103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1719

 

Introduced 2/9/2023, by Sen. Laura Fine

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 997/10
110 ILCS 997/15
110 ILCS 997/25
110 ILCS 997/30

    Amends the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program Act. Provides that a community-based human services agency may contract with, receive funding from, or be grant-funded by a State agency (instead of may contract with or be grant-funded by a State agency). Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, in awarding grants under the Act, may grant preference to applicants based on need or income levels. Removes the provision limiting the grant to an applicant for a cumulative maximum of 4 years. In provisions regarding the eligibility of an applicant, provides that the applicant shall have been a full-time employee for at least 24 consecutive months as a human services professional and the community-based human services agency shall currently have or have had a contract with, receive funding from, or be grant-funded by a State agency for the purpose of providing human services during the applicant's 24 consecutive month tenure (instead of shall have worked for at least 24 consecutive months as a full-time employee as a human services professional in a community-based human services agency that currently has or did have a contract with a State agency to provide human services during the duration of applicant's 24 consecutive month tenure). Effective July 1, 2023.


LRB103 26103 RJT 52458 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1719LRB103 26103 RJT 52458 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 Human Services Professional Loan Repayment
5Program Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, 25, and 30
6as follows:
 
7    (110 ILCS 997/10)
8    Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:
9    "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance
10Commission.
11    "Professional" means an individual employed by a human
12services agency that contracts with, receives funding from, or
13is grant-funded by a State agency for the purposes of
14providing direct or indirect services that ensure that
15individuals have the essential elements to build and maintain
16physical, emotional, and economic well-being at every phase of
17life.
18    "Program" means the Human Services Professional Loan
19Repayment Program.
20    "Qualified program" means a program that offers an
21associate, bachelor's, or master's degree from an accredited
22college or university.
23    "State agency" means the Department of Human Services, the

 

 

SB1719- 2 -LRB103 26103 RJT 52458 b

1Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of
2Juvenile Justice, the Department on Aging, and the Department
3of Public Health.
4(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.)
 
5    (110 ILCS 997/15)
6    Sec. 15. Establishment of the Program. The Human Services
7Professional Loan Repayment Program is created and shall be
8administered by the Commission. Subject to appropriation, the
9Program shall provide loan repayment assistance to eligible
10professionals practicing in a community-based, human services
11agency that contracts with, receives funding from, or is
12grant-funded by a State agency.
13(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.)
 
14    (110 ILCS 997/25)
15    Sec. 25. Award; maximum loan time; maximum amount. The
16Commission shall award a grant to each eligible applicants and
17may grant preference to applicants based on need or income
18levels applicant for a cumulative maximum of 4 years. The
19recipient of a grant awarded by the Commission under this Act
20must use the grant award for payments toward the recipient's
21educational loans from a qualified program. The amount of the
22grant shall not exceed: (i) $25,000 per year for a master's
23degree or higher; (ii) $15,000 per year for a bachelor's
24degree; (iii) $3,000 per year for a professional with an

 

 

SB1719- 3 -LRB103 26103 RJT 52458 b

1associate degree; and (iv) up to a $5,000 per year add-on if
2independently licensed as a licensed clinical social worker, a
3licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed
4practitioner of the healing arts, a licensed marriage and
5family therapist, a board-certified behavior analyst, or a
6registered behavior technician.
7(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.)
 
8    (110 ILCS 997/30)
9    Sec. 30. Eligibility; work requirement.
10    (a) To be eligible to receive a grant under the Human
11Services Professional Loan Repayment Program, the Commission
12must find that the eligible professional satisfies all of the
13following:
14        (1) The applicant is a resident of the State of
15    Illinois.
16        (2) The applicant has been a full-time employee worked
17    for at least 24 consecutive months as a full-time employee
18    as a human services professional, and the in a
19    community-based human services agency that currently has
20    or did have a contract with, receives funding from, or is
21    grant-funded by a State agency for the purpose of
22    providing to provide human services during the duration of
23    applicant's 24 consecutive month tenure.
24        (3) The applicant is a borrower with an outstanding
25    balance due on an educational loan.

 

 

SB1719- 4 -LRB103 26103 RJT 52458 b

1        (4) The applicant has not defaulted on an educational
2    loan.
3        (5) The applicant must remain a full-time employee as
4    a human services professional in the same community-based
5    human services agency for at least 12 months after
6    receiving this grant.
7    (b) The Commission may grant preference to a previous
8recipient of a grant under the Program, provided that the
9recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements under
10this Section.
11    (c) The Commission may grant preference to applications
12based on need or income levels.
13(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.)
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
152023.