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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has an interest in ensuring 
3that students who are eligible for federal, state, or 
4institutional aid are receiving that aid to help them attain a 
5degree or credential; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The award of student financial aid from federal, 
7state, and institutional sources is subject to federal and 
8state laws and regulations as well as institutional policies 
9and procedures; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, The Illinois Student Assistance Commission 
11conducts compliance reviews of financial aid offices 
12participating in ISAC-administered financial aid programs; the 
13agency also offers training for financial aid administrators; 
14and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Institutions must act within federal and state 
16regulations but may also adopt different approaches to 
17complying with federal and state mandates; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS,  Compliance with those mandates is meant to ensure 
19the appropriate delivery of assistance while remaining within 
20the scope and responsibilities of the institution; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Federal programs sometimes include constraints, 
2such as a suspension of federal student aid eligibility for 
3students convicted of drug crimes that occurred while receiving 
4federal student aid, that exceed the constraints on state 
5programs and should not be applied to state programs; 
6therefore, be it
  
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
8HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
9SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Student Assistance 
10Commission is directed to create a working group on financial 
11aid policies and procedures, whose purpose is the following:
12        (1) To advise ISAC on the development of model policies 
13    and procedures for financial aid, including but not limited 
14    to verification and professional judgment, the purpose of 
15    which is to provide additional guidance for Illinois 
16    institutions on how best to serve Illinois students from a 
17    variety of backgrounds and situations, while complying 
18    with state and federal requirements for the delivery of 
19    state and federal financial aid;  and
20        (2) To identify and eliminate procedural barriers at 
21    the state and institutional levels that may result in 
22    students not receiving aid for which they may otherwise be 
23    eligible; and be it further
  
 
24    RESOLVED, That the working group shall consist of the 
 
 
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1following, convened by the Executive Director of the Illinois 
2Student Assistance Commission or his designee, with staff 
3support from the Commission:
4        (1) The president of a statewide professional 
5    organization of student financial aid administrators, or 
6    that person's designee;
7        (2) Additional financial aid administrators 
8    representing the diversity of Illinois postsecondary 
9    institutions; and
10        (3) The president of a statewide organization of 
11    professionals involved in college admission counseling, or 
12    that person's designee; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That the Commission, at the discretion of the 
14executive director, may include additional experts on college 
15access, federal student aid, disparities in higher education, 
16immigration law, tax law, or any other topics relevant to the 
17tasks outlined above, and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That the Commission shall use its best efforts in 
19assuring that the working group is representative of the 
20geographic, racial, and ethnic diversity of this state, and be 
21it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That working group members shall serve without 
23compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses from 
 
 
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1appropriations made to the Commission and available for this 
2purpose.