HB4671 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 20013 HLH 33464 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4671

Introduced 2/3/2026, by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 735/10-30

Amends the Energy Community Reinvestment Act. In provisions concerning the Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship, provides that a student may receive a scholarship under those provisions for a period that is equivalent to 4 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms (currently, one calendar year of full-time enrollment, including summer terms). Provides that the displaced energy worker must have lost his or her employment while a resident of Illinois to be eligible for the scholarship program. Effective July 1, 2026.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Energy Community Reinvestment Act is amended by changing Section 10-30 as follows:

(20 ILCS 735/10-30)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on September 15, 2045)

Sec. 10-30. Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the benefits of this Section shall be administered by and paid for out of funds made available to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

(b) Any natural child, legally adopted child, or stepchild of an eligible displaced energy worker who possesses all necessary entrance requirements shall, upon application and proper proof, be awarded a transition scholarship consisting of the equivalent of one calendar year of full-time enrollment, including summer terms, to the State-supported Illinois institution of higher learning of his or her choice. A student may receive assistance under this Section for a period that is equivalent to 4 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms.

(c) As used in this Section, "eligible displaced energy worker" means an energy worker who, while a resident of Illinois, has lost employment due to the reduced operation or closure of a fossil fuel power plant or coal mine located in this State.

(d) Full-time enrollment means 12 or more semester hours of courses per semester, or 12 or more quarter hours of courses per quarter, or the equivalent thereof per term. Scholarships utilized by dependents enrolled in less than full-time study shall be computed in the proportion which the number of hours so carried bears to full-time enrollment.

(e) Scholarships awarded under this Section may be used by a child without regard to his or her age or current state of residence. The holder of a Scholarship awarded under this Section shall be subject to all examinations and academic standards, including the maintenance of minimum grade levels, that are applicable generally to other enrolled students at the Illinois institution of higher learning where the scholarship is being used.

(f) An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under this Section when the Commission finds the applicant:

(1) is the natural child, legally adopted child, or stepchild of an eligible displaced energy worker; and

(2) in the absence of transition scholarship assistance, will be deterred by financial considerations from completing an educational program at the State-supported Illinois institution of higher learning of his or her choice.

(g) Funds may be made available from the Energy Transition Assistance Fund to the Commission to provide these grants.

(h) The scholarship shall only cover tuition and fees at the rates offered to students residing within the State or in the district, but the scholarship amount awarded to a student in a single year shall not exceed the cost equivalent of one calendar year of full-time enrollment, including summer terms, at the University of Illinois. The Commission shall determine the grant amount for each student.

(Source: P.A. 102-662, eff. 9-15-21.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026.