HB2157ham001 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Brad Halbrook

Filed: 4/20/2021

10200HB2157ham001 LRB102 12387 CMG 25258 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2157

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2157 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.110 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)

Sec. 65.110. Volunteer firefighter grant program.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for grant assistance under this Section. An applicant is eligible for grant assistance if the Commission finds that the applicant:

(1) is a resident of this State;

(2) is a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer EMS personnel at the time the grant application is submitted to the Commission;

(3) is a high school graduate or has received a high school equivalency certificate;

(4) meets all requirements for admission to a public community college; and

(5) is enrolled in an associate degree program at a public community college.

(b) Applicants who are determined to be eligible for assistance under this Section shall receive, subject to appropriation, a renewable grant sufficient to pay all tuition and mandatory fees. The tuition and mandatory fees shall be paid directly to the public community college in which the applicant is enrolled.

(c) A grant recipient must not have an outstanding balance with the public community college and must maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the community college to remain eligible for grant assistance.

(d) A grant awarded under this Section may be renewed for up to a total of 2 years of full-time enrollment.

(e) The Commission shall adopt any rules necessary for the implementation and administration of this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".