SB3855 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17966 LNS 31403 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3855

Introduced 2/6/2026, by Sen. John F. Curran

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
110 ILCS 205/9.47 new

Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Act. Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Program, to be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to provide scholarship assistance until July 1, 2031 to eligible students for engineering-related study at a public university who agree to work as an engineer for the Department of Transportation for a period of not less than 3 years. Allows the Commission to award scholarships to pay the tuition and fees of a student enrolled in an approved program of professional engineering education for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment. Provides for an additional stipend in an amount not to exceed $10,000. Establishes the total amount of scholarship assistance, the application process, eligibility requirements, and payments and repayments. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act to require the Board of Higher Education to establish and administer a competitive grant program for public institutions of higher education that award degrees in engineering. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2032.

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 Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to attract capable and promising students to the engineering profession and to increase employment and retention of individuals who are working toward or who have received a master's or doctoral degree in engineering.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Approved program of professional engineering education" means a program of engineering approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

"Institution of higher learning" means a public university of this State.

"Program" means the program created under Section 15.

Section 15. Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Program. There is created, beginning July 1, 2027, the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Program, to be administered by the Commission. The Program shall provide scholarship assistance until July 1, 2031, subject to appropriation, to eligible students for engineering-related study.

Section 20. Scholarship award; stipend; maximum time period; maximum amount.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award an engineering scholarship to each qualified applicant in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the institution of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to the maximum amount of tuition and fees charged to students enrolled in an approved program of professional engineering education at the institution of higher learning.

(b) A scholarship recipient under this Act shall also receive a stipend, the amount of which may not exceed $10,000, to cover other costs of attendance, including, but not limited to, living expenses. Stipend amounts for recipients enrolled on less than a full-time basis shall be prorated by credit hour.

(c) A recipient may receive scholarship assistance under the Program for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment.

(d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by the Commission under the Program to an individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, may not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at which the student is enrolled.

Section 25. Application. All applications for a scholarship under the Program shall be made to the Commission in a form and manner prescribed by the Commission. Applicants shall also submit any supporting documents deemed necessary by the Commission at the time of application.

Section 30. Eligibility; work agreement.

(a) The Commission shall, on an annual basis until July 1, 2031, receive and consider applications for scholarship assistance under the Program. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under the Program if the Commission finds that the applicant:

(1) is a United States citizen or permanent resident;

(2) is a resident of this State; and

(3) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment on a full-time basis in an approved program of professional engineering education at an institution of higher learning.

(b) Scholarship recipients under this Act shall be selected from among eligible applicants based on a combination of academic excellence and financial need, as determined by the Commission.

(c) Preference may be given to previous recipients of a scholarship under the Program, as long as the recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in this Section and maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled.

(d) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for an academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under the Program must sign an agreement pledging that, within one year following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall (i) begin working as an engineer for the Department of Transportation for a period of not less than 3 years and (ii) upon request of the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the work agreement required under this subsection.

Section 35. Payment to institution of higher education. All scholarship funds distributed under the Program shall be paid to the institution of higher learning on behalf of the scholarship recipient.

Section 40. Repayment upon default; exception.

(a) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Act fails to fulfill the work agreement required under the Program, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarship or scholarships received, prorated according to the fraction of the work agreement not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees.

(b) Payments received by the Commission under this Section shall be remitted to the State Comptroller for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, except that that portion of a recipient's repayment that equals the amount in expenses that the Commission has reasonably incurred in attempting collection from that recipient shall be remitted to the State Comptroller for deposit into the ISAC Accounts Receivable Fund.

(c) A recipient of a scholarship awarded under the Program is not in violation of the work agreement entered into pursuant to this Act if the recipient is (i) serving as a member of the armed services of the United States, (ii) temporarily totally disabled, as established by a sworn affidavit of a qualified physician, (iii) seeking and unable to find employment as an engineer with the Department of Transportation and is able to provide evidence of that fact, or (iv) taking additional courses, on a full-time basis, related to engineering. Any extension of the period during which the work agreement must be fulfilled is subject to limitations of duration established by the Commission.

Section 80. Rulemaking. The Commission shall adopt all rules necessary for the administration of this Act.

Section 85. Repealer. This Act is repealed on July 1, 2032.

Section 90. The Board of Higher Education Act is amended by adding Section 9.47 as follows:

(110 ILCS 205/9.47 new)

Sec. 9.47. Competitive engineering grants. In order to increase the number of engineering students graduating from public institutions of higher education, the Board shall establish and administer a competitive grant program for public institutions of higher education that award degrees in engineering. The grants may be awarded on the basis of performance criteria, which shall include, but not be limited to, degree production, student retention, and passage rates on professional licensure examinations.

The Board shall adopt those rules that are necessary for the implementation and administration of the grants established under this Section.