401 of federal Public Law 95-202 shall also be considered service in the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes of this Section.

(b) The preference granted under this Section shall be in the form of points added to the final grades of the persons if they otherwise qualify and are entitled to appear on the list of those eligible for appointments.

(c) A veteran is qualified for a preference of 10 points if the veteran currently holds proof of a service connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or an allied country or if the veteran is a recipient of the Purple Heart.

(d) A veteran who has served during a time of hostilities with a foreign country is qualified for a preference of 5 points if the veteran served under one or more of the following conditions:

(1) The veteran served a total of at least 6 months, or

(2) The veteran served for the duration of hostilities regardless of the length of engagement, or

(3) The veteran was discharged on the basis of hardship, or

(4) The veteran was released from active duty because of a service connected disability and was discharged under honorable conditions.

(e) A person not eligible for a preference under subsection (c) or (d) is qualified for a preference of 3 points if the person has served in the armed forces of the United States, the Illinois National Guard, or any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and the person: (1) served for at least 6 months and has been discharged under honorable conditions or (2) has been discharged on the ground of hardship or (3) was released from active duty because of a service connected disability. An active member of the National Guard or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States is eligible for the preference if the member meets the service requirements of this subsection (e).

(f) The rank order of persons entitled to a preference on eligible lists shall be determined on the basis of their augmented ratings. When the Executive Director establishes eligible lists on the basis of category ratings such as "superior", "excellent", "well-qualified", and "qualified", the veteran eligibles in each such category shall be preferred for appointment before the non-veteran eligibles in the same category.

(g) Employees in positions covered by this Act who, while in good standing, leave to engage in military service during a period of hostility, shall be given credit for seniority purposes for time served in the armed forces.

(h) A surviving unremarried spouse of a veteran who suffered a service connected death or the spouse of a veteran who suffered a service connected disability that prevents the veteran from qualifying for civil service employment shall be entitled to the same preference to which the veteran would have been entitled under this Section.

(i) A preference shall also be given to the following individuals: 10 points for one parent of an unmarried veteran who suffered a service connected death or a service connected disability that prevents the veteran from qualifying for civil service employment. The first parent to receive a civil service appointment shall be the parent entitled to the preference.

(Source: P.A. 87-796.)

(110 ILCS 70/36g-1) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b6.1)

Sec. 36g-1. Active military service. Any employee of any institution or agency subject to this Act State Community College of East St. Louis (abolished under Section 2-12.1 of the Public Community College Act), Southern Illinois University, the University of Illinois, any university under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents, or any college or university under the jurisdiction of the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities who is a member of any reserve component of the United States Armed Services, including the Illinois National Guard, and who is mobilized to active military duty on or after August 1, 1990 as a result of an order of the President of the United States, shall, for each pay period beginning on or after the date of that mobilization, August 1, 1990 continue to receive the same regular compensation that he or she receives or was receiving as an employee of that educational institution or agency at the time he or she is or was so mobilized to active military duty, plus any health insurance and other benefits he or she is or was receiving or accruing at that time, minus the amount of his or her base pay for military service, and shall be given credit for seniority purposes for the duration of his or her active military service.

In the event any provision of a collective bargaining agreement or any policy of the educational institution covering any employee so ordered to active duty is more generous than the provisions contained in this Section, that collective bargaining agreement or policy shall be controlling.

(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

(110 ILCS 70/36h) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b7)

Sec. 36h. Appointment.

(1) Whenever an employer covered by the University System has a position which needs to be filled, this employer shall inform the Executive Director of the Merit Board. The Executive Director shall then certify to the employer the names and addresses of the persons with the 3 highest scores on the register for the classification to which the position is assigned. The employer shall select one of these persons certified for the position and shall notify the Executive Director of the Merit Board of the selection. If less than 3 scores appear on the appropriate register, the Executive Director shall certify the names and addresses of all persons on the register.

(2) All appointments shall be for a probationary period of no less than 6 months and no longer than 12 months for each class of positions in the classification plan, the length of the probationary period for each class having been determined by the Executive Director, except that persons first appointed to any police department of any university or college subject to this Act covered by the University System after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1979 shall be on probation for one year. The service during the probationary period shall be deemed to be a part of the examination. During the probationary period, the employee may be dismissed if the employer determines that the employee has failed to demonstrate the ability and the qualifications necessary to furnish satisfactory service. The employer shall notify the Executive Director in writing of such dismissal. If an employee is not so dismissed during his or her probationary period, his or her appointment shall be deemed complete at the end of the period.

(3) No person shall be appointed to any police department of any university or college covered by the University System unless he or she possesses a high school diploma or an equivalent high school education and unless he or she is a person of good character and is not a person who has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.

(Source: P.A. 99-72, eff. 1-1-16.)

(110 ILCS 70/36j) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b9)

Sec. 36j. Promotions.

(a) The Merit Board shall by rules provide for promotions on the basis of ability and experience and seniority in service and examination and to provide in all cases where it is practicable that vacancies will be filled by promotion. For the purpose of this Section, an advancement in class shall constitute a promotion.

(b) The Merit Board shall by rule fix lines of promotion from such several offices and places to superior offices or places in all cases where, in the judgment of the Merit Board, the duties of such several positions directly tend to fit the incumbent for a superior position.

(c) Employees promoted in the promotional line shall have their seniority for the highest position held on the basis of length of service in that classification. For the next lower classification the employee may add his seniority in the higher classification to that in the lower to determine seniority in the lower classification. Whenever a superior position in the promotional line in the classified civil service under the University System is to be filled, the Executive Director shall certify to the employer, in the order of their seniority, the names and addresses of the persons with the 3 highest scores on the promotional register for the class or grade to which said position belongs. The employer shall appoint one of those persons whose names were certified by the Executive Director.

(d) Appointments to superior positions in the promotional line shall be on probation for a period of no less than 6 months and no longer than 12 months for each class of positions in the classification plan, the length of the probationary period having been determined by the Executive Director. Persons so appointed may be demoted at any time during the period of probation if, in the opinion of the employer, they have failed to demonstrate the ability and the qualifications necessary to furnish satisfactory service, but shall not be discharged from the superior position if they have previously completed a probationary period in an inferior position in the promotional line.

(e) Employees promoted in the promotional line shall have their seniority for the highest position held on the basis of length of service in that classification. For the next lower classification, the employee may add his or her seniority in the higher classification to that in the lower to determine seniority in the lower classification.

(f) Whenever a person is promoted to a superior position in the promotional line prior to the completion of the probationary period in any one of the positions in the classified civil service under the University System, total service in the inferior position and in all such superior positions shall be combined to establish certified status and seniority in the inferior position.

(Source: P.A. 99-72, eff. 1-1-16.)

(110 ILCS 70/36o) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b14)

Sec. 36o. Demotion, removal, and discharge.

(a) After the completion of his or her probationary period, no employee shall be demoted, removed or discharged except for just cause, upon written charges, and after an opportunity to be heard in his or her own defense if he or she makes a written request for a hearing to the Merit Board within 15 days after the serving of the written charges upon him or her.

(b) Upon the filing of such a request for a hearing, the Merit Board shall grant such hearing by a hearing board or hearing officer appointed by the Merit Board to commence be held within 45 days from the date of the service of the demotion, removal, or discharge notice, which may be continued from time to time by a hearing board or hearing officer appointed by the Merit Board. The members of the hearing board or the hearing officer shall be selected from among the members of a panel established by the Merit Board after consultation with the Advisory Committee provided in Section 36c. The hearing board or hearing officer shall make and render findings of facts on the charges and transmit to the Merit Board a transcript of the evidence along with the hearing board's or hearing officer's findings of fact. The findings of the hearing board or hearing officer when approved by the Merit Board shall be certified to the parties employer.

(c) If cause for demotion, removal, or discharge is found, the employee shall be immediately demoted, removed, or discharged separated from the service. If cause is not found, the employee shall forthwith be reassigned to perform the duties of a position in his or her classification without loss of compensation.

(d) In the course of the hearing, the Executive Director of the Merit Board shall have power to administer oaths and to secure by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books and papers relevant to the inquiry.

(e) The provisions of the Administrative Review Law and all amendments and modification thereof, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto, shall apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final administrative decisions of the Merit Board hereby created. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(Source: P.A. 95-113, eff. 8-13-07.)

(110 ILCS 70/36p) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b15)

Sec. 36p. Nondiscrimination. In the administration of the University System, no applicant shall be denied employment by the Merit Board or by any employer subject to this Act because of race, color, sex, national origin, religious or political affiliations, ancestry, age, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or unfavorable military discharge, as defined in the Illinois Human Rights Act, except that any applicant for employment may be required as a condition of employment, to sign a valid oath attesting his loyalty to the state and the United States.

(Source: P.A. 78-842.)

(110 ILCS 70/36s) (from Ch. 24 1/2, par. 38b18)

Sec. 36s. Supported employees.

(a) The Merit Board shall develop and implement a supported employment program. It shall be the goal of the program to appoint a minimum of 10 supported employees to State University civil service positions before June 30, 1992.

(b) The Merit Board shall designate a liaison to work with State agencies and departments, any funder or provider or both, and State universities in the implementation of a supported employment program.

(c) As used in this Section:

(1) "Supported employee" means any individual who:

(A) has a severe physical or mental disability which seriously limits functional capacities, including but not limited to, mobility, communication, self-care, self-direction, work tolerance or work skills, in terms of employability as defined, determined and certified by the Department of Human Services; and

(B) has one or more physical or mental disabilities resulting from amputation; arthritis; blindness; cancer; cerebral palsy; cystic fibrosis; deafness; heart disease; hemiplegia; respiratory or pulmonary dysfunction; an intellectual disability; mental illness; multiple sclerosis; muscular dystrophy; musculoskeletal disorders; neurological disorders, including stroke and epilepsy; paraplegia; quadriplegia and other spinal cord conditions; sickle cell anemia; and end-stage renal disease; or another disability or combination of disabilities determined on the basis of an evaluation of rehabilitation potential to cause comparable substantial functional limitation.

(2) "Supported employment" means competitive work in integrated work settings:

(A) for individuals with severe disabilities for whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred, or

(B) for individuals for whom competitive employment has been interrupted or intermittent as a result of a severe disability, and who because of their disability, need on-going support services to perform such work. The term includes transitional employment for individuals with chronic mental illness.

(3) "Participation in a supported employee program" means participation as a supported employee that is not based on the expectation that an individual will have the skills to perform all the duties in a job class, but on the assumption that with support and adaptation, or both, a job can be designed to take advantage of the supported employee's special strengths.

(4) "Funder" means any entity either State, local or federal, or private not-for-profit or for-profit that provides monies to programs that provide services related to supported employment.

(5) "Provider" means any entity either public or private that provides technical support and services to any department or agency subject to the control of the Governor, the Secretary of State or the University Civil Service System.

(d) The Merit Board shall establish job classifications for supported employees who may be appointed into the classifications without open competitive testing requirements. Supported employees shall serve in a trial employment capacity for not less than 3 or more than 12 months.

(e) The Merit Board shall maintain a record of all individuals hired as supported employees. The record shall include:

(1) the number of supported employees initially appointed;

(2) the number of supported employees who successfully complete the trial employment periods; and

(3) the number of permanent targeted positions by titles.

(f) The Merit Board shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly regarding the employment progress of supported employees, with recommendations for legislative action.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)