HB0901 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 06775 AXK 51802 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB0901

Introduced , by Rep. Will Guzzardi

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 105/5.891 new
110 ILCS 947/23 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to implement and administer a program, beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year, to award College Promise grants to Illinois residents seeking an associate degree from a public community college or a bachelor's degree from a public university. Provides that a College Promise grant shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the public institution attended less all other student aid, subject to appropriation from the College Promise Fund; defines "student aid". Sets forth the terms and conditions of the program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the College Promise Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.891 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.891 new)

Sec. 5.891. The College Promise Fund.

Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 23 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/23 new)

Sec. 23. College Promise program.

(a) In this Section:

"Continuous enrollment" means a student has attended classes in the fall and spring semester of a single academic year; enrollment in summer semester or intersession terms is not required.

"Public institution" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, any public community college in this State, or any other public university, college, or community college now or hereafter established or authorized by the General Assembly.

"Student aid" means scholarships and grants, other than a College Promise grant, awarded to a student from any source that does not require repayment; "student aid" does not include student loans and work-study awards.

(b) The Commission shall implement and administer a program, beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year, to award College Promise grants to all eligible Illinois residents seeking an associate or bachelor's degree, as applicable, from a public institution. The following terms and conditions shall apply to the program:

(1) To be eligible for a grant, a student must be admitted to and enrolled full-time, as an Illinois resident, in a public institution in the fall term. Exceptions to initial enrollment may be made for extenuating circumstances as provided in rules adopted by the Commission.

(2) Students applying for a grant shall complete the College Promise grant application in their initial year of enrollment. Students shall complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each academic year in which they seek to receive a grant. If a student is ineligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in any academic year, the Board of Higher Education must provide the student with an alternate application or form that contains similar information to be completed by the student.

(3) To continue to receive a grant, a student must maintain Illinois residency, as well as satisfactory academic progress as determined by rules adopted by the Commission.

(4) Each academic year, subject to money appropriated by the General Assembly from the College Promise Fund, a grant shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the public institution attended. Student aid shall be credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory fees. Each public institution shall annually report its undergraduate tuition rate for Illinois residents and the number of its undergraduates who are Illinois residents to the Commission.

(5) A student awarded a grant who has an approved medical or personal leave of absence from a public institution may continue to receive the grant upon resuming the student's education at the public institution so long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements under this Section and as adopted by the Commission. The total of all approved leaves of absence may not exceed 6 months.

(6) A student is eligible for a grant until the occurrence of the first of the following events:

(A) the student has earned an associate degree if attending a public community college or a bachelor's degree if attending a public university; or

(B) the sum of the number of years the student has attended the public community college or public university, as applicable, equals 4 years from the date of the student's initial enrollment at the public community college or 8 years from the date of the student's initial enrollment at the public university, exclusive of approved leaves of absence.

(7) Except for a medical or personal leave of absence, as approved by the public institution, a student awarded a grant under this Section shall maintain continuous enrollment at the public institution.

(c) In awarding grants under this Section, the Commission shall, by rule, develop the selection and renewal criteria for students.

(d) The College Promise Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of money appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, bequests, or donations made to the Fund. All money in the Fund shall only be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission for the purposes of this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.