(110 ILCS 947/65.125)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-588)
    Sec. 65.125. Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program.
    (a) As used in this Section, "incumbent workforce" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act.
    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall implement and administer an early childhood educator scholarship program, to be known as the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. Under the Program, the Commission shall annually award scholarships to early childhood education students enrolled in institutions of higher education participating in the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity under the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act with preference given to members of the incumbent workforce.
    (c) To ensure alignment with Consortium goals and changing workforce needs, the Commission shall work in partnership with the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board in program design, and the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall solicit feedback from the Consortium advisory committee established under Section 25 of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act.
    (d) In awarding a scholarship under this Section, the Commission may give preference to applicants who received a scholarship under this Section during the prior academic year, to applicants with financial need, or both.
    (e) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges to continue or return to teaching or direct services in the early childhood care and education field in this State after they complete their program of study.
    (f) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the Program.
(Source: P.A. 103-588, eff. 6-5-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-1021)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)
    Sec. 65.125. Journalism Student Scholarship Program.
    (a) As used in this Section, "local news organization" has the meaning given to that term in the Strengthening Community Media Act.
    (b) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois students to pursue careers in journalism, especially in underserved areas of the State, and to provide those students with financial assistance to increase the likelihood that they will complete their full academic commitment and elect to remain in Illinois to pursue a career in journalism, subject to appropriation, not sooner than the 2025-2026 academic year, the Commission shall implement and administer the Journalism Student Scholarship Program. The Commission shall annually award scholarships to persons preparing to work in Illinois, with preference given to those preparing to work in underserved areas. These scholarships shall be awarded to individuals who make application to the Commission and agree to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the 2-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall:
        (1) begin working in journalism in this State for a
    
period of not less than 2 years;
        (2) fulfill this obligation at local news
    
organization; and
        (3) upon request of the Commission, provide the
    
Commission with evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching agreement provided for in this subsection.
    (c) An eligible student is a student who meets the following qualifications:
        (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
    
eligible noncitizen of the United States;
        (2) is a high school graduate or a person who has
    
received an Illinois high school diploma;
        (3) is enrolled or accepted, on at least a half-time
    
basis, at an institution of higher learning; and
        (4) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study
    
leading to a career in journalism or a similar field.
    (d) Each scholarship shall be used by the recipient for the payment of tuition and fees at an institution of higher learning.
    (e) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall adopt all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation.
(Source: P.A. 103-1021, eff. 1-1-25.)