SPRINGFIELD, Ill.– A panel commissioned to review the admissions policies at the University of Illinois issued its final report on August 6, which calls for the resignation of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

Regarding the University of Illinois, members of the Illinois Admissions Review Commission believe that trustee members should resign, allowing Gov. Pat Quinn to decide what members to reappoint to the board and who should fill any vacancies. The Commission also called on the new board to conduct a thorough review of the role played by U of I President B. Joseph White and Chancellor Richard Herman in the “shadow admissions process.”

More than 800 undergraduate applicants, as well as law and business school candidates, received preferential treatment through the process, which was called “Category I.” These students were admitted to the state’s flagship university because of their ties to prestigious individuals, such as elected officials, wealthy donors, and university trustees.

The Commission report said that while the process may have initially begun “as a seemingly innocuous way to ‘track’ inquiries from prominent individuals” it eventually “evolved (or devolved) into a ‘well-oiled’ machine that was perhaps unparalleled among universities in its level of formality and structure.”

In addition to asking for trustee resignations, the report also recommends the university eliminate the Category I admissions process, make public both the appeals process and any third-party inquiries, allow only students and family members to make official inquiries regarding an admissions application, and establish a state higher education inspector to conduct investigations of future violations.

On August 6, the governor also signed legislation that will make it illegal for drivers to text when behind the wheel, or to talk on a cell phone when driving through school speed zones or construction areas. The laws were an initiative of the Secretary of State’s Distracted Driving Task Force, and are intended to reduce accidents caused by distracted drivers.

House Bill 71 prohibits drivers from sending text messages while driving, but also bans sending e-mails or instant messages, surfing the Internet, or reading messages. However, motorists can text while the car is in park or neutral, if they pull over to the shoulder of the road or if there is an accident or emergency. They can also continue to use their GPS devices.

Another measure, House Bill 72, seeks to reduce accidents caused by distracted drivers in school, construction or maintenance zones. House Bill 72 prohibits a driver from using a wireless phone in any of these areas, unless the person is working at the construction or maintenance site, the phone must be used for emergency purposes, or if the telephone was voice-activated.

Although texting bans have been enforced in a number of states, opponents rejected the measure, saying that law enforcement officials could use texting as an excuse to target drivers of a potential race or ethnicity. Others challenged the legislation, saying that there are already laws that apply to improper lane using and speeding, which adequately police drivers who are sidetracked by using their cell phone to send or read messages.

Other legislation recently signed into law includes:

Alternative Healthcare (SB 181/PA 96-0129): Increases the number of children’s respite care Chicago locations from eight to nine.

Charter Schools (SB 612/PA 96-0105): Increases the number of charters from 60 to 120, and forces all charter schools to employ certificated teachers in 75 percent of instructional positions. (SB 1984/PA 96-0104): Requires charter schools to comply with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. 

College Savings Plans (SB 81/PA 96-0120): States that if money from Bright Start or College Illinois! is deducted and not used for qualified expenses at an eligible educational institution, the taxpayer must add the original contribution amount to his or her taxable income, to the extent it was deducted.

Convenience Accounts (SB 229/PA 96-0123): Allows banks to establish bank accounts where depositers can’t access funds, but can make deposits and payments on behalf of the account holder.  

Drug Testing (HB 272): Requires the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to randomly test interscholastic athletes for the use of performance-enhancing substances. Students who refuse to be tested or found to have used performance-enhancing drugs will be not be allowed to participate in the sport.

Foreclosure (HB 153/PA 96-0110): Requires a foreclosure deed to contain the grantee’s name, address and phone number. (HB 3863/PA 96-0111): Requires new owners of a foreclosed property to make a good-faith effort to ascertain the identities and addresses of all occupants in the dwelling and notify the occupants that he or she has acquired the property.

Health Education (SB 1665/PA 96-0128): Includes cancer as an informational topic in health education classes and allows athletic organizations to require a testicular examination as part of a physical required for a male student’s participation in interscholastic athletics.

High School Dropouts (SB 1796/PA 96-0106): Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program to re-enroll high school dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma.

Information Database (SB 1828/PA 96-0107): Creates an educational database system that will link students’ preschool through higher education student unit records.

Insanity (SB 42/PA 96-0117): Allows victim impact statements to be presented at the mental health commitment hearing of someone who is found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Judges (SB 1938/PA 96-0108): Adds additional judges in Lake and Will counties.

Limited Liability Company (SB 239/PA 96-0126): Creates low-profit limited liability corporations (L3C), which are established to pursue a charitable or educational purpose, and are not created to generate income or achieve political or legislative goals.

Low Speed Bicycles (SB 236/PA 96-0125): Allows a person to operate a low-speed bicycle if they have a valid driver’s license.

Mortgages (HB 4011/PA 96-0112): Creates standards for Illinois’ participation in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, which is intended to streamline licensing and enhance enforcement and consumer protection by increasing access to information on mortgage companies operating in multiple states.

Preschool Grants (SB 79/PA 96-0119): Requires preschools receiving grants from the Preschool For All program to collaborate with the local Head Start agency.

Property Taxes (SB 207/PA 96-0122): Establishes requirements for new information to be included on notices of property tax assessment.

School Restructuring Task Force (SB 2119/PA 96-0109): Creates a Task Force to develop strategies to allow for the innovation, intervention, and restructuring of schools.

Sex Offenders (SB 62/PA 96-0118): States that convicted sex offenders cannot operate certain vehicles, including ice cream trucks, emergency or rescue vehicles.

Tax Miscellaneous (SB 1691/PA 96-0116): Extends the investment tax credit, the graphic arts machinery and equipment exemption, and the manufacturer’s purchase credit.

Tax Proceeds (SB 230/PA 96-0124): States that counties that collect a special county retailer’s occupation tax for public safety may share those funds with any fire protection district located in that county.

TIF Macomb (SB 242/PA 96-0127): Extends the tax increment finance district for Macomb by twelve years.

Waste Disposal (SB 178/PA 96-0121): Establishes Household Waste Disposal Stations for disposal of prescription drugs and potentially hazardous household waste products.