HB5475 EngrossedLRB103 38479 RJT 68615 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. Purpose. The purpose of this amendatory Act of
5the 103rd General Assembly is to address health care needs
6within the Department of Corrections by providing nursing
7scholarship assistance to eligible students in the State,
8subject to appropriation, and shall require a public service
9commitment agreement to work within the Department of
10Corrections for a specified duration. The Program shall be
11administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and
12with the guidance and assistance of the Department.
 
13    Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
14amended by adding Section 65.125 as follows:
 
15    (110 ILCS 947/65.125 new)
16    Sec. 65.125. Nursing in correctional facilities
17scholarship program.
18    (a) In this Section:
19    "Eligible institution" means a public community college, a
20private junior college, a hospital-based diploma in nursing
21program, or a public or private college or university with a
22pre-licensure nursing education program located in this State

 

 

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1that has received approval by the Department of Financial and
2Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing
3program, an associate degree in applied sciences in nursing
4program, a hospital-based diploma in nursing program, a
5baccalaureate degree in nursing program, a graduate degree in
6nursing program, or a certificate in a practical nursing
7program approved by the Board of Higher Education or any
8successor agency with similar authority. An eligible
9institution must maintain compliance with all applicable State
10and federal laws. An eligible institution is not necessarily
11eligible for other programs administered by the Commission and
12is not required to meet the definition of institution of
13higher learning, qualified institution, or institution as
14defined in Section 10 of this Act. The Commission may
15establish by rule additional requirements for an eligible
16institution.
17    "Department" means the Department of Corrections.
18    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award a
19nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each
20qualified applicant. To determine the maximum annual
21scholarship amount available to a recipient enrolled full
22time, the Commission shall consider tuition and fee charges
23and projected living expenses at community colleges and
24universities statewide under the following criteria:
25        (1) To determine the maximum scholarship amount for a
26    recipient pursuing a certificate in practical nursing at

 

 

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1    any eligible institution, a hospital-based diploma in
2    nursing, or an associates degree or diploma in nursing
3    from an community college, the Commission shall add the
4    weighted tuition and fees charged by community colleges in
5    this State to the uniform living allowance reported in the
6    weighted Monetary Award Program budget.
7        (2) To determine the maximum scholarship amount for a
8    recipient pursuing an associates, baccalaureate, or
9    graduate degree in nursing at a private 2-year college or
10    a public or private 4-year eligible institution in this
11    State, the Commission shall add the weighted tuition and
12    fees charged by institutions of higher learning to the
13    uniform living allowance reported in the weighted Monetary
14    Award Program budget.
15    The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by the
16Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in any
17given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
18awarded to that individual for that year, may not exceed the
19cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is
20enrolled. If the amount of financial assistance to be awarded
21to a qualified student exceeds the cost of attendance at the
22institution at which the student is enrolled, the scholarship
23awarded under this Section shall be reduced by an amount equal
24to the amount by which the combined financial assistance
25available to the student exceeds the cost of attendance.
26    (c) The Commission shall, on an annual basis, receive and

 

 

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1consider applications for scholarship assistance under the
2program. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under the
3program if the Commission finds that the applicant meets the
4following criteria:
5        (1) Is a resident of Illinois.
6        (2) Is enrolled in an eligible institution in the
7    State on at least a part-time basis.
8        (3) Expressed a commitment to work as a nurse in the
9    Department of Corrections for a minimum of 3 years.
10        (4) Is not receiving financial assistance during the
11    same academic year through a scholarship program under the
12    Nursing Education Scholarship Law.
13    When selecting scholarship recipients from among eligible
14applicants, the Commission shall give preference first to
15previous recipients of a scholarship under the program,
16provided that the recipient continues to meet the eligibility
17requirements set forth in this Section and maintains
18satisfactory academic progress as determined by the
19institution of higher education at which the recipient is
20enrolled. In considering new recipients, the Commission shall
21prioritize funding for students with financial need, as
22determined by the Commission. In considering new recipients,
23the Commission shall prioritize funding for students with
24financial need, as determined by the Commission.
25    (d) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for an
26academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under

 

 

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1the program must sign an agreement pledging that, within the
2one-year period following the termination of the academic
3program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
4recipient shall:
5        (1) begin working as a nurse in the Department for a
6    period of not less than 3 years; and
7        (2) upon request of the Commission and subject to
8    confirmation with the Department, provide the Commission
9    with evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has
10    fulfilled the terms of the public service agreement
11    required under this subsection (d).
12    (e) A recipient may receive scholarship assistance under
13the program for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of
14full-time enrollment.
15    (f) All applications for a scholarship under the program
16shall be made to the Commission in a form and manner prescribed
17by the Commission. An applicant shall also submit any
18supporting documents deemed necessary by the Commission at the
19time of application.
20    (g) All scholarship funds distributed under the program
21shall be paid to the eligible institution on behalf of the
22scholarship recipient.
23    (h) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
24Section fails to fulfill the service agreement required under
25the program, the Commission shall require the recipient to
26repay the amount of the scholarship or scholarships received,

 

 

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1prorated according to the fraction of the service agreement
2not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
3applicable, reasonable collection fees. Payments received by
4the Commission under this Section shall be remitted to the
5State Comptroller for deposit into the General Revenue Fund.
6    (i) A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the Commission
7under the program shall not be in violation of the agreement
8entered into pursuant to this Article if the recipient is (i)
9serving as a member of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of
10the United States, (ii) a person with a temporary total
11disability, as established by a sworn affidavit of a qualified
12physician, (iii) taking additional courses, on at least a
13half-time basis, related to nursing, or (iv) extenuating and
14specific circumstances in which the recipient is unable to
15achieve full-time employment as a nurse with the Department
16and is able to provide evidence of that fact, subject to review
17by the Commission. Any extension of the period during which
18the service requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to
19limitations of duration established by the Commission and with
20the guidance and assistance of the Department.
21    (j) In providing guidance and assistance to the
22Commission, the Department may collaborate with accredited
23State nursing schools to facilitate the scholarship program.
24Eligible institutions are encouraged to support and promote
25the program among their nursing students.
26    (k) The Department, in consultation with the Commission,

 

 

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1shall provide an annual report on the program's effectiveness,
2including the number of recipients, their service periods, and
3any challenges faced.
4    (l) The funding for the program shall be subject to
5appropriation. Additional contributions from private entities,
6philanthropic organizations, or federal grants may supplement
7the scholarship.
8    (m) The Commission shall administer the grant program
9established by this Section and shall make all necessary and
10proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its
11effective implementation with the guidance and assistance of
12the Department.
 
13    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
142025.