HB5239 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 17998 CMG 67436 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5239

Introduced , by Rep. Carol Ammons

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 105/5.930 new
110 ILCS 947/65.110 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to implement and administer a program, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, to award College Promise grants to Illinois residents seeking an associate degree from a public community college. Sets forth the terms and conditions of the program. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Effective July 1, 2020.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.930 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.930 new)

Sec. 5.930. The College Promise Fund.

Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.110 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)

Sec. 65.110. College Promise grant pilot program.

(a) In this Section:

"Continuous enrollment" means a student has attended classes in the fall and spring semester of a single academic year; enrollment in the summer semester or intersession terms is not required.

"Public community college" mean any community college in this State or any community college now or hereafter established or authorized by the General Assembly.

"Student aid" means scholarships and grants, other than a College Promise grant, awarded to a student from any source that does not require repayment; "student aid" does not include student loans and work-study awards.

(b) The Commission shall implement and administer a program, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, to award College Promise grants to all eligible Illinois residents seeking an associate degree from a public community college. The following terms and conditions shall apply to the program:

(1) To be eligible for a grant, a student must be admitted to and enrolled full-time, as an Illinois resident, in a public community college in the fall term. Exceptions to initial enrollment may be made for extenuating circumstances as provided in rules adopted by the Commission.

(2) Students applying for a grant shall complete the College Promise grant application in their initial year of enrollment. Students shall complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each academic year in which they seek to receive a grant.

(3) To continue to receive a grant, a student must maintain Illinois residency as well as satisfactory academic progress as determined by rules adopted by the Commission.

(4) Each academic year, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly from the College Promise Fund, a grant shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the public community college attended. Student aid shall be credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory fees. Each public community college shall annually report its undergraduate tuition rate for Illinois residents and the number of its students who are Illinois residents to the Commission.

(5) A student awarded a grant who has an approved medical or personal leave of absence from a public community college may continue to receive the grant upon resuming the student's education at the public community college so long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements under this Section and as adopted by the Commission. The total of all approved leaves of absence shall not exceed 6 months.

(6) A student is eligible for a grant until the occurrence of the first of the following events:

(A) the student has earned an associate degree; or

(B) the sum of the number of years the student has attended the public community college equals 4 years from the date of the student's initial enrollment at the public community college, exclusive of approved leaves of absence.

(7) Except for a medical or personal leave of absence, as approved by the public community college, a student awarded a grant under this Section shall maintain continuous enrollment at the public community college.

(c) In awarding grants under this Section, the Commission shall, by rule, develop the selection and renewal criteria for students.

(d) The College Promise Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of money appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, bequests, or donations made to the Fund. All money in the Fund shall only be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission for the purpose of this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2020.