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    AN ACT concerning education.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:


 
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    Section 5. The Nursing Education Scholarship Law is amended  
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by changing Sections 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 as follows:
 



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    (110 ILCS 975/2)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2752)



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    Sec. 2. Legislative finding and declaration of policy. The 
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General Assembly finds and hereby declares that the provision 
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of a
higher education leading to an associate degree in 
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nursing, an
associate
degree in applied sciences in nursing, a 
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hospital-based diploma
in nursing, a
baccalaureate degree in 
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nursing, a graduate degree in nursing, or a certificate in 
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practical nursing for
persons of this State
who desire such an 
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education is important to the health, welfare and
security of 
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this State and Nation, and consequently is an important public

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purpose.  Many qualified and potential nurses
are deterred by 
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financial considerations from pursuing their nursing

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education, with consequent irreparable loss to the State and 
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Nation of
talents vital to health, welfare and security.  A 
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system of scholarships,
repayment of which may be excused if 
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the individual is employed as a
registered professional
nurse 
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or a licensed practical nurse after
obtaining an associate 
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degree in
nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in 
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nursing, hospital-based
diploma in nursing, baccalaureate 
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degree in nursing, graduate degree in nursing, or certificate

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in practical nursing, will enable such individuals
to attend 
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approved institutions of their choice in the State,
public or

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private.

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(Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)

 



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    (110 ILCS 975/3)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2753)



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    Sec. 3. Definitions. 

 


 






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    The following terms, whenever used or referred to, have the 
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following
meanings except where the context clearly indicates 
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otherwise:

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    (1) "Board" means the Board of Higher Education created by 
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the Board
of Higher Education Act.

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    (2) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public 
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Health.

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    (3) "Approved institution" means a public community 
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college, private
junior college, hospital-based diploma in 
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nursing
program, or public or private
college or university 
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located in this State that has approval by the Department of 
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Professional
Regulation for an associate degree in nursing

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program,
associate degree in applied
sciences in nursing 
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program, hospital-based diploma in nursing
program,

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baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in 
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nursing program, or
certificate in practical
nursing program.

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    (4) "Baccalaureate degree in nursing program" means a 
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program offered by
an
approved institution and leading to a 
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bachelor of science degree in nursing.

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    (5) "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance 
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of an
individual's status as a student in an approved 
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institution, regardless of
the terms used at the institution to 
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describe such status.

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    (6) "Academic year" means the period of time from September 
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1 of one
year through August 31 of the next year or as 
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otherwise defined by the
academic institution.

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    (7) "Associate degree in nursing program or hospital-based 
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diploma in
nursing program" means a program
offered by an 
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approved institution and leading to an associate
degree in

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nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing, or

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hospital-based diploma in nursing.

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    (8) "Graduate degree in nursing program" means a program 
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offered by an approved institution and leading to a master of 
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science degree in nursing or a doctorate of philosophy or 
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doctorate of nursing degree in nursing.

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    (9)
(8) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois 
 


 






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Department of Public
Health.

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    (10)
(9) "Accepted for admission" means a student has 
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completed the
requirements for entry into an associate degree 
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in nursing program,
associate degree in applied sciences in 
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nursing program, hospital-based
diploma in nursing program,

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baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in 
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nursing program, or
certificate in practical nursing program at 
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an approved institution, as
documented by the
institution.

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    (11)
(10) "Fees" means those mandatory charges, in addition 
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to tuition, that
all enrolled students must pay, including 
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required course or lab fees.

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    (12)
(11) "Full-time student" means a student enrolled for 
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at least 12 hours
per
term or as otherwise determined by the 
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academic institution.

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    (13)
(12) "Law" means the Nursing Education Scholarship 
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Law.

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    (14)
(13) "Nursing employment obligation" means employment 
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in this State as a
registered
professional
nurse or licensed 
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practical nurse in direct patient care
or as a nurse educator 
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in the case of a graduate degree in nursing program recipient 
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for at least one year for each year of scholarship assistance 
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received through
the Nursing
Education Scholarship Program.

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    (15)
(14) "Part-time student" means a person who is 
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enrolled for at least
one-third of the number of hours required 
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per term by a school for its
full-time students.

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    (16)
(15) "Practical nursing program" means a program 
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offered by an approved
institution leading to a certificate in 
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practical nursing.

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    (17)
(16) "Registered professional nurse" means a
person 
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who is currently licensed as a registered professional nurse
by 
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the Department of Professional
Regulation under the Nursing and 
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Advanced Practice Nursing Act.

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    (18)
(17) "Licensed practical nurse" means a
person who is 
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currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse
by the 
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Department of Professional
Regulation under the Nursing and 
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Advanced Practice Nursing Act.

 


 






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    (19)
(18) "School term" means an academic term, such as a 
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semester, quarter,
trimester, or number of clock hours, as 
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defined by an approved institution.

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    (20)
(19) "Student in good standing" means a student 
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maintaining a cumulative
grade point average equivalent to at 
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least the academic grade of a "C".

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    (21)
(20) "Total and permanent disability" means a physical 
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or mental impairment,
disease, or loss of a permanent nature 
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that prevents nursing employment with or
without reasonable 
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accommodation.  Proof of disability shall be a declaration
from 
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the social security administration, Illinois Industrial 
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Commission,
Department of Defense, or an insurer authorized to 
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transact business in
Illinois who is providing disability 
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insurance coverage to a contractor.

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    (22)
(21) "Tuition" means the established charges of an 
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institution of higher
learning for instruction at that 
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institution.

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    (23) "Nurse educator" means a person who is currently 
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licensed as a registered nurse by the Department of 
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Professional Regulation under the Nursing and Advanced 
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Practice Nursing Act, who has a graduate degree in nursing, and 
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who is employed by an approved academic institution to educate 
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registered nursing students, licensed practical nursing 
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students, and registered nurses pursuing graduate degrees.

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(Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)

 



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    (110 ILCS 975/5)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2755)



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    Sec. 5. Nursing education undergraduate scholarships. 
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Beginning with the fall term of the 2004-2005
2002-2003

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academic year, the
Department, in accordance with rules and 
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regulations promulgated by it for this
program, shall provide 
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scholarships to individuals selected
from among those 
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applicants who qualify for consideration by showing:


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        (1) that he or she has been a resident of this State 
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for at least one
year prior to application, and is a 
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citizen or a lawful permanent resident
alien of the United 
 


 






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States;


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        (2) that he or she is enrolled in or accepted for 
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admission to an associate degree in
nursing program, 
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hospital-based
diploma in nursing program, baccalaureate 
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degree
in nursing program, graduate degree in nursing 
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program, or practical nursing program at an approved

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institution; and


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        (3) that he or she agrees to meet the nursing 
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employment obligation.

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    If in any year the number of qualified applicants exceeds 
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the number of
scholarships to be awarded, the Department shall 
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give priority in awarding
scholarships:
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            (A) To
to students in the greatest financial need, 
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as shown on a
standardized financial needs assessment 
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form used by an approved
institution who will pursue 
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their education on a full-time or closest to
full-time

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basis and who already have a certificate in practical 
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nursing, a diploma
in nursing, or an associate degree 
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in nursing and are pursuing a higher
degree.

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            (B) To registered nurses pursuing a graduate 
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degree in nursing to pursue employment in an approved 
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institution that educates licensed practical nurses 
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and that educates registered nurses in undergraduate 
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and graduate nursing programs.

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    Unless otherwise indicated, scholarships shall be awarded 
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to
recipients at approved institutions for a period
of up to 2 
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years if the recipient is enrolled in an
associate degree in

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nursing
program, up to 3 years if the recipient is enrolled in 
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a hospital-based
diploma in nursing program, up to 4 years if 
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the recipient is enrolled in a
baccalaureate degree in nursing 
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program, up to 5 years if the recipient is enrolled in a 
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graduate degree in nursing program, and up to one year if the

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recipient is enrolled in a certificate in practical nursing 
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program.  At least
40%
50% of the scholarships awarded shall be 
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for recipients who are
pursuing baccalaureate degrees in 
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nursing, 30%
40% of the scholarships
awarded shall be for 
 


 






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recipients who are pursuing associate degrees in
nursing
or a 
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diploma in nursing, and 10% of the scholarships awarded
shall 
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be for recipients who are pursuing a certificate in practical 
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nursing, and 20% of the scholarships awarded shall be for 
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recipients who are pursuing a graduate degree in nursing.

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(Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)

 



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    (110 ILCS 975/6)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2756)



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    Sec. 6. Nursing requirements for scholarship recipients. 
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Within 12 months after graduation from an associate degree in

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nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing
program,

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baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in 
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nursing program, or
certificate in practical nursing program, 
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any
recipient who accepted a
scholarship under Section 5 shall 
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begin meeting the required nursing
employment obligation.  In 
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order to defer his
or her continuous employment obligation, a 
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recipient must
request the deferment in writing from the 
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Department.
A recipient shall notify program staff within 30 
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days if he or she
spends up to 4 years in military service 
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before or after graduation.  A
recipient shall notify program 
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staff within 30 days if he or she is enrolled in
an academic

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program leading to a graduate degree in nursing.  If a recipient 
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receives
funding through the Nursing Education Scholarship 
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Program for a higher degree,
the nursing employment obligation 
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shall be deferred until he or she is no
longer
enrolled or has 
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graduated.  The recipient must begin meeting the required

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nursing employment obligations no later than 6 months after the 
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end of the
deferments.

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    Any person who fails to fulfill the nursing employment 
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obligation shall
pay to the Department an amount equal to the 
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amount of scholarship funds
received per year for each 
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unfulfilled year of the nursing employment
obligation, 
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together with interest at 7% per year on the
unpaid balance.

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Payment must begin within 6 months following the date of the 
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occurrence
initiating the
repayment.  All repayments must be 
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completed within 6 years from the date of
the
occurrence 
 


 






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initiating the repayment.  However, this obligation may be

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deferred and re-evaluated every 6 months when the failure to 
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fulfill the
nursing employment
obligation results
from 
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involuntarily leaving the profession due to a decrease in the 
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number
of nurses employed in the State or when the failure to 
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fulfill the nursing
employment obligation results from total 
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and permanent disability.  The
repayment obligation shall be 
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excused if the failure to fulfill the nursing
employment 
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obligation results from the death or adjudication as

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incompetent of the person holding the scholarship.  No claim for 
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repayment
may be filed against the estate of such a decedent or 
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incompetent.

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    Each person applying for such a scholarship shall be 
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provided with a copy
of this Section at the time of application 
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for the
benefits of such
scholarship.

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(Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)

 



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    (110 ILCS 975/7)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2757)


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    Sec. 7. Amount of scholarships. To determine a scholarship

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amount, the Department shall consider tuition and fee charges 
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at
community colleges and universities statewide and projected 
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living
expenses.  Using information provided annually by the 
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Illinois Student
Assistance Commission, 75% of the weighted 
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tuition and fees charged by
community colleges in Illinois 
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shall be added to the uniform living
allowance reported in the 
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weighted Monetary Award Program (MAP)
budget to determine the 
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full-time scholarship amount for students
pursuing an 
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associate degree or diploma in nursing at an Illinois
community 
28
college.  Scholarship amounts for students pursuing
associate,

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or baccalaureate, or graduate degrees in nursing at a college 
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or university shall
include 75% of the
weighted tuition and 
31
fees charged by public universities in Illinois plus
the 
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uniform living allowance reported in the weighted MAP budget.

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Scholarship amounts for students in practical nursing programs 
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shall
include 75% of the average of tuition charges at all 
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practical nursing
programs plus the uniform living allowance 
 


 






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reported in the weighted MAP
budget.  The
Department may provide 
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that scholarships shall be on a quarterly or
semi-annual basis 
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and shall be contingent upon the student's diligently
pursuing 
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nursing studies and being a student in good
standing.  
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Scholarship awards may be provided to part-time students; the

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amount shall be determined by applying the proportion 
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represented by the
part-time enrollment to full-time 
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enrollment ratio to the average per-term
scholarship amount for 
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a student in the same nursing degree category.

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(Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02.)