101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5239

 

Introduced , by Rep. Carol Ammons

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
30 ILCS 105/5.930 new
110 ILCS 947/65.110 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to implement and administer a program, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, to award College Promise grants to Illinois residents seeking an associate degree from a public community college. Sets forth the terms and conditions of the program. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Effective July 1, 2020.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5239LRB101 17998 CMG 67436 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
5Section 5.930 as follows:
 
6    (30 ILCS 105/5.930 new)
7    Sec. 5.930. The College Promise Fund.
 
8    Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
9amended by adding Section 65.110 as follows:
 
10    (110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)
11    Sec. 65.110. College Promise grant pilot program.
12    (a) In this Section:
13    "Continuous enrollment" means a student has attended
14classes in the fall and spring semester of a single academic
15year; enrollment in the summer semester or intersession terms
16is not required.
17    "Public community college" mean any community college in
18this State or any community college now or hereafter
19established or authorized by the General Assembly.
20    "Student aid" means scholarships and grants, other than a
21College Promise grant, awarded to a student from any source

 

 

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1that does not require repayment; "student aid" does not include
2student loans and work-study awards.
3    (b) The Commission shall implement and administer a
4program, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, to award
5College Promise grants to all eligible Illinois residents
6seeking an associate degree from a public community college.
7The following terms and conditions shall apply to the program:
8        (1) To be eligible for a grant, a student must be
9    admitted to and enrolled full-time, as an Illinois
10    resident, in a public community college in the fall term.
11    Exceptions to initial enrollment may be made for
12    extenuating circumstances as provided in rules adopted by
13    the Commission.
14        (2) Students applying for a grant shall complete the
15    College Promise grant application in their initial year of
16    enrollment. Students shall complete the Free Application
17    for Federal Student Aid each academic year in which they
18    seek to receive a grant.
19        (3) To continue to receive a grant, a student must
20    maintain Illinois residency as well as satisfactory
21    academic progress as determined by rules adopted by the
22    Commission.
23        (4) Each academic year, subject to appropriation by the
24    General Assembly from the College Promise Fund, a grant
25    shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at
26    the public community college attended. Student aid shall be

 

 

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1    credited first to the student's tuition and mandatory fees.
2    Each public community college shall annually report its
3    undergraduate tuition rate for Illinois residents and the
4    number of its students who are Illinois residents to the
5    Commission.
6        (5) A student awarded a grant who has an approved
7    medical or personal leave of absence from a public
8    community college may continue to receive the grant upon
9    resuming the student's education at the public community
10    college so long as the student continues to meet all
11    applicable eligibility requirements under this Section and
12    as adopted by the Commission. The total of all approved
13    leaves of absence shall not exceed 6 months.
14        (6) A student is eligible for a grant until the
15    occurrence of the first of the following events:
16            (A) the student has earned an associate degree; or
17            (B) the sum of the number of years the student has
18        attended the public community college equals 4 years
19        from the date of the student's initial enrollment at
20        the public community college, exclusive of approved
21        leaves of absence.
22        (7) Except for a medical or personal leave of absence,
23    as approved by the public community college, a student
24    awarded a grant under this Section shall maintain
25    continuous enrollment at the public community college.
26    (c) In awarding grants under this Section, the Commission

 

 

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1shall, by rule, develop the selection and renewal criteria for
2students.
3    (d) The College Promise Fund is created as a special fund
4in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of money
5appropriated by the General Assembly and any gifts, bequests,
6or donations made to the Fund. All money in the Fund shall only
7be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission for the
8purpose of this Section.
 
9    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
102020.