103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3703

 

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Paul Faraci

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/65.125 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish a nursing student stipend program to reimburse eligible applicants for the pre-licensure nursing program cost incurred during the previous academic year from a baccalaureate degree nursing program. Sets forth provisions concerning application for a stipend, the amount of the stipend, the pre-licensure nursing program cost, the distribution of funds, information on the stipend program, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB3703LRB103 38234 RJT 68368 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 65.125 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 947/65.125 new)
7    Sec. 65.125. Nursing student stipend program.
8    (a) In this Section:
9    "Baccalaureate degree nursing program" means a
10pre-licensure nursing program or an accelerated nursing
11program that is offered by an institution of higher learning
12and leads to a baccalaureate degree of science in nursing.
13    "Eligible applicant" means a person who:
14        (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
15    eligible noncitizen of the United States;
16        (2) was enrolled in a baccalaureate degree nursing
17    program during the previous academic year;
18        (3) maintained satisfactory academic progress during
19    the previous academic year; and
20        (4) applies for a nursing student stipend under this
21    Section within the application period established by the
22    Commission.
23    "Pre-licensure nursing program cost" means the fees for

 

 

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1all of the following: a criminal background check and drug
2screening, a physical examination, required immunizations, a
3uniform and any other required clothing, a stethoscope, blood
4pressure equipment, scissors, a hemostat, a nursing student
5identification badge, cardiopulmonary resuscitation
6certification, the National Council of State Boards of
7Nursing's NCLEX application, a criminal background check for
8the NCLEX, applications, or licenses or any other costs
9required to complete a clinical program in a baccalaureate
10degree nursing program, as determined by the Commission. The
11Commission may adopt rules regarding which products are
12included under this definition.
13    "Program" means the nursing student stipend program
14established under this Section.
15    (b) Subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026
16academic year, the Commission shall establish a nursing
17student stipend program to reimburse eligible applicants for
18the pre-licensure nursing program cost incurred during the
19previous academic year from a baccalaureate degree nursing
20program. The Commission shall, on an annual basis, receive and
21consider applications for nursing student stipends under the
22program and provide a nursing student stipend to each eligible
23applicant in the following amounts:
24        (1) An eligible applicant who was a part-time student
25    during the previous academic year shall receive a stipend
26    in the amount of 5% of the pre-licensure nursing program

 

 

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1    cost for the previous academic year and an additional $50
2    to assist with travel expenses incurred to and from
3    clinical components during the previous academic year.
4        (2) An eligible applicant who was a full-time student
5    during the previous academic year shall receive a stipend
6    in the amount of 7.5% of the pre-licensure nursing program
7    cost for the previous academic year and an additional $100
8    to assist with travel expenses incurred to and from
9    clinical components during the previous academic year.
10        (3) An eligible applicant who, during the previous
11    academic year, completed a baccalaureate degree nursing
12    program in one year or less after initially enrolling in
13    the nursing program shall receive a stipend in the amount
14    of 15% of the pre-licensure nursing program cost for the
15    previous academic year and an additional $200 to assist
16    with travel expenses incurred to and from clinical
17    components during the previous academic year.
18    (c) On an annual basis, as determined by the Commission,
19an institution of higher learning shall report the
20pre-licensure nursing program cost of the baccalaureate degree
21nursing program for the previous academic year. The Commission
22shall determine, based on the reported pre-licensure nursing
23program cost, how much an eligible applicant shall receive
24under the program.
25    (d) An application for a nursing student stipend under the
26program shall be made to the Commission on forms that the

 

 

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1Commission shall provide to an eligible applicant. The form of
2application and the information required shall be determined
3by the Commission, and the Commission shall require an
4eligible applicant to submit with the application any
5supporting documents or recommendations that the Commission
6deems necessary.
7    (e) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, the
8payment method for the nursing student stipend under this
9Section shall be determined by the Commission. Any nursing
10student stipend funds distributed in accordance with the
11program shall be given to the recipient of the nursing student
12stipend.
13    (f) An eligible applicant applying as a part-time student
14may apply for and receive a nursing student stipend under the
15program for up to 6 semesters or 12 quarters. An eligible
16applicant applying as a full-time student may apply for and
17receive a nursing student stipend under the program for up to 4
18semesters or 8 quarters.
19    (g) An institution of higher learning with a baccalaureate
20degree in nursing program shall provide information on the
21institution of higher learning's Internet website that informs
22both current and prospective pre-licensure nursing students
23about the program.
24    (h) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to
25implement and administer this Section.
 
26    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,

 

 

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12025.