HIGHER ED-LOAN REPAY-ATTORNEYS House SponsorsRep. Arthur L. Turner-Lou Lang-Jay C. Hoffman, Luis Arroyo, Al Riley and Kenneth Dunkin Senate Sponsors(Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg and Kirk W. Dillard) 8/28/2009HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 96-0768 110 ILCS 947/65.85 new Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to administer a student loan repayment assistance program for public sector attorneys. Subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, each year requires the Commission to award a grant to each qualified applicant in an amount equal to 10% of the amount of law school student loans he or she must repay that year. Provides that if a grant recipient receives a grant each year for 10 years and the amount of law school student loans he or she must repay in each of those years is at least 5% of the attorney's gross annual income, then the grant amount for the 10th year shall equal the remainder of the amount that he or she owes on the law school student loans. Provides that the total amount in grants that a person may receive must not exceed $60,000. Provides that a person is a qualified applicant if, among other qualifications, (i) the person is an attorney licensed in this State, (ii) the person is employed in a public sector job, but does not have to be employed as an attorney in that job, and (iii) the person agrees to provide at least 12 hours of pro-bono work at a qualified public sector agency each year that he or she receives a grant. Effective July 1, 2009.House Committee Amendment No. 1 Requires a grant applicant to agree to provide at least 20 (instead of 12) hours of pro-bono work. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Public Defender Association, shall give preference to those grant applicants who serve or shall agree to serve in areas of this State in which a significant shortage of public defenders exists.House Committee Amendment No. 2 Requires an applicant to agree to provide at least 30 hours of pro-bono work with a legal aid entity within this State, as determined by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation as to those legal aid entities most in need of pro-bono attorneys, each year that he or she receives a grant (instead of agreeing to provide at least 20 hours of pro-bono work at a qualified public sector agency, as determined by the Commission, each year that he or she receives a grant). Provides that the applicant's gross annual income must be $80,000 or less.Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Illinois Student Assistance Commission) This bill is subject to appropriation and therefore no specific impact is associated with its passage.Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 2 (Illinois Student Assistance Commission) This bill is subject to appropriation and therefore no specific impact is associated with its passage.House Floor Amendment No. 3 Provides that the grant amount each year per qualified applicant shall be in an amount equal to 10% of the total amount in law school student loans owed at the time of the initial application (instead of 10% of the amount of law school student loans the applicant must repay that year).Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to:110 ILCS 947/65.85 newAdds reference to:New Act30 ILCS 105/5.719 newDeletes everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Public Interest Attorney Assistance Act to encourage qualified individuals to enter into and continue in employment in this State as assistant State's Attorneys, assistant Public Defenders, civil legal aid attorneys, assistant Attorneys General, assistant public guardians, Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission attorneys, and legislative attorneys. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish and administer the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Assistance Program for the primary purpose of providing loan repayment assistance to practicing attorneys to encourage them to pursue careers as public interest attorneys. Provides for the distribution of funds, in the form of a forgivable loan. Sets forth provisions concerning the creation of an advisory committee, the application process, eligibility requirements, the maximum amount of assistance, and prioritization. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Assistance Fund. 2/5/2009HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Arthur L. Turner 2/6/2009HouseFirst Reading 2/6/2009HouseReferred to Rules Committee 2/11/2009HouseAssigned to Higher Education Committee 2/13/2009HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Luis Arroyo 2/18/2009HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lou Lang 2/20/2009HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lou Lang 2/20/2009HouseRemoved Co-Sponsor Rep. Lou Lang 2/25/2009HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Higher Education Committee 2/25/2009HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Higher Education Committee; by Voice Vote 2/25/2009HouseRemains in Higher Education Committee 3/4/2009HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Higher Education Committee 3/4/2009HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted in Higher Education Committee; by Voice Vote 3/4/2009HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 007-000-000 3/5/2009HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 3/12/2009HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Fiscal Note Filed as Amended 3/12/2009HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Fiscal Note Filed as Amended 3/12/2009HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Arthur L. Turner 3/12/2009HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee 3/16/2009HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000 3/24/2009HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 3/24/2009HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted by Voice Vote 3/24/2009HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 4/1/2009HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jay C. Hoffman 4/1/2009HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kenneth Dunkin 4/1/2009HouseRemove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kenneth Dunkin 4/1/2009HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Al Riley 4/1/2009HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kenneth Dunkin 4/1/2009HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 117-000-000 4/2/2009SenateArrive in Senate 4/2/2009SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 4/2/2009SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg 4/2/2009SenateFirst Reading 4/2/2009SenateReferred to Assignments 4/22/2009SenateAssigned to Judiciary 4/29/2009SenatePostponed - Judiciary 5/6/2009SenateDo Pass Judiciary; 010-000-000 5/6/2009SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2009 5/13/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg 5/13/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 5/14/2009SenateSecond Reading 5/14/2009SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 15, 2009 5/15/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg 5/15/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments 5/17/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Judiciary 5/17/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Judiciary 5/18/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Judiciary; 007-000-000 5/18/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Postponed - Judiciary 5/19/2009SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Kirk W. Dillard 5/19/2009SenateRecalled to Second Reading 5/19/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted; Schoenberg 5/19/2009SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading 5/19/2009SenateThird Reading - Passed; 059-000-000 5/19/2009SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) 5/20/2009HouseArrived in House 5/20/2009HousePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 2 5/30/2009HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Arthur L. Turner 5/30/2009HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee 5/30/2009HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 003-000-000 5/31/2009HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 House Concurs 114-002-000 5/31/2009HousePassed Both Houses 6/29/2009HouseSent to the Governor 8/28/2009HouseGovernor Approved 8/28/2009HouseEffective Date January 1, 2010 8/28/2009HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 96-0768