99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1565

 

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. William E. Brady

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/65.90 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to award grants to students in financial need who are enrolled for at least 15 credit hours in an institution of higher learning. Provides that the Commission shall receive funding for the grants through appropriations; the amount to be appropriated for the grant program each fiscal year shall equal the total amount appropriated for higher education from the General Revenue Fund for the 2015 fiscal year; no amounts may be appropriated for higher education from the General Revenue Fund beginning with the 2016 fiscal year other than amounts appropriated for these grants; and the amount of each grant shall equal the amount appropriated for the grant program for a given fiscal year divided by the number of applicants who qualify for a grant. Requires each grant recipient to sign an agreement under which the recipient agrees to the following terms: (1) if a grant recipient graduates from an institution in 4 years or less, he or she must repay one-half of the total amount of grants received; (2) if a grant recipient does not graduate from an institution in 4 years or less, he or she must repay the total amount of grants received; and (3) if the grant recipient resides in this State immediately following graduation from an institution, the Commission shall forgive, for each year of residency, one-eighth of the remaining grant amount owed. Effective immediately.


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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,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
5amended by adding Section 65.90 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 947/65.90 new)
7    Sec. 65.90. Illinois Grant Program.
8    (a) Beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year, the
9Commission shall, each year, consider applications for grant
10assistance under this Section. An applicant is eligible for a
11grant under this Section if the Commission finds that the
12applicant meets all of the following qualifications:
13        (1) He or she is a United States citizen or eligible
14    noncitizen.
15        (2) He or she is a resident of this State or, if a
16    dependent for income tax purposes, the parent whose
17    information is used on the Free Application for Federal
18    Student Aid is a resident of this State. State residency
19    shall be determined by the filing of a State income tax
20    return.
21        (3) If a male, he has complied with federal Selective
22    Service registration requirements.
23        (4) He or she has not been incarcerated.

 

 

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1        (5) He or she is enrolled, for at least 15 credit
2    hours, in an institution of higher learning and has not
3    earned a bachelor's degree yet. A grant recipient must
4    submit proof to the Commission each semester that he or she
5    is still enrolled in the institution of higher learning.
6        (6) He or she demonstrates financial need, as
7    determined by the Commission.
8        (7) He or she maintains satisfactory academic
9    progress, as determined by the institution.
10        (8) He or she is not in default on any educational loan
11    or does not owe a refund on any State or federal
12    educational grant.
13    (b) Each year the Commission shall award grants under this
14Section among applicants qualified pursuant to subsection (a)
15of this Section. The Commission shall receive funding for the
16grants through appropriations. The amount to be appropriated
17for the grant program each fiscal year shall equal the total
18amount appropriated for higher education from the General
19Revenue Fund for the 2015 fiscal year. No amounts may be
20appropriated for higher education from the General Revenue Fund
21beginning with the 2016 fiscal year other than amounts
22appropriated for the purposes of this Section. The amount of
23each grant shall equal the amount appropriated for the grant
24program for a given fiscal year divided by the number of
25applicants who qualify for a grant.
26    (c) The total amount of grant assistance awarded by the

 

 

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1Commission under this Section to an individual in any given
2fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded
3to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of
4attendance at the institution at which the student is enrolled.
5    (d) Payment of any grant under this Section shall be
6determined by the Commission. All grant funds distributed in
7accordance with this Section shall be paid to the institution
8on behalf of the recipients. Grant funds are applicable toward
9tuition for 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment within an
10academic year.
11    (e) Prior to receiving grant assistance for any academic
12year, each recipient of a grant under this Section shall be
13required by the Commission to sign an agreement under which the
14recipient agrees to the following terms:
15        (1) If a grant recipient graduates from an institution
16    in 4 years or less, he or she must repay one-half of the
17    total amount of grants received under this Section.
18        (2) If a grant recipient does not graduate from an
19    institution in 4 years or less, he or she must repay the
20    total amount of grants received under this Section.
21        (3) If the grant recipient resides in this State
22    immediately following graduation from an institution, the
23    Commission shall forgive, for each year of residency,
24    one-eighth of the remaining grant amount owed.
25    Each recipient shall, upon request of the Commission,
26provide the Commission with evidence that he or she is

 

 

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1fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided
2for in this subsection (e).
3    The Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to
4its collection activities for repayment of grants under this
5Section, including the imposition of reasonable collection
6fees.
7    (f) A recipient of a grant under this Section is not in
8violation of the agreement entered into pursuant to subsection
9(e) of this Section if the recipient (i) is serving as a member
10of the armed services of the United States; (ii) is enrolled in
11a graduate program following graduation from an institution;
12(iii) is temporarily totally disabled, as established by sworn
13affidavit of a qualified physician; or (iii) cannot fulfill the
14obligation due to his or her death, disability, or
15incompetency, as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified
16physician. No claim for repayment may be filed against the
17estate of such a decedent or incompetent. Any extension of the
18period during which the obligation must be fulfilled is subject
19to limitations of duration as established by the Commission.
20    (h) The Commission shall administer the grant program
21established by this Section and shall make all necessary and
22proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its
23effective implementation.
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25becoming law.