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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has an interest in ensuring
3that students who are eligible for federal, state, or
4institutional aid are receiving that aid to help them attain a
5degree or credential; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The award of student financial aid from federal,
7state, and institutional sources is subject to federal and
8state laws and regulations as well as institutional policies
9and procedures; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The Illinois Student Assistance Commission
11conducts compliance reviews of financial aid offices
12participating in ISAC-administered financial aid programs; the
13agency also offers training for financial aid administrators;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Institutions must act within federal and state
16regulations but may also adopt different approaches to
17complying with federal and state mandates; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Compliance with those mandates is meant to ensure
19the appropriate delivery of assistance while remaining within
20the scope and responsibilities of the institution; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Federal programs sometimes include constraints,
2such as a suspension of federal student aid eligibility for
3students convicted of drug crimes that occurred while receiving
4federal student aid, that exceed the constraints on state
5programs and should not be applied to state programs;
6therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
8HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
9SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Student Assistance
10Commission is directed to create a working group on financial
11aid policies and procedures, whose purpose is the following:
12        (1) To advise ISAC on the development of model policies
13    and procedures for financial aid, including but not limited
14    to verification and professional judgment, the purpose of
15    which is to provide additional guidance for Illinois
16    institutions on how best to serve Illinois students from a
17    variety of backgrounds and situations, while complying
18    with state and federal requirements for the delivery of
19    state and federal financial aid; and
20        (2) To identify and eliminate procedural barriers at
21    the state and institutional levels that may result in
22    students not receiving aid for which they may otherwise be
23    eligible; and be it further
 
24    RESOLVED, That the working group shall consist of the

 

 

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1following, convened by the Executive Director of the Illinois
2Student Assistance Commission or his designee, with staff
3support from the Commission:
4        (1) The president of a statewide professional
5    organization of student financial aid administrators, or
6    that person's designee;
7        (2) Additional financial aid administrators
8    representing the diversity of Illinois postsecondary
9    institutions; and
10        (3) The president of a statewide organization of
11    professionals involved in college admission counseling, or
12    that person's designee; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That the Commission, at the discretion of the
14executive director, may include additional experts on college
15access, federal student aid, disparities in higher education,
16immigration law, tax law, or any other topics relevant to the
17tasks outlined above, and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That the Commission shall use its best efforts in
19assuring that the working group is representative of the
20geographic, racial, and ethnic diversity of this state, and be
21it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That working group members shall serve without
23compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses from

 

 

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1appropriations made to the Commission and available for this
2purpose.