HB 3385, a bill requiring a minimum of three on-site licensed clinical professional counselors or licensed clinical social workers at every college, passed unanimously in the Higher Education Committee on March 19, 2025. President Tony Johnston testified in favor of the bill, urging lawmakers to support clinical counselors and our students. You can read his compelling arguments in favor of the legislation below. Joining President Johnston in testifying in favor of HB 3385 was Shanya Gray, faculty counselor at Moraine Valley Community College and a proud union member. A huge thank you to Shanya for traveling to Springfield to testify before the higher education committee.
HB 3385 is sponsored by Norma Hernandez. It will now move forward to the Illinois House of Representatives.
Fact Sheet on HB 3385:
President Tony Johnston, Shanya Gray, and Legislative Troy Swanson in Springfield at the Higher Ed Committee hearing.
Testimony of Tony Johnston, President Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600 Before the Illinois House Higher Education Committee Chair: Representative Katie Stuart In Support of House Bill 3385
Chair Stuart, Members of the Committee, and Honored Guests:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. My name is Tony Johnston, and I am the President of Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600. On behalf of our faculty, counselors, and the students we serve, I am here to express our strong support for House Bill 3385 and to illustrate why—despite the important actions already taken by the General Assembly—this legislation remains urgently needed.
I. Overview: Action Taken and the Persisting Crisis
The General Assembly has already recognized the mental health needs of our students through the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, which mandated staffing levels for mental health professionals and provided funding for colleges to support student mental health. These legislative steps are laudable and have the potential to improve outcomes for thousands of Illinois students. Yet, in practice, many college administrations are not fulfilling the spirit of the law. Even with funding in place, administrators have cut existing counseling positions or left them vacant when counselors retire. In 2024, for example, South Suburban College outsourced all of its counseling positions—a decision that stands in stark contrast to the Act’s focus on ensuring dedicated, qualified mental health staff on campus.
II. Why HB 3385 Remains Essential
Although the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act set baseline requirements, House Bill 3385 strengthens these mandates by requiring each institution of higher education to employ at least three on-site licensed clinical professional counselors or licensed clinical social workers. HB 3385 addresses the persistent gaps left by inconsistent administrative priorities and ensures that these dedicated professionals are truly on the ground, fully integrated into campus life five days a week.
Guaranteeing Physical Presence Despite legislative funding, some campuses have turned to telehealth or “visiting” counselors who are only present one or two days a week—or, in the worst case, not at all. Students in crisis need immediate, in-person interventions from licensed clinicians who understand the campus environment, can assess risk, and respond swiftly.
Preventing Administrative Workarounds Even after the Act’s passage, institutions like South Suburban College have chosen to eliminate or outsource counselor positions. House Bill 3385 clarifies that substituting part-time or external mental health contractors does not fulfill the mandate to have qualified, on-site professionals who can proactively engage with students and faculty.
Supporting Faculty and Improving Retention Instructors are often first to recognize a student in distress. If no licensed mental health professional is on campus, these faculty members have nowhere to send a student who needs help. Retention suffers when students facing mental health crises cannot access timely, consistent care. Strengthening and clarifying existing mandates through HB 3385 helps ensure that our students receive the support they need, improving both individual lives and overall institutional outcomes.
III. The Consequences of Administrative Inaction
The tragic reality is that, while the General Assembly’s legislative intent is clear, administrative decisions often fail to meet it. When vacant counselor positions remain unfilled or are eliminated:
Students Fall Through the Cracks Without licensed professionals, faculty members are left to do their best. But as professors themselves will attest, they lack the specialized training to handle acute mental health emergencies. Students in crisis may go unnoticed, or may be given the number of a provider who is not physically there.
Equity Gaps Widen Community college students, many of whom are low-income or the first in their family to attend college, rely heavily on campus-based support. Relying on outside providers or telehealth platforms can present additional barriers—financial costs, lack of transportation, and scheduling conflicts—that disproportionately hurt these high-need populations.
Missed Opportunity for Early Intervention Keeping students in school is not just a moral imperative but an economic one. Research shows that students who receive counseling are far more likely to stay enrolled and eventually graduate. Eliminating on-campus counselor positions undercuts this proven strategy.
IV. A Real-World Illustration
I want to reiterate a recent example shared by South Suburban College Faculty President, Professor Jamie Welling. A student having suicidal thoughts sought help from a faculty member. The faculty member immediately escorted the student to the College and Career Success Center which previously housed faculty counselors. Of course, South Suburban College had cut all of its counselor positions so no licensed mental health professionals were available. Staff in the Success Center handed the student a card with an emergency hotline, but there was no real-time crisis intervention or clinical follow-up. It was the dedicated faculty member who made sure the student called for help and stayed safe.
This incident, and others like it, underscores the outcome when institutions “comply” with minimal external contracts or part-time mental health coverage rather than employing fully available counselors. HB 3385 would reduce the likelihood of such dangerously inadequate responses by guaranteeing a baseline of on-site professionals who can offer immediate assessment, intervention, and referral.
V. How HB 3385 Builds on Existing Legislation
Far from replacing the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, House Bill 3385 reinforces its core aims. The Act rightfully recognized that college students’ mental health needs are urgent and that professionals must be on campus to meet these needs. HB 3385 clarifies and strengthens these requirements by:
Ensuring Every Campus Has a Baseline StaffThree on-site, licensed counselors is a modest minimum for institutions that serve thousands of students—many of whom have complex financial, academic, and personal challenges.
Prohibiting Reliance on OutsourcingMandates around on-campus presence ensure that colleges cannot simply farm out services without oversight. When services are outsourced entirely, students often receive inadequate care, and staff are not familiar with campus resources or culture.
Maintaining the Spirit of Legislative Funding The General Assembly appropriated funds to support the goals of the Act. Encouraging (and, indeed, requiring) colleges to use these funds for full-time mental health professionals closes the “loopholes” that arise when administrators replace counselors with budget line items that do not provide continuous, direct services.
VI. Conclusion and Request for Support
Chair Stuart, Members of the Committee, despite the positive steps Illinois has taken, the job is not finished. House Bill 3385 is essential for translating the General Assembly’s good intentions into real, sustained support for our students. It ensures that colleges cannot sidestep the law’s requirements and that every Illinois student—particularly those at community colleges—is guaranteed professional, on-campus mental health care at critical moments.
We must not allow ongoing administrative decisions to undermine the gains from the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. On behalf of the Cook County College Teachers Union and the thousands of employees we represent and the tens of thousands of students we serve, I strongly urge you to support HB 3385. Our students deserve comprehensive mental health services that match both the letter and the spirit of the law—and we have a duty to deliver precisely that.
Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.