Illinois bill aims to force colleges to report campus sexual assault
A new measure would empower the state Attorney General to compel schools to disclose incidents and provide survivors with legal recourse.
By Samir Doyle ·
Only 38% of Illinois colleges and universities currently file the annual sexual violence reports required by state law. State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, a Democrat from Arlington Heights, is sponsoring a bill that would give the Illinois Attorney General’s Office the authority to compel these institutions to publicly disclose such incidents.
The Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act seeks to close the gap between actual campus assaults and the data available to the public. Carrie Ward, CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, noted that the low compliance rate means the true number of incidents is far higher than official figures suggest. Her organization helped draft the legislation.
Canty stated that the bill provides the Attorney General’s office with stronger tools to ensure schools maintain proper policies and submit their reporting. The measure expands the definition of campus sexual violence to include digital harassment and revenge porn. It also allows victims to attend campus proceedings with both legal and mental health support.
The legislation creates a new legal pathway for survivors. If a student believes a school failed to adequately address a case, they can take legal action against the institution. Canty explained that the process begins when a student writes to the school identifying where it failed to follow its own policies.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in 16 men experience sexual assault while in college. Ward emphasized that a victim’s academic future often depends on how the college handles the case. She said that if students do not feel safe returning to class or their major, their entire educational trajectory can be impacted.
The bill passed the Illinois Senate with a bipartisan majority in the spring. Lawmakers are expected to consider the measure during next month’s fall veto session.
