SB3699 Engrossed LRB096 20561 MJR 36249 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Community College Transfer Grant Program Act.
 
6     Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7     "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance
8 Commission.
9     "Grant" means the amount of financial assistance awarded
10 under this Act.
11     "Institution of higher education" means a public or private
12 not-for-profit institution that is an "institution of higher
13 learning" as defined in the Higher Education Student Assistance
14 Act and that offers baccalaureate degrees.
15     "Student" means an undergraduate student who is entitled to
16 in-state tuition charges.
 
17     Section 10. Community College Transfer Grant Program
18 created; adoption of rules. There is created the Community
19 College Transfer Grant Program to provide financial assistance
20 to eligible students, subject to appropriation, for the costs
21 of attending a public or private institution of higher
22 education in this State. Funds must be paid to institutions of

 

 

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1 higher education on behalf of students who have been awarded
2 financial assistance pursuant to Section 15 of this Act. The
3 Commission shall adopt rules for the implementation of the
4 provisions of this Act and the disbursement of funds consistent
5 therewith and appropriate to the administration of the program.
 
6     Section 15. Eligibility criteria.
7     (a) Under the Community College Transfer Grant Program,
8 grants must be made on behalf of students who are residents of
9 this State and who meet all of the following qualifications:
10         (1) Have received an associate's degree at a public
11     community college located in this State.
12         (2) Have enrolled in an institution of higher education
13     located in this State by the fall semester following the
14     award of the associate's degree.
15         (3) Have applied for financial aid, including
16     completing and submitting a free application for federal
17     student aid.
18         (4) Have financial need, defined as an Expected Family
19     Contribution (EFC) of no more than $9,000 as calculated by
20     the federal government using the family's financial
21     information reported on the Free Application for Federal
22     Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
23     Only students who maintained a cumulative grade point
24 average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent while
25 enrolled in an associate's degree program at a public community

 

 

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1 college located in this State are eligible to receive a grant
2 under this Act.
3     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
4 contrary, the Commission shall consider an applicant eligible
5 for a grant under this Section if the Commission finds that the
6 applicant is (i) a United States citizen or eligible
7 non-citizen and (ii) a resident of this State.
8     (c) Eligibility for a grant under the Community College
9 Transfer Grant Program is limited to 2 academic years or 60
10 credit hours and must be used only for undergraduate collegiate
11 work.
12     To remain eligible for a grant under this program, a
13 student must continue to demonstrate financial need, as defined
14 in this Section, maintain a cumulative grade point average of
15 at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, and make
16 satisfactory academic progress towards a degree.
 
17     Section 20. Amount of award. The amount of the grant under
18 this Act for an eligible student is subject to appropriation
19 and is fixed at $1,000 per year. Students pursuing
20 undergraduate collegiate work in engineering, mathematics,
21 nursing, teaching, or science are eligible for an additional
22 $1,000 grant.
 
23     Section 25. State financial aid eligibility. Tuition
24 assistance received by a student under the Community College

 

 

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1 Transfer Grant Program must not be reduced by the receipt of
2 other financial aid from any source by the student. However, a
3 student may not receive a grant pursuant to this Act that, when
4 added to other financial aid received by that student, would
5 enable the student to receive total assistance in excess of the
6 estimated cost to the student of attending the institution in
7 which he or she is enrolled.
 
8     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
9 2010.