HB0456 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 04788 NHT 14797 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB0456

Introduced , by Rep. Mary E. Flowers

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/65.95 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to award grants to students in financial need whose household income is less than the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and who are enrolled for at least 15 credit hours in a public university. Provides that the Commission shall receive funding for the grants through appropriations, with each grant awarded being in an amount sufficient to pay the cost of attendance at the university in which the student is enrolled for 2 semesters of enrollment within an academic year. Defines "cost of attendance" to mean the tuition and fee, room and board, and book and supply costs related to a student's attendance at a public university.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 65.95 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.95 new)

Sec. 65.95. Need-based grant program.

(a) In this Section, "cost of attendance" means the tuition and fee, room and board, and book and supply costs related to a student's attendance at a public university.

(b) Beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, the Commission shall, each year, consider applications for grant assistance under this Section. An applicant is eligible for a grant under this Section if the Commission finds that the applicant meets all of the following qualifications:

(1) He or she is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen.

(2) He or she is a resident of this State.

(3) He or she is enrolled, for at least 15 credit hours, in a public university and has not earned a bachelor's degree yet. A grant recipient must submit proof to the Commission each semester that he or she is still enrolled in the university.

(4) He or she demonstrates financial need, as determined by the Commission, and his or her household income is less than the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).

(5) He or she maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the university.

(c) Each year the Commission shall award grants under this Section among applicants qualified pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. The Commission shall receive funding for the grants through appropriations.

(d) Each grant awarded under this Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the cost of attendance at the university in which the student is enrolled for 2 semesters of enrollment within an academic year. However, the total amount of grant assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual for any given academic year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the university at which the student is enrolled.

(e) Payment of any grant under this Section shall be determined by the Commission. All grant funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be paid to the university on behalf of the recipient.

(f) The Commission shall administer the grant program established by this Section and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation.