100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB4030

 

Introduced , by Rep. Will Guzzardi

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
30 ILCS 105/5.878 new
110 ILCS 947/23 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to implement and administer a program to award College Promise grants to Illinois residents seeking an associate degree from a public community college or a bachelor's degree from a public university. Provides that a College Promise grant shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the public institution attended less all other student aid, subject to appropriation from the College Promise Fund; defines "student aid". Sets forth the terms and conditions of the program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the College Promise Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
5Section 5.878 as follows:
 
6    (30 ILCS 105/5.878 new)
7    Sec. 5.878. The College Promise Fund.
 
8    Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
9amended by adding Section 23 as follows:
 
10    (110 ILCS 947/23 new)
11    Sec. 23. College Promise program.
12    (a) In this Section:
13    "Continuous enrollment" means a student has attended
14classes in the fall and spring semester of a single academic
15year; enrollment in summer semester or intersession terms is
16not required.
17    "Public institution" means the University of Illinois,
18Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University,
19Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University,
20Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University,
21Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, any

 

 

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1public community college in this State, or any other public
2university, college, or community college now or hereafter
3established or authorized by the General Assembly.
4    "Student aid" means scholarships and grants, other than a
5College Promise grant, awarded to a student from any source
6that does not require repayment; "student aid" does not include
7student loans and work-study awards.
8    (b) The Commission shall implement and administer a
9program, beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, to award
10College Promise grants to all eligible Illinois residents
11seeking an associate or bachelor's degree, as applicable, from
12a public institution. The following terms and conditions shall
13apply to the program:
14        (1) To be eligible for a grant, a student must be
15    admitted to and enrolled full-time, as an Illinois
16    resident, in a public institution in the fall term after
17    receiving a high school diploma or a certificate of high
18    school graduation from an approved high school or a high
19    school equivalency certificate. Exceptions to initial
20    enrollment may be made for extenuating circumstances as
21    provided in rules adopted by the Commission.
22        (2) Students applying for a grant shall complete the
23    College Promise grant application in their initial year of
24    enrollment. Students shall complete the Free Application
25    for Federal Student Aid each academic year in which they
26    seek to receive a grant.

 

 

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1        (3) To continue to receive a grant, a student must
2    maintain Illinois residency, as well as satisfactory
3    academic progress as determined by rules adopted by the
4    Commission.
5        (4) Each academic year, subject to money appropriated
6    by the General Assembly from the College Promise Fund, a
7    grant shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory
8    fees at the public institution attended less all other
9    student aid. Student aid shall be credited first to the
10    student's tuition and mandatory fees. Each public
11    institution shall annually report its undergraduate
12    tuition rate for Illinois residents and the number of its
13    undergraduates who are Illinois residents to the
14    Commission.
15        (5) A student awarded a grant who has an approved
16    medical or personal leave of absence from a public
17    institution may continue to receive the grant upon resuming
18    the student's education at the public institution so long
19    as the student continues to meet all applicable eligibility
20    requirements under this Section and as adopted by the
21    Commission. The total of all approved leaves of absence may
22    not exceed 6 months.
23        (6) A student is eligible for a grant until the
24    occurrence of the first of the following events:
25            (A) the student has earned an associate degree if
26        attending a public community college or a bachelor's

 

 

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1        degree if attending a public university; or
2            (B) the sum of the number of years the student has
3        attended the public community college or public
4        university, as applicable, equals 3 years from the date
5        of the student's initial enrollment at the public
6        community college or 6 years from the date of the
7        student's initial enrollment at the public university,
8        exclusive of approved leaves of absence.
9        (7) Except for a medical or personal leave of absence,
10    as approved by the public institution, a student awarded a
11    grant under this Section shall maintain continuous
12    enrollment at the public institution.
13    (c) In awarding grants under this Section, the Commission
14shall, by rule, develop the selection and renewal criteria for
15students.
16    (d) The College Promise Fund is created as a special fund
17in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of money
18appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, bequests,
19or donations made to the Fund. All money in the Fund shall only
20be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission for the
21purposes of this Section.
 
22    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
23becoming law.