093_HB0465ham001

 










                                     LRB093 06780 NHT 12719 a

 1                     AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 465

 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend House  Bill  465  on  page  7,
 3    immediately below line 5, by inserting the following:

 4        "Section 10.  The Higher Education Student Assistance Act
 5    is amended by changing Section 65.40 and adding Section 65.75
 6    as follows:

 7        (110 ILCS 947/65.40)
 8        Sec. 65.40.  General provisions; leaves of absence.
 9        (a)  The scholarships issued under Sections Section 65.15
10    and 65.75 may be used at the University of Illinois, Southern
11    Illinois   University,   Chicago  State  University,  Eastern
12    Illinois University,  Governors  State  University,  Illinois
13    State  University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern
14    Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.  Unless
15    otherwise indicated, the scholarships shall exempt the holder
16    from  the  payment  of  tuition  and  other necessary fees as
17    defined in Section 35 of this Act.
18        Any  student  who  has  been  or  shall  be   awarded   a
19    scholarship shall be reimbursed by the appropriate university
20    or community college for any charges which he or she has paid
21    and  for  which  exemption  is granted under this Section, if
22    application for such reimbursement is made  within  2  months
 
                            -2-      LRB093 06780 NHT 12719 a
 1    following the school term for which the charges were paid.
 2        The  holder  of  a  scholarship  shall  be subject to all
 3    examinations, rules and requirements  of  the  university  or
 4    community  college  in  which he or she is enrolled except as
 5    herein directed.
 6        This Section does not prohibit the Board of  Trustees  of
 7    the University of Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern
 8    Illinois  University,  the Board of Trustees of Chicago State
 9    University,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Eastern   Illinois
10    University,   the   Board  of  Trustees  of  Governors  State
11    University,  the  Board  of  Trustees   of   Illinois   State
12    University,  the  Board  of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois
13    University,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Northern  Illinois
14    University, and the Board of  Trustees  of  Western  Illinois
15    University   for  the  institutions  under  their  respective
16    jurisdictions from granting other scholarships.
17        (b)  Any student enrolled in a university to which he  or
18    she  is  holding  a scholarship issued under Section 65.15 or
19    65.75 who  satisfies  the  president  of  the  university  or
20    someone designated by the president that the student requires
21    leave  of  absence for the purpose of earning funds to defray
22    his or her expenses while in  attendance  or  on  account  of
23    illness  or  military  service  may be granted such leave and
24    allowed a period of  not  to  exceed  6  years  in  which  to
25    complete  his or her course at the university.  Time spent in
26    the armed forces shall not be part of the 6 years.
27    (Source: P.A. 91-496, eff. 8-13-99.)

28        (110 ILCS 947/65.75 new)
29        Sec. 65.75.  The Opportunity Scholarship Program.
30        (a)  Each year, the Commission shall receive and consider
31    applications for scholarship assistance  under  this  Section
32    and   award   scholarships,   to   be  known  as  Opportunity
33    Scholarships, to eligible applicants.  Six  scholarships  per
 
                            -3-      LRB093 06780 NHT 12719 a
 1    legislative  district  shall  be awarded to residents of each
 2    legislative district. The  Commission  may  adopt  any  rules
 3    necessary to implement and administer this Section.
 4        (b)  An  applicant  is  eligible  for a scholarship under
 5    this Section  if  he  or  she  meets  all  of  the  following
 6    requirements:
 7             (1)  The  applicant is a resident of the legislative
 8        district  for  which  he  or  she  is  applying   for   a
 9        scholarship and is registered to vote in that legislative
10        district  (if he or she is a citizen of the United States
11        and is at least 18 years of age).
12             (2)  The applicant is eligible  for  Monetary  Award
13        Program  grant  assistance  under Section 35 of this Act.
14        However, for any given legislative district, if there are
15        not a  sufficient  number  of  applicants  who  meet  the
16        eligibility requirements for Monetary Award Program grant
17        assistance,   then   the   Commission   shall   determine
18        eligibility  under this subdivision (2) based on need and
19        merit criteria that the Commission shall set by rule.
20             (3)  The applicant meets  the  academic  achievement
21        criteria set by the Commission by rule.
22        (c)  All  applications  for  scholarship assistance under
23    this Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as set
24    forth by the Commission. The  form  of  application  and  the
25    information required to be set forth in the application shall
26    be determined by the Commission. The Commission shall require
27    applicants  for  scholarship assistance under this Section to
28    submit with their applications any supporting documents  that
29    the   Commission   deems  necessary,  including  a  notarized
30    statement from the applicant that the applicant is a resident
31    of the legislative district for which he or she  is  applying
32    for   a  scholarship  and  is  registered  to  vote  in  that
33    legislative district (if he or she is a citizen of the United
34    States and at least 18 year of age).
 
                            -4-      LRB093 06780 NHT 12719 a
 1        (d)  Section  65.40  of  this  Act  governs  scholarships
 2    issued under this Section. A scholarship awarded  under  this
 3    Section  shall  be  good  for  a  period  of  not more than 2
 4    semesters or 3 quarters while enrolled for residence  credit.
 5    The  maximum  number  of academic terms for which a recipient
 6    may receive scholarship assistance under this  Section  is  8
 7    semesters or 12 quarters of undergraduate study or the number
 8    of   semesters   or  quarters  of  graduate  study  that  the
 9    Commission determines.".