Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB1378 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	Public Act 103-0519
2	1		HB1378 EnrolledLRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b HB1378 Enrolled LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
3	2		HB1378 Enrolled LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
4		-	AN ACT concerning education.
5		-	Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
6		-	represented in the General Assembly:
7		-	Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Illinois
8		-	Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Law.
9		-	Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
10		-	Section 5.990 as follows:
11		-	(30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
12		-	Sec. 5.990. The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce
13		-	(iGROW) Tech Scholarship Fund.
14		-	Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
15		-	amended by adding Section 65.120 as follows:
16		-	(110 ILCS 947/65.120 new)
17		-	Sec. 65.120. IGROW Tech Scholarship Program.
18		-	(a) As used in this Section:
19		-	"Eligible applicant" means a student who has graduated
20		-	from high school or has received a State of Illinois High
21		-	School Diploma, who has maintained a cumulative grade point
22		-	average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, who is pursuing or
23		-	intends to pursue a qualifying degree in a qualified
	3	+	1 AN ACT concerning education.
	4	+	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
	5	+	3 represented in the General Assembly:
	6	+	4 Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Illinois
	7	+	5 Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Law.
	8	+	6 Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
	9	+	7 Section 5.990 as follows:
	10	+	8 (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
	11	+	9 Sec. 5.990. The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce
	12	+	10 (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Fund.
	13	+	11 Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
	14	+	12 amended by adding Section 65.120 as follows:
	15	+	13 (110 ILCS 947/65.120 new)
	16	+	14 Sec. 65.120. IGROW Tech Scholarship Program.
	17	+	15 (a) As used in this Section:
	18	+	16 "Eligible applicant" means a student who has graduated
	19	+	17 from high school or has received a State of Illinois High
	20	+	18 School Diploma, who has maintained a cumulative grade point
	21	+	19 average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, who is pursuing or
	22	+	20 intends to pursue a qualifying degree in a qualified
24	23
25	24
26	25
27	26		HB1378 Enrolled LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
28	27
29	28
30		-	institution, and who is entitled to apply for assistance under
31		-	this Section.
32		-	"Full-time" means the number of credit hours the
33		-	Commission determines is full-time enrollment for a student
34		-	for purposes of the program created under this Section.
35		-	"Minority student" has the same meaning as the term is
36		-	defined under Section 50 of the Higher Education Student
37		-	Assistance Act (110 ILCS 947).
38		-	"Program" means the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program created
39		-	under this Section.
40		-	"Qualifying degree" means an associate or a bachelor's
41		-	degree granted by a qualified institution in the field of
42		-	computer information sciences; information technology;
43		-	information science; computer science; computer systems
44		-	networking and telecommunications; computer and information
45		-	systems security or information assurance, including
46		-	cybersecurity; or management information systems.
47		-	"Qualifying job" means a job with an employer in this
48		-	State performing work that is directly related to the field of
49		-	study that qualified the candidate for assistance under this
50		-	Section.
51		-	"Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a resident
52		-	of this State; (ii) who, as an eligible applicant, has made a
53		-	timely application for an iGROW tech scholarship under this
54		-	Section; (iii) who is enrolled on at least a half-time basis at
55		-	a qualified institution; (iv) who is enrolled in a course of
	29	+	HB1378 Enrolled- 2 -LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b HB1378 Enrolled - 2 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	30	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 2 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	31	+	1 institution, and who is entitled to apply for assistance under
	32	+	2 this Section.
	33	+	3 "Full-time" means the number of credit hours the
	34	+	4 Commission determines is full-time enrollment for a student
	35	+	5 for purposes of the program created under this Section.
	36	+	6 "Minority student" has the same meaning as the term is
	37	+	7 defined under Section 50 of the Higher Education Student
	38	+	8 Assistance Act (110 ILCS 947).
	39	+	9 "Program" means the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program created
	40	+	10 under this Section.
	41	+	11 "Qualifying degree" means an associate or a bachelor's
	42	+	12 degree granted by a qualified institution in the field of
	43	+	13 computer information sciences; information technology;
	44	+	14 information science; computer science; computer systems
	45	+	15 networking and telecommunications; computer and information
	46	+	16 systems security or information assurance, including
	47	+	17 cybersecurity; or management information systems.
	48	+	18 "Qualifying job" means a job with an employer in this
	49	+	19 State performing work that is directly related to the field of
	50	+	20 study that qualified the candidate for assistance under this
	51	+	21 Section.
	52	+	22 "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a resident
	53	+	23 of this State; (ii) who, as an eligible applicant, has made a
	54	+	24 timely application for an iGROW tech scholarship under this
	55	+	25 Section; (iii) who is enrolled on at least a half-time basis at
	56	+	26 a qualified institution; (iv) who is enrolled in a course of
56	57
57	58
58		-	study in the field of computer and information sciences;
59		-	information technology; information science; computer science;
60		-	computer systems networking and telecommunications; computer
61		-	and information systems security or information assurance,
62		-	including cybersecurity; or management information systems;
63		-	(v) who maintains a grade point average of no less than a 2.5
64		-	on a 4.0 scale; and (vi) who continues to advance
65		-	satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
66		-	"Recipient" means an Illinois resident enrolled in a
67		-	qualified institution who receives an award under this
68		-	Section.
69		-	(b) Subject to appropriation, and no sooner than the
70		-	2024-2025 academic year, there is established the Illinois
71		-	Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship
72		-	Program to recruit and train individuals to work in technology
73		-	jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high
74		-	wages by awarding scholarships.
75		-	(c) Each iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
76		-	shall be determined by the Commission in an amount up to and
77		-	including the full costs of tuition and fees and room and board
78		-	of the qualified institution at which the recipient is
79		-	enrolled if the institution is public, or an equivalent rate
80		-	established by the Commission for private institutions. The
81		-	total amount of iGROW tech scholarship assistance awarded by
82		-	the Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in
83		-	any given fiscal year, when added to other financial
84	59
85	60
86		-	assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not
87		-	exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the
88		-	student is enrolled. If the amount of financial assistance to
89		-	be awarded to a qualified student exceeds the cost of
90		-	attendance at the institution at which the student is
91		-	enrolled, the iGROW tech scholarship shall be reduced by an
92		-	amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
93		-	assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
94		-	attendance.
95		-	(d) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
96		-	qualified student can receive iGROW tech scholarship
97		-	assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
98		-	(e) All applications for scholarships awarded under this
99		-	Section shall be made to the Commission on forms which the
100		-	Commission shall provide for eligible applicants. The form of
101		-	applications and the information required to be set forth
102		-	therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the
103		-	Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with
104		-	their applications such supporting documents or
105		-	recommendations as the Commission deems necessary.
106		-	(f) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, payment of
107		-	any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
108		-	determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds
109		-	distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be paid
110		-	to the qualified institution and used only for payment of the
111		-	tuition and fees assessed by the institution and the standard
	61	+
	62	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 2 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
112	63
113	64
114		-	housing and food allowance used for all undergraduate students
115		-	by the qualified student in connection with his or her
116		-	attendance at a qualified institution.
117		-	Any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
118		-	shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment
119		-	annually. The qualified institution can only request payment
120		-	for tuition and fees up to the amount of actual tuition and fee
121		-	expenses incurred.
122		-	If a student withdraws after the expiration of the tuition
123		-	refund or withdrawal adjustment period, the student may
124		-	receive payment for tuition and fees incurred up to the term
125		-	award. The housing and food allowance shall be prorated based
126		-	on the qualified institution's return of funds policy.
127		-	(g) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
128		-	academic year, each recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship
129		-	awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission
130		-	to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that
131		-	the recipient (i) shall work in the State in a qualified job
132		-	for a period of not less than one year for each year of
133		-	scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
134		-	Section; however, in no event shall he or she agree to work in
135		-	the State in a qualified job for a period of less than 2 years;
136		-	and (ii) shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the
137		-	Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has
138		-	fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided for in this
139		-	subsection.
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	66	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 3 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	67	+	1 study in the field of computer and information sciences;
	68	+	2 information technology; information science; computer science;
	69	+	3 computer systems networking and telecommunications; computer
	70	+	4 and information systems security or information assurance,
	71	+	5 including cybersecurity; or management information systems;
	72	+	6 (v) who maintains a grade point average of no less than a 2.5
	73	+	7 on a 4.0 scale; and (vi) who continues to advance
	74	+	8 satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
	75	+	9 "Recipient" means an Illinois resident enrolled in a
	76	+	10 qualified institution who receives an award under this
	77	+	11 Section.
	78	+	12 (b) Subject to appropriation, and no sooner than the
	79	+	13 2024-2025 academic year, there is established the Illinois
	80	+	14 Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship
	81	+	15 Program to recruit and train individuals to work in technology
	82	+	16 jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high
	83	+	17 wages by awarding scholarships.
	84	+	18 (c) Each iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
	85	+	19 shall be determined by the Commission in an amount up to and
	86	+	20 including the full costs of tuition and fees and room and board
	87	+	21 of the qualified institution at which the recipient is
	88	+	22 enrolled if the institution is public, or an equivalent rate
	89	+	23 established by the Commission for private institutions. The
	90	+	24 total amount of iGROW tech scholarship assistance awarded by
	91	+	25 the Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in
	92	+	26 any given fiscal year, when added to other financial
140	93
141	94
142		-	If a recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship awarded under
143		-	this Section fails to fulfill the obligations set forth in
144		-	this subsection, the Commission shall require the recipient to
145		-	repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated
146		-	according to the fraction of the employment obligation not
147		-	completed, at a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if
148		-	applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
149		-	authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
150		-	activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.
151		-	All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded
152		-	to the State Comptroller for deposit into the State's General
153		-	Revenue Fund.
154		-	A recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship shall not be
155		-	considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant
156		-	to this subsection if the recipient (I) enrolls on a full-time
157		-	basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the
158		-	technology degree for which he or she qualified for the iGROW
159		-	tech scholarship at a qualified institution; (II) is serving,
160		-	not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of
161		-	the United States; (III) is a person with a temporary total
162		-	disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as
163		-	established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (IV)
164		-	is seeking and unable to find full-time employment with a
165		-	State employer that satisfies the criteria set forth in this
166		-	subsection and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (V)
167		-	becomes a person with a permanent total disability as
168	95
169	96
170		-	established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or
171		-	(VI) meets any other criteria that the Commission may deem
172		-	necessary.
173		-	(h) Scholarship recipients under this Section who withdraw
174		-	from a program of computer science or other related major area
175		-	of study provided under this Section but remain enrolled in
176		-	school to continue their postsecondary studies in another
177		-	academic discipline shall not be required to commence
178		-	repayment of their iGROW tech scholarship so long as they
179		-	remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis or if they can
180		-	document for the Commission special circumstances that warrant
181		-	extension of repayment.
182		-	(i) If the Program does not expend at least 90% of the
183		-	amount appropriated for the Program in a given fiscal year for
184		-	3 consecutive fiscal years on or before January 1 in each of
185		-	those fiscal years, then up to 3% of amount appropriated for
186		-	the Program for each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated
187		-	to increasing awareness of the program.
188		-	(j) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall
189		-	make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
190		-	Section for its effective implementation.
191		-	(k) The Commission shall establish a methodology for
192		-	prioritizing applications from applicants who demonstrate a
193		-	financial need or hardship, applications from minority
194		-	students, and applications from applicants demonstrating
195		-	academic excellence. After the first academic year that the
	97	+
	98	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 3 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
196	99
197	100
198		-	Program operates, the Commission shall prioritize the
199		-	applications of those applicants who received a scholarship
200		-	under this Section during the prior academic year and who
201		-	remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section.
202		-	(l) Each fiscal year, the Commission may use up to 5% of
203		-	money appropriated for the Program for administration.
204		-	(m) Scholarships may be made under this Section through
205		-	the 2029-30 academic year.
206		-	(n) The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW)
207		-	Tech Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State
208		-	treasury. Moneys in the fund may come from both public
209		-	entities and institutional, organizational, or other private
210		-	entities. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to
211		-	appropriation, by the Commission to implement and administer
212		-	the Program pursuant to this Section.
	101	+	HB1378 Enrolled- 4 -LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b HB1378 Enrolled - 4 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	102	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 4 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	103	+	1 assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not
	104	+	2 exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the
	105	+	3 student is enrolled. If the amount of financial assistance to
	106	+	4 be awarded to a qualified student exceeds the cost of
	107	+	5 attendance at the institution at which the student is
	108	+	6 enrolled, the iGROW tech scholarship shall be reduced by an
	109	+	7 amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
	110	+	8 assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
	111	+	9 attendance.
	112	+	10 (d) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
	113	+	11 qualified student can receive iGROW tech scholarship
	114	+	12 assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
	115	+	13 (e) All applications for scholarships awarded under this
	116	+	14 Section shall be made to the Commission on forms which the
	117	+	15 Commission shall provide for eligible applicants. The form of
	118	+	16 applications and the information required to be set forth
	119	+	17 therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the
	120	+	18 Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with
	121	+	19 their applications such supporting documents or
	122	+	20 recommendations as the Commission deems necessary.
	123	+	21 (f) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, payment of
	124	+	22 any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
	125	+	23 determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds
	126	+	24 distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be paid
	127	+	25 to the qualified institution and used only for payment of the
	128	+	26 tuition and fees assessed by the institution and the standard
	129	+
	130	+
	131	+
	132	+
	133	+
	134	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 4 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	135	+
	136	+
	137	+	HB1378 Enrolled- 5 -LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b HB1378 Enrolled - 5 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	138	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 5 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	139	+	1 housing and food allowance used for all undergraduate students
	140	+	2 by the qualified student in connection with his or her
	141	+	3 attendance at a qualified institution.
	142	+	4 Any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
	143	+	5 shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment
	144	+	6 annually. The qualified institution can only request payment
	145	+	7 for tuition and fees up to the amount of actual tuition and fee
	146	+	8 expenses incurred.
	147	+	9 If a student withdraws after the expiration of the tuition
	148	+	10 refund or withdrawal adjustment period, the student may
	149	+	11 receive payment for tuition and fees incurred up to the term
	150	+	12 award. The housing and food allowance shall be prorated based
	151	+	13 on the qualified institution's return of funds policy.
	152	+	14 (g) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
	153	+	15 academic year, each recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship
	154	+	16 awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission
	155	+	17 to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that
	156	+	18 the recipient (i) shall work in the State in a qualified job
	157	+	19 for a period of not less than one year for each year of
	158	+	20 scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
	159	+	21 Section; however, in no event shall he or she agree to work in
	160	+	22 the State in a qualified job for a period of less than 2 years;
	161	+	23 and (ii) shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the
	162	+	24 Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has
	163	+	25 fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided for in this
	164	+	26 subsection.
	165	+
	166	+
	167	+
	168	+
	169	+
	170	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 5 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	171	+
	172	+
	173	+	HB1378 Enrolled- 6 -LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b HB1378 Enrolled - 6 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	174	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 6 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	175	+	1 If a recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship awarded under
	176	+	2 this Section fails to fulfill the obligations set forth in
	177	+	3 this subsection, the Commission shall require the recipient to
	178	+	4 repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated
	179	+	5 according to the fraction of the employment obligation not
	180	+	6 completed, at a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if
	181	+	7 applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
	182	+	8 authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
	183	+	9 activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.
	184	+	10 All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded
	185	+	11 to the State Comptroller for deposit into the State's General
	186	+	12 Revenue Fund.
	187	+	13 A recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship shall not be
	188	+	14 considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant
	189	+	15 to this subsection if the recipient (I) enrolls on a full-time
	190	+	16 basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the
	191	+	17 technology degree for which he or she qualified for the iGROW
	192	+	18 tech scholarship at a qualified institution; (II) is serving,
	193	+	19 not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of
	194	+	20 the United States; (III) is a person with a temporary total
	195	+	21 disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as
	196	+	22 established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (IV)
	197	+	23 is seeking and unable to find full-time employment with a
	198	+	24 State employer that satisfies the criteria set forth in this
	199	+	25 subsection and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (V)
	200	+	26 becomes a person with a permanent total disability as
	201	+
	202	+
	203	+
	204	+
	205	+
	206	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 6 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	207	+
	208	+
	209	+	HB1378 Enrolled- 7 -LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b HB1378 Enrolled - 7 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	210	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 7 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	211	+	1 established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or
	212	+	2 (VI) meets any other criteria that the Commission may deem
	213	+	3 necessary.
	214	+	4 (h) Scholarship recipients under this Section who withdraw
	215	+	5 from a program of computer science or other related major area
	216	+	6 of study provided under this Section but remain enrolled in
	217	+	7 school to continue their postsecondary studies in another
	218	+	8 academic discipline shall not be required to commence
	219	+	9 repayment of their iGROW tech scholarship so long as they
	220	+	10 remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis or if they can
	221	+	11 document for the Commission special circumstances that warrant
	222	+	12 extension of repayment.
	223	+	13 (i) If the Program does not expend at least 90% of the
	224	+	14 amount appropriated for the Program in a given fiscal year for
	225	+	15 3 consecutive fiscal years on or before January 1 in each of
	226	+	16 those fiscal years, then up to 3% of amount appropriated for
	227	+	17 the Program for each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated
	228	+	18 to increasing awareness of the program.
	229	+	19 (j) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall
	230	+	20 make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
	231	+	21 Section for its effective implementation.
	232	+	22 (k) The Commission shall establish a methodology for
	233	+	23 prioritizing applications from applicants who demonstrate a
	234	+	24 financial need or hardship, applications from minority
	235	+	25 students, and applications from applicants demonstrating
	236	+	26 academic excellence. After the first academic year that the
	237	+
	238	+
	239	+
	240	+
	241	+
	242	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 7 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	243	+
	244	+
	245	+	HB1378 Enrolled- 8 -LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b HB1378 Enrolled - 8 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	246	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 8 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b
	247	+	1 Program operates, the Commission shall prioritize the
	248	+	2 applications of those applicants who received a scholarship
	249	+	3 under this Section during the prior academic year and who
	250	+	4 remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section.
	251	+	5 (l) Each fiscal year, the Commission may use up to 5% of
	252	+	6 money appropriated for the Program for administration.
	253	+	7 (m) Scholarships may be made under this Section through
	254	+	8 the 2029-30 academic year.
	255	+	9 (n) The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW)
	256	+	10 Tech Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State
	257	+	11 treasury. Moneys in the fund may come from both public
	258	+	12 entities and institutional, organizational, or other private
	259	+	13 entities. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to
	260	+	14 appropriation, by the Commission to implement and administer
	261	+	15 the Program pursuant to this Section.
	262	+
	263	+
	264	+
	265	+
	266	+
	267	+	HB1378 Enrolled - 8 - LRB103 04756 RJT 49765 b