Section 592.135  Grant Obligation

a)         Grant funds may not be used except pursuant to a written Grant Agreement between the grantee and the Department. (Section 4 of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act)

b)         Grant funds shall be used only for reasonable educational expenses and reasonable living expenses of the student.

c)         The Department may grant a suspension or waiver of the recipient's requirements in the Grant Agreement.

1)         A suspension temporarily relieves the recipient of the requirements in the Grant Agreement but will not permanently alleviate the recipient's obligation.

A)        A suspension may be granted for up to one year if the recipient provides independent medical documentation of a physical or mental health disability or personal circumstance that results in the recipient's temporary inability to fulfill the requirements in the Grant Agreement.  Independent medical documentation shall include a letter from the recipient's licensed physician fully explaining and attesting to the recipient's temporary inability to fulfill the agreement's requirements.

B)        Recipients who are military reservists and are called to active duty will be granted a suspension 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 suspension.  The duration of the suspension shall equal the recipient's period of active military duty.

2)         A waiver permanently relieves the recipient of all the requirements in the Grant Agreement.  Waiver requests shall be submitted in writing to the Department.  The request shall detail the reasons for the waiver request and shall be accompanied and supported by documentation described in this subsection (c)(2).

A)        Reasons for a waiver request can include the recipient's:

i)          Total and permanent disability;

ii)         Incompetency; or

iii)        Death.

B)        If a waiver is requested because of total and permanent disability, the request shall be supported by a letter from the recipient's physician fully explaining and attesting to the recipient's inability to continue with dental school.

i)          If the request is approved, the Department will notify the recipient in writing that the requirements of the grant agreement are waived, that the recipient is discharged from all obligations to the Department in connection with this Part and that the recipient is ineligible to participate in the program in the future.

ii)         If the request is denied, the recipient shall fulfill the requirements stipulated in the Grant Agreement and this Part.

C)        If the waiver is requested because the recipient has been adjudicated as incompetent, the request shall be supported by documentation by a court of law fully explaining and attesting to the recipient's inability to continue with the requirements of the Grant Agreement.

i)          If the request is approved, the Department will notify the recipient in writing that the requirements in the Grant Agreement are waived, that the recipient is discharged from all obligations to the Department in connection with this Part, and that the recipient is ineligible to participate in the program in the future.

ii)         If the request is denied, the recipient shall fulfill the requirements stipulated in the Grant Agreement and this Part.

D)        If the waiver is requested because of the recipient's death, the request shall be supported by a copy of the recipient's death certificate.

(Source:  Added at 38 Ill. Reg. 23080, effective November 21, 2014)