95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB1908

 

Introduced 1/16/2008, by Sen. Edward D. Maloney

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/35

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to the Monetary Award Program, provides that the maximum grant amount must not exceed $5,468 for fiscal year 2009, $5,968 for fiscal year 2010, and $6,468 for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter (instead of $4,968). Provides that the maximum grant amount for students not subject to this provision must be increased by the same percentage as any increase made by law to such provision. Removes the provision that limits the grant amount to an amount that equals 2 semesters or 3 quarters tuition and fees. Effective July 1, 2008.


LRB095 16264 NHT 42284 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1908 LRB095 16264 NHT 42284 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
5 amended by changing Section 35 as follows:
 
6     (110 ILCS 947/35)
7     Sec. 35. Monetary award program.
8     (a) The Commission shall, each year, receive and consider
9 applications for grant assistance under this Section. Subject
10 to a separate appropriation for such purposes, an applicant is
11 eligible for a grant under this Section when the Commission
12 finds that the applicant:
13         (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
14     permanent resident of the United States; and
15         (2) in the absence of grant assistance, will be
16     deterred by financial considerations from completing an
17     educational program at the qualified institution of his or
18     her choice.
19     (b) The Commission shall award renewals only upon the
20 student's application and upon the Commission's finding that
21 the applicant:
22         (1) has remained a student in good standing;
23         (2) remains a resident of this State; and

 

 

SB1908 - 2 - LRB095 16264 NHT 42284 b

1         (3) is in a financial situation that continues to
2     warrant assistance.
3     (c) All grants shall be applicable only to tuition and
4 necessary fee costs. The Commission shall determine the grant
5 amount for each student, which shall not exceed the smallest of
6 the following amounts:
7         (1) $5,468 for fiscal year 2009, $5,968 for fiscal year
8     2010, and $6,468 for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year
9     thereafter $4,968, or such lesser amount as the Commission
10     finds to be available, during an academic year; or
11         (2) (blank) the amount which equals 2 semesters or 3
12     quarters tuition and other necessary fees required
13     generally by the institution of all full-time
14     undergraduate students; or
15         (3) such amount as the Commission finds to be
16     appropriate in view of the applicant's financial
17     resources.
18     The maximum grant amount for students not subject to
19 subdivision (1) of this subsection (c) must be increased by the
20 same percentage as any increase made by law to the maximum
21 grant amount under subdivision (1) of this subsection (c).
22 "Tuition and other necessary fees" as used in this Section
23 include the customary charge for instruction and use of
24 facilities in general, and the additional fixed fees charged
25 for specified purposes, which are required generally of
26 nongrant recipients for each academic period for which the

 

 

SB1908 - 3 - LRB095 16264 NHT 42284 b

1 grant applicant actually enrolls, but do not include fees
2 payable only once or breakage fees and other contingent
3 deposits which are refundable in whole or in part. The
4 Commission may prescribe, by rule not inconsistent with this
5 Section, detailed provisions concerning the computation of
6 tuition and other necessary fees.
7     (d) No applicant, including those presently receiving
8 scholarship assistance under this Act, is eligible for monetary
9 award program consideration under this Act after receiving a
10 baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 135 semester credit
11 hours of award payments.
12     (e) The Commission, in determining the number of grants to
13 be offered, shall take into consideration past experience with
14 the rate of grant funds unclaimed by recipients. The Commission
15 shall notify applicants that grant assistance is contingent
16 upon the availability of appropriated funds.
17     (f) The Commission may request appropriations for deposit
18 into the Monetary Award Program Reserve Fund. Monies deposited
19 into the Monetary Award Program Reserve Fund may be expended
20 exclusively for one purpose: to make Monetary Award Program
21 grants to eligible students. Amounts on deposit in the Monetary
22 Award Program Reserve Fund may not exceed 2% of the current
23 annual State appropriation for the Monetary Award Program.
24     The purpose of the Monetary Award Program Reserve Fund is
25 to enable the Commission each year to assure as many students
26 as possible of their eligibility for a Monetary Award Program

 

 

SB1908 - 4 - LRB095 16264 NHT 42284 b

1 grant and to do so before commencement of the academic year.
2 Moneys deposited in this Reserve Fund are intended to enhance
3 the Commission's management of the Monetary Award Program,
4 minimizing the necessity, magnitude, and frequency of
5 adjusting award amounts and ensuring that the annual Monetary
6 Award Program appropriation can be fully utilized.
7     (g) The Commission shall determine the eligibility of and
8 make grants to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit
9 institutions in accordance with the criteria set forth in this
10 Section. The eligibility of applicants enrolled at such
11 for-profit institutions shall be limited as follows:
12         (1) Beginning with the academic year 1997, only to
13     eligible first-time freshmen and first-time transfer
14     students who have attained an associate degree.
15         (2) Beginning with the academic year 1998, only to
16     eligible freshmen students, transfer students who have
17     attained an associate degree, and students who receive a
18     grant under paragraph (1) for the academic year 1997 and
19     whose grants are being renewed for the academic year 1998.
20         (3) Beginning with the academic year 1999, to all
21     eligible students.
22 (Source: P.A. 92-45, eff. 7-1-01; 93-1032, eff. 9-2-04.)
 
23     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
24 2008.