(110 ILCS 215/4) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 824)

Sec. 4. Grants may be made to the following classes of institutions that offer health services programs: (i) medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, and nursing schools, (ii) physician assistant programs, (iii) psychology and other physical and mental health-related schools and programs, and (iv) hospitals and clinical facilities used in health service training programs.

Qualification for grants shall be on the basis of either the number of Illinois resident enrollees or the number of degrees granted to students who are residents of this State or both. The grant amount shall be determined by the Board of Higher Education for each class of institution.

At the discretion of the Board of Higher Education grants may be made for a class of institution in any or all of the following forms:

(1) Single nonrecurring grants for planning and capital expense based on the increase in the number of Illinois resident enrollees;

(2) Annual grants based on the number of degrees granted to (a) Illinois resident enrollees, or (b) Illinois resident enrollees from minority racial and ethnic groups, or both (a) and (b);

(3) Annual stabilization grants based on the number of (a) Illinois residents enrolled, or (b) Illinois residents enrolled from minority racial and ethnic groups, or both (a) and (b); and

(4) Program priority grants based on State residents enrolled in eligible programs that address public demand for health services, workforce needs and shortages, and other programmatic priorities, such as sole service providers, academic needs, or industry standards. The Board of Higher Education may annually dedicate a portion of appropriated funds, not to exceed 10% of appropriations, to support program priority grants. In determining program priority areas, the Board of Higher Education shall annually consult with constituent institutions.

In awarding grants to nursing schools and to hospital schools of nursing, the Board of Higher Education may also consider whether the nursing program is located in a certified nurse shortage area. For purposes of this Section "certified nurse shortage area" means an area certified by the Director of the Department of Public Health as a nurse shortage area based on the most reliable data available to the Director.

(Source: P.A. 96-69, eff. 7-23-09.)