SB2324 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 15568 NHT 64913 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2324

Introduced 1/8/2020, by Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/23 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to implement and administer a program, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, to award College Promise grants to Illinois residents seeking an associate degree, certificate, or diploma from an institution of higher learning. Sets forth the terms and conditions of the program. Effective immediately.

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 23 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/23 new)

Sec. 23. College Promise program.

(a) In this Section:

"Continuous enrollment" means a student has attended classes in the fall and spring semester of a single academic year; enrollment in summer semester or intersession terms is not required.

"Student aid" means scholarships and grants, other than a College Promise grant, awarded to a student from any source that does not require repayment; "student aid" does not include student loans and work-study awards.

(b) The Commission shall implement and administer a program, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, to award College Promise grants to all eligible Illinois residents seeking an associate degree, certificate, or diploma from an institution. The following terms and conditions shall apply to the program:

(1) To be eligible for a grant, a student must be admitted to and enrolled full-time, as an Illinois resident, in an institution in the fall term following graduation from an approved high school or after obtaining a high school equivalency certificate, provided that the student obtains the high school equivalency certificate prior to the student reaching 19 years of age. Exceptions to initial enrollment may be made for extenuating circumstances as provided in rules adopted by the Commission.

(2) Students applying for a grant shall complete the College Promise grant application in their initial year of enrollment. Students shall complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each academic year in which they seek to receive a grant.

(3) To continue to receive a grant, a student must maintain Illinois residency, as well as satisfactory academic progress as determined by rules adopted by the Commission.

(4) Grant recipients shall participate in mentoring and community service programs under rules adopted by the Commission.

(5) Each academic year, subject to appropriation, a grant shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the institution attended less all other student aid. Student aid shall be credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory fees.

(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (5) of this subsection (b), the amount of the grant at a public university or private institution may not exceed the average cost of tuition and mandatory fees at public community colleges.

(7) A student awarded a grant who has an approved medical or personal leave of absence from an institution may continue to receive the grant upon resuming the student's education at an institution so long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements under this Section and as adopted by the Commission. The total of all approved leaves of absence may not exceed 6 months.

(8) A student is eligible for a grant until the occurrence of the first of the following events:

(A) the student has earned an associate degree, certificate, or diploma; or

(B) the sum of the number of years the student has attended an institution, exclusive of approved leaves of absence, equals 2 and one-half years from the date of the student's initial enrollment at an institution.

(9) Except for a medical or personal leave of absence, as approved by an institution, a student awarded a grant under this Section shall maintain continuous enrollment at an institution.

(c) In awarding grants under this Section, the Commission shall, by rule, develop the selection and renewal criteria for students.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.