Section 2731.20  Applicant Eligibility

a)         A qualified applicant shall be:

1)         one of the following:

A)        the natural child, legally adopted child, or child in the legal custody of a correctional officer at the time the officer was killed in the line of duty; or

B)        the natural child, legally adopted child, or child in the legal custody of a correctional officer at the time or after a permanently disabling injury occurred in the line of duty. Children need not be born, legally adopted, or in the legal custody of the employee before the disability occurred in order to receive this grant; or

C)        the husband or wife of a correctional officer at the time the officer was killed in the line of duty or at the time a permanently disabling injury occurred in the line of duty; and

2)         a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen; and

3)         enrolled on at least a half-time basis at an institution that is approved for participation in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2735); and

4)         making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate.

b)         An applicant need not be a resident of Illinois at the time of enrollment.

c)         An applicant does not have to demonstrate financial need to receive this grant.

d)         A spouse who remarries after a correctional officer is killed in the line of duty, or divorces a permanently disabled officer, is not eligible.  Common law partners are not eligible.

e)         A step-child who was not or is not in the legal custody of, or legally adopted by, a correctional officer who died or sustained a permanently disabling injury in the line of duty is not eligible.

(Source:  Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 773, effective January 1, 2019)