Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB1206

LRB104 03625 LNS 13649 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1206

Introduced 1/9/2025, by Rep. David Friess

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/65.135 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish the Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist police officers who have left law enforcement with repayment of student loans and in order to help place officers into areas of the State that are the most under-staffed and in need of additional officers. Sets forth qualifications for applicants. Provides that each award under the Program shall be equal to $6,000 per year (i) for up to 5 years or (ii) until the applicant's student loans are paid off, whichever is sooner. Provides that an applicant has one year from the date that the first student loan assistance payment is received to begin work in a shortage area. Provides that applicants currently working in shortage areas are eligible for the Program, but those who left law enforcement due to reasons other than retirement or a permanent disability shall be given priority for the Program. Provides for rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2026.

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 adding Section 65.135 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.135 new)

Sec. 65.135. Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance Program.

(a) In order to encourage those who are qualified to be police officers, but who have left law enforcement for other work, to return to the force, the Commission shall establish the Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist those individuals with repayment of student loans and in order to help place officers into areas of the State that are the most under-staffed and in need of additional officers.

(b) Subject to appropriation, for the 2026-2027 academic year and each academic year thereafter, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall receive and consider applications for the Program. Eligible applicants are those who:

(1) have received or plan to receive a diploma in a field that is related to law enforcement from a public institution of higher learning;

(2) have completed or plan to complete any certifications necessary to become a police officer;

(3) owe a balance on student loans;

(4) are currently not in default on any student loan or do not owe a refund or repayment on any State or federal grant or scholarship; and

(5) work or commit to work as a police officer in an area experiencing a police officer shortage, as determined by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, in the State.

(c) Each award under the Program shall be equal to $6,000 per year (i) for up to 5 years or (ii) until the applicant's student loans are paid off, whichever is sooner.

(d) An applicant has one year from the date that the first student loan assistance payment under this Section is received to begin work in a shortage area.

(e) Applicants currently working in shortage areas are eligible for the Program, but those who left law enforcement due to reasons other than retirement or a permanent disability shall be given priority for the Program.

(f) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026.