Full Text of HB2691 101st General Assembly
HB2691enr 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | 5 | | Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act. | 6 | | Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly makes all of the | 7 | | following findings: | 8 | | (1) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that | 9 | | all students who are residents of this State have | 10 | | meaningful and equitable access to higher educational | 11 | | opportunities notwithstanding the student's race, color, | 12 | | gender or gender identity, age, ancestry, marital status, | 13 | | military status, religion, pregnancy, national origin, | 14 | | disability status, sexual orientation, order of protection | 15 | | status, as defined under Section 1-103 of the Illinois | 16 | | Human Rights Act, or immigration status. | 17 | | (2) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that | 18 | | students who may not have had the same educational | 19 | | opportunities are not penalized as they seek to achieve | 20 | | higher education. | 21 | | (3) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring the | 22 | | success and retention of African American students by | 23 | | safeguarding equitable access to educational funding and |
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| 1 | | eliminating systemic barriers. | 2 | | (4) Lifting any caps on the Monetary Award Program, | 3 | | other than those required by State law, will have a | 4 | | positive impact on the retention and equity of African | 5 | | American students and other students of color who are | 6 | | disproportionately impacted by the lack of access to | 7 | | resources in completing their postsecondary education. | 8 | | (5) The State of Illinois is committed to retaining | 9 | | Illinois students who wish to attend institutions of higher | 10 | | learning in this State by addressing financial barriers for | 11 | | those students. | 12 | | Section 10. Definition. In this Act, "Illinois resident" | 13 | | includes any person who is deemed an Illinois resident for | 14 | | tuition purposes under State law. | 15 | | Section 15. Equitable eligibility for financial aid and | 16 | | benefits. | 17 | | (a) A student who is an Illinois resident and who is not | 18 | | otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but | 19 | | not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for | 20 | | failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen | 21 | | student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall | 22 | | be eligible for State financial aid and benefits as described | 23 | | in subsection (b). | 24 | | (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the |
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| 1 | | contrary, a student who is an Illinois resident (i) is eligible | 2 | | to apply or receive consideration for any student aid or | 3 | | benefit funded or administered by the State, any State agency, | 4 | | or any public institution of higher learning, including, but | 5 | | not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, room | 6 | | and board assistance, tuition waivers, or other financial or | 7 | | in-kind assistance and (ii) to ensure equity, success, and the | 8 | | retention of Illinois residents, may not be subject to any caps | 9 | | on grant assistance available under the Monetary Award Program | 10 | | other than those required by State law. | 11 | | (c) The eligibility requirements under this Section for any | 12 | | student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State | 13 | | shall be interpreted to promote the broadest eligibility for | 14 | | students who are Illinois residents in accordance with State | 15 | | law or policy. | 16 | | (d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as modifying | 17 | | any eligibility requirements regarding academic standing or | 18 | | personal or household income for any State financial aid | 19 | | program. | 20 | | (e) The General Assembly finds and declares that this | 21 | | Section is a State law within the meaning of subsection (d) of | 22 | | Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code. | 23 | | Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are | 24 | | severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
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