Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez

Filed: 3/20/2019

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2691

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2691 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly makes all of the
7following findings:
8        (1) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that
9    all students who are residents of this State have
10    meaningful and equitable access to higher educational
11    opportunities notwithstanding the student's race, color,
12    gender or gender identity, age, ancestry, marital status,
13    military status, religion, pregnancy, national origin,
14    disability status, sexual orientation, order of protection
15    status, as defined under Section 1-103 of the Illinois
16    Human Rights Act, or immigration status.

 

 

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1        (2) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that
2    students who may not have had the same educational
3    opportunities are not penalized as they seek to achieve
4    higher education.
5        (3) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring the
6    success and retention of African American students by
7    safeguarding equitable access to educational funding and
8    eliminating systemic barriers.
9        (4) Lifting any caps on the Monetary Award Program,
10    other than those required by State law, will have a
11    positive impact on the retention and equity of African
12    American students and other students of color who are
13    disproportionately impacted by the lack of access to
14    resources in completing their postsecondary education.
15        (5) The State of Illinois is committed to retaining
16    Illinois students who wish to attend institutions of higher
17    learning in this State by addressing financial barriers for
18    those students.
 
19    Section 10. Definition. In this Act, "Illinois resident"
20includes any person who is deemed an Illinois resident for
21tuition purposes under State law.
 
22    Section 15. Equitable eligibility for financial aid and
23benefits.
24    (a) A student who is an Illinois resident and who is not

 

 

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1otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but
2not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for
3failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen
4student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall
5be eligible for State financial aid and benefits as described
6in subsection (b).
7    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
8contrary, a student who is an Illinois resident (i) is eligible
9to apply or receive consideration for any student aid or
10benefit funded or administered by the State, any State agency,
11or any public institution of higher learning, including, but
12not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, room
13and board assistance, tuition waivers, or other financial or
14in-kind assistance and (ii) to ensure equity, success, and the
15retention of Illinois residents, may not be subject to any caps
16on grant assistance available under the Monetary Award Program
17other than those required by State law.
18    (c) The eligibility requirements under this Section for any
19student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State
20shall be interpreted to promote the broadest eligibility for
21students who are Illinois residents in accordance with State
22law or policy.
23    (d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as modifying
24any eligibility requirements regarding academic standing or
25personal or household income for any State financial aid
26program.

 

 

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1    (e) The General Assembly finds and declares that this
2Section is a State law within the meaning of subsection (d) of
3Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code.
 
4    Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
5severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.".