102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5358

 

Introduced 1/31/2022, by Rep. Randy E. Frese

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 805/2-16.10 new
110 ILCS 805/2-27 new
30 ILCS 105/5.970 new

    Amends the Public Community College Act. Creates the Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot Program. Provides that, beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, the State Board of Education shall establish and administer the Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot Program to provide financial assistance to students who are accepted to enroll in a truck driver training program at a public State community college that prepares a student to obtain a Class A commercial driver's license in the State. Sets forth provisions concerning an intergovernmental agreement, eligibility and renewal, the stipend amount, the employment obligations, repayment of a stipend, State Board of Education and institution requirements, reporting, and rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.


LRB102 24911 RJT 34162 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5358LRB102 24911 RJT 34162 b

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 Public Community College Act is amended by
5adding Sections 2-27 and 2-16.10 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 805/2-16.10 new)
7    Sec. 2-16.10. Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot Program Fund.
8The Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot Program Fund is created as a
9special fund in the State treasury. All money in this Fund may
10be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board for
11operational expenses associated with the administration of the
12Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot Program and for the payment of
13costs associated with providing grants to eligible community
14colleges in accordance with the Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot
15Program.
16    The Fund may also receive grants, awards, endowments, or
17like proceeds, and where appropriate, other funds made
18available through contracts with governmental, public, and
19private agencies or persons.
 
20    (110 ILCS 805/2-27 new)
21    Sec. 2-27. Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot Program.
22    (a) Subject to appropriation, beginning with awards for

 

 

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1the 2023-2024 academic year, the State Board shall establish
2the Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot Program and receive and
3consider applications for grant assistance under this Section.
4The purpose of the Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot Program is to
5provide financial assistance to individuals that are accepted
6to enroll in a truck driver training program at a public State
7community college that prepares a student to obtain a Class A
8commercial driver's license in the State.
9    (b) An applicant is eligible for a grant under this
10Section if the State Board finds that the applicant:
11        (1) is a resident of this State;
12        (2) has been accepted to enroll in a truck driver
13    training program at a public State community college that
14    prepares a student to obtain a Class A commercial driver's
15    license in the State;
16        (3) is a high school graduate or has earned a high
17    school equivalency degree; and
18        (4) meets all other admissions criteria for the truck
19    driver training program or course at the community college
20    in which they are enrolled.
21    (c) Applicants who are determined to be eligible for
22assistance under this Section shall receive, subject to
23appropriation, a grant sufficient to pay for the tuition and
24fees for a truck driver training program at a public State
25community college. All grant payments shall be paid directly
26to the community college at which the applicant is enrolled.

 

 

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1However, any returning and current students must not have an
2outstanding balance with the community college and must have
3satisfactory academic performance as determined by the
4community college.
5    (d) A grant awarded under this Section may not be renewed
6and shall not exceed $5,000 per award per recipient. The
7recipient is not required to repay the grant award if he or she
8meets the employment requirements set forth in subsection (e).
9    (e) Any person who has accepted a grant under this Section
10must, within one year after completing a truck driver training
11program at a public Illinois community college, begin working
12as a licensed truck driver employed in this State.
13    (f) If a recipient of a scholarship under this Section
14fails to fulfill the work obligation set forth in subsection
15(e), the State Board shall require the recipient to repay the
16amount of the assistance received, prorated according to the
17fraction of the obligation not completed, at a rate of
18interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable
19collection fees. The State Board is authorized to establish
20rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of
21scholarships under this Section. All repayments collected
22under this Section shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller
23for deposit into this State's General Revenue Fund.
24    A recipient of a grant under this Section is not
25considered to be in violation of the failure to fulfill the
26work obligation under subsection (e) if the recipient (i) is

 

 

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1serving as a member of the armed services of the United States;
2(ii) is a person with a temporary total disability for a period
3of time, not to exceed 3 years, that prevents the person from
4employment, as established by the sworn affidavit of a
5qualified physician; or (iii) becomes a person with a
6permanent total disability that prevents the person from
7employment, as established by the sworn affidavit of a
8qualified physician.
9    (g) The State Board shall make all necessary and proper
10rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective
11implementation.
 
12    Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
13Section 5.970 as follows:
 
14    (30 ILCS 105/5.970 new)
15    Sec. 5.970. The Illinois Trucking Grant Pilot Program
16Fund.