SB0662 EnrolledLRB102 13536 CMG 18883 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. School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment
8Program.
9    (a) To encourage Illinois students to work, and to
10continue to work, as a school social worker in public school
11districts in this State, the Commission shall, each year,
12receive and consider applications for loan repayment
13assistance under this Section. This program shall be known as
14the School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. The
15Commission shall administer the program and shall adopt all
16necessary and proper rules to effectively implement the
17program.
18    (b) Beginning July 1, 2022, subject to a separate
19appropriation made for such purposes, the Commission shall
20award a grant, up to a maximum of $6,500, to each qualified
21applicant. The Commission may encourage the recipient of a
22grant under this Section to use the grant award for repayment
23of the recipient's educational loan. If an appropriation for

 

 

SB0662 Enrolled- 2 -LRB102 13536 CMG 18883 b

1this program for a given fiscal year is insufficient to
2provide grants to all qualified applicants, the Commission
3shall allocate the appropriation in accordance with this
4subsection. If funds are insufficient to provide all qualified
5applicants with a grant as authorized by this Section, the
6Commission shall allocate the available grant funds for that
7fiscal year to qualified applicants who submit a complete
8application on or before a date specified by the Commission,
9based on the following order of priority:
10        (1) first, to new, qualified applicants who are
11    members of a racial minority as defined in subsection (e);
12    and
13        (2) second, to other new, qualified applicants in
14    accordance with this Section.
15    (c) A person is a qualified applicant under this Section
16if he or she meets all of the following qualifications:
17        (1) The person is a United States citizen or eligible
18    noncitizen.
19        (2) The person is a resident of this State.
20        (3) The person is a borrower with an outstanding
21    balance due on an educational loan related to obtaining a
22    degree in social work.
23        (4) The person has been employed as a school social
24    worker by a public elementary school or secondary school
25    in this State for at least 12 consecutive months.
26        (5) The person is currently employed as a school

 

 

SB0662 Enrolled- 3 -LRB102 13536 CMG 18883 b

1    social worker by a public elementary school or secondary
2    school in this State.
3    (d) An applicant shall submit an application, in a form
4determined by the Commission, for grant assistance under this
5Section to the Commission. An applicant is required to submit,
6with the application, supporting documentation as the
7Commission may deem necessary.
8    (e) Racial minorities are underrepresented as school
9social workers in elementary and secondary schools in
10Illinois, and the General Assembly finds that it is in the
11interest of this State to provide them priority consideration
12for programs that encourage their participation in this field
13and thereby foster a profession that is more reflective of the
14diversity of Illinois students and parents they will serve. A
15more reflective workforce in school social work allows
16improved outcomes for students and a better utilization of
17services. Therefore, the Commission shall give priority to
18those applicants who are members of a racial minority. In this
19subsection (e), "racial minority" means a person who is a
20citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident
21alien of the United States and who is:
22        (1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black
23    racial groups in Africa);
24        (2) Hispanic (a person of Spanish or Portuguese
25    culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America,
26    or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race);

 

 

SB0662 Enrolled- 4 -LRB102 13536 CMG 18883 b

1        (3) Asian American (a person having origins in any of
2    the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
3    Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); or
4        (4) American Indian or Alaskan Native (a person having
5    origins in any of the original peoples of North America).
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
72022.