Public Act 0164 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0460 Enrolled LRB104 04328 LNS 14353 b

Public Act 104-0164

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

(110 ILCS 986/15)

Sec. 15. Equitable eligibility for financial aid and benefits.

(a) A student who is an Illinois resident and who is not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall be eligible for State financial aid and benefits as described in subsection (b).

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a student who is an Illinois resident (i) is eligible to apply or receive consideration for any student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State or , any State agency, offered by a unit of local government, or administered by any public institution of higher learning, including, but not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, room and board assistance, tuition waivers, or other financial or in-kind assistance and (ii) to ensure equity, success, and the retention of Illinois residents, may not be subject to any caps on grant assistance available under the Monetary Award Program other than those required by State law.

(c) The eligibility requirements under this Section for any student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State or offered by a unit of local government shall be interpreted to promote the broadest eligibility for students who are Illinois residents in accordance with State law or policy.

(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as modifying any eligibility requirements regarding academic standing or personal or household income for any State financial aid program.

(e) The General Assembly finds and declares that this Section is a State law within the meaning of subsection (d) of Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code.

(Source: P.A. 101-21, eff. 1-1-20.)