96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB0738

 

Introduced 2/6/2009, by Rep. Michael K. Smith - Keith Farnham - Naomi D. Jakobsson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/65.23 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates the STEM Teachers Loan Repayment Program to encourage academically talented Illinois students to enter and continue teaching in Illinois schools in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to administer the program. Subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, each year the Commission shall award a grant to each qualified applicant in an amount equal to the amount of higher education loans he or she must repay that year. Provides that an applicant must agree to teach in a public secondary school in this State in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics for a period of at least 5 years beginning with the first year of acceptance of a grant. Provides for repayment of the grant amount if a grant recipient fails to fulfill this teaching requirement. Effective July 1, 2009.


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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,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
5 amended by adding Section 65.23 as follows:
 
6     (110 ILCS 947/65.23 new)
7     Sec. 65.23. STEM Teachers Loan Repayment Program.
8     (a) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
9 students to enter and continue teaching in Illinois schools in
10 the fields of science, technology, engineering, and
11 mathematics, the Commission shall, each year, receive and
12 consider applications for loan repayment assistance under this
13 Section. This program shall be known as the STEM Teachers Loan
14 Repayment Program. The Commission shall administer the program
15 and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent
16 with this Section for the program's effective implementation.
17 The Commission may use up to 5% of the appropriation for this
18 program for administration and promotion of the program.
19     (b) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such
20 purposes, each year the Commission shall award a grant to each
21 qualified applicant in an amount equal to the amount of higher
22 education loans he or she must repay that year. The Commission
23 shall encourage the recipient of a grant under this Section to

 

 

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1 use the grant amount awarded to pay off his or her higher
2 education loans.
3     (c) A person is a qualified applicant under this Section if
4 he or she meets all of the following qualifications:
5         (1) The person is a United States citizen or eligible
6     noncitizen.
7         (2) The person is a resident of this State.
8         (3) The person has higher education loans to repay.
9         (4) The person agrees to teach in a public secondary
10     school in this State in the field of science, technology,
11     engineering, or mathematics for a period of at least 5
12     years beginning with the first year of acceptance of a
13     grant. If the person is unable to fulfill this teaching
14     requirement, he or she may receive a deferment from the
15     obligation of repayment under subsection (e) of this
16     Section under guidelines established by the Commission.
17     (d) All applications for grant assistance under this
18 Section shall be made to the Commission. The form of
19 application and the information required to be set forth in the
20 application shall be determined by the Commission, and the
21 Commission shall require applicants to submit with their
22 applications such supporting documents as the Commission deems
23 necessary.
24     (e) A grant recipient who fails to fulfill the teaching
25 requirement under item (4) of subsection (c) of this Section
26 shall repay to the Commission the total amount in grants

 

 

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1 received under this Section, together with interest at 5% per
2 year on that amount. However, this obligation to repay the
3 grant amount plus interest does not apply if the failure to
4 fulfill the teaching requirement results from the death or
5 adjudication as a person under legal disability of the person
6 holding the grant, and no claim for repayment may be filed
7 against the estate of such a decedent or person under legal
8 disability. Payments received by the Commission under this
9 subsection (e) shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for
10 deposit into the General Revenue Fund. Each person receiving a
11 grant under this Section must be provided with a description of
12 the provisions of this subsection (e) at the time he or she is
13 awarded the grant.
 
14     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
15 2009.