SB0102 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 26214 RJT 52573 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB0102

Introduced 1/24/2023, by Sen. Dale Fowler

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/65.107 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish and administer a workforce industry needs scholarship program to provide scholarships to qualified students who, in order to meet regional or statewide workforce needs, are pursuing a professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning. Sets forth the qualifications that a student must meet to receive a scholarship. Provides that each scholarship awarded shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room and board costs of the public institution of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $5,000, except that in the case of a recipient who does not reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. Provides that the Commission shall adopt rules to define what constitutes a postsecondary course of study or other program in order to meet regional or statewide workforce needs. Provides that priority for receiving a scholarship may be given to students seeking a professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning in an industry sector identified annually by the Commission as having significant regional or statewide workforce needs. Provides for the approval and suspension of approval of a postsecondary course of study or other program of a public institution of higher learning. Provides for rulemaking. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

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 Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.107 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.107 new)

Sec. 65.107. Workforce industry needs scholarship.

(a) The Commission shall, subject to appropriation, establish and administer a workforce industry needs scholarship program to provide scholarships to qualified students who, in order to meet regional or statewide workforce needs, are pursuing a professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning.

(b) For the purposes of this Section, a qualified student shall be a student who meets the following qualifications:

(1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States;

(2) is enrolled or accepted, on at least a half-time basis, at a public institution of higher learning;

(3) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study or other program in order to meet regional or statewide workforce needs; and

(4) is employed, is enrolled or has completed a financial literacy course at a public institution of higher learning, or has completed 100 hours of voluntary time contributing to a nonprofit or public service organization approved by the Commission.

(c) Each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room and board costs of the public institution of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $5,000, except that in the case of a recipient who does not reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. All scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be paid to the institution on behalf of recipients.

(d) The Commission shall adopt rules to define what constitutes a postsecondary course of study or other program in order to meet regional or statewide workforce needs under subsection (b). The Commission shall provide high schools and public institutions of higher learning, by March 31 of each year, a list of postsecondary courses of study or other programs that are approved by the Commission to meet regional or statewide workforce needs.

(e) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual in any given academic year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at which the student is enrolled. In any academic year for which a qualified student under this Section accepts financial assistance through any other program administered by the Commission, the qualified student is not eligible for scholarship assistance under this Section.

(f) A recipient may receive up to 6 semesters or 9 quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section. Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment each academic year.

(g) A student may not be eligible to receive a scholarship under this Section for more than one professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning within any 5-year period following the student's last scholarship disbursement, unless the additional professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning constitutes progress in the same field of study.

(h) Priority for receiving a scholarship under this Section may be given to students seeking a professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree from a public institution of higher learning in an industry sector identified annually by the Commission as having significant regional or statewide workforce needs.

(i) Through an annual program evaluation process, the Commission may suspend its approval of a postsecondary course of study or other program of a public institution of higher learning if the Commission determines that the postsecondary course of study or other program of the public institution of higher learning no longer meets the qualifications of the Commission under subsection (d). If approval of a postsecondary course of study or other program is suspended during the Commission's annual program evaluation process, then a qualified student may not continue to receive a scholarship under this Section for the suspended postsecondary course of study or other program. However, the qualified student is able to continue to receive a scholarship under this Section if the student transfers to a similar postsecondary course of study or other program at another public institution of higher learning. The Commission shall advise the student on how to transfer to another similar postsecondary course of study or other program.

(j) The Commission shall issue a report, by April 15 of each year, to the General Assembly detailing the use of funds appropriated in the prior fiscal year under this Section. The report must include a list of approved postsecondary courses of study or other programs for each public institution of higher learning that received scholarship funds, the amount spent on each approved postsecondary courses of study or other programs, the number of students that received scholarships, the average scholarship amount for each student, a list of professional certificates, credentials, diplomas, or degrees completed by scholarship students, the average amount of money received by each scholarship student for each professional certificate, credential, diploma, or degree received, and the job placement rates for scholarship students.

(k) The Commission and the Department of Employment Security shall inform individuals who are receiving unemployment insurance about scholarships under this Section and any postsecondary courses of study or other programs available at public institutions of higher learning.

(l) All applications for scholarships under this Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as set forth by the Commission. The form of application and the information required to be set forth in the application shall be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with their applications such supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary.

(m) The Commission shall adopt all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation.

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