HB4139eng 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4139 Engrossed LRB102 19996 CMG 28798 b

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.110 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)

Sec. 65.110. Teacher reimbursement grant program.

(a) To encourage and motivate Illinois students to pursue long-term teaching careers in elementary and secondary education and to promote the retention of teachers in this State, the Commission shall establish and administer a teacher reimbursement grant program to reimburse public school teachers and students pursuing a career as a public school teacher for the tuition and mandatory fees they paid to a public institution of higher learning in this State in order to obtain a Professional Educator License under Article 21B of the School Code and to teach in this State.

(b) Each year for a period of 6 years beginning on July 1, 2022, the Commission shall receive and consider applications for grant assistance under this Section consisting of a maximum of 10 payments to reimburse eligible applicants for up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of tuition and mandatory fees associated with obtaining a Professional Educator License. An applicant is eligible to receive a grant under this Section if the Commission finds that the applicant:

(1) is a resident of this State;

(2) has:

(A) satisfactorily completed a State-approved educator preparation program at a public institution of higher learning in this State;

(B) enrolled in a State-approved educator preparation program at a public institution of higher learning in this State; or

(C) plans to enroll in a State-approved educator preparation program at a public institution of higher learning in this State;

(3) for an applicant under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (b):

(A) holds a Professional Educator License;

(B) is actively employed in a full-time teaching position in any grade or subject in a public school located in this State; and

(C) was actively employed in a full-time teaching position in any grade or subject in a public school located in this State for the full school year immediately preceding the applicant's submission of an application to participate in the program; and

(4) provides to the Commission satisfactory documentation of the total amount of tuition and mandatory fees paid by the applicant to the public institution of higher learning in this State for the purpose of obtaining a Professional Educator License.

(c) A recipient of a grant under this Section may receive reimbursement for up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of tuition and mandatory fees paid by the recipient to a public institution of higher learning in this State for the purpose of obtaining a Professional Educator License. Any tuition and mandatory fees paid to the institution of higher learning for academic terms in excess of 8 semesters or 12 quarters are ineligible for reimbursement and may not be included in any calculation determining the total amount of the grant to be awarded to a recipient. In no case may the amount of tuition and mandatory fees reimbursed to a recipient under this Section exceed the amount of tuition and mandatory fees actually paid by the recipient to the institution of higher learning.

(d) Each year, for up to 10 consecutive years, in which a grant recipient submits satisfactory documentation to the Commission verifying that the recipient was actively employed in a full-time teaching position in a public school located in this State for the full preceding school year, the recipient shall receive a payment in an amount equal to one-tenth of the total amount of tuition and mandatory fees approved by the Commission under subsection (c).

(e) The Commission may encourage the recipient of a grant under the program to use the grant award for repayment of the recipient's higher educational loans, if any.

(f) The form of the application under subsection (b) and the information required to be provided shall be determined by the Commission. An applicant or recipient under this Section is required to submit any documentation the Commission may deem necessary.

(g) The provisions of this Section are subject to appropriation.

(h) A public institution of higher learning shall provide billing information to the recipient of a grant under this Section. The recipient shall give the provided billing information to the Commission.

(i) The Commission shall organize and update a database every year of grant recipients and payments made under this Section.

(j) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer this Section.

(k) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2040.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.