Section 597.330  Deferment of Scholarship Obligation

a)         The nursing employment obligation may be deferred and re-evaluated by a review of a written request from the recipient every 6 months when the failure to fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from involuntarily leaving the profession due to a decrease in the number of nurses employed in the State or when the failure to fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from total and permanent disability.

b)         In order to defer the continuous nursing employment obligation, a recipient must request the deferment in writing from the Department and must provide a letter from his/her physician attesting to the recipient's inability (either temporarily or permanently) to continue employment.  (Section 6 of the Law)

c)         A recipient shall notify the Department within 30 days if the recipient spends up to 4 years in military service before or after graduation and after completion of the nursing employment obligation.  (Section 6 of the Law) The time spent in military service, up to 4 years, shall be excluded from the computation of the number of months of nursing employment obligation as described in Section 597.320(c).

d)         A recipient shall notify the Department within 30 days after enrollment if the recipient is enrolled in an academic program leading to a graduate degree in nursing.  (Section 6 of the Law)  The nursing employment obligation shall be deferred until he or she has completed a graduate degree in nursing.

e)         If a recipient receives funding through the Nursing Education Scholarship Program for a higher degree, the nursing employment obligation shall be deferred until he or she is no longer enrolled or has graduated with the higher degree.  (Section 6 of the Law)

f)          The recipient must begin meeting the required nursing employment obligation no later than 6 months after the end of any deferment. (Section 6 of the Law)

g)         Within 12 months after graduation from a graduate degree in nursing program for nurse educators, any recipient who accepted a scholarship shall begin meeting the required nurse educator employment obligation. (Section 6.5(d) of the Law)

h)         In order to defer the continuous employment obligation, a recipient must request the deferment in writing from the Department. (Section 6.5(d) of the Law)  The following deferments are allowed:

1)         A recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she notifies the Department, within 30 days after enlisting, that he or she is spending up to 4 years in military service.

2)         A recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she notifies the Department, within 30 days after enrolling, that he or she is enrolled in an academic program leading to a graduate degree in nursing.

i)          The recipient must begin meeting the required nurse educator employment obligation no later than 6 months after the end of the deferment or deferments. (Section 6.5(d) of the Law)

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 4609, effective March 2, 2011)