Public Act 101-0021
 
HB2691 EnrolledLRB101 07754 AXK 52803 b


  
    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  


 
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act.
 
    Section 5. Findings.   The General Assembly makes all of the 
following findings:
        (1) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that 
    all students who are residents of this State have 
    meaningful and equitable access to higher educational  
    opportunities notwithstanding the student's race, color, 
    gender or gender identity, age, ancestry, marital status, 
    military status, religion, pregnancy, national origin, 
    disability status, sexual orientation, order of protection 
    status, as defined under Section 1-103 of the Illinois 
    Human Rights Act, or immigration status.
        (2) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that 
    students who may not have  had the same educational 
    opportunities are not penalized as they seek to achieve 
    higher education.
        (3) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring the 
    success and retention of African American students by 
    safeguarding equitable access to educational funding and 
    eliminating systemic barriers.
        (4) Lifting any caps on the Monetary Award Program, 
    other than those required by State law, will have a 
    positive impact on the retention and equity of African 
    American students and other students of color who are 
    disproportionately impacted by the lack of access to 
    resources in completing their postsecondary education.
        (5) The State of Illinois is committed to retaining 
    Illinois students who wish to attend institutions of higher 
    learning in this State by addressing financial barriers for 
    those students.
 
    Section 10. Definition. In this Act, "Illinois resident" 
includes any person who is deemed an Illinois resident for 
tuition purposes under State law.
 
    Section 15. Equitable eligibility for financial aid and 
benefits. 
    (a) A student who is an Illinois resident and who is not 
otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but 
not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for 
failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen 
student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall 
be eligible for State financial aid and benefits as described 
in subsection (b).
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 
contrary, a student who is an Illinois resident (i) is eligible 
to apply  or receive consideration for any student aid or 
benefit funded or administered by the State, any State agency, 
or any public institution of higher learning, including, but 
not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, room 
and board assistance, tuition waivers, or other financial or 
in-kind assistance and (ii) to ensure equity, success, and the 
retention of Illinois residents, may not be subject to any caps 
on grant assistance available under the Monetary Award Program 
other than those required by State law.
    (c) The eligibility requirements under this Section for any 
student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State 
shall be interpreted to promote the broadest eligibility for 
students who are Illinois residents in accordance with State 
law or policy.
    (d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as modifying 
any eligibility requirements regarding academic standing or 
personal or household income for any State financial aid 
program.
    (e) The General Assembly finds and declares that this 
Section is a State law within the meaning of subsection (d) of 
Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code.
 
    Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are 
severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.