102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3127

 

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Mary E. Flowers

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/65.110 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides for the issuance of grants to essential workers and the dependents of essential workers, subject to appropriation. Defines "essential worker" as an individual whose employment duties provide a service that is typically deemed vital to public health and safety and economic and national security and essential to continue critical infrastructure operations. Sets forth provisions concerning application and qualifications for a grant, the amount of a grant and its use, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2021.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3127LRB102 12932 CMG 18275 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 65.110 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)
7    Sec. 65.110. Grants for essential workers.
8    (a)In this Section:
9    "Dependent" means a spouse, natural child, legally adopted
10child, or child in the legal custody of an essential worker.
11    "Essential worker" means an individual whose employment
12duties provide a service that is typically deemed vital to
13public health and safety and economic and national security
14and essential to continue critical infrastructure operations.
15"Essential worker" includes, but is not limited to, a medical
16or healthcare worker; child care or school personnel; an
17in-home support provider; a telecommunications, information
18technology systems, defense, food or agriculture,
19transportation or logistics, energy, or water or wastewater
20worker, or law enforcement personnel.
21    "Satisfactory academic progress" means the qualified
22applicant's maintenance of minimum standards of academic
23performance, consistent with requirements for maintaining

 

 

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1federal financial aid eligibility, as determined by the
2institution of higher learning.
3    (b) Subject to a separate appropriation for this purpose,
4the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider
5applications for grant assistance under this Section. Both an
6essential worker and all dependents of the essential worker
7qualify to receive a grant issued by the Commission in
8accordance with this Section. Provided that the recipient is
9maintaining satisfactory academic progress, the funds from the
10grant may be used to pay up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of
11full payment of tuition and mandatory fees at any public
12university or public community college located in this State
13for either full or part-time study. This benefit may be used
14for undergraduate or graduate study.
15    In addition, a qualified applicant who has not yet
16received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency
17certificate and completes a high school equivalency
18preparation course through an Illinois Community College
19Board-approved provider may use grant funds to pay costs
20associated with obtaining a high school equivalency
21certificate, including payment of the cost of the high school
22equivalency test and up to one retest on each test module, and
23any additional fees that may be required in order to obtain an
24Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate or an official
25transcript of test scores after successful completion of the
26high school equivalency test.

 

 

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1    (c) An applicant for a grant under this Section need not
2demonstrate financial need to qualify for the benefits.
3    (d) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to
4implement and administer this Section.
 
5    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
62021.