SB4167 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 20985 LNS 34851 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB4167

Introduced 3/5/2026, by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/27

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. In provisions concerning the Prepare for Illinois' Future Program, requires the Program to offer students test preparation services for the Test of Essential Academic Skills. Provides that the other preparation programs for professional exams that the Program is required to offer students may include exams for insurance, allied health care, emergency medical services, firefighting, and fitness and wellness services. Provides that, in establishing the Program, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may (rather than shall) consider, among other factors, whether a vendor can provide test preparation for multiple admission and professional exams (rather than whether the test and licensure exam preparation and credentialing programs can be provided by a single vendor). Provides that the Commission may not require a vendor to provide test preparation for all such admission and professional exams.

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 changing Section 27 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/27)

Sec. 27. Prepare for Illinois' Future Program.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall as soon as is practicable, develop and implement a Prepare for Illinois' Future Program to offer comprehensive test preparation and professional licensure preparation, free of charge and at no cost to students, with a goal of serving all students at institutions of higher education. If funding for the program is insufficient to support universal access, then the Commission may prioritize offering the services to recipients of the Monetary Award Program grant assistance under Section 35 of this Act.

(b) The Program shall offer students, at a minimum, test preparation services for the Medical College Admission Test, the Law School Admission Test, the Graduate Record Examination, the Graduate Management Admission Test, the Test of Essential Academic Skills, and other preparation programs for professional exams that may include, but are not limited to, exams for nursing, teaching, real estate, securities, and law, insurance, allied health care, emergency medical services, firefighting, and fitness and wellness services. The program may also provide preparation for credentials such as, but not limited to, the Securities Industry Essentials Exam, a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional exam, and a Wealth Management Specialist exam. In establishing the Program, the Commission may shall consider, among other factors, whether a vendor can provide test preparation for multiple admission and professional exams. However, the Commission may not require a vendor to provide test preparation for all such admission and professional exams the test and licensure exam preparation and credentialing programs can be provided by a single vendor.

(c) The Commission shall report to the General Assembly and Governor on the Program's usage as soon as is practicable after the Program has been in place for at least one academic year. To the extent that appropriate data is available, the Commission shall also report information on the program's effectiveness, with a goal of providing multi-stage research to gauge the impact of this investment on in-state university recruitment and retention, the State's talent pipeline, and the longitudinal value provided to State students. Institutions of higher education shall provide information to the Commission as needed to facilitate completion of this report.

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)