Senator Daniel Biss and Illinois Public Act 098-0295

Public Act 098-0295 or the “Open Access to Research Articles Act” requires that the University of Illinois (along with other public universities in Illinois) establish a Task Force to design a proposed policy regarding open access for the scholarly articles produced at the University. The Act specifies a number of issues that the Task Force must consider when recommending such a policy. 

On November 14, 2013, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees appointed a task force to address the requirements and questions formulated in Illinois Public Act 098- 0295. The University of Illinois Open Access to Research Articles Task Force (OARAA TF) members represented the libraries in Chicago and at Urbana, members of the faculty from all three campuses, university administration, and the University of Illinois Press. Non-voting members included two additional publishers of scholarly journals, as well as individuals with legal and domain expertise. The Task Force reported its recommendations to the University Board of Trustees on November 13, 2014.

Responsibilities of the Task Force

• Reviewed current practices and designed a proposed policy regarding open access to research articles given a set of issues outlined in the Act
• Conducted open meetings with advance notice.
• Adopted a report with its findings and recommendations including:
  • A detailed description of the OA policy the Task Force recommended that the university adopt
  • A plan for implementation
  • The report was approved by a majority of the appointed Task Force voting members
  • Minority reports were issued
  • The report was submitted to the Board of Trustees, the Board of Higher Education, both chambers of the General Assembly, and the Governor