HB5109eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5109 Engrossed LRB095 17133 NHT 43188 b

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 39.5 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/39.5 new)

Sec. 39.5. MAP Challenge Program.

(a) The MAP Challenge Program is established to do all of the following:

(1) Reduce the number of students who withdraw from high school before graduation.

(2) Increase the number of students who are prepared to enter the workforce upon graduation.

(3) Increase the number of students entering institutions of higher learning.

(4) Encourage eligible students to attend institutions of higher learning by reducing the financial burden on these students and their families.

(b) The Commission, the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the State Board of Education shall work cooperatively to develop the MAP Challenge Program as a pilot program that accomplishes the purposes set forth in subsection (a) of this Section by leveraging student financial aid to college readiness.

(c) The MAP Challenge Program shall include cooperation between school districts and State agencies in outreach and student services. The program shall include minimum course requirements based on a college preparatory core curriculum to ensure students are ready for college. Students who successfully complete this program must be provided with an incentive in the form of State financial aid.

(d) Notwithstanding any other rulemaking authority that may exist, neither the Governor nor any agency or agency head under the jurisdiction of the Governor has any authority to make or promulgate rules to implement or enforce the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly. If, however, the Governor believes that rules are necessary to implement or enforce the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, the Governor may suggest rules to the General Assembly by filing them with the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate and by requesting that the General Assembly authorize such rulemaking by law, enact those suggested rules into law, or take any other appropriate action in the General Assembly's discretion. Nothing contained in this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly shall be interpreted to grant rulemaking authority under any other Illinois statute where such authority is not otherwise explicitly given. For the purposes of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, "rules" is given the meaning contained in Section 1-70 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, and "agency" and "agency head" are given the meanings contained in Sections 1-20 and 1-25 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to the extent that such definitions apply to agencies or agency heads under the jurisdiction of the Governor.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2008.