HB5325 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 19171 CMG 68634 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5325

Introduced , by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/65.110 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Allows the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to receive and consider applications for grant assistance for disproportionately underrepresented teachers. Provides that a student qualifies for a disproportionately underrepresented teacher grant if he or she: (i) is a graduate of a public or nonpublic high school; (ii) is a member of a population that is disproportionately underrepresented in the teacher-to-student ratio in the State; (iii) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a public or private university in undergraduate studies in teacher education or in an approved educator preparation program; and (iv) intends to obtain an educator license. Sets forth additional provisions of the grant. Effective July 1, 2020.

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 Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.110 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)

Sec. 65.110. Disproportionately underrepresented teacher grants.

(a) The Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for grant assistance for disproportionately underrepresented teachers under this Section. An applicant is eligible to receive a grant under this Section if the Commission determines that the applicant:

(1) is a graduate of a public or nonpublic high school located in this State;

(2) is a member of a population that is disproportionately underrepresented in the teacher-to-student ratio in this State;

(3) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a public university or nonpublic college or university located in this State in undergraduate studies in teacher education or in an educator preparation program approved by the State Board of Education;

(4) intends to obtain an educator license under Article 21B of the School Code.

(b) An applicant who is determined by the Commission to be eligible for a grant under this Section shall receive, subject to appropriation, a renewable grant of $5,000 to be applied to tuition and mandatory fees and paid directly to the college or university at which the applicant is enrolled. A grant awarded under this Section may be renewed for a total of up to 4 years of enrollment if the recipient maintains eligibility for the grant and satisfactory academic progress at the college or university at which the recipient is enrolled.

(c) A grant under this Section, subject to appropriation, may be awarded to no more than 200 first-time recipients per year, and no more than 800 grants may be funded at any one time.

(d) If a recipient of a grant under this Section fails to obtain an educator license under Article 21B of the School Code, the recipient shall repay the amount of all grants received. The Commission shall set forth conditions when repayment under this subsection of the amount received by a recipient may be waived or partially waived.

(e) The Commission shall adopt rules necessary and proper to effectively implement this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2020.