101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB1776

 

Introduced , by Rep. Jim Durkin

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 979/5

    Amends the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Act's purpose.


LRB101 05811 AXK 50827 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1776LRB101 05811 AXK 50827 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act is amended by
5changing Section 5 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 979/5)
7    Sec. 5. Purpose. The The General Assembly finds and
8declares that the general welfare and security of the State are
9enhanced by access to higher education for all residents of the
10State who desire that education and who demonstrate the
11qualifications necessary to pursue that education.
12Furthermore, it is desirable that residents of the State who
13seek to pursue higher education be able to choose attendance at
14the higher education institution that offers programs and
15services most suitable to their needs. Accordingly, endeavors
16that serve the higher education needs of the people of the
17State represent an essential function of State government.
18    During the past decade, students have been paying more and
19borrowing more to finance the increasing cost of higher
20education at Illinois colleges and universities as well as at
21similar institutions nationwide. Federal and state
22governments' capacity to fund college scholarships and grants
23cannot fully meet the current and future demand for higher

 

 

HB1776- 2 -LRB101 05811 AXK 50827 b

1education nor is it reasonable to expect that paying for
2college is solely a governmental responsibility. It is -- and
3has always been -- a shared responsibility among the student,
4the family, State government, and the federal government.
5Consequently, the intent of this Act is to both encourage and
6better enable Illinois families to help themselves finance the
7cost of higher education, specifically through a program that
8provides Illinois families with a method of State tax-free and
9federally tax-exempt savings for higher education.
10(Source: P.A. 95-217, eff. 8-16-07.)