SB0633sam002 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Patrick J. Joyce

Filed: 4/22/2025

10400SB0633sam002 LRB104 06911 LNS 25345 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 633

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 633 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Illinois Fire Service Institute Act is amended by changing Section 3 as follows:

(110 ILCS 365/3) (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 403)

Sec. 3. Enrollment and attendance in the Institute programs shall be open to, but not limited to, any person engaged in fire administration, fire prevention, fire suppression, fire education, or arson investigation with a unit of government or a public or private fire department in the State of Illinois, including any volunteer, trainee or permanently employed fire fighter.

(Source: P.A. 81-1147.)

Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.135 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.135 new)

Sec. 65.135. Firefighter Education Scholarship Program.

(a) As used in this Section, "firefighter" means a person who is a firefighter as defined in Section 4-106 of the Illinois Pension Code, a paramedic who is employed by a unit of local government, or an emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, or advanced emergency medical technician who is employed by a unit of local government.

(b) To improve firefighter and emergency response recruitment and to provide financial assistance to students who wish to enter into firefighting or paramedic careers so that they can more easily access those careers, the Commission shall establish and implement the Firefighter Education Scholarship Program no sooner than the 2026-2027 academic year, subject to appropriation. Under the Program, the Commission shall annually award scholarships to persons preparing to work as a firefighter in this State.

These scholarships shall be awarded to individuals who make application to the Commission and agree to sign an agreement under which a recipient pledges that, within the 2-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall do all of the following:

(1) Apply for and complete the application process for full-time employment with at least one fire department in this State and, if selected, maintain employment with that fire department for at least 2 years.

(2) Upon request of the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided for in this subsection.

(c) A student is eligible for a scholarship under this Section if the student meets the following qualifications:

(1) is a resident of this State;

(2) is a high school graduate or has received a State of Illinois High School Diploma;

(3) is enrolled or accepted at an institution of higher learning as at least a part-time student; and

(4) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study leading to a career as a firefighter.

(d) In awarding a scholarship under this Section, the Commission may give preference to applicants who received a scholarship under this Section during the prior academic year, to applicants with financial need, or to both.

(e) Each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be used by the recipient for the payment of tuition and fees at an institution of higher learning.

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

The Commission may also adopt any rules necessary to administer the Program.".