HB3687 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 02928 NHT 12942 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB3687

Introduced 2/24/2009, by Rep. William Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 710/4	from Ch. 127, par. 3804
30 ILCS 105/5.719 new

Amends the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service Act and the State Finance Act. Subject to appropriation from the Illinois Service Education Award Grant Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury, allows the Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service to award an Illinois Service Education Award Grant to recipients of a national service educational award awarded by the Corporation for National Community Service, which grant must be awarded only as a partial matching grant. Provides that an individual who successfully completes a required term of full-time national service in an approved national service position in this State may apply to receive a grant. Sets forth the purposes for which a grant may be used.

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 Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service Act is amended by changing Section 4 as follows:

(20 ILCS 710/4) (from Ch. 127, par. 3804)

Sec. 4. Operation.

(1) The Governor shall appoint a Director of the Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service who shall serve at the Governor's pleasure and who shall receive such compensation as is determined by the Governor. The Director shall employ such staff as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act. The Commission, working in cooperation with State agencies, individuals, local groups, and organizations throughout the State, may undertake programs and activities which further the purposes of this Act including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) providing technical assistance to programs which depend upon volunteers;

(b) initiating community service programs to meet previously unmet needs in Illinois;

(c) promoting and coordinating efforts to expand and improve the statewide community service network;

(d) recognizing outstanding community service accomplishments;

(e) disseminating information to support community service programs and to broaden community service involvement throughout the State;

(f) implementing federally funded grant programs in Illinois such as the National and Community Service Trust Act.

(2) The Commission may, subject to appropriation from the Illinois Service Education Award Grant Fund, award an Illinois Service Education Award Grant to recipients of a national service educational award, established under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12602 and awarded by the Corporation for National Community Service, which grant must be awarded only as a partial matching grant.

An individual who successfully completes a required term of full-time national service in an approved national service position in this State may apply to receive an Illinois Service Education Award Grant. The Commission shall adopt rules to govern the process for applying for the grant and for determining the amount of the grant and any other rules necessary to implement and administer this subsection (2).

An Illinois Service Education Award Grant may be used for any of the following purposes:

(a) To repay student loans associated with attending an Illinois institution of higher learning, as defined in the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

(b) To pay all or part of the cost of attendance at an Illinois institution of higher learning, as defined in the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

(c) To pay expenses incurred in participating in an approved Illinois school-to-work program.

(d) Any other purpose for which the national service educational award may lawfully be used.

The Illinois Service Education Award Grant Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission for the purposes of this subsection (2).

(3) The Commission may receive and expend funds, grants and services from any source for purposes reasonable and necessary to carry out a coordinated plan of community service throughout the State.

(Source: P.A. 91-798, eff. 7-9-00.)

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.719 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.719 new)

Sec. 5.719. The Illinois Service Education Award Grant Fund.