HB4543 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 17435 NHT 62637 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB4543

Introduced 1/31/2012, by Rep. Joe Sosnowski

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/10

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that for the purpose of meeting the definition of "qualified institution" as used in provisions concerning the Monetary Award Program, a for-profit educational organization is an educational organization located in this State if the organization's main campus is physically located in this State.

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 changing Section 10 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act, and except to the extent that any of the following words or phrases is specifically qualified by its context:

"Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission created by this Act.

"Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance of an individual's status as a student in an institution of higher learning, regardless of the terms used at the institution to describe that status.

"Approved high school" means any public high school located in this State; and any high school, located in this State or elsewhere (whether designated as a high school, secondary school, academy, preparatory school, or otherwise) which in the judgment of the State Superintendent of Education provides a course of instruction at the secondary level and maintains standards of instruction substantially equivalent to those of the public high schools located in this State.

"Institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", or "institution" means an educational organization located in this State which

(1) provides at least an organized 2 year program of collegiate grade in the liberal arts or sciences, or both, directly applicable toward the attainment of a baccalaureate degree or a program in health education directly applicable toward the attainment of a certificate, diploma, or an associate degree;

(2) either is

(A) operated by this State, or

(B) operated publicly or privately, not for profit, or

(C) operated for profit, provided such for profit organization

(i) offers degree programs which have been approved by the Board of Higher Education for a minimum of 3 years under the Academic Degree Act, and

(ii) enrolls a majority of its students in such degree programs, and

(iii) maintains an accredited status with the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;

(3) in the judgment of the Commission meets standards substantially equivalent to those of comparable institutions operated by this State; and

(4) if so required by the Commission, uses the State as its primary guarantor of student loans made under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965.

For the purpose of meeting the definition of "qualified institution" as used in Section 35 of this Act, a for-profit educational organization is an educational organization located in this State if the organization's main campus is physically located in this State. For otherwise eligible educational organizations which provide academic programs for incarcerated students, the terms "institution of higher learning", "qualified institutions", and "institution" shall specifically exclude academic programs for incarcerated students.

"Academic Year" means a 12 month period of time, normally but not exclusively, from September 1 of any year through August 31 of the ensuing year.

"Full-time student" means any undergraduate student enrolled in 12 or more semester or quarter hours of credit courses in any given semester or quarter or in the equivalent number of units of registration as determined by the Commission.

"Part-time student" means any undergraduate student, other than a full-time student, enrolled in 6 or more semester or quarter hours of credit courses in any given semester or quarter or in the equivalent number of units of registration as determined by the Commission. Beginning with fiscal year 1999, the Commission may, on a program by program basis, expand this definition of "part-time student" to include students who enroll in less than 6 semester or quarter hours of credit courses in any given semester or quarter.

(Source: P.A. 90-122, eff. 7-17-97; 91-250, eff. 7-22-99.)