SB0223sam002 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Dan Kotowski

Filed: 4/15/2015

09900SB0223sam002 LRB099 03160 NHT 33976 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 223

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 223 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 62 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/62 new)

Sec. 62. Grants for exonerated persons.

(a) In this Section:

"Exonerated person" means an individual who has received a pardon from the Governor stating that such a pardon is issued on the grounds of innocence of the crime for which he or she was imprisoned or an individual who has received a certificate of innocence from a circuit court pursuant to Section 2-702 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

"Satisfactory academic progress" means the qualified applicant's maintenance of minimum grade levels at the institution of higher learning.

(b) Subject to a separate appropriation for this purpose, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for grant assistance under this Section. Recipients of grants issued by the Commission in accordance with this Section must be exonerated persons. Recipients need not be Illinois residents at the time of enrollment in order to be eligible for a grant. Recipients are entitled to either payment for the course of study needed for them to obtain a high school equivalency certificate or 8 semesters or 12 quarters of full payment of tuition and mandatory fees at the rate established by the Commission for public and private institutions, provided that the recipients are maintaining satisfactory academic progress. The funds from the grant may be used for obtaining a high school equivalency certificate or pursuing undergraduate or graduate study. The benefits of this Section shall be administered by and paid out of funds available to the Commission and shall accrue to the bona fide applicant for a grant without the requirement of demonstrating financial need to qualify for the benefits. The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer this Section.".