HB4139 EngrossedLRB102 19996 CMG 28798 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
5amended by adding Section 65.110 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)
7    Sec. 65.110. Teacher reimbursement grant program.
8    (a) To encourage and motivate Illinois students to pursue
9long-term teaching careers in elementary and secondary
10education and to promote the retention of teachers in this
11State, the Commission shall establish and administer a teacher
12reimbursement grant program to reimburse public school
13teachers and students pursuing a career as a public school
14teacher for the tuition and mandatory fees they paid to a
15public institution of higher learning in this State in order
16to obtain a Professional Educator License under Article 21B of
17the School Code and to teach in this State.
18    (b) Each year for a period of 6 years beginning on July 1,
192022, the Commission shall receive and consider applications
20for grant assistance under this Section consisting of a
21maximum of 10 payments to reimburse eligible applicants for up
22to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of tuition and mandatory fees
23associated with obtaining a Professional Educator License. An

 

 

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1applicant is eligible to receive a grant under this Section if
2the Commission finds that the applicant:
3        (1) is a resident of this State;
4        (2) has:
5            (A) satisfactorily completed a State-approved
6        educator preparation program at a public institution
7        of higher learning in this State;
8            (B) enrolled in a State-approved educator
9        preparation program at a public institution of higher
10        learning in this State; or
11            (C) plans to enroll in a State-approved educator
12        preparation program at a public institution of higher
13        learning in this State;
14        (3) for an applicant under subparagraph (A) of
15    paragraph (2) of this subsection (b):
16            (A) holds a Professional Educator License;
17            (B) is actively employed in a full-time teaching
18        position in any grade or subject in a public school
19        located in this State; and
20            (C) was actively employed in a full-time teaching
21        position in any grade or subject in a public school
22        located in this State for the full school year
23        immediately preceding the applicant's submission of an
24        application to participate in the program; and
25        (4) provides to the Commission satisfactory
26    documentation of the total amount of tuition and mandatory

 

 

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1    fees paid by the applicant to the public institution of
2    higher learning in this State for the purpose of obtaining
3    a Professional Educator License.
4    (c) A recipient of a grant under this Section may receive
5reimbursement for up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of tuition
6and mandatory fees paid by the recipient to a public
7institution of higher learning in this State for the purpose
8of obtaining a Professional Educator License. Any tuition and
9mandatory fees paid to the institution of higher learning for
10academic terms in excess of 8 semesters or 12 quarters are
11ineligible for reimbursement and may not be included in any
12calculation determining the total amount of the grant to be
13awarded to a recipient. In no case may the amount of tuition
14and mandatory fees reimbursed to a recipient under this
15Section exceed the amount of tuition and mandatory fees
16actually paid by the recipient to the institution of higher
17learning.
18    (d) Each year, for up to 10 consecutive years, in which a
19grant recipient submits satisfactory documentation to the
20Commission verifying that the recipient was actively employed
21in a full-time teaching position in a public school located in
22this State for the full preceding school year, the recipient
23shall receive a payment in an amount equal to one-tenth of the
24total amount of tuition and mandatory fees approved by the
25Commission under subsection (c).
26    (e) The Commission may encourage the recipient of a grant

 

 

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1under the program to use the grant award for repayment of the
2recipient's higher educational loans, if any.
3    (f) The form of the application under subsection (b) and
4the information required to be provided shall be determined by
5the Commission. An applicant or recipient under this Section
6is required to submit any documentation the Commission may
7deem necessary.
8    (g) The provisions of this Section are subject to
9appropriation.
10    (h) A public institution of higher learning shall provide
11billing information to the recipient of a grant under this
12Section. The recipient shall give the provided billing
13information to the Commission.
14    (i) The Commission shall organize and update a database
15every year of grant recipients and payments made under this
16Section.
17    (j) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to
18implement and administer this Section.
19    (k) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2040.
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.