93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB7030

 

Introduced 02/09/04, by Mary E. Flowers

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 975/2   from Ch. 144, par. 2752
110 ILCS 975/3   from Ch. 144, par. 2753
110 ILCS 975/5   from Ch. 144, par. 2755
110 ILCS 975/6   from Ch. 144, par. 2756
110 ILCS 975/7   from Ch. 144, par. 2757

    Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Authorizes scholarships for registered nurses pursuing graduate degrees in nursing and to students in areas identified as designated shortage areas. Provides that 20% of scholarships shall be for recipients pursuing graduate degrees and reduces percentages for other recipients. Removes provisions concerning scholarships for pursuing a hospital-based diploma in nursing.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Nursing Education Scholarship Law is amended
5 by changing Sections 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 as follows:
 
6     (110 ILCS 975/2)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2752)
7     Sec. 2. Legislative finding and declaration of policy. The
8 General Assembly finds and hereby declares that the provision
9 of a higher education leading to an associate degree in
10 nursing, an associate degree in applied sciences in nursing, a
11 hospital-based diploma in nursing, a baccalaureate degree in
12 nursing, a graduate degree in nursing, or a certificate in
13 practical nursing for persons of this State who desire such an
14 education is important to the health, welfare and security of
15 this State and Nation, and consequently is an important public
16 purpose. Many qualified and potential nurses are deterred by
17 financial considerations from pursuing their nursing
18 education, with consequent irreparable loss to the State and
19 Nation of talents vital to health, welfare and security. A
20 system of scholarships, repayment of which may be excused if
21 the individual is employed as a registered professional nurse
22 or a licensed practical nurse after obtaining an associate
23 degree in nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in
24 nursing, hospital-based diploma in nursing, baccalaureate
25 degree in nursing, graduate degree in nursing, or certificate
26 in practical nursing, will enable such individuals to attend
27 approved institutions of their choice in the State, public or
28 private.
29 (Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)
 
30     (110 ILCS 975/3)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2753)
31     Sec. 3. Definitions.

 

 

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1     The following terms, whenever used or referred to, have the
2 following meanings except where the context clearly indicates
3 otherwise:
4     (1) "Board" means the Board of Higher Education created by
5 the Board of Higher Education Act.
6     (2) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public
7 Health.
8     (3) "Approved institution" means a public community
9 college, private junior college, hospital-based diploma in
10 nursing program, or public or private college or university
11 located in this State that has approval by the Department of
12 Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing
13 program, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing
14 program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
15 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
16 nursing program, or certificate in practical nursing program.
17     (4) "Baccalaureate degree in nursing program" means a
18 program offered by an approved institution and leading to a
19 bachelor of science degree in nursing.
20     (5) "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance
21 of an individual's status as a student in an approved
22 institution, regardless of the terms used at the institution to
23 describe such status.
24     (6) "Academic year" means the period of time from September
25 1 of one year through August 31 of the next year or as
26 otherwise defined by the academic institution.
27     (7) "Associate degree in nursing program or hospital-based
28 diploma in nursing program" means a program offered by an
29 approved institution and leading to an associate degree in
30 nursing or , associate degree in applied sciences in nursing, or
31 hospital-based diploma in nursing.
32     (8) "Graduate degree in nursing program" means a program
33 offered by an approved institution and leading to a master of
34 science degree in nursing or a doctorate of philosophy or
35 doctorate of nursing degree in nursing.
36     (9) "Designated shortage area" means an area designated by

 

 

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1 the Director as a medically underserved area or a critical
2 health manpower shortage area as defined by the United States
3 Department of Health, Education and Welfare. These areas may
4 include:
5         (A) an urban or rural area that is a rational area for
6     the delivery of health services;
7         (B) a population group; or
8         (C) a public or nonprofit medical facility.
9     (10) (8) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois
10 Department of Public Health.
11     (11) (9) "Accepted for admission" means a student has
12 completed the requirements for entry into an associate degree
13 in nursing program, associate degree in applied sciences in
14 nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
15 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
16 nursing program, or certificate in practical nursing program at
17 an approved institution, as documented by the institution.
18     (12) (10) "Fees" means those mandatory charges, in addition
19 to tuition, that all enrolled students must pay, including
20 required course or lab fees.
21     (13) (11) "Full-time student" means a student enrolled for
22 at least 12 hours per term or as otherwise determined by the
23 academic institution.
24     (14) (12) "Law" means the Nursing Education Scholarship
25 Law.
26     (15) (13) "Nursing employment obligation" means employment
27 in this State as a registered professional nurse or licensed
28 practical nurse in direct patient care for at least one year
29 for each year of scholarship assistance received through the
30 Nursing Education Scholarship Program.
31     (16) (14) "Part-time student" means a person who is
32 enrolled for at least one-third of the number of hours required
33 per term by a school for its full-time students.
34     (17) (15) "Practical nursing program" means a program
35 offered by an approved institution leading to a certificate in
36 practical nursing.

 

 

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1     (18) (16) "Registered professional nurse" means a person
2 who is currently licensed as a registered professional nurse by
3 the Department of Professional Regulation under the Nursing and
4 Advanced Practice Nursing Act.
5     (19) (17) "Licensed practical nurse" means a person who is
6 currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse by the
7 Department of Professional Regulation under the Nursing and
8 Advanced Practice Nursing Act.
9     (20) (18) "School term" means an academic term, such as a
10 semester, quarter, trimester, or number of clock hours, as
11 defined by an approved institution.
12     (21) (19) "Student in good standing" means a student
13 maintaining a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at
14 least the academic grade of a "C".
15     (22) (20) "Total and permanent disability" means a physical
16 or mental impairment, disease, or loss of a permanent nature
17 that prevents nursing employment with or without reasonable
18 accommodation. Proof of disability shall be a declaration from
19 the social security administration, Illinois Industrial
20 Commission, Department of Defense, or an insurer authorized to
21 transact business in Illinois who is providing disability
22 insurance coverage to a contractor.
23     (23) (21) "Tuition" means the established charges of an
24 institution of higher learning for instruction at that
25 institution.
26     (24) "Nurse educator" means a person who is currently
27 licensed as a registered nurse by the Department of
28 Professional Regulation under the Nursing and Advanced
29 Practice Nursing Act, who has a graduate degree in nursing, and
30 who is employed by an approved academic institution to educate
31 registered nursing students, licensed practical nursing
32 students, and registered nurses pursuing graduate degrees.
33 (Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)
 
34     (110 ILCS 975/5)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2755)
35     Sec. 5. Nursing education undergraduate scholarships.

 

 

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1 Beginning with the fall term of the 2004-2005 2002-2003
2 academic year, the Department, in accordance with rules and
3 regulations promulgated by it for this program, shall provide
4 scholarships to individuals selected from among those
5 applicants who qualify for consideration by showing:
6         (1) that he or she has been a resident of this State
7     for at least one year prior to application, and is a
8     citizen or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United
9     States;
10         (2) that he or she is enrolled in or accepted for
11     admission to an associate degree in nursing program,
12     hospital-based diploma in nursing program, baccalaureate
13     degree in nursing program, graduate degree in nursing
14     program, or practical nursing program at an approved
15     institution; and
16         (3) that he or she agrees to meet the nursing
17     employment obligation.
18     If in any year the number of qualified applicants exceeds
19 the number of scholarships to be awarded, the Department shall
20 give priority in awarding scholarships:
21             (A) To to students in the greatest financial need,
22         as shown on a standardized financial needs assessment
23         form used by an approved institution who will pursue
24         their education on a full-time or closest to full-time
25         basis and who already have a certificate in practical
26         nursing, a diploma in nursing, or an associate degree
27         in nursing and are pursuing a higher degree.
28             (B) To registered nurses pursuing a graduate
29         degree in nursing to pursue employment in an approved
30         institution that educates licensed practical nurses
31         and that educates registered nurses in undergraduate
32         and graduate nursing programs.
33             (C) To students in areas of the State identified as
34         designated shortage areas that have the greatest need
35         for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses,
36         nurse educators, and advanced practice nurses.

 

 

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1     Unless otherwise indicated, scholarships shall be awarded
2 to recipients at approved institutions for a period of up to 2
3 years if the recipient is enrolled in an associate degree in
4 nursing program, up to 3 years if the recipient is enrolled in
5 a hospital-based diploma in nursing program, up to 4 years if
6 the recipient is enrolled in a baccalaureate degree in nursing
7 program, up to 5 years if the recipient is enrolled in a
8 graduate degree in nursing program, and up to one year if the
9 recipient is enrolled in a certificate in practical nursing
10 program. At least 40% 50% of the scholarships awarded shall be
11 for recipients who are pursuing baccalaureate degrees in
12 nursing, 30% 40% of the scholarships awarded shall be for
13 recipients who are pursuing associate degrees in nursing, or a
14 diploma in nursing, and 10% of the scholarships awarded shall
15 be for recipients who are pursuing a certificate in practical
16 nursing, and 20% of the scholarships awarded shall be for
17 recipients who are pursuing a graduate degree in nursing.
18 (Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)
 
19     (110 ILCS 975/6)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2756)
20     Sec. 6. Nursing requirements for scholarship recipients.
21 Within 12 months after graduation from an associate degree in
22 nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
23 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
24 nursing program, or certificate in practical nursing program,
25 any recipient who accepted a scholarship under Section 5 shall
26 begin meeting the required nursing employment obligation. In
27 order to defer his or her continuous employment obligation, a
28 recipient must request the deferment in writing from the
29 Department. A recipient shall notify program staff within 30
30 days if he or she spends up to 4 years in military service
31 before or after graduation. A recipient shall notify program
32 staff within 30 days if he or she is enrolled in an academic
33 program leading to a graduate degree in nursing. If a recipient
34 receives funding through the Nursing Education Scholarship
35 Program for a higher degree, the nursing employment obligation

 

 

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1 shall be deferred until he or she is no longer enrolled or has
2 graduated. The recipient must begin meeting the required
3 nursing employment obligations no later than 6 months after the
4 end of the deferments.
5     Any person who fails to fulfill the nursing employment
6 obligation shall pay to the Department an amount equal to the
7 amount of scholarship funds received per year for each
8 unfulfilled year of the nursing employment obligation,
9 together with interest at 7% per year on the unpaid balance.
10 Payment must begin within 6 months following the date of the
11 occurrence initiating the repayment. All repayments must be
12 completed within 6 years from the date of the occurrence
13 initiating the repayment. However, this obligation may be
14 deferred and re-evaluated every 6 months when the failure to
15 fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from
16 involuntarily leaving the profession due to a decrease in the
17 number of nurses employed in the State or when the failure to
18 fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from total
19 and permanent disability. The repayment obligation shall be
20 excused if the failure to fulfill the nursing employment
21 obligation results from the death or adjudication as
22 incompetent of the person holding the scholarship. No claim for
23 repayment may be filed against the estate of such a decedent or
24 incompetent.
25     Each person applying for such a scholarship shall be
26 provided with a copy of this Section at the time of application
27 for the benefits of such scholarship.
28 (Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)
 
29     (110 ILCS 975/7)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2757)
30     Sec. 7. Amount of scholarships. To determine a scholarship
31 amount, the Department shall consider tuition and fee charges
32 at community colleges and universities statewide and projected
33 living expenses. Using information provided annually by the
34 Illinois Student Assistance Commission, 75% of the weighted
35 tuition and fees charged by community colleges in Illinois

 

 

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1 shall be added to the uniform living allowance reported in the
2 weighted Monetary Award Program (MAP) budget to determine the
3 full-time scholarship amount for students pursuing an
4 associate degree or diploma in nursing at an Illinois community
5 college. Scholarship amounts for students pursuing associate,
6 or baccalaureate, or graduate degrees in nursing at a college
7 or university shall include 75% of the weighted tuition and
8 fees charged by public universities in Illinois plus the
9 uniform living allowance reported in the weighted MAP budget.
10 Scholarship amounts for students in practical nursing programs
11 shall include 75% of the average of tuition charges at all
12 practical nursing programs plus the uniform living allowance
13 reported in the weighted MAP budget. The Department may provide
14 that scholarships shall be on a quarterly or semi-annual basis
15 and shall be contingent upon the student's diligently pursuing
16 nursing studies and being a student in good standing.
17 Scholarship awards may be provided to part-time students; the
18 amount shall be determined by applying the proportion
19 represented by the part-time enrollment to full-time
20 enrollment ratio to the average per-term scholarship amount for
21 a student in the same nursing degree category.
22 (Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)