HB1086 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 04843 RJT 49853 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1086

Introduced 1/12/2023, by Rep. Mary E. Flowers

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/65.120 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides for the issuance of grants to essential workers and the dependents of essential workers, subject to appropriation. Defines "essential worker" as an individual whose employment duties provide a service that is typically deemed vital to public health and safety and economic and national security and essential to continue critical infrastructure operations. Sets forth provisions concerning application and qualifications for a grant, the amount of a grant and its use, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2023.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.120 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.120 new)

Sec. 65.120. Grants for essential workers.

(a)In this Section:

"Dependent" means a spouse, natural child, legally adopted child, or child in the legal custody of an essential worker.

"Essential worker" means an individual whose employment duties provide a service that is typically deemed vital to public health and safety and economic and national security and essential to continue critical infrastructure operations. "Essential worker" includes, but is not limited to, a medical or healthcare worker; child care or school personnel; an in-home support provider; a telecommunications, information technology systems, defense, food or agriculture, transportation or logistics, energy, or water or wastewater worker, or law enforcement personnel.

"Satisfactory academic progress" means the qualified applicant's maintenance of minimum standards of academic performance, consistent with requirements for maintaining federal financial aid eligibility, as determined by the institution of higher learning.

(b) Subject to a separate appropriation for this purpose, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for grant assistance under this Section. Both an essential worker and all dependents of the essential worker qualify to receive a grant issued by the Commission in accordance with this Section. Provided that the recipient is maintaining satisfactory academic progress, the funds from the grant may be used to pay up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of full payment of tuition and mandatory fees at any public university or public community college located in this State for either full or part-time study. This benefit may be used for undergraduate or graduate study.

In addition, a qualified applicant who has not yet received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate and completes a high school equivalency preparation course through an Illinois Community College Board-approved provider may use grant funds to pay costs associated with obtaining a high school equivalency certificate, including payment of the cost of the high school equivalency test and up to one retest on each test module, and any additional fees that may be required in order to obtain an Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate or an official transcript of test scores after successful completion of the high school equivalency test.

(c) An applicant for a grant under this Section need not demonstrate financial need to qualify for the benefits.

(d) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2023.