HB4267 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 21808 CMG 30928 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4267

Introduced 1/5/2022, by Rep. Dave Vella and Michael J. Zalewski

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/54 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to award grants for the payment of tuition and fees to eligible applicants who agree to serve a minimum of 4 years as a law enforcement officer in a local community in this State following graduation from a public institution of higher learning. Sets forth provisions concerning applicant eligibility, conditions for maintaining grant eligibility, and conditions requiring the repayment of grant assistance. Provides for rulemaking. 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 54 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/54 new)

Sec. 54. Law enforcement officer grant program.

(a) To encourage students to serve local communities in this State as a law enforcement officer and to increase diversity within the ranks of law enforcement, each year, beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, the Commission shall receive and consider applications for grant assistance under this Section.

(b) An applicant is eligible for grant assistance under this Section if the Commission finds that the applicant meets all of the following qualifications:

(1) The applicant is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen.

(2) The applicant is a resident of this State.

(3) The applicant is accepted for enrollment or enrolled full time or part time at a public institution of higher learning.

(4) The applicant commits to serve a minimum of 4 years in a local community in this State as a law enforcement officer following graduation from a public institution.

(c) Each grant awarded under this Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the public institution at which the recipient is enrolled. The total amount of grant assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the public institution at which the student is enrolled. Subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, payment of any grant awarded under this Section shall be determined by the Commission. All grant funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be paid to the public institution on behalf of the recipients.

(d) A student shall remain eligible for grant assistance under this Section until the occurrence of the first of the following events:

(1) The student graduates from a public institution.

(2) The sum of the number of years the student has attended a public institution, exclusive of approved leaves of absence, equals 4 years from the date of the student's initial enrollment in a public institution.

(3) The student ceases to be enrolled at a public institution.

(4) The student ceases to be a student in good standing.

(e) If a recipient of grant assistance under this Section fails to serve as a law enforcement officer in a local community in this State for a minimum of 4 years following graduation from a public institution, the grant recipient shall repay the amount of all grant assistance received under this Section. The repayment amount may be prorated according to the fraction of the law enforcement service obligation not completed by the grant recipient.

(f) All applications for grant assistance to be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as set forth by the Commission. The form of application and the information required to be set forth in the application shall be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with their applications such supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary.

(g) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer this Section.

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