HB4652 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 16800 KTG 55350 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB4652

Introduced , by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 505/8

from Ch. 23, par. 5008

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In provisions concerning scholarships and fee waivers, provides that each year the Department of Children and Family Services shall select a minimum of 53 students (at least 4 of whom shall be children of veterans) to receive scholarships and fee waivers which will enable them to attend and complete their post-secondary education at a community college, university, or college (rather than may select from among the youth under care, youth who aged out of care at age 18 or older, or youth formerly under care who have been adopted or are in a guardianship placement, a maximum of 48 students (at least 4 of whom shall be children of veterans) who have earned a high school diploma from a public school district or a recognized nonpublic school or a certificate of general education development (GED), or who have met the State criteria for high school graduation). Provides that youth shall be selected from among the youth for whom the Department has court-ordered legal responsibility, youth in the KinGap program, youth who aged out of care at age 18 or older, or youth formerly under care who have been adopted; and that recipients must have earned a high school diploma from an accredited institution, a General Education Development certificate or diploma, or have met the State criteria for high school graduation before the start of the school year for which they are applying for the scholarship and waiver. Provides that scholarships and fee waivers shall be available to students for at least 5 years, provided they are continuing to work toward graduation; and that unused scholarship dollars and fee waivers shall be reallocated to new recipients. Contains provisions concerning the selection committee and Department reports on measures of success.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended by changing Section 8 as follows:

(20 ILCS 505/8) (from Ch. 23, par. 5008)

Sec. 8. Scholarships and fee waivers. Each year the Department shall select a minimum of 53 students (at least 4 of whom shall be children of veterans) to receive scholarships and fee waivers which will enable them to attend and complete their post-secondary education at a community college, university, or college. Youth shall be selected from among the youth for whom the Department has court-ordered legal responsibility, youth in the KinGap program, may select from among the youth under care, youth who aged out of care at age 18 or older, or youth formerly under care who have been adopted. Recipients must or are in a guardianship placement, a maximum of 48 students (at least 4 of whom shall be children of veterans) who have earned a high school diploma from an accredited institution, a General Education Development certificate or diploma, or have met the State criteria for high school graduation before the start of the school year for which they are applying for the scholarship and waiver. a public school district or a recognized nonpublic school or a certificate of general education development (GED), or who have met the State criteria for high school graduation ; the youth selected shall be eligible for scholarships and fee waivers which will entitle them to 4 consecutive years of community college, university, or college education. Scholarships and fee waivers shall be available to students for at least 5 years, provided they are continuing to work toward graduation. Unused scholarship dollars and fee waivers shall be reallocated to new recipients. No later than January 1, 2015, the Department shall promulgate rules identifying the criteria for "continuing to work toward graduation", and for reallocating unused scholarships and fee waivers. Selection shall be made on the basis of several factors, including, but not limited to, scholastic record, aptitude, and general interest in higher education. The selection committee shall include at least 2 individuals formerly under the care of the Department who have completed their post-secondary education. In accordance with this Act, tuition scholarships and fee waivers shall be available to such students at any university or college maintained by the State of Illinois. The Department shall provide maintenance and school expenses, except tuition and fees, during the academic years to supplement the students' earnings or other resources so long as they consistently maintain scholastic records which are acceptable to their schools and to the Department. Students may attend other colleges and universities, if scholarships are awarded them, and receive the same benefits for maintenance and other expenses as those students attending any Illinois State community college, university, or college under this Section. Beginning with recipients receiving scholarships and waivers in August 2014, the Department shall collect data and report annually to the General Assembly on measures of success including (i) the number of youth applying for and receiving scholarships, (ii) the percentage of scholarship recipients who complete their college or university degree within 5 years, (iii) the average length of time it takes for scholarship recipients to complete their college or university degree, (iv) the reasons that scholarship recipients are discharged or fail to complete their college or university degree, (v) youths' outcomes 5 years and 10 years after being awarded the scholarships, and (vi) budget allocations for maintenance and school expenses incurred by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 97-799, eff. 7-13-12.)