101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2324

 

Introduced 1/8/2020, by Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/23 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, certificate, or diploma from an institution of higher learning. Sets forth the terms and conditions of the program. Effective immediately.


LRB101 15568 NHT 64913 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2324LRB101 15568 NHT 64913 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 Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
5amended by adding Section 23 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 947/23 new)
7    Sec. 23. College Promise program.
8    (a) In this Section:
9    "Continuous enrollment" means a student has attended
10classes in the fall and spring semester of a single academic
11year; enrollment in summer semester or intersession terms is
12not required.
13    "Student aid" means scholarships and grants, other than a
14College Promise grant, awarded to a student from any source
15that does not require repayment; "student aid" does not include
16student loans and work-study awards.
17    (b) The Commission shall implement and administer a
18program, beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, to award
19College Promise grants to all eligible Illinois residents
20seeking an associate degree, certificate, or diploma from an
21institution. The following terms and conditions shall apply to
22the program:
23        (1) To be eligible for a grant, a student must be

 

 

SB2324- 2 -LRB101 15568 NHT 64913 b

1    admitted to and enrolled full-time, as an Illinois
2    resident, in an institution in the fall term following
3    graduation from an approved high school or after obtaining
4    a high school equivalency certificate, provided that the
5    student obtains the high school equivalency certificate
6    prior to the student reaching 19 years of age. Exceptions
7    to initial enrollment may be made for extenuating
8    circumstances as provided in rules adopted by the
9    Commission.
10        (2) Students applying for a grant shall complete the
11    College Promise grant application in their initial year of
12    enrollment. Students shall complete the Free Application
13    for Federal Student Aid each academic year in which they
14    seek to receive a grant.
15        (3) To continue to receive a grant, a student must
16    maintain Illinois residency, as well as satisfactory
17    academic progress as determined by rules adopted by the
18    Commission.
19        (4) Grant recipients shall participate in mentoring
20    and community service programs under rules adopted by the
21    Commission.
22        (5) Each academic year, subject to appropriation, a
23    grant shall be equal to the cost of tuition and mandatory
24    fees at the institution attended less all other student
25    aid. Student aid shall be credited first to the student's
26    tuition and mandatory fees.

 

 

SB2324- 3 -LRB101 15568 NHT 64913 b

1        (6) Notwithstanding paragraph (5) of this subsection
2    (b), the amount of the grant at a public university or
3    private institution may not exceed the average cost of
4    tuition and mandatory fees at public community colleges.
5        (7) A student awarded a grant who has an approved
6    medical or personal leave of absence from an institution
7    may continue to receive the grant upon resuming the
8    student's education at an institution so long as the
9    student continues to meet all applicable eligibility
10    requirements under this Section and as adopted by the
11    Commission. The total of all approved leaves of absence may
12    not exceed 6 months.
13        (8) A student is eligible for a grant until the
14    occurrence of the first of the following events:
15            (A) the student has earned an associate degree,
16        certificate, or diploma; or
17            (B) the sum of the number of years the student has
18        attended an institution, exclusive of approved leaves
19        of absence, equals 2 and one-half years from the date
20        of the student's initial enrollment at an institution.
21        (9) Except for a medical or personal leave of absence,
22    as approved by an institution, a student awarded a grant
23    under this Section shall maintain continuous enrollment at
24    an institution.
25    (c) In awarding grants under this Section, the Commission
26shall, by rule, develop the selection and renewal criteria for

 

 

SB2324- 4 -LRB101 15568 NHT 64913 b

1students.
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3becoming law.