Section 590.231  Deferment of Continuous Attendance Requirement

A request to defer a scholarship recipient's continuous attendance requirement shall be submitted in writing to the Department and must conform to the requirements in subsection (a) or (b).  The request shall detail the reasons for the deferment and be accompanied and supported by the documentation described in this Section.  The Department may grant one deferment per recipient.

a)         A deferment will be granted for up to 12 months if the recipient provides documentation of a physical or mental health disability that results in the recipient's temporary inability to fulfill the continuous attendance requirement.  Documentation shall include an explanation from a physician licensed to practice medicine in the United States attesting to the recipient's medical condition and certifying a temporary inability to fulfill the continuous attendance requirement.

b)         A recipient who is a military reservist and is called to active duty by any branch of the armed forces of the United States will be granted a deferment beginning on the activation date in the active duty order.  The recipient shall submit a copy of the order to active duty with the written request for deferment.  The duration of the deferment shall equal the recipient's period of active military duty on behalf of the United States.

c)         A recipient who receives a deferment shall have his or her continuous attendance requirement tolled.  The tolling of this requirement shall equal the recipient's period of deferment.

d)         A recipient who breaches the continuous attendance requirement shall pay to the Department a sum equal to three times the amount of the full scholarship award.  The amounts paid to the Department under this subsection shall be used by the Department to improve access to primary health care services as authorized by Section 2310-200 of the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. 

(Source:  Added at 44 Ill. Reg. 20074, effective December 9, 2020)