SB2966 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 18415 MJR 33793 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB2966

Introduced 2/3/2010, by Sen. Carole Pankau

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/55

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes changes to the police officer or fire officer survivor grant provisions. Removes the requirement that the police officer or fire officer be 90% to 100% disabled. Allows survivors of peace officers to also receive a grant. Effective immediately.

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 changing Section 55 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/55)

Sec. 55. Police officer, peace officer, or fire officer survivor grant. Grants shall be provided for any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child, or child in the legal custody of police officers, peace officers, as defined under the Criminal Code of 1961, and fire officers killed or permanently disabled with 90% to 100% disability in the line of duty while employed by, or in the voluntary service of, this State or any local public entity in this State. Beneficiaries need not be Illinois residents at the time of enrollment in order to receive this grant. Beneficiaries are entitled to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of full payment of tuition and mandatory fees at any State-sponsored Illinois institution of higher learning for either full or part-time study, or the equivalent of 8 semesters or 12 quarters of payment of tuition and mandatory fees at the rate established by the Commission for private institutions in the State of Illinois, provided the recipient is maintaining satisfactory academic progress. This benefit may be used for undergraduate or graduate study. The benefits of this Section shall be administered by and paid out of funds available to the Commission and shall accrue to the bona fide applicant without the requirement of demonstrating financial need to qualify for those benefits.

(Source: P.A. 91-670, eff. 12-22-99.)

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