Section 405.80  Educational Reimbursement

a)         Effective January 1, 1997, committed persons who participate in educational programs provided through the Department and who are either awarded or complete the necessary course work required to earn a degree through these programs shall be required to reimburse the Department for the cost incurred for all billable course work.

b)         Each fiscal year, the Department shall determine the cost of courses that meet the requirements for the award of a degree. Committed persons shall be informed of the fees by posted notices, warden's bulletins, handbooks, or another similar manner.

c)         Per credit hour fees shall be determined for associate level courses, baccalaureate level courses, and vocational courses.

1)         To determine fees for academic courses such as associate or baccalaureate level courses, divide the statewide educational contracts cost for the appropriate level courses using the latest fiscal year for which all final expenditures are known by the average number of credit hours for that fiscal year.  Divide that sum by the average number of students per course.

2)         To determine fees for vocational courses, divide the statewide vocational contracts cost using the latest fiscal year for which all final expenditures are known by the average number of vocational credit hours.  Divide that sum by the average number of students per course.

d)         Reimbursement shall be required for any billable course work either:

1)         Upon the award of a degree; or

2)         Upon accumulation of the course work required to be eligible for the award of a degree.

e)         To reimburse the Department, the committed person may:

1)         Submit full payment for the educational cost;

2)         Authorize a monthly payment to be deducted from his or her trust fund account; or

3)         Make alternative payment arrangements.

f)         Where a committed person who has an outstanding educational reimbursement balance is discharged or placed on parole or mandatory supervised release, interest at the rate of six percent per annum shall be assessed on any unpaid balance until the account is paid in full.  No interest shall be assessed or accrued while the committed person is incarcerated.

(Source:  Added at 21 Ill. Reg. 5916, effective May 1, 1997)