HB1262 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 04836 RJT 49846 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1262

Introduced 1/31/2023, by Rep. Jeff Keicher

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Collegiate Athlete College Completion Act. Provides that beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, if a student-athlete is permanently injured training for or participating in an event for an intercollegiate athletics program, then the student-athlete is eligible to attend the postsecondary educational institution until the student-athlete receives a bachelor's or master's degree and the student-athlete may not be charged tuition at a rate greater than 50% of the tuition amount charged generally at the postsecondary educational institution while the student-athlete seeks a bachelor's or master's degree if the student-athlete maintains a good standing with the postsecondary educational institution. Provides that if the student-athlete receives any financial aid, scholarships, financial awards, or other financial benefits connected to the student-athlete's participation in an intercollegiate athletics program of the postsecondary educational institution in excess of 50% of the tuition amount charged generally at the postsecondary educational institution, then, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the student-athlete is eligible to continue to receive those benefits until the student-athlete receives a bachelor's or master's degree if the student-athlete maintains a good standing with the postsecondary educational institution. Provides that a student-athlete who is permanently injured to the extent that the student-athlete is unable to immediately attend classes may delay attending the postsecondary educational institution. Provides for physician certification. Effective July 1, 2024.

A BILL FOR

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 Collegiate Athlete College Completion Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Enrolled" means registered for courses or attending athletic practice or class at a postsecondary educational institution.

"Intercollegiate athletics program" means an intercollegiate athletics program played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student-athlete are established by a national association for the promotion or regulation of collegiate athletics.

"Permanently injured" means an injury that is severe enough to prevent a student-athlete from becoming eligible to participate in an intercollegiate athletics program.

"Postsecondary educational institution" means a public university in this State or a private university or college in this State that awards bachelor's degrees.

"Student-athlete" means a student enrolled at a postsecondary educational institution who engages or was engaged in, is eligible to engage in, or may be eligible in the future to engage in an intercollegiate athletics program at the postsecondary educational institution. If an individual is permanently ineligible to participate in a particular intercollegiate sport, the individual is not a student-athlete for purposes of that sport.

Section 10. Tuition coverage.

(a) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, if a student-athlete is permanently injured while training for or participating in an event for an intercollegiate athletics program of a postsecondary educational institution, then the student-athlete is eligible to continue to attend the postsecondary educational institution until the student-athlete receives a bachelor's or master's degree from that postsecondary educational institution and the student-athlete may not be charged tuition at a rate greater than 50% of the tuition amount charged generally at the postsecondary educational institution while the student-athlete seeks a bachelor's or master's degree if the student-athlete maintains a good standing with the postsecondary educational institution.

(b) If a student-athlete under subsection (a) receives any financial aid, scholarships, financial awards, or other financial benefits connected to the student-athlete's participation in an intercollegiate athletics program of the postsecondary educational institution in excess of 50% of the tuition amount charged generally at the postsecondary educational institution, then, beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, the student-athlete is eligible to continue to receive those benefits until the student-athlete receives a bachelor's or master's degree from the postsecondary educational institution if the student-athlete maintains a good standing with the postsecondary educational institution.

(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a student-athlete under this Act who is permanently injured to the extent that the student-athlete is unable to immediately attend classes at the postsecondary educational institution may delay attending the postsecondary educational institution until the student-athlete recovers enough to attend.

The postsecondary educational institution may require certification each semester by a physician licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 that the student-athlete is permanently injured to the extent that the student-athlete is unable to attend classes. If a student-athlete fails to provide certification each semester, then, notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the postsecondary educational institution may deny letting the student-athlete attend the postsecondary educational institution at the reduced tuition rate under subsection (a) or receive benefits under subsection (b).

Section 15. Tuition waiver limitation. Partial tuition waivers awarded under this Act may not be charged against any tuition waiver limitation established by the Board of Higher Education.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2024.