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HB 3062

ST UNI CIVIL SERVICE-EXAMS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Murri Briel and 3 co-sponsors

The bill replaces Illinois residency for taking exams with a requirement that hired applicants live within a reasonable distance of the university facility to perform onsite duties

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Bill Summary · HB 3062

HB 3062 — Summary (State Universities Civil Service Act — Section 36f)

At a glance

  • Statute amended: State Universities Civil Service Act, Section 36f (110 ILCS 70/36f).
  • Subject: Examinations and residency requirements for hiring under the University System (State Universities Civil Service).
  • Final legislative action: Passed both houses; signed by the Governor 2025-06-20; effective immediately (6/20/2025).
  • Primary sponsors: Rep. Katie Stuart and Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (chief Senate sponsor). Co‑sponsors include Rep. Jeff Keicher and Rep. Amy Briel.

Purpose / intent

The bill modernizes and reorganizes the statutory provisions governing examinations and applicant residency preferences for positions covered by the State Universities Civil Service Act. It removes an explicit statutory requirement that applicants for civil service examinations be citizens of or residents in Illinois and replaces that residency mandate with a requirement that a person offered employment must live within a "reasonable distance" of the employing university facility to perform required onsite duties.

Key provisions and changes

  • Removes statutory language requiring applicants to be citizens of or residents in Illinois to take examinations under the University System.
  • Adds a requirement that an applicant offered employment on or after the act’s effective date must reside within a reasonable distance from the designated university facility to perform onsite duties as required by the employer.
  • Eliminates the explicit statutory language that previously allowed waiver of the residence requirement for:
    • Technical positions when no qualified Illinois residents are available, and
    • Law enforcement personnel. (Note: these waiver provisions were removed from the statutory text; the Merit Board or other rulemaking bodies may still have or adopt implementing rules.)
  • Retains and clarifies existing examination formats permissible under the Act (written, oral, training/experience statements, skills/aptitude tests, etc.) and preserves the prohibition on examination questions about political/religious affiliation or racial origins.
  • Continues to allow the Merit Board to adopt rules about examination procedures and potential waivers for some entry-level positions where occupational standards are regulated by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Who is affected

  • Job applicants seeking positions governed by the State Universities Civil Service Act (employees at state universities and related entities).
  • State universities and other employing entities covered by the Act (human resources, recruitment, and hiring practices).
  • Law enforcement and technical recruitments at universities may be affected because prior explicit statutory waiver language was removed.
  • The Merit Board and university HR offices responsible for implementing and interpreting "reasonable distance" and any consequent rulemaking.

Procedural timeline / status

  • Filed: February 19, 2025 (introduced in House by Rep. Katie Stuart).
  • Passed House and Senate in May 2025 (multiple committee and floor actions, including House floor amendment and Senate committee amendment proposals during consideration).
  • Sent to Governor: 2025-05-28.
  • Signed by Governor and effective immediately: 2025-06-20.

Notes and potential implications

  • The term "reasonable distance" is not defined in the statutory text; implementation will depend on employer interpretation, collective bargaining agreements, and any Merit Board or institutional rulemaking. This could create variability across campuses about acceptable commuting distances and remote work arrangements.
  • Removing an explicit residency/citizenship gate for taking exams broadens the candidate pool, while the proximity requirement for hires preserves an on‑site work expectation.
  • The elimination of explicit statutory waivers for technical and law enforcement hires may affect recruitment flexibility for positions historically exempted; agencies may seek rule-based or policy approaches to address workforce shortages.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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