SB0853eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0853 Engrossed LRB094 04506 NHT 34535 b

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Dollars for Scholars Program Act.

Section 5. Findings and purpose. The General Assembly finds that making higher education opportunities available to Illinois residents is of great importance to the social and economic well-being of this State. The General Assembly further finds that some potential students, because of family and social circumstances, economic distress of their community, and other reasons, do not pursue a higher education. It is in the interest of the State to support the development of scholarship programs that help these citizens attend a college, university, or vocational-technical institute in the State. The purpose of this Act is to create an Illinois Dollars for Scholars Program as a pilot project, with the intent of encouraging local communities to develop scholarship programs that assist their residents in obtaining a higher education.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

"Chapter" means an Illinois Dollars for Scholars chapter found to be eligible for State funds under Section 25 of this Act.

"Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

"Institution of higher education" means a degree-granting college or university or public vocation-technical institute, in this State, that is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the Commission for the purposes of this Act.

"Program" means the Illinois Dollars for Scholars Program.

Section 15. Creation of Program.

(a) The Illinois Dollars for Scholars Program is hereby established. Subject to the availability of funds, the Commission shall award a chapter $2,000 upon demonstration to the Commission that the chapter has raised $2,000 for scholarships or the creation of an endowment for scholarships.

(b) Awards made under this Section shall be used for scholarships to community residents who qualify as resident students, as determined by the Commission, to attend institutions of higher education.

Section 20. Goals.

(a) The goal of the Program is the development throughout the State of community organizations that raise scholarship funds for local residents.

(b) In making awards under Section 15 of this Act, the Commission shall take into consideration, but not be limited to, the following additional goals:

(1) increasing higher education participation for residents of economically distressed areas and other areas of the State with low participation rates and enhancing community support for residents of these areas who desire a higher education;

(2) creating scholarship opportunities for students who do not meet the criteria for traditional scholarships; and

(3) creating scholarship opportunities for students who plan to focus their studies in the humanities and arts.

Section 25. Eligibility. To qualify as an Illinois Scholars for Dollars chapter eligible for State money under this Act, an organization must meet the following criteria:

(1) have a tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, be a publicly supported organization under Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code, and not be a private foundation under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(2) be organized after the effective date of this Act for the primary purpose of raising and awarding scholarships to community residents who qualify as resident students, as determined by the Commission, to attend institutions of higher education;

(3) solicit broad-based community support in its fundraising activities and be representative of the community in its organization;

(4) not be duplicative of other organizations;

(5) be organized and operated by volunteers;

(6) grant scholarships without regard to age, sex, marital status, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, or the presence of any mental, sensory, or physical handicap; and

(7) meet other criteria established by the Commission to meet the goals of the Program specified in Section 20 of this Act.

Section 30. Chapter limits. The total number of chapters operating under this Act at any one time shall not exceed 28. Not more than 7 chapters shall operate at any one time in any city having a population exceeding 500,000; not more than 7 chapters shall operate at any one time in the counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and that portion of Cook County that is located outside a city having a population exceeding 500,000; and not more than 14 chapters shall operate at any one time in the remainder of the State.

For the purposes of implementing this Section, the Commission shall assign a number to each chapter submission that it receives under this Act for its review and certification, based on the chronological order in which the submission is received. The Commission shall promptly notify the public when the maximum number of chapters authorized to operate has been reached.

Section 35. Administration; rules; assistance. The Commission shall administer the Program. The Commission shall adopt rules as appropriate to implement the Program and shall solicit assistance from public and private sources to publicize the Program. The Commission may create an advisory committee to assist in making determinations under this Act.

Section 40. Illinois Dollars for Scholars Fund. The Illinois Dollars for Scholars Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All money appropriated for the Program and all money otherwise received for this purpose shall be deposited in this Fund. All money in this Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission for awards and administration of the Program.

Section 45. Gifts; grants; endowments. The Commission may solicit and receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the Program and may expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments.

Section 50. Report. By December 1, 2006, the Commission shall submit a report to the Governor, the House of Representatives Higher Education Committee, and the Senate Education Committee. The report shall examine the results and effectiveness of the Program and shall recommend whether the Program should be continued and any modifications to the Program.

Section 905. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.640 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.640 new)

Sec. 5.640. The Illinois Dollars for Scholars Fund.

Section 990. Repealer. This Act is repealed on June 30, 2008.

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.