SB2146 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 12699 SXM 36469 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB2146

Introduced 5/31/2015, by Sen. Andy Manar

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.866 new

Creates the Illinois College Promise Program Act. Provides that the Illinois Community College Board shall administer the Program for Illinois residents seeking an associate's degree, certificate, or diploma from an eligible community college. Sets forth provisions concerning the eligibility requirements for a student to be awarded the Illinois College Promise scholarship. Sets forth provisions concerning the administration of the Illinois College Promise Scholarship Fund. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois College Promise Scholarship Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Effective July 1, 2016.

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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois College Promise Program Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Board" means Illinois Community College Board.

"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.

"Eligible high school" means:

(1) an Illinois public secondary school;

(2) a private secondary school that is located in Illinois and is approved by the Board; or

(3) an out-of-state boarding school accredited by a regional accrediting association that is attended by an Illinois resident.

"Eligible community college" has the meaning provided in subsection (c) of Section 1-2 of the Public Community College Act.

"Full-time student" means a student at an eligible community college who is enrolled for at least 12 semester hours during each semester of attendance.

"Fund" means the Illinois College Promise Scholarship Fund.

"Gift aid" means scholarships and grants from any source that do not require repayment, including, but not limited to, funds provided through the federal Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, compiled generally in Title 42 U.S.C., and other similar programs; "gift aid" does not include student loans and work-study awards.

"Scholarship" means the scholarship awarded under the Illinois College Promise Program.

"Program" means the Illinois College Promise Program.

Section 10. Requirements. The Board shall administer the Program for Illinois residents seeking an associate's degree, certificate, or diploma from an eligible community college under the following terms and conditions:

(1) To be eligible for the scholarship, a student shall be admitted to and enrolled full-time in an eligible community college in the fall term after receiving a high school diploma, a certificate of high school graduation, or a high school equivalency certificate. Exceptions to initial enrollment may be made for extenuating circumstances as provided in rules adopted by the Board.

(2) Students applying for the scholarship shall complete the Illinois College Promise 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 Scholarship.

(3) To continue to receive Scholarship, a student shall maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the rules adopted by the Board.

(4) Subject to the moneys appropriated by the General Assembly, a Scholarship shall be the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible community college attended less all other gift aid. Gift aid shall be credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory fees.

(5) A student awarded a Scholarship under this Act who has an approved medical or personal leave of absence from an eligible community college may continue to receive the scholarship upon resuming the student's education at an eligible community college so long as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility requirements under this Act and as adopted by the Board. The total of all approved leaves of absence shall not exceed 6 months.

(6) A student shall be eligible for the Scholarship until the occurrence of the first of the following events:

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

(B) the sum of the number of years the student attended a postsecondary institution, exclusive of approved leaves of absence, equals 2 years from the date of the student's initial enrollment at an eligible community college.

(7) Except for a medical or personal leave of absence, as approved by an eligible community college, a student awarded a Scholarship under this Act shall maintain continuous enrollment at an eligible community college.

The Board shall develop the selection and renewal criteria for students and adopt residency requirements, and shall have the authority to work with outside organizations to develop the most effective means for delivering the Scholarships.

Section 15. Illinois College Promise Scholarship Fund.

There is created in the State treasury the Illinois College Promise Scholarship Fund, which shall consist of moneys appropriated annually by the General Assembly from the General Revenue Fund and any gifts, bequests, or donations. The State Treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be appropriated and used solely for the administration of the Program. The State Treasurer may invest moneys in the Fund. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the Fund by the State Treasurer. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Illinois College Promise Scholarship Fund is not subject to sweeps, administrative charge-backs, or any other fiscal or budgetary maneuver that would in any way transfer any amounts from the Illinois College Promise Scholarship Fund into any other fund of the State.

Section 20. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.866 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.866 new)

Sec. 5.866. The Illinois College Promise Scholarship Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2016.