SB2329 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 15863 CMG 65220 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2329

Introduced 1/8/2020, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/23 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to implement and administer a program, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, to award College Promise grants to Illinois residents seeking an associate degree, certificate, or diploma from an institution of higher learning or a not-for-profit private business or vocational school. Sets forth the terms and conditions of the program. Effective July 1, 2021.

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 Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 23 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/23 new)

Sec. 23. College Promise program.

(a) In this Section:

"Continuous enrollment" means a student has attended classes in the fall and spring semester of a single academic year; enrollment in summer semester or intersession terms is not required.

"School" means a private business and vocational school, as defined in Section 15 of the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act of 2012, that is not for profit.

"Student aid" means scholarships and grants, other than a College Promise grant, awarded to a student from any source that does not require repayment; "student aid" does not include student loans and work-study awards.

(b) The Commission shall implement and administer a program, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, to award College Promise grants to all eligible Illinois residents seeking an associate degree, certificate, or diploma from an institution or a school. The following terms and conditions shall apply to the program:

(1) To be eligible for a grant, a student must be admitted to and enrolled full-time, as an Illinois resident, in an institution or a school in the fall term following graduation from an approved high school or after obtaining a high school equivalency certificate, provided that the student obtains the high school equivalency certificate prior to the student reaching 19 years of age. Exceptions to initial enrollment may be made for extenuating circumstances as provided in rules adopted by the Commission.

(2) Students applying for a grant shall complete the College Promise grant application in their initial year of enrollment. Students shall complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each academic year in which they seek to receive a grant.

(3) To continue to receive a grant, a student must maintain Illinois residency, as well as satisfactory academic progress as determined by rules adopted by the Commission.

(4) Grant recipients shall participate in mentoring and community service programs under rules adopted by the Commission.

(5) Each academic year, subject to appropriation, a grant shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the institution or the school attended less all other student aid. Student aid shall be credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory fees.

(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (5) of this subsection (b), the amount of the grant at a public university, a private institution, or a school may not exceed the average cost of tuition and mandatory fees at public community colleges as determined by the Illinois Community College Board.

(7) A student awarded a grant who has an approved medical or personal leave of absence from an institution or a school may continue to receive the grant upon resuming the student's education at an institution or a school so long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements under this Section and as adopted by the Commission. The total of all approved leaves of absence may not exceed 6 months.

(8) A student is eligible for a grant until the occurrence of the first of the following events:

(A) the student has earned an associate degree, certificate, or diploma; or

(B) the sum of the number of years the student has attended an institution or a school, exclusive of approved leaves of absence, equals 2 years from the date of the student's initial enrollment at an institution or a school.

(9) Except for a medical or personal leave of absence, as approved by an institution or a school, a student awarded a grant under this Section shall maintain continuous enrollment at an institution or a school.

(c) In awarding grants under this Section, the Commission shall, by rule, develop the selection and renewal criteria for students.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2021.