[ Search ] [ Legislation ] [ Bill Summary ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
90_HB2804
110 ILCS 947/30
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.
Changes the 7th semester cumulative grade point average
required to qualify as an eligible applicant for a merit
recognition scholarship to at or above the 90th (from at or
above the 95th) percentile of the student's high school
class.
LRB9009879THpk
LRB9009879THpk
1 AN ACT to amend the Higher Education Student Assistance
2 Act by changing Section 30.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act
6 is amended by changing Section 30 as follows:
7 (110 ILCS 947/30)
8 (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 90-372)
9 Sec. 30. Merit recognition scholarship program.
10 (a) As used in this Section:
11 "Eligible applicant" means a student from any
12 approved high school located in this State whose 7th
13 semester cumulative high school grade point average is at
14 or above the 90th 95th percentile, or 90th percentile
15 with respect to students who graduated from such an
16 approved high school during the 1986-1987 or 1987-1988
17 school year, of his or her high school class, and who by
18 reason thereof is entitled to apply for scholarships to
19 be awarded under this Section.
20 "Qualified student" means a person: (i) of good
21 moral character who is a resident of this State and a
22 citizen or permanent resident of the United States, (ii)
23 who, as an eligible applicant, has made a timely
24 application for a merit recognition scholarship under
25 this Section, (iii) who has successfully completed the
26 program of instruction at any approved high school
27 located in this State, and (iv) who enrolls or is
28 enrolled in a qualified Illinois institution of higher
29 learning or a Service Academy as an undergraduate student
30 or cadet and has not received a baccalaureate degree.
31 "Merit recognition scholarship" means a $1,000
-2- LRB9009879THpk
1 academic scholarship awarded under this Section during an
2 academic year to a qualified student, without regard to
3 financial need, as a scholarship to any qualified
4 Illinois institution of higher learning or a Service
5 Academy in which that student is or will be enrolled as
6 an undergraduate student or cadet, except that a merit
7 recognition scholarship awarded under subsection (k)
8 shall be in the amount of $500.
9 "Service Academy" means the U.S. Air Force Academy,
10 the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Military Academy,
11 or the U.S. Naval Academy.
12 (b) In order to identify, encourage, promote, and reward
13 the distinguished academic achievement of students from every
14 approved high school located in this State, each qualified
15 student shall be awarded a merit recognition scholarship to
16 any qualified Illinois institution of higher learning or to
17 any Service Academy.
18 (c) No merit recognition scholarship provided for a
19 qualified student under this Section shall be considered in
20 evaluating the financial situation of that student, or be
21 deemed a financial resource of or a form of financial aid or
22 assistance to that student, for purposes of determining the
23 eligibility of the student for any scholarship, grant, or
24 monetary assistance awarded by the Commission, the State or
25 any agency thereof pursuant to the provisions of any other
26 Section of this Act or any other law of this State; nor shall
27 any merit recognition scholarship provided for a qualified
28 student under this Section reduce the amount of any
29 scholarship, grant, or monetary assistance which that student
30 is eligible to be awarded by the Commission, the State, or
31 any agency thereof in accordance with the provisions of any
32 other Section of this Act or any other law of this State.
33 (d) Each approved high school located in this State
34 shall certify to the Commission the names of its students who
-3- LRB9009879THpk
1 are eligible applicants, specifying which of the students
2 certified as eligible applicants have completed the program
3 of instruction at that high school and the graduation date
4 fixed for their high school class, and specifying for each of
5 the other eligible applicants whose names appear on the
6 certification the semester of high school last completed by
7 them. The Commission shall promptly notify those eligible
8 applicants so certified who are reasonably assured of
9 receiving a Merit Recognition Scholarship in accordance with
10 the annual funding levels recommended in the Governor's
11 Budget -- other than any eligible applicant named on any such
12 certification who, as an eligible applicant, has previously
13 made application to the Commission for a merit recognition
14 scholarship under this Section -- of their eligibility to
15 apply for a scholarship under this Section. An otherwise
16 eligible applicant who fails to make a timely application (as
17 determined by the Commission) for a merit recognition
18 scholarship under this Section shall no longer be deemed an
19 eligible applicant and shall not qualify for the award of any
20 merit recognition scholarship.
21 (e) All applications for merit recognition scholarships
22 to be awarded under this Section shall be made to the
23 Commission on forms which the Commission shall provide for
24 eligible applicants. The form of applications and the
25 information required to be set forth therein shall be
26 determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall
27 require eligible applicants to submit with their applications
28 such supporting documents or recommendations as the
29 Commission deems necessary.
30 (f) Whenever an eligible applicant who has completed the
31 program of instruction at any approved high school located in
32 this State thereafter makes timely application to the
33 Commission for a merit recognition scholarship under this
34 Section, the Commission shall promptly determine whether that
-4- LRB9009879THpk
1 eligible applicant is a qualified student as defined in
2 subsection (a) of this Section. Each such eligible applicant
3 so determined by the Commission to be a qualified student
4 shall be designated as such by the Commission and, except as
5 otherwise provided under subsection (k), shall be awarded a
6 merit recognition scholarship in the amount of $1,000,
7 effective during the academic year following the qualified
8 student's high school graduation or, should the General
9 Assembly specifically so provide in an appropriation under
10 this Section, effective for a subsequent academic year.
11 (g) Subject to a separate appropriation for purposes, of
12 this Section other than subsection (k), and subject to a
13 separate appropriation for purposes of subsection (k),
14 payment of any merit recognition scholarship awarded under
15 this Section shall be determined by the Commission. All
16 scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this
17 subsection or subsection (k) shall be paid to the qualified
18 Illinois institution of higher learning or Service Academy
19 and used only for payment of the educational expenses
20 incurred by the student in connection with his or her
21 attendance as an undergraduate student or cadet at that
22 institution or Service Academy, including but not limited to
23 tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies,
24 required Service Academy uniforms, and travel and personal
25 expenses related to the student's attendance at that
26 institution or Service Academy. Any merit recognition
27 scholarship awarded under this Section shall be applicable to
28 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment. Should a qualified
29 student withdraw from enrollment prior to completion of the
30 first semester or quarter for which the merit recognition
31 scholarship is applicable, the student shall refund to the
32 Commission the full amount of the merit recognition
33 scholarship.
34 (h) The Commission shall administer the merit
-5- LRB9009879THpk
1 recognition scholarship aid program established by this
2 Section and shall make all necessary and proper rules, not
3 inconsistent with this Section, for its effective
4 implementation.
5 (i) When an appropriation to the Commission for purposes
6 of this Section other than for purposes of subsection (k) is
7 insufficient to provide scholarships to all qualified
8 students (excluding qualified students under subsection (k)),
9 the Commission shall allocate the appropriation in accordance
10 with this subsection. If funds are insufficient to provide
11 all qualified students (excluding qualified students under
12 subsection (k)), with a scholarship as authorized by
13 subsection (f), the Commission shall allocate the
14 scholarships to qualified students (excluding qualified
15 students under subsection (k)) in order of decreasing
16 percentile as determined by the eligible applicant's
17 cumulative grade point average. All merit recognition
18 scholarships, other than merit recognition scholarships
19 awarded under subsection (k), shall be in the amount of
20 $1,000.
21 (j) The Commission, in determining the number of
22 scholarships to be offered pursuant to subsection (i), shall
23 take into consideration past experience with the rate of
24 scholarship funds unclaimed by qualified students. To the
25 extent necessary to avoid an overcommitment of funds, the
26 Commission may allocate scholarship funds on the basis of the
27 date the Commission receives a complete application form.
28 (k) A $500 merit recognition scholarship shall be
29 awarded under this subsection to those qualified students
30 graduating from any approved high school located in this
31 Section whose 7th semester cumulative high school grade point
32 average was at or above the 90th percentile of their high
33 school class and who graduated from any such high school
34 during the 1986-1987 or 1987-1988 school year and have not
-6- LRB9009879THpk
1 already received an initial award under this Section due to
2 insufficient appropriations. Funds for merit recognition
3 scholarships awarded under this subsection shall be provided
4 by a separate appropriation made for purposes of this
5 subsection. If the funds so appropriated are insufficient to
6 provide all qualified students under this subsection with an
7 initial award, the Commission shall allocate the merit
8 recognition scholarships awarded under this subsection to
9 those qualified students in order of decreasing percentile as
10 determined by their 7th semester cumulative high school grade
11 point average.
12 (Source: P.A. 87-997; 88-69; 88-203; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)
13 (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 90-372)
14 Sec. 30. Merit recognition scholarship program.
15 (a) As used in this Section:
16 "Eligible applicant" means a student from any
17 approved high school located in this State whose 7th
18 semester cumulative high school grade point average is at
19 or above the 90th 95th percentile, or 90th percentile
20 with respect to students who graduated from such an
21 approved high school during the 1986-1987 or 1987-1988
22 school year, of his or her high school class, and who by
23 reason thereof is entitled to apply for scholarships to
24 be awarded under this Section.
25 "Qualified student" means a person: (i) of good
26 moral character who is a resident of this State and a
27 citizen or permanent resident of the United States, (ii)
28 who, as an eligible applicant, has made a timely
29 application for a merit recognition scholarship under
30 this Section, (iii) who has successfully completed the
31 program of instruction at any approved high school
32 located in this State, and (iv) who enrolls or is
33 enrolled in a qualified Illinois institution of higher
34 learning or a Service Academy as an undergraduate student
-7- LRB9009879THpk
1 or cadet and has not received a baccalaureate degree.
2 "Merit recognition scholarship" means a $1,000
3 academic scholarship awarded under this Section during an
4 academic year to a qualified student, without regard to
5 financial need, as a scholarship to any qualified
6 Illinois institution of higher learning or a Service
7 Academy in which that student is or will be enrolled as
8 an undergraduate student or cadet.
9 "Service Academy" means the U.S. Air Force Academy,
10 the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Military Academy,
11 or the U.S. Naval Academy.
12 (b) In order to identify, encourage, promote, and reward
13 the distinguished academic achievement of students from every
14 approved high school located in this State, each qualified
15 student shall be awarded a merit recognition scholarship to
16 any qualified Illinois institution of higher learning or to
17 any Service Academy.
18 (c) No merit recognition scholarship provided for a
19 qualified student under this Section shall be considered in
20 evaluating the financial situation of that student, or be
21 deemed a financial resource of or a form of financial aid or
22 assistance to that student, for purposes of determining the
23 eligibility of the student for any scholarship, grant, or
24 monetary assistance awarded by the Commission, the State or
25 any agency thereof pursuant to the provisions of any other
26 Section of this Act or any other law of this State; nor shall
27 any merit recognition scholarship provided for a qualified
28 student under this Section reduce the amount of any
29 scholarship, grant, or monetary assistance which that student
30 is eligible to be awarded by the Commission, the State, or
31 any agency thereof in accordance with the provisions of any
32 other Section of this Act or any other law of this State.
33 (d) Each approved high school located in this State
34 shall certify to the Commission the names of its students who
-8- LRB9009879THpk
1 are eligible applicants, specifying which of the students
2 certified as eligible applicants have completed the program
3 of instruction at that high school and the graduation date
4 fixed for their high school class, and specifying for each of
5 the other eligible applicants whose names appear on the
6 certification the semester of high school last completed by
7 them. The Commission shall promptly notify those eligible
8 applicants so certified who are reasonably assured of
9 receiving a Merit Recognition Scholarship in accordance with
10 the annual funding levels recommended in the Governor's
11 Budget -- other than any eligible applicant named on any such
12 certification who, as an eligible applicant, has previously
13 made application to the Commission for a merit recognition
14 scholarship under this Section -- of their eligibility to
15 apply for a scholarship under this Section. An otherwise
16 eligible applicant who fails to make a timely application (as
17 determined by the Commission) for a merit recognition
18 scholarship under this Section shall no longer be deemed an
19 eligible applicant and shall not qualify for the award of any
20 merit recognition scholarship.
21 (e) All applications for merit recognition scholarships
22 to be awarded under this Section shall be made to the
23 Commission on forms which the Commission shall provide for
24 eligible applicants. The form of applications and the
25 information required to be set forth therein shall be
26 determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall
27 require eligible applicants to submit with their applications
28 such supporting documents or recommendations as the
29 Commission deems necessary.
30 (f) Whenever an eligible applicant who has completed the
31 program of instruction at any approved high school located in
32 this State thereafter makes timely application to the
33 Commission for a merit recognition scholarship under this
34 Section, the Commission shall promptly determine whether that
-9- LRB9009879THpk
1 eligible applicant is a qualified student as defined in
2 subsection (a) of this Section. Each such eligible applicant
3 so determined by the Commission to be a qualified student
4 shall be designated as such by the Commission and shall be
5 awarded a merit recognition scholarship in the amount of
6 $1,000, effective during the academic year following the
7 qualified student's high school graduation or, should the
8 General Assembly specifically so provide in an appropriation
9 under this Section, effective for a subsequent academic year.
10 (g) Subject to a separate appropriation for purposes of
11 this Section, payment of any merit recognition scholarship
12 awarded under this Section shall be determined by the
13 Commission. All scholarship funds distributed in accordance
14 with this subsection shall be paid to the qualified Illinois
15 institution of higher learning or Service Academy and used
16 only for payment of the educational expenses incurred by the
17 student in connection with his or her attendance as an
18 undergraduate student or cadet at that institution or Service
19 Academy, including but not limited to tuition and fees, room
20 and board, books and supplies, required Service Academy
21 uniforms, and travel and personal expenses related to the
22 student's attendance at that institution or Service Academy.
23 Any merit recognition scholarship awarded under this Section
24 shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of
25 enrollment. Should a qualified student withdraw from
26 enrollment prior to completion of the first semester or
27 quarter for which the merit recognition scholarship is
28 applicable, the student shall refund to the Commission the
29 full amount of the merit recognition scholarship.
30 (h) The Commission shall administer the merit
31 recognition scholarship aid program established by this
32 Section and shall make all necessary and proper rules, not
33 inconsistent with this Section, for its effective
34 implementation.
-10- LRB9009879THpk
1 (i) When an appropriation to the Commission for purposes
2 of this Section is insufficient to provide scholarships to
3 all qualified students, the Commission shall allocate the
4 appropriation in accordance with this subsection. If funds
5 are insufficient to provide all qualified students with a
6 scholarship as authorized by subsection (f), the Commission
7 shall allocate the scholarships to qualified students in
8 order of decreasing percentile as determined by the eligible
9 applicant's cumulative grade point average. All merit
10 recognition scholarships shall be in the amount of $1,000.
11 (j) The Commission, in determining the number of
12 scholarships to be offered pursuant to subsection (i), shall
13 take into consideration past experience with the rate of
14 scholarship funds unclaimed by qualified students. To the
15 extent necessary to avoid an overcommitment of funds, the
16 Commission may allocate scholarship funds on the basis of the
17 date the Commission receives a complete application form.
18 (k) (Blank).
19 (Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98.)
20 Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act
21 makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by
22 text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a
23 Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that
24 text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i)
25 the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from
26 any other Public Act.