HB4697 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 16000 MJR 31245 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB4697

Introduced , by Rep. Jack D. Franks

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 920/8

from Ch. 144, par. 2408

Amends the Baccalaureate Savings Act. In a Section concerning the administration of a grant program, provides that no limit may be placed on the number of bonds that may be purchased under the program on an annual basis. Provides that while all grants awarded under the program are subject to annual appropriation of funds by the General Assembly, there shall be no expiration date placed on the grants and any person who is denied disbursement of a grant due to a lack of funding shall remain eligible for disbursement of that grant until such time as funding becomes available, provided that he or she properly applies for disbursement of the grant on an annual basis.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 Baccalaureate Savings Act is amended by changing Section 8 as follows:

(110 ILCS 920/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 2408)

Sec. 8. Grant Program. The proceedings of the Governor and the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget authorizing the issuance of College Savings Bonds shall also provide for a grant program of additional financial incentives to be provided to holders of such Bonds to encourage the enrollment of students at Institutions of Higher Education located in the State of Illinois. The Grant Program of financial incentives shall be administered by the State Scholarship Commission pursuant to administrative rules promulgated by the Commission. Such financial incentives shall be in such forms as determined by the Governor and the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget at the time of the authorization of such College Savings Bonds and may include, among others, supplemental payments to the holders of such Bonds at maturity to be applied to tuition costs at institutions of higher education located in the State of Illinois. The Commission may establish, by rule, administrative procedures and eligibility criteria for the Grant Program, provided that such rules are consistent with the purposes of this Act and that no limit may be placed on the number of bonds that may be purchased on an annual basis. The Commission may require bond holders, institutions of higher education and other necessary parties to assist in the determination of eligibility for financial incentives under the Grant Program. All grants shall be subject to annual appropriation of funds for such purpose by the General Assembly; however, there shall be no expiration date placed on grants awarded under this Section and any person who is denied disbursement of a grant due to a lack of funding shall remain eligible for disbursement of that grant until such time as funding becomes available, provided that he or she properly applies for disbursement of the grant on an annual basis. Such financial incentives shall be provided only if, in the sole judgment of the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, the cost of such incentives shall not cause the cost to the State of the proceeds of the College Savings Bonds being sold to be increased by more than 1/2 of 1%. No such financial incentives shall be paid to assist in the financing of the education of a student (i) in a school or department of divinity for any religious denomination or (ii) pursuing a course of study consisting of training to become a minister, priest, rabbi or other professional person in the field of religion.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)