100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB3447

 

Introduced , by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Tuition Reduction Act. Beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, requires each public university located in this State to reimburse its full-time resident undergraduate students a portion of the tuition charged in the form of a grant applied directly to a student's financial aid account. Provides that to determine the per-pupil grant amount, the university shall calculate the difference, if any, between the current fiscal year's aggregate appropriations to the university and fiscal year 2015's aggregate appropriations to the university and divide that amount by the number of students enrolled in the previous academic year. Provides that 50% of this calculation then equals the per-pupil grant amount, to be awarded to currently enrolled students to reduce their tuition costs (unless the current fiscal year's aggregate appropriations to the university are equal to or less than fiscal year 2015's aggregate appropriations). Requires each university to annually report updated estimates of the total amount in grants awarded in an academic year to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the General Assembly. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Tuition Reduction Act.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative intent.
7    (a) The General Assembly recognizes that this State's
8higher education system plays a critical role in ensuring this
9State's continued leadership role in driving economic
10prosperity, innovation, and opportunity. By educating citizens
11for living wage jobs, producing world-class research, and
12helping to create vibrant communities, this State's
13institutions of higher education form a foundational component
14in ensuring prosperity for our citizens.
15    (b) The General Assembly also recognizes the importance of
16prioritizing scarce resources for the core, front-line
17services that higher education institutions provide, namely
18instruction, research, and robust financial aid. During times
19of economic downturn, policymakers must focus on those areas of
20public service that have the most direct and immediate impact
21on students. Keeping class sections open, attracting the best
22professors and instructors, providing comprehensive support
23services, and offering meaningful financial help to offset the

 

 

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1costs of attending college must be the main concerns of
2policymakers. It is for these reasons that the General Assembly
3intends to refocus its commitment to direct aid to students and
4continue efforts to make college more affordable.
 
5    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
6    "Student" means a full-time resident undergraduate student
7enrolled at a university.
8    "University" means a public university located in this
9State.
 
10    Section 15. Tuition grants.
11    (a) Beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, each
12university must reimburse a portion of the tuition charged to
13students as provided in this subsection (a). Reimbursement
14shall be in the form of a grant applied directly to a student's
15financial aid account. To determine the per-pupil grant amount,
16the university shall calculate the difference, if any, between
17the current fiscal year's aggregate appropriations to the
18university and fiscal year 2015's aggregate appropriations to
19the university and divide that amount by the number of students
20enrolled in the previous academic year. Fifty percent of this
21calculation then equals the per-pupil grant amount, to be
22awarded to currently enrolled students to reduce their tuition
23costs. However, if the current fiscal year's aggregate
24appropriations to the university are equal to or less than

 

 

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1fiscal year 2015's aggregate appropriations, then the
2university is not required to award any grants under this
3subsection (a) in a given academic year.
4    (b) On or before September 1, 2018 and on or before
5September 1 each year thereafter, each university shall report
6updated estimates of the total amount in grants awarded under
7subsection (a) of this Section in an academic year to the
8Governor and the appropriate committees of the General
9Assembly.
 
10    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
11becoming law.