Public Act 099-0359
 
HB3577 EnrolledLRB099 10172 NHT 30396 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
amended by adding Section 65.90 as follows:
 
    (110 ILCS 947/65.90 new)
    Sec. 65.90. Medical assistant grants.
    (a) Beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year through the
2020-2021 academic year, the Commission shall, each year,
receive and consider applications for grant assistance under
this Section. An applicant is eligible for a grant under this
Section if the Commission finds that the applicant meets all of
the following qualifications:
        (1) He or she is a resident of this State and a United
    States citizen or eligible noncitizen.
        (2) He or she is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in
    a medical assistant program at a public community college
    in this State that will lead to certification to work as a
    medical assistant.
    (b) Recipients shall be selected from among applicants
qualified pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section based on
financial need, as determined by the Commission. Preference may
be given to previous recipients of assistance under this
Section, provided they continue to maintain eligibility and
maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the
institution at which they enroll.
    (c) Each grant awarded under this Section shall be in an
amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the
institution at which the recipient is enrolled, except that no
recipient may receive more than $5,000 in a single academic
year.
    (d) The total amount of grant assistance awarded by the
Commission under this Section to an individual in any given
fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded
to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of
attendance at the institution at which the student is enrolled.
    (e) All applications for grant assistance to be awarded
under this Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as
set forth by the Commission. The form of application and the
information required to be set forth in the application shall
be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall
require eligible applicants to submit with their applications
such supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary.
    (f) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such
purposes, payment of any grants awarded under this Section
shall be determined by the Commission. All grant funds
distributed in accordance with this Section shall be paid to
the institution on behalf of the recipients. Grant funds are
applicable toward 2 semesters of enrollment within an academic
year. Up to 2% of the appropriation for this grant program may
be used by the Commission for the costs of administering the
grant program.
    (g) The Commission shall administer the grant program
established by this Section and shall make all necessary and
proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its
effective implementation.