SB1719 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 26103 RJT 52458 b

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.

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 Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, 25, and 30 as follows:

(110 ILCS 997/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

"Professional" means an individual employed by a human services agency that contracts with, receives funding from, or is grant-funded by a State agency for the purposes of providing direct or indirect services that ensure that individuals have the essential elements to build and maintain physical, emotional, and economic well-being at every phase of life.

"Program" means the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program.

"Qualified program" means a program that offers an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree from an accredited college or university.

"State agency" means the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department on Aging, and the Department of Public Health.

(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.)

(110 ILCS 997/15)

Sec. 15. Establishment of the Program. The Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program is created and shall be administered by the Commission. Subject to appropriation, the Program shall provide loan repayment assistance to eligible professionals practicing in a community-based, human services agency that contracts with, receives funding from, or is grant-funded by a State agency.

(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.)

(110 ILCS 997/25)

Sec. 25. Award; maximum loan time; maximum amount. The Commission shall award a grant to each eligible applicants and may grant preference to applicants based on need or income levels applicant for a cumulative maximum of 4 years. The recipient of a grant awarded by the Commission under this Act must use the grant award for payments toward the recipient's educational loans from a qualified program. The amount of the grant shall not exceed: (i) $25,000 per year for a master's degree or higher; (ii) $15,000 per year for a bachelor's degree; (iii) $3,000 per year for a professional with an associate degree; and (iv) up to a $5,000 per year add-on if independently licensed as a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a board-certified behavior analyst, or a registered behavior technician.

(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.)

(110 ILCS 997/30)

Sec. 30. Eligibility; work requirement.

(a) To be eligible to receive a grant under the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program, the Commission must find that the eligible professional satisfies all of the following:

(1) The applicant is a resident of the State of Illinois.

(2) The applicant has been a full-time employee worked for at least 24 consecutive months as a full-time employee as a human services professional, and the in a community-based human services agency that currently has or did have a contract with, receives funding from, or is grant-funded by a State agency for the purpose of providing to provide human services during the duration of applicant's 24 consecutive month tenure.

(3) The applicant is a borrower with an outstanding balance due on an educational loan.

(4) The applicant has not defaulted on an educational loan.

(5) The applicant must remain a full-time employee as a human services professional in the same community-based human services agency for at least 12 months after receiving this grant.

(b) The Commission may grant preference to a previous recipient of a grant under the Program, provided that the recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements under this Section.

(c) The Commission may grant preference to applications based on need or income levels.

(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.)

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