HB5462 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 19815 LNS 33265 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5462

Introduced 2/13/2026, by Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 997/10
110 ILCS 997/25
110 ILCS 997/30

Amends the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program Act. Provides that a recipient may receive an award through the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program for a maximum of 4 years. With regard to eligibility for the Program, requires, among other criteria, (i) an applicant to be a full-time employee for at least 24 consecutive months as a human services professional at the time of application, (ii) an applicant to remain a full-time employee as a human services professional in the same community-based human services agency for at least 12 months follow the initial application for (rather than after receiving) the grant, and (iii) an applicant seeking a renewal award to be employed by the same community-based human services agency at the time of application and to provide evidence of continuous employment for the 12 months preceding the application for renewal. Defines "human services agency". Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

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 Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 25, and 30 as follows:

(110 ILCS 997/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

"Human services agency" means a community-based human services organization that:

(1) provides services to varied populations pursuant to its mission;

(2) provides a range of in-kind benefits, direct cash assistance, or other direct or indirect services in various places and settings as required by individual and community needs; and

(3) contracts with, receives funding from, or is grant-funded by a State agency for the purposes of providing direct or indirect services that ensure that individuals have the essential elements to build and maintain physical, emotional, and economic well-being at every phase of life.

"Professional" means an individual employed by a human services agency that contracts with, receives funding from, or is grant-funded by a State agency for the purposes of providing direct or indirect services that ensure that individuals have the essential elements to build and maintain physical, emotional, and economic well-being at every phase of life.

"Program" means the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program.

"Qualified program" means a program that offers an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree from an accredited college or university.

"State agency" means the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department on Aging, and the Department of Public Health.

(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23; 103-31, eff. 7-1-23.)

(110 ILCS 997/25)

Sec. 25. Award; maximum amount. The Commission shall award a grant to eligible applicants and may grant preference to applicants based on need or income levels or a measure that combines need or income levels. The recipient of a grant awarded by the Commission under this Act must use the grant award for payments toward the recipient's educational loans from a qualified program. The amount of the grant shall not exceed: (i) $25,000 per year for a master's degree or higher; (ii) $15,000 per year for a bachelor's degree; (iii) $3,000 per year for a professional with an associate degree; and (iv) up to a $5,000 per year add-on if independently licensed as a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a board-certified behavior analyst, or a registered behavior technician. A recipient may receive an award through this program for a maximum of 4 years.

(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23; 103-31, eff. 7-1-23.)

(110 ILCS 997/30)

Sec. 30. Eligibility; work requirement.

(a) To be eligible to receive a grant under the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program, the Commission must find that the eligible professional satisfies all of the following:

(1) The applicant is a resident of the State of Illinois.

(2) At the time of application, the The applicant has been a full-time employee for at least 24 consecutive months as a human services professional, and the community-based human services agency currently has or did have a contract with, receives funding from, or is grant-funded by a State agency for the purpose of providing human services during the applicant's 24 consecutive month tenure.

(3) The applicant is a borrower with an outstanding balance due on an educational loan.

(4) The applicant has not defaulted on an educational loan.

(5) The applicant must remain a full-time employee as a human services professional in the same community-based human services agency for at least 12 months following the initial application for after receiving this grant. An applicant seeking a renewal award in a subsequent year must be employed by the same community-based human services agency at the time of application and must provide evidence of continuous employment for the 12 months that precede the application for renewal.

(b) The Commission may grant preference to a previous recipient of a grant under the Program, provided that the recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements under this Section.

(c) The Commission may grant preference to applications based on need or income levels or a measure that combines need or income levels.

(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23; 103-31, eff. 7-1-23.)

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