Public Act 099-0359
 
HB3577 EnrolledLRB099 10172 NHT 30396 b


  
    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 65.90 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 947/65.90 new)
    Sec. 65.90. Medical assistant grants.
    (a) Beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year through the 
2020-2021 academic year, the Commission shall, each year, 
receive and 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 resident of this State and a United 
    States citizen or eligible noncitizen.
        (2) He or she is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in 
    a medical assistant program at a public community college 
    in this State that will lead to certification to work as a 
    medical assistant.
    (b) Recipients shall be selected from among applicants 
qualified pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section based on 
financial need, as determined by the Commission. Preference may 
be given to previous recipients of assistance under this 
Section, provided they continue to maintain eligibility and 
maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the 
institution at which they enroll.
    (c) Each grant awarded under this Section shall be in an 
amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the 
institution at which the recipient is enrolled, except that no 
recipient may receive more than $5,000 in a single academic 
year.
    (d) The total amount of grant assistance awarded by the 
Commission under this Section to an individual in any given 
fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded 
to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of 
attendance at the institution at which the student is enrolled.
    (e) All applications for grant assistance to be awarded 
under this Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as 
set forth by the Commission. The form of application and the 
information required to be set forth in the application shall 
be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall 
require eligible applicants to submit with their applications 
such supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary.
    (f) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such 
purposes, payment of any grants awarded under this Section 
shall be determined by the Commission.  All grant funds 
distributed in accordance with this Section shall be paid to 
the institution on behalf of the recipients. Grant funds are 
applicable toward 2 semesters of enrollment within an academic 
year. Up to 2% of the appropriation for this grant program may 
be used by the Commission for the costs of administering the 
grant program.
    (g) 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.
  


Effective Date:  1/1/2016