HJ0101 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0101 LRB101 16838 MST 66237 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has an interest in ensuring that students who are eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid are receiving that aid to help them attain a degree or credential; and

WHEREAS, The award of student financial aid from federal, state, and institutional sources is subject to federal and state laws and regulations as well as institutional policies and procedures; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Student Assistance Commission conducts compliance reviews of financial aid offices participating in ISAC-administered financial aid programs; the agency also offers training for financial aid administrators; and

WHEREAS, Institutions must act within federal and state regulations but may also adopt different approaches to complying with federal and state mandates; and

WHEREAS, Compliance with those mandates is meant to ensure the appropriate delivery of assistance while remaining within the scope and responsibilities of the institution; and

WHEREAS, Federal programs sometimes include constraints, such as a suspension of federal student aid eligibility for students convicted of drug crimes that occurred while receiving federal student aid, that exceed the constraints on state programs and should not be applied to state programs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is directed to create a working group on financial aid policies and procedures, whose purpose is the following:

(1) To advise ISAC on the development of model policies and procedures for financial aid, including but not limited to verification and professional judgment, the purpose of which is to provide additional guidance for Illinois institutions on how best to serve Illinois students from a variety of backgrounds and situations, while complying with state and federal requirements for the delivery of state and federal financial aid; and

(2) To identify and eliminate procedural barriers at the state and institutional levels that may result in students not receiving aid for which they may otherwise be eligible; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the working group shall consist of the following, convened by the Executive Director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission or his designee, with staff support from the Commission:

(1) The president of a statewide professional organization of student financial aid administrators, or that person's designee;

(2) Additional financial aid administrators representing the diversity of Illinois postsecondary institutions; and

(3) The president of a statewide organization of professionals involved in college admission counseling, or that person's designee; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission, at the discretion of the executive director, may include additional experts on college access, federal student aid, disparities in higher education, immigration law, tax law, or any other topics relevant to the tasks outlined above, and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall use its best efforts in assuring that the working group is representative of the geographic, racial, and ethnic diversity of this state, and be it further

RESOLVED, That working group members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses from appropriations made to the Commission and available for this purpose.