103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5482 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 110 ILCS 947/20110 ILCS 947/50110 ILCS 947/52110 ILCS 947/65.15110 ILCS 947/65.70110 ILCS 947/65.110110 ILCS 947/65.120110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753110 ILCS 975/3.1110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756110 ILCS 975/6.5 Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law of this State to the contrary, effective on January 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as is feasible, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall release from remaining repayment obligations any recipient of a scholarship, grant, or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan under a State program for which the Commission is responsible for collections. In provisions concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, special education teacher scholarships, the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of the recipient to fulfill scholarship, grant, or waiver obligations. In provisions concerning special education teacher scholarships and Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, provides that a recipient shall sign an agreement that the recipient will meet specified qualifications and provide evidence to the Commission that the recipient is fulfilling or fulfilled the terms of the agreement (instead of specifying that an applicant shall meet the specified qualifications) Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law to make similar changes. LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5482 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 110 ILCS 947/20110 ILCS 947/50110 ILCS 947/52110 ILCS 947/65.15110 ILCS 947/65.70110 ILCS 947/65.110110 ILCS 947/65.120110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753110 ILCS 975/3.1110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756110 ILCS 975/6.5 110 ILCS 947/20 110 ILCS 947/50 110 ILCS 947/52 110 ILCS 947/65.15 110 ILCS 947/65.70 110 ILCS 947/65.110 110 ILCS 947/65.120 110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752 110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753 110 ILCS 975/3.1 110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754 110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756 110 ILCS 975/6.5 Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law of this State to the contrary, effective on January 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as is feasible, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall release from remaining repayment obligations any recipient of a scholarship, grant, or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan under a State program for which the Commission is responsible for collections. In provisions concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, special education teacher scholarships, the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of the recipient to fulfill scholarship, grant, or waiver obligations. In provisions concerning special education teacher scholarships and Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, provides that a recipient shall sign an agreement that the recipient will meet specified qualifications and provide evidence to the Commission that the recipient is fulfilling or fulfilled the terms of the agreement (instead of specifying that an applicant shall meet the specified qualifications) Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law to make similar changes. LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b A BILL FOR
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5482 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 947/20110 ILCS 947/50110 ILCS 947/52110 ILCS 947/65.15110 ILCS 947/65.70110 ILCS 947/65.110110 ILCS 947/65.120110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753110 ILCS 975/3.1110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756110 ILCS 975/6.5 110 ILCS 947/20 110 ILCS 947/50 110 ILCS 947/52 110 ILCS 947/65.15 110 ILCS 947/65.70 110 ILCS 947/65.110 110 ILCS 947/65.120 110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752 110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753 110 ILCS 975/3.1 110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754 110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756 110 ILCS 975/6.5
110 ILCS 947/20
110 ILCS 947/50
110 ILCS 947/52
110 ILCS 947/65.15
110 ILCS 947/65.70
110 ILCS 947/65.110
110 ILCS 947/65.120
110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752
110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753
110 ILCS 975/3.1
110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754
110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756
110 ILCS 975/6.5
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law of this State to the contrary, effective on January 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as is feasible, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall release from remaining repayment obligations any recipient of a scholarship, grant, or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan under a State program for which the Commission is responsible for collections. In provisions concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, special education teacher scholarships, the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of the recipient to fulfill scholarship, grant, or waiver obligations. In provisions concerning special education teacher scholarships and Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, provides that a recipient shall sign an agreement that the recipient will meet specified qualifications and provide evidence to the Commission that the recipient is fulfilling or fulfilled the terms of the agreement (instead of specifying that an applicant shall meet the specified qualifications) Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law to make similar changes.
LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
A BILL FOR
HB5482LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 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 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
5 amended by changing Sections 20, 50, 52, 65.15, 65.70, 65.110,
6 and 65.120 as follows:
7 (110 ILCS 947/20)
8 Sec. 20. Functions of Commission.
9 (a) The Commission, in accordance with this Act, shall
10 prepare and supervise the issuance of public information
11 concerning its provisions; prescribe the form and regulate the
12 submission of applications for assistance; provide for and
13 conduct, or cause to be conducted, all eligibility
14 determinations of applicants; award the appropriate financial
15 assistance; and, upon request by a member of the General
16 Assembly, nominate or evaluate and recommend for nomination
17 applicants for General Assembly scholarships in accordance
18 with criteria specified by the member under Section 30-9 of
19 the School Code.
20 (b) The Commission is authorized to participate in any
21 programs for monetary assistance to students and to receive,
22 hold, and disburse all such funds made available by any agency
23 or organization for the purpose or purposes for which they are
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5482 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 947/20110 ILCS 947/50110 ILCS 947/52110 ILCS 947/65.15110 ILCS 947/65.70110 ILCS 947/65.110110 ILCS 947/65.120110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753110 ILCS 975/3.1110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756110 ILCS 975/6.5 110 ILCS 947/20 110 ILCS 947/50 110 ILCS 947/52 110 ILCS 947/65.15 110 ILCS 947/65.70 110 ILCS 947/65.110 110 ILCS 947/65.120 110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752 110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753 110 ILCS 975/3.1 110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754 110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756 110 ILCS 975/6.5
110 ILCS 947/20
110 ILCS 947/50
110 ILCS 947/52
110 ILCS 947/65.15
110 ILCS 947/65.70
110 ILCS 947/65.110
110 ILCS 947/65.120
110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752
110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753
110 ILCS 975/3.1
110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754
110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756
110 ILCS 975/6.5
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law of this State to the contrary, effective on January 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as is feasible, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall release from remaining repayment obligations any recipient of a scholarship, grant, or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan under a State program for which the Commission is responsible for collections. In provisions concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, special education teacher scholarships, the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of the recipient to fulfill scholarship, grant, or waiver obligations. In provisions concerning special education teacher scholarships and Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, provides that a recipient shall sign an agreement that the recipient will meet specified qualifications and provide evidence to the Commission that the recipient is fulfilling or fulfilled the terms of the agreement (instead of specifying that an applicant shall meet the specified qualifications) Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law to make similar changes.
LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
A BILL FOR
110 ILCS 947/20
110 ILCS 947/50
110 ILCS 947/52
110 ILCS 947/65.15
110 ILCS 947/65.70
110 ILCS 947/65.110
110 ILCS 947/65.120
110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752
110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753
110 ILCS 975/3.1
110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754
110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756
110 ILCS 975/6.5
LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 2 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 2 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 2 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 made available. The Commission is authorized to administer a
2 program of grant assistance as authorized by the Baccalaureate
3 Savings Act. The Commission is authorized to participate in
4 any programs established to improve student financial aid
5 services or the proficiency of persons engaged in student
6 financial aid services and to receive, hold, and disburse all
7 funds made available by any agency or organization for the
8 purpose or purposes for which they are made available subject
9 to the appropriations of the General Assembly.
10 (c) The Commission is authorized to deny a scholarship or
11 a grant to any person who has defaulted on a guaranteed student
12 loan and who is not maintaining a satisfactory repayment
13 record. If a person has a defaulted guaranteed student loan
14 but is otherwise eligible for assistance pursuant to Section
15 40, the Commission shall award one term of assistance during
16 which a satisfactory repayment record must be established. If
17 such a repayment record is not established, additional
18 assistance shall be denied until a satisfactory repayment
19 record is established.
20 (d) The Commission is authorized to participate with
21 federal, state, county, local, and university law enforcement
22 agencies in cooperative efforts to detect and prosecute
23 incidents of fraud in student assistance programs.
24 (e) The Administrative Review Law shall apply to and
25 govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final
26 administrative decisions of the Commission.
HB5482 - 2 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 3 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 3 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 3 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 (f) The Commission is authorized to make all necessary and
2 proper rules, not inconsistent with this Act, for the
3 efficient exercise of the foregoing functions.
4 (g) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the functions of
5 the Commission shall be exercised without regard to any
6 applicant's race, creed, sex, color, national origin, or
7 ancestry.
8 (h) The Commission is authorized to establish systems and
9 programs to encourage employers to match employee
10 contributions to prepaid programs of college savings by making
11 donations to the Commission for prepaid programs of college
12 savings to make higher education affordable for all residents
13 of the State and to receive, hold, and disburse all such funds
14 made available through those programs for the purposes for
15 which they are authorized by rule or by law.
16 (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
17 contrary, effective on January 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter
18 as is feasible, the Commission shall release from remaining
19 repayment obligations any recipient of a scholarship, grant,
20 or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan
21 under a State program for which the Commission is responsible
22 for collections, including, but not limited to, any such
23 repayment obligation pursuant to Sections 50, 52, 65.15,
24 65.70, 65.110, or 65.120, to the Nursing Education Scholarship
25 Law, or to any other similarly structured state scholarship,
26 grant, or waiver program that the Commission is responsible
HB5482 - 3 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 4 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 4 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 4 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 for collections.
2 The release from repayment obligations under this
3 subsection (i) applies only to repayment obligations resulting
4 from a recipient's failure to complete any required employment
5 obligation under the terms of the scholarship, grant, or
6 waiver. The release does not apply to amounts owed to the
7 Commission for other reasons, including, but not limited to,
8 error, fraud, rescission of funds, or because a recipient
9 ceased to be eligible for the amount initially awarded.
10 (Source: P.A. 96-198, eff. 8-10-09.)
11 (110 ILCS 947/50)
12 Sec. 50. Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
13 program.
14 (a) As used in this Section:
15 "Eligible applicant" means a minority student who has
16 graduated from high school or has received a State of
17 Illinois High School Diploma and has maintained a
18 cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0
19 scale, and who by reason thereof is entitled to apply for
20 scholarships to be awarded under this Section.
21 "Minority student" means a student who is any of the
22 following:
23 (1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person
24 having origins in any of the original peoples of North
25 and South America, including Central America, and who
HB5482 - 4 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 5 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 5 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 5 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment).
2 (2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the
3 original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or
4 the Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited
5 to, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
6 Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and
7 Vietnam).
8 (3) Black or African American (a person having
9 origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa).
10 (4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban,
11 Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or
12 other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race).
13 (5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a
14 person having origins in any of the original peoples
15 of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).
16 "Qualified bilingual minority applicant" means a
17 qualified student who demonstrates proficiency in a
18 language other than English by (i) receiving a State Seal
19 of Biliteracy from the State Board of Education or (ii)
20 receiving a passing score on an educator licensure target
21 language proficiency test.
22 "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a
23 resident of this State and a citizen or permanent resident
24 of the United States; (ii) who is a minority student, as
25 defined in this Section; (iii) who, as an eligible
26 applicant, has made a timely application for a minority
HB5482 - 5 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 6 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 6 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 6 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 teaching scholarship under this Section; (iv) who is
2 enrolled on at least a half-time basis at a qualified
3 Illinois institution of higher learning; (v) who is
4 enrolled in a course of study leading to teacher
5 licensure, including alternative teacher licensure, or, if
6 the student is already licensed to teach, in a course of
7 study leading to an additional teaching endorsement or a
8 master's degree in an academic field in which he or she is
9 teaching or plans to teach or who has received one or more
10 College and Career Pathway Endorsements pursuant to
11 Section 80 of the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness
12 Act and commits to enrolling in a course of study leading
13 to teacher licensure, including alternative teacher
14 licensure; (vi) who maintains a grade point average of no
15 less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; and (vii) who continues to
16 advance satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
17 (b) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
18 minority students to pursue teaching careers at the preschool
19 or elementary or secondary school level and to address and
20 alleviate the teacher shortage crisis in this State described
21 under the provisions of the Transitions in Education Act, each
22 qualified student shall be awarded a minority teacher
23 scholarship to any qualified Illinois institution of higher
24 learning. However, preference may be given to qualified
25 applicants enrolled at or above the junior level.
26 (c) Each minority teacher scholarship awarded under this
HB5482 - 6 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 7 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 7 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 7 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and
2 fees and room and board costs of the qualified Illinois
3 institution of higher learning at which the recipient is
4 enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $5,000; except that in the
5 case of a recipient who does not reside on-campus at the
6 institution at which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the
7 scholarship shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee
8 expenses and a commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of
9 $5,000. However, if at least $2,850,000 is appropriated in a
10 given fiscal year for the Minority Teachers of Illinois
11 scholarship program, then, in each fiscal year thereafter,
12 each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be in an
13 amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room and
14 board costs of the qualified Illinois institution of higher
15 learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual
16 maximum of $7,500; except that in the case of a recipient who
17 does not reside on-campus at the institution at which he or she
18 is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient
19 to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to
20 an annual maximum of $7,500.
21 (d) The total amount of minority teacher scholarship
22 assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an
23 individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other
24 financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year,
25 shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at
26 which the student is enrolled. If the amount of minority
HB5482 - 7 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 8 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 8 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 8 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 teacher scholarship to be awarded to a qualified student as
2 provided in subsection (c) of this Section exceeds the cost of
3 attendance at the institution at which the student is
4 enrolled, the minority teacher scholarship shall be reduced by
5 an amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
6 assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
7 attendance.
8 (e) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
9 qualified student can receive minority teacher scholarship
10 assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
11 (f) In any academic year for which an eligible applicant
12 under this Section accepts financial assistance through the
13 Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program, as authorized by
14 Section 551 et seq. of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the
15 applicant shall not be eligible for scholarship assistance
16 awarded under this Section.
17 (g) All applications for minority teacher scholarships to
18 be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission
19 on forms which the Commission shall provide for eligible
20 applicants. The form of applications and the information
21 required to be set forth therein shall be determined by the
22 Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible
23 applicants to submit with their applications such supporting
24 documents or recommendations as the Commission deems
25 necessary.
26 (h) Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes,
HB5482 - 8 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 9 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 9 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 9 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 payment of any minority teacher scholarship awarded under this
2 Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship
3 funds distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be
4 paid to the institution and used only for payment of the
5 tuition and fee and room and board expenses incurred by the
6 student in connection with his or her attendance at a
7 qualified Illinois institution of higher learning. Any
8 minority teacher scholarship awarded under this Section shall
9 be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment. If a
10 qualified student withdraws from enrollment prior to
11 completion of the first semester or quarter for which the
12 minority teacher scholarship is applicable, the school shall
13 refund to the Commission the full amount of the minority
14 teacher scholarship.
15 (i) The Commission shall administer the minority teacher
16 scholarship aid program established by this Section and shall
17 make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
18 Section for its effective implementation.
19 (j) When an appropriation to the Commission for a given
20 fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
21 qualified students, the Commission shall allocate the
22 appropriation in accordance with this subsection. If funds are
23 insufficient to provide all qualified students with a
24 scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission
25 shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal
26 year to qualified students who submit a complete application
HB5482 - 9 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 10 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 10 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 10 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 form on or before a date specified by the Commission based on
2 the following order of priority:
3 (1) To students who received a scholarship under this
4 Section in the prior academic year and who remain eligible
5 for a minority teacher scholarship under this Section.
6 (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (k), to
7 students who demonstrate financial need, as determined by
8 the Commission.
9 (k) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subsection (j), at
10 least 35% of the funds appropriated for scholarships awarded
11 under this Section in each fiscal year shall be reserved for
12 qualified male minority applicants, with priority being given
13 to qualified Black male applicants beginning with fiscal year
14 2023. If the Commission does not receive enough applications
15 from qualified male minorities on or before January 1 of each
16 fiscal year to award 35% of the funds appropriated for these
17 scholarships to qualified male minority applicants, then the
18 Commission may award a portion of the reserved funds to
19 qualified female minority applicants in accordance with
20 subsection (j).
21 Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at least $2,850,000
22 but less than $4,200,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal
23 year for scholarships awarded under this Section, then at
24 least 10% of the funds appropriated shall be reserved for
25 qualified bilingual minority applicants, with priority being
26 given to qualified bilingual minority applicants who are
HB5482 - 10 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 11 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 11 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 11 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 enrolled in an educator preparation program with a
2 concentration in bilingual, bicultural education. Beginning
3 with fiscal year 2023, if at least $4,200,000 is appropriated
4 in a given fiscal year for the Minority Teachers of Illinois
5 scholarship program, then at least 30% of the funds
6 appropriated shall be reserved for qualified bilingual
7 minority applicants, with priority being given to qualified
8 bilingual minority applicants who are enrolled in an educator
9 preparation program with a concentration in bilingual,
10 bicultural education. Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at
11 least $2,850,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal year for
12 scholarships awarded under this Section but the Commission
13 does not receive enough applications from qualified bilingual
14 minority applicants on or before January 1 of that fiscal year
15 to award at least 10% of the funds appropriated to qualified
16 bilingual minority applicants, then the Commission may, in its
17 discretion, award a portion of the reserved funds to other
18 qualified students in accordance with subsection (j).
19 (l) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
20 academic year, each recipient of a minority teacher
21 scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by
22 the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient
23 pledges that, within the one-year period following the
24 termination of the program for which the recipient was awarded
25 a minority teacher scholarship, the recipient (i) shall begin
26 teaching for a period of not less than one year for each year
HB5482 - 11 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 12 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 12 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 12 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 of scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
2 Section; (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a
3 nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool,
4 elementary school, or secondary school at which no less than
5 30% of the enrolled students are minority students in the year
6 during which the recipient begins teaching at the school or
7 may instead, if the recipient received a scholarship as a
8 qualified bilingual minority applicant, fulfill this teaching
9 obligation in a program in transitional bilingual education
10 pursuant to Article 14C of the School Code or in a school in
11 which 20 or more English learner students in the same language
12 classification are enrolled; and (iii) shall, upon request by
13 the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that he
14 or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
15 agreement provided for in this subsection.
16 (m) (Blank). If a recipient of a minority teacher
17 scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the
18 teaching obligation set forth in subsection (l) of this
19 Section, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay
20 the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to
21 the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, at a
22 rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable
23 collection fees. If a recipient who enters into repayment
24 under this subsection (m) subsequently, within 5 years of
25 entering repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the
26 description under subsection (l) of this Section, the
HB5482 - 12 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 13 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 13 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 13 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 Commission may reduce the amount owed by the recipient in
2 proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed.
3 The Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to
4 its collection activities for repayment of scholarships under
5 this Section. All repayments collected under this Section
6 shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller for deposit into
7 the State's General Revenue Fund.
8 (n) (Blank). A recipient of minority teacher scholarship
9 shall not be considered in violation of the agreement entered
10 into pursuant to subsection (l) if the recipient (i) enrolls
11 on a full time basis as a graduate student in a course of study
12 related to the field of teaching at a qualified Illinois
13 institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not in excess
14 of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the United
15 States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total disability
16 for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as established by
17 sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and
18 unable to find full time employment as a teacher at an Illinois
19 public, private, or parochial preschool or elementary or
20 secondary school that satisfies the criteria set forth in
21 subsection (l) of this Section and is able to provide evidence
22 of that fact; (v) becomes a person with a permanent total
23 disability as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified
24 physician; (vi) is taking additional courses, on at least a
25 half-time basis, needed to obtain licensure as a teacher in
26 Illinois; or (vii) is fulfilling teaching requirements
HB5482 - 13 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 14 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 14 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 14 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 associated with other programs administered by the Commission
2 and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a
3 period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation.
4 (o) (Blank). Scholarship recipients under this Section who
5 withdraw from a program of teacher education but remain
6 enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in
7 another academic discipline shall not be required to commence
8 repayment of their Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
9 so long as they remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis
10 or if they can document for the Commission special
11 circumstances that warrant extension of repayment.
12 (p) If the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
13 program does not expend at least 90% of the amount
14 appropriated for the program in a given fiscal year for 3
15 consecutive fiscal years and the Commission does not receive
16 enough applications from the groups identified in subsection
17 (k) on or before January 1 in each of those fiscal years to
18 meet the percentage reserved for those groups under subsection
19 (k), then up to 3% of amount appropriated for the program for
20 each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated to increasing
21 awareness of the program and for the recruitment of Black male
22 applicants. The Commission shall make a recommendation to the
23 General Assembly by January 1 of the year immediately
24 following the end of that third fiscal year regarding whether
25 the amount allocated to increasing awareness and recruitment
26 should continue.
HB5482 - 14 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 15 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 15 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 15 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 (q) Each qualified Illinois institution of higher learning
2 that receives funds from the Minority Teachers of Illinois
3 scholarship program shall host an annual information session
4 at the institution about the program for teacher candidates of
5 color in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission.
6 Additionally, the institution shall ensure that each
7 scholarship recipient enrolled at the institution meets with
8 an academic advisor at least once per academic year to
9 facilitate on-time completion of the recipient's educator
10 preparation program.
11 (r) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 101-654
12 will first take effect with awards made for the 2022-2023
13 academic year.
14 (Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
15 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23.)
16 (110 ILCS 947/52)
17 Sec. 52. Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program; Golden
18 Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching.
19 (a) In this Section, "Foundation" means the Golden Apple
20 Foundation for Excellence in Teaching, a registered 501(c)(3)
21 not-for-profit corporation.
22 (a-2) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
23 students, especially minority students, to pursue teaching
24 careers, especially in teacher shortage disciplines (which
25 shall be defined to include early childhood education) or at
HB5482 - 15 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 16 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 16 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 16 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 hard-to-staff schools (as defined by the Commission in
2 consultation with the State Board of Education), to provide
3 those students with the crucial mentoring, guidance, and
4 in-service support that will significantly increase the
5 likelihood that they will complete their full teaching
6 commitments and elect to continue teaching in targeted
7 disciplines and hard-to-staff schools, and to ensure that
8 students in this State will continue to have access to a pool
9 of highly-qualified teachers, each qualified student shall be
10 awarded a Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program
11 scholarship to any Illinois institution of higher learning.
12 The Commission shall administer the Golden Apple Scholars of
13 Illinois Program, which shall be managed by the Foundation
14 pursuant to the terms of a grant agreement meeting the
15 requirements of Section 4 of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery
16 Act.
17 (a-3) For purposes of this Section, a qualified student
18 shall be a student who meets the following qualifications:
19 (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
20 eligible noncitizen of the United States;
21 (2) is a high school graduate or a person who has
22 received a State of Illinois High School Diploma;
23 (3) is enrolled or accepted, on at least a half-time
24 basis, at an institution of higher learning;
25 (4) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study
26 leading to initial certification or pursuing additional
HB5482 - 16 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 17 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 17 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 17 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 course work needed to gain State Board of Education
2 approval to teach, including alternative teacher
3 licensure; and
4 (5) is a participant in programs managed by and is
5 approved to receive a scholarship from the Foundation.
6 (a-5) (Blank).
7 (b) (Blank).
8 (b-5) Funds designated for the Golden Apple Scholars of
9 Illinois Program shall be used by the Commission for the
10 payment of scholarship assistance under this Section or for
11 the award of grant funds, subject to the Illinois Grant Funds
12 Recovery Act, to the Foundation. Subject to appropriation,
13 awards of grant funds to the Foundation shall be made on an
14 annual basis and following an application for grant funds by
15 the Foundation.
16 (b-10) Each year, the Foundation shall include in its
17 application to the Commission for grant funds an estimate of
18 the amount of scholarship assistance to be provided to
19 qualified students during the grant period. Any amount of
20 appropriated funds exceeding the estimated amount of
21 scholarship assistance may be awarded by the Commission to the
22 Foundation for management expenses expected to be incurred by
23 the Foundation in providing the mentoring, guidance, and
24 in-service supports that will increase the likelihood that
25 qualified students will complete their teaching commitments
26 and elect to continue teaching in hard-to-staff schools. If
HB5482 - 17 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 18 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 18 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 18 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 the estimate of the amount of scholarship assistance described
2 in the Foundation's application is less than the actual amount
3 required for the award of scholarship assistance to qualified
4 students, the Foundation shall be responsible for using
5 awarded grant funds to ensure all qualified students receive
6 scholarship assistance under this Section.
7 (b-15) All grant funds not expended or legally obligated
8 within the time specified in a grant agreement between the
9 Foundation and the Commission shall be returned to the
10 Commission within 45 days. Any funds legally obligated by the
11 end of a grant agreement shall be liquidated within 45 days or
12 otherwise returned to the Commission within 90 days after the
13 end of the grant agreement that resulted in the award of grant
14 funds.
15 (c) Each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
16 in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room
17 and board costs of the Illinois institution of higher learning
18 at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of
19 $5,000; except that, in the case of a recipient who does not
20 reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at
21 which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship
22 shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a
23 commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. All
24 scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this Section
25 shall be paid to the institution on behalf of recipients.
26 (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
HB5482 - 18 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 19 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 19 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 19 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 the Commission under this Section to an individual in any
2 given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
3 awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the
4 cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at
5 which the student is enrolled. In any academic year for which a
6 qualified student under this Section accepts financial
7 assistance through any other teacher scholarship program
8 administered by the Commission, a qualified student shall not
9 be eligible for scholarship assistance awarded under this
10 Section.
11 (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12
12 quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section.
13 Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3
14 quarters of enrollment each academic year.
15 (f) All applications for scholarship assistance to be
16 awarded under this Section shall be made to the Foundation in a
17 form determined by the Foundation. Each year, the Foundation
18 shall notify the Commission of the individuals awarded
19 scholarship assistance under this Section. Each year, at least
20 30% of the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program
21 scholarships shall be awarded to students residing in counties
22 having a population of less than 500,000.
23 (g) (Blank).
24 (h) The Commission shall administer the payment of
25 scholarship assistance provided through the Golden Apple
26 Scholars of Illinois Program and shall make all necessary and
HB5482 - 19 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 20 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 20 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 20 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for the
2 effective implementation of this Section.
3 (i) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
4 academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
5 this Section shall be required by the Foundation to sign an
6 agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the
7 2-year period following the termination of the academic
8 program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
9 recipient: (i) shall begin teaching for a period of not less
10 than 5 years, (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a
11 nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool or
12 an Illinois public elementary or secondary school that
13 qualifies for teacher loan cancellation under Section
14 465(a)(2)(A) of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
15 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(A)) or other Illinois schools deemed
16 eligible for fulfilling the teaching commitment as designated
17 by the Foundation, and (iii) shall, upon request of the
18 Foundation, provide the Foundation with evidence that he or
19 she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
20 agreement provided for in this subsection. Upon request, the
21 Foundation shall provide evidence of teacher fulfillment to
22 the Commission.
23 (j) (Blank). If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under
24 this Section fails to fulfill the teaching obligation set
25 forth in subsection (i) of this Section, the Commission shall
26 require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships
HB5482 - 20 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 21 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 21 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 21 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 received, prorated according to the fraction of the teaching
2 obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
3 applicable, reasonable collection fees. If a recipient who
4 enters into repayment under this subsection (j) subsequently,
5 within 5 years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a
6 school meeting the description under subsection (i) of this
7 Section, the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the
8 recipient in proportion to the amount of the teaching
9 obligation completed. Reduction of the amount owed shall not
10 be construed as reinstatement in the Golden Apple Scholars
11 program. Reinstatement in the program shall be solely at the
12 discretion of the Golden Apple Foundation on terms determined
13 by the Foundation. Payments received by the Commission under
14 this subsection (j) shall be remitted to the State Comptroller
15 for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, except that that
16 portion of a recipient's repayment that equals the amount in
17 expenses that the Commission has reasonably incurred in
18 attempting collection from that recipient shall be remitted to
19 the State Comptroller for deposit into the ISAC Accounts
20 Receivable Fund, a special fund in the State treasury.
21 (k) (Blank). A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the
22 Foundation under this Section shall not be considered to have
23 failed to fulfill the teaching obligations of the agreement
24 entered into pursuant to subsection (i) if the recipient (i)
25 enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course
26 of study related to the field of teaching at an institution of
HB5482 - 21 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 22 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 22 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 22 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 higher learning; (ii) is serving as a member of the armed
2 services of the United States; (iii) is a person with a
3 temporary total disability, as established by sworn affidavit
4 of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and unable to find
5 full-time employment as a teacher at a school that satisfies
6 the criteria set forth in subsection (i) and is able to provide
7 evidence of that fact; (v) is taking additional courses, on at
8 least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a
9 teacher in Illinois; (vi) is fulfilling teaching requirements
10 associated with other programs administered by the Commission
11 and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a
12 period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation;
13 or (vii) is participating in a program established under
14 Executive Order 10924 of the President of the United States or
15 the federal National Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
16 12501 et seq.). Any such extension of the period during which
17 the teaching requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to
18 limitations of duration as established by the Commission.
19 (l) (Blank). A recipient who fails to fulfill the teaching
20 obligations of the agreement entered into pursuant to
21 subsection (i) of this Section shall repay the amount of
22 scholarship assistance awarded to them under this Section
23 within 10 years.
24 (m) Annually, at a time determined by the Commission in
25 consultation with the Foundation, the Foundation shall submit
26 a report to assist the Commission in monitoring the
HB5482 - 22 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 23 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 23 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 23 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 Foundation's performance of grant activities. The report shall
2 describe the following:
3 (1) the Foundation's anticipated expenditures for the
4 next fiscal year;
5 (2) the number of qualified students receiving
6 scholarship assistance at each institution of higher
7 learning where a qualified student was enrolled under this
8 Section during the previous fiscal year;
9 (3) the total monetary value of scholarship funds paid
10 to each institution of higher learning at which a
11 qualified student was enrolled during the previous fiscal
12 year;
13 (4) the number of scholarship recipients who completed
14 a baccalaureate degree during the previous fiscal year;
15 (5) the number of scholarship recipients who fulfilled
16 their teaching obligation during the previous fiscal year;
17 (6) the number of scholarship recipients who failed to
18 fulfill their teaching obligation during the previous
19 fiscal year;
20 (7) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients
21 granted an extension described in subsection (k) of this
22 Section during the previous fiscal year;
23 (8) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients
24 required to repay scholarship assistance in accordance
25 with subsection (j) of this Section during the previous
26 fiscal year;
HB5482 - 23 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 24 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 24 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 24 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 (9) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients who
2 successfully repaid scholarship assistance in full during
3 the previous fiscal year;
4 (10) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients who
5 defaulted on their obligation to repay scholarship
6 assistance during the previous fiscal year;
7 (11) (blank); the amount of scholarship assistance
8 subject to collection in accordance with subsection (j) of
9 this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year;
10 (12) (blank); and the amount of collected funds to be
11 remitted to the Comptroller in accordance with subsection
12 (j) of this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year;
13 and
14 (13) other information that the Commission may
15 reasonably request.
16 (n) Nothing in this Section shall affect the rights of the
17 Commission to collect information on the completion of
18 teaching obligations moneys owed to it by recipients of
19 scholarship assistance through the Illinois Future Teacher
20 Corps Program, repealed by Public Act 98-533.
21 (o) The Auditor General shall prepare an annual audit of
22 the operations and finances of the Golden Apple Scholars of
23 Illinois Program. This audit shall be provided to the
24 Governor, General Assembly, and the Commission.
25 (p) The suspension of grant making authority found in
26 Section 4.2 of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act shall not
HB5482 - 24 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 25 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 25 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 25 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 apply to grants made pursuant to this Section.
2 (Source: P.A. 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22; 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23;
3 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23.)
4 (110 ILCS 947/65.15)
5 Sec. 65.15. Special education teacher scholarships.
6 (a) There shall be awarded annually 250 scholarships to
7 persons qualifying as members of any of the following groups:
8 (1) Students who are otherwise qualified to receive a
9 scholarship as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this
10 Section and who make application to the Commission for
11 such scholarship and agree to take courses that will
12 prepare the student for the teaching of children described
13 in Section 14-1 of the School Code.
14 (2) Persons holding a valid certificate issued under
15 the laws relating to the certification of teachers and who
16 make application to the Commission for such scholarship
17 and agree to take courses that will prepare them for the
18 teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the
19 School Code.
20 (3) Persons who (A) have graduated high school; (B)
21 have not been certified as a teacher; and (C) make
22 application to the Commission for such scholarship and
23 agree to take courses that will prepare them for the
24 teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the
25 School Code.
HB5482 - 25 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 26 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 26 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 26 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be issued
2 pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commission;
3 provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State
4 Board of Education prior to the effective date of this
5 amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right,
6 power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business
7 transferred from the State Board of Education to the
8 Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and
9 all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and
10 regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the
11 Commission in accordance with law.
12 For the purposes of this Section scholarships awarded each
13 school year shall be deemed to be issued on July 1 of the year
14 prior to the start of the postsecondary school term and all
15 calculations for use of the scholarship shall be based on such
16 date. Each scholarship shall entitle its holder to exemption
17 from fees as provided in subsection (a) of Section 65.40 while
18 enrolled in a special education program of teacher education,
19 for a period of not more than 4 calendar years and shall be
20 available for use at any time during such period of study
21 except as provided in subsection (b) of Section 65.40.
22 Scholarships issued to holders of a valid certificate
23 issued under the laws relating to the certification of
24 teachers as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection may
25 also entitle the holder thereof to a program of teacher
26 education that will prepare the student for the teaching of
HB5482 - 26 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 27 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 27 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 27 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 children described in Section 14-1 of the School Code at the
2 graduate level.
3 (b) The principal, or his or her designee, of an approved
4 high school shall certify to the Commission, for students who
5 are Illinois residents and are completing an application, that
6 the students ranked scholastically in the upper one-half of
7 their graduating class at the end of the sixth semester.
8 (c) Each holder of a scholarship must furnish proof to the
9 Commission, in such form and at such intervals as the
10 Commission prescribes, of the holder's continued enrollment in
11 a teacher education program qualifying the holder for the
12 scholarship. Any holder of a scholarship who fails to register
13 in a special education program of teacher education at the
14 university within 10 days after the commencement of the term,
15 quarter or semester immediately following the receipt of the
16 scholarship or who, having registered, withdraws from the
17 university or transfers out of teacher education, shall
18 thereupon forfeit the right to use it and it may be granted to
19 the person having the next highest rank as shown on the list
20 held by the Commission. If the person having the next highest
21 rank, within 10 days after notification thereof by the
22 Commission, fails to register at any such university in a
23 special education program of teacher education, or who, having
24 registered, withdraws from the university or transfers out of
25 teacher education, the scholarship may then be granted to the
26 person shown on the list as having the rank next below such
HB5482 - 27 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 28 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 28 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 28 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 person.
2 (d) Any person accepting who has accepted a scholarship
3 under the preceding subsections of this Section must sign an
4 agreement pledging (i) that, within one year after graduation
5 from or termination of enrollment in a teacher education
6 program, the recipient will begin teaching at a nonprofit
7 Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, or
8 elementary school, or secondary school for a period of at
9 least 2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation
10 or termination, and (ii) that the recipient will provide the
11 Commission, upon the Commission's request, with evidence that
12 the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the
13 teaching agreement provided for in this subsection. excluding,
14 however, from the computation of that 5 year period (i) any
15 time up to 3 years spent in the military service, whether such
16 service occurs before or after the person graduates; (ii) any
17 time that person is enrolled full-time in an academic program
18 related to the field of teaching leading to a graduate or
19 postgraduate degree; (iii) the time that person is a person
20 with a temporary total disability for a period of time not to
21 exceed 3 years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a
22 qualified physician; (iv) the time that person is seeking and
23 unable to find full time employment as a teacher at an Illinois
24 public, private, or parochial school; (v) the time that person
25 is taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis,
26 needed to obtain certification as a teacher in Illinois; or
HB5482 - 28 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 29 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 29 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 29 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 (vi) the time that person is fulfilling teaching requirements
2 associated with other programs administered by the Commission
3 if he or she cannot concurrently fulfill them under this
4 Section in a period of time equal to the length of the teaching
5 obligation.
6 A person who has accepted a scholarship under the
7 preceding subsections of this Section and who has been unable
8 to fulfill the teaching requirements of this Section may
9 receive a deferment from the obligation of repayment under
10 this subsection (d) under guidelines established by the
11 Commission; provided that no guideline established for any
12 such purpose by the State Board of Education prior to the
13 effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 shall be
14 affected by the transfer to the Commission of the
15 responsibility for administering and implementing the
16 provisions of this Section, and all guidelines so established
17 shall become the guidelines of the Commission until modified
18 or changed by the Commission.
19 Any such person who fails to fulfill this teaching
20 requirement shall pay to the Commission the amount of tuition
21 waived by virtue of his or her acceptance of the scholarship,
22 together with interest at 5% per year on that amount. However,
23 this obligation to repay the amount of tuition waived plus
24 interest does not apply when the failure to fulfill the
25 teaching requirement results from the death or adjudication as
26 a person under legal disability of the person holding the
HB5482 - 29 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 30 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 30 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 30 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 scholarship, and no claim for repayment may be filed against
2 the estate of such a decedent or person under legal
3 disability. If a recipient who enters into repayment under
4 this paragraph subsequently, within 5 years of entering
5 repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the description
6 under this subsection (d), the Commission may reduce the
7 amount owed by the recipient in proportion to the amount of the
8 teaching obligation completed. Payments received by the
9 Commission under this subsection (d) shall be remitted to the
10 State Treasurer for deposit in the General Revenue Fund. Each
11 person receiving a scholarship shall be provided with a
12 description of the provisions of this subsection (d) at the
13 time he or she qualifies for the benefits of such a
14 scholarship.
15 (e) (Blank). This Section is basically the same as
16 Sections 30-1, 30-2, 30-3, and 30-4a of the School Code, which
17 are repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be
18 construed as a continuation of the teacher scholarship program
19 established by that prior law, and not as a new or different
20 teacher scholarship program. The State Board of Education
21 shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the
22 State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and
23 implementing the provisions of this Section, all books,
24 accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements,
25 and pending business in any way relating to the teacher
26 scholarship program continued under this Section; and all
HB5482 - 30 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 31 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 31 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 31 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 scholarships at any time awarded under that program by, and
2 all applications for any such scholarships at any time made
3 to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the
4 transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the
5 administration and implementation of the teacher scholarship
6 program continued under this Section. The State Board of
7 Education shall furnish to the Commission such other
8 information as the Commission may request to assist it in
9 administering this Section.
10 (Source: P.A. 103-448, eff. 8-4-23.)
11 (110 ILCS 947/65.70)
12 Sec. 65.70. Optometric Education Scholarship Program.
13 (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the
14 provision of graduate education leading to a doctoral degree
15 in optometry for persons of this State who desire such an
16 education is important to the health and welfare of this State
17 and Nation and, consequently, is an important public purpose.
18 Many qualified potential optometrists are deterred by
19 financial considerations from pursuing their optometric
20 education with consequent irreparable loss to the State and
21 Nation of talents vital to health and welfare. A program of
22 scholarships for individuals who pledge to practice , repayment
23 of which may be excused if the individual practices
24 professional optometry in this State, will enable such
25 individuals to attend qualified public or private institutions
HB5482 - 31 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 32 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 32 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 32 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 of their choice in the State.
2 (b) Beginning with the 2003-2004 academic year, the
3 Commission shall, each year, consider applications for
4 scholarship assistance under this Section. An applicant is
5 eligible for a scholarship under this Section if the
6 Commission finds that the applicant is:
7 (1) a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
8 (2) a resident of Illinois; and
9 (3) enrolled on a full-time basis in a public or
10 private college of optometry located in this State that
11 awards a doctorate degree in optometry and is approved by
12 the Department of Professional Regulation.
13 (c) Each year the Commission shall award 10 scholarships
14 under this Section among applicants qualified pursuant to
15 subsection (b). Two of these scholarships each shall be
16 awarded to eligible applicants enrolled in their first year,
17 second year, third year, and fourth year. The remaining 2
18 scholarships shall be awarded to any level of student. The
19 Commission shall receive funding for the scholarships through
20 appropriations from the Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary
21 Board Fund. If in any year the number of qualified applicants
22 exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, the
23 Commission shall give priority in awarding scholarships to
24 students demonstrating exceptional merit and who are in
25 financial need. A scholarship shall be in the amount of $5,000
26 each year applicable to tuition and fees.
HB5482 - 32 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 33 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 33 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 33 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
2 the Commission under this Section to an individual in any
3 given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
4 awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the
5 cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is
6 enrolled.
7 (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12
8 quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section.
9 (f) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such
10 purposes, payment of any scholarship awarded under this
11 Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship
12 funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be
13 paid to the institution on behalf of the recipients.
14 Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3
15 quarters of enrollment within an academic year.
16 (g) The Commission shall administer the Optometric
17 Education Scholarship Program established by this Section and
18 shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent
19 with this Section for its effective implementation.
20 (h) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
21 academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
22 this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an
23 agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the
24 one-year period following the termination of the academic
25 program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
26 recipient shall practice in this State as a licensed
HB5482 - 33 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 34 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 34 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 34 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 optometrist under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987
2 for a period of not less than one year for each year of
3 scholarship assistance awarded under this Section. Each
4 recipient shall, upon request of the Commission, provide the
5 Commission with evidence that the recipient he or she is
6 fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the practice
7 agreement provided for in this subsection.
8 (i) (Blank). If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under
9 this Section fails to fulfill the practice obligation set
10 forth in subsection (h) of this Section, the Commission shall
11 require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships
12 received, prorated according to the fraction of the obligation
13 not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
14 applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
15 authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
16 activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.
17 (j) (Blank). A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the
18 Commission under this Section shall not be in violation of the
19 agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (h) if the
20 recipient (i) is serving as a member of the armed services of
21 the United States; (ii) is enrolled in a residency program
22 following graduation at an approved institution; (iii) is a
23 person with a temporary total disability, as established by
24 sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or (iii) cannot
25 fulfill the employment obligation due to his or her death,
26 disability, or incompetency, as established by sworn affidavit
HB5482 - 34 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 35 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 35 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 35 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 of a qualified physician. No claim for repayment may be filed
2 against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent. Any
3 extension of the period during which the employment
4 requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to limitations
5 of duration as established by the Commission.
6 (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
7 (110 ILCS 947/65.110)
8 Sec. 65.110. Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work
9 Professional Educator License scholarship.
10 (a) Subject to appropriation, beginning with awards for
11 the 2022-2023 academic year, the Commission shall award
12 annually up to 250 Post-Master of Social Work School Social
13 Work Professional Educator License scholarships to a person
14 who:
15 (1) holds a valid Illinois-licensed clinical social
16 work license or social work license;
17 (2) has obtained a master's degree in social work from
18 an approved program;
19 (3) is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
20 and
21 (4) submits an application to the Commission for such
22 scholarship and agrees to take courses to obtain an
23 Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement
24 in School Social Work.
25 (b) If an appropriation for this Section for a given
HB5482 - 35 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 36 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 36 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 36 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
2 qualified applicants, the Commission shall allocate the
3 appropriation in accordance with this subsection (b). If funds
4 are insufficient to provide all qualified applicants with a
5 scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission
6 shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal
7 year to qualified applicants who submit a complete application
8 on or before a date specified by the Commission, based on the
9 following order of priority:
10 (1) firstly, to students who received a scholarship
11 under this Section in the prior academic year and who
12 remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section;
13 (2) secondly, to new, qualified applicants who are
14 members of a racial minority, as defined in subsection
15 (c); and
16 (3) finally, to other new, qualified applicants in
17 accordance with this Section.
18 (c) Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be
19 issued pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission. In
20 awarding scholarships, the Commission shall give priority to
21 those applicants who are members of a racial minority. Racial
22 minorities are underrepresented as school social workers in
23 elementary and secondary schools in this State, and the
24 General Assembly finds that it is in the interest of this State
25 to provide them with priority consideration for programs that
26 encourage their participation in this field and thereby foster
HB5482 - 36 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 37 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 37 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 37 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 a profession that is more reflective of the diversity of
2 Illinois students and the parents they will serve. A more
3 reflective workforce in school social work allows improved
4 outcomes for students and a better utilization of services.
5 Therefore, the Commission shall give priority to those
6 applicants who are members of a racial minority. In this
7 subsection (c), "racial minority" means a person who is a
8 citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident of
9 the United States and who is:
10 (1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black
11 racial groups in Africa);
12 (2) Hispanic (a person of Spanish or Portuguese
13 culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America,
14 or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race);
15 (3) Asian American (a person having origins in any of
16 the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
17 Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); or
18 (4) American Indian or Alaskan Native (a person having
19 origins in any of the original peoples of North America).
20 (d) Each scholarship shall be applied to the payment of
21 tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Illinois,
22 Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University,
23 Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University,
24 Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University,
25 Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.
26 Each scholarship may be applied to pay tuition and mandatory
HB5482 - 37 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 38 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 38 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 38 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 fees required to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator
2 License with an endorsement in School Social Work.
3 (e) The Commission shall make tuition and fee payments
4 directly to the qualified institution of higher learning that
5 the applicant attends.
6 (f) Any person accepting who has accepted a scholarship
7 under this Section must sign an agreement pledging (i) that,
8 within one year after graduation or termination of enrollment
9 in a Post-Master of Social Work Professional Education License
10 with an endorsement in School Social Work program, the
11 recipient will begin working as a school social worker at a
12 public or nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary
13 school, or secondary school located in this State for at least
14 2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation or
15 termination, and (ii) that the recipient shall, upon request
16 of the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that
17 the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the
18 work agreement provided for in this subsection. excluding,
19 however, from the computation of that 5-year period: (i) any
20 time up to 3 years spent in the military service, whether such
21 service occurs before or after the person graduates; (ii) the
22 time that person is a person with a temporary total disability
23 for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by
24 the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; and (iii) the
25 time that person is seeking and unable to find full-time
26 employment as a school social worker at a State public or
HB5482 - 38 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 39 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 39 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 39 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or
2 secondary school.
3 (g) (Blank). If a recipient of a scholarship under this
4 Section fails to fulfill the work obligation set forth in
5 subsection (f), the Commission shall require the recipient to
6 repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated
7 according to the fraction of the obligation not completed, at
8 a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable
9 collection fees. The Commission is authorized to establish
10 rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of
11 scholarships under this Section. All repayments collected
12 under this Section shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller
13 for deposit into this State's General Revenue Fund.
14 A recipient of a scholarship under this Section is not
15 considered to be in violation of the failure to fulfill the
16 work obligation under subsection (f) if the recipient (i)
17 enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course
18 of study related to the field of social work at a qualified
19 Illinois institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not
20 in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the
21 United States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total
22 disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as
23 established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician;
24 (iv) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a
25 school social worker at an Illinois public or nonpublic
26 not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or secondary
HB5482 - 39 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 40 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 40 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 40 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 school that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (f)
2 and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or (v) becomes a
3 person with a permanent total disability, as established by
4 the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician.
5 (Source: P.A. 102-621, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
6 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22.)
7 (110 ILCS 947/65.120)
8 Sec. 65.120. iGROW Tech Scholarship Program.
9 (a) As used in this Section:
10 "Eligible applicant" means a student who has graduated
11 from high school or has received a State of Illinois High
12 School Diploma, who has maintained a cumulative grade point
13 average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, who is pursuing or
14 intends to pursue a qualifying degree in a qualified
15 institution, and who is entitled to apply for assistance under
16 this Section.
17 "Full-time" means the number of credit hours the
18 Commission determines is full-time enrollment for a student
19 for purposes of the program created under this Section.
20 "Minority student" has the same meaning as the term is
21 defined under Section 50 of the Higher Education Student
22 Assistance Act (110 ILCS 947).
23 "Program" means the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program created
24 under this Section.
25 "Qualifying degree" means an associate or a bachelor's
HB5482 - 40 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 41 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 41 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 41 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 degree granted by a qualified institution in the field of
2 computer information sciences; information technology;
3 information science; computer science; computer systems
4 networking and telecommunications; computer and information
5 systems security or information assurance, including
6 cybersecurity; or management information systems.
7 "Qualifying job" means a job with an employer in this
8 State performing work that is directly related to the field of
9 study that qualified the candidate for assistance under this
10 Section.
11 "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a resident
12 of this State; (ii) who, as an eligible applicant, has made a
13 timely application for an iGROW tech scholarship under this
14 Section; (iii) who is enrolled on at least a half-time basis at
15 a qualified institution; (iv) who is enrolled in a course of
16 study in the field of computer and information sciences;
17 information technology; information science; computer science;
18 computer systems networking and telecommunications; computer
19 and information systems security or information assurance,
20 including cybersecurity; or management information systems;
21 (v) who maintains a grade point average of no less than a 2.5
22 on a 4.0 scale; and (vi) who continues to advance
23 satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
24 "Recipient" means an Illinois resident enrolled in a
25 qualified institution who receives an award under this
26 Section.
HB5482 - 41 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 42 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 42 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 42 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 (b) Subject to appropriation, and no sooner than the
2 2024-2025 academic year, there is established the Illinois
3 Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship
4 Program to recruit and train individuals to work in technology
5 jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high
6 wages by awarding scholarships.
7 (c) Each iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
8 shall be determined by the Commission in an amount up to and
9 including the full costs of tuition and fees and room and board
10 of the qualified institution at which the recipient is
11 enrolled if the institution is public, or an equivalent rate
12 established by the Commission for private institutions. The
13 total amount of iGROW tech scholarship assistance awarded by
14 the Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in
15 any given fiscal year, when added to other financial
16 assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not
17 exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the
18 student is enrolled. If the amount of financial assistance to
19 be awarded to a qualified student exceeds the cost of
20 attendance at the institution at which the student is
21 enrolled, the iGROW tech scholarship shall be reduced by an
22 amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
23 assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
24 attendance.
25 (d) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
26 qualified student can receive iGROW tech scholarship
HB5482 - 42 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 43 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 43 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 43 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
2 (e) All applications for scholarships awarded under this
3 Section shall be made to the Commission on forms which the
4 Commission shall provide for eligible applicants. The form of
5 applications and the information required to be set forth
6 therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the
7 Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with
8 their applications such supporting documents or
9 recommendations as the Commission deems necessary.
10 (f) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, payment of
11 any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
12 determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds
13 distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be paid
14 to the qualified institution and used only for payment of the
15 tuition and fees assessed by the institution and the standard
16 housing and food allowance used for all undergraduate students
17 by the qualified student in connection with his or her
18 attendance at a qualified institution.
19 Any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
20 shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment
21 annually. The qualified institution can only request payment
22 for tuition and fees up to the amount of actual tuition and fee
23 expenses incurred.
24 If a student withdraws after the expiration of the tuition
25 refund or withdrawal adjustment period, the student may
26 receive payment for tuition and fees incurred up to the term
HB5482 - 43 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 44 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 44 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 44 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 award. The housing and food allowance shall be prorated based
2 on the qualified institution's return of funds policy.
3 (g) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
4 academic year, each recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship
5 awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission
6 to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that
7 the recipient (i) shall work in the State in a qualified job
8 for a period of not less than one year for each year of
9 scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
10 Section; however, in no event shall he or she agree to work in
11 the State in a qualified job for a period of less than 2 years;
12 and (ii) shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the
13 Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has
14 fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided for in this
15 subsection.
16 If a recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship awarded under
17 this Section fails to fulfill the obligations set forth in
18 this subsection, the Commission shall require the recipient to
19 repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated
20 according to the fraction of the employment obligation not
21 completed, at a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if
22 applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
23 authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
24 activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.
25 All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded
26 to the State Comptroller for deposit into the State's General
HB5482 - 44 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 45 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 45 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 45 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 Revenue Fund.
2 A recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship shall not be
3 considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant
4 to this subsection if the recipient (I) enrolls on a full-time
5 basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the
6 technology degree for which he or she qualified for the iGROW
7 tech scholarship at a qualified institution; (II) is serving,
8 not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of
9 the United States; (III) is a person with a temporary total
10 disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as
11 established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (IV)
12 is seeking and unable to find full-time employment with a
13 State employer that satisfies the criteria set forth in this
14 subsection and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (V)
15 becomes a person with a permanent total disability as
16 established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or
17 (VI) meets any other criteria that the Commission may deem
18 necessary.
19 (h) (Blank.) Scholarship recipients under this Section who
20 withdraw from a program of computer science or other related
21 major area of study provided under this Section but remain
22 enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in
23 another academic discipline shall not be required to commence
24 repayment of their iGROW tech scholarship so long as they
25 remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis or if they can
26 document for the Commission special circumstances that warrant
HB5482 - 45 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 46 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 46 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 46 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 extension of repayment.
2 (i) If the Program does not expend at least 90% of the
3 amount appropriated for the Program in a given fiscal year for
4 3 consecutive fiscal years on or before January 1 in each of
5 those fiscal years, then up to 3% of amount appropriated for
6 the Program for each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated
7 to increasing awareness of the program.
8 (j) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall
9 make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
10 Section for its effective implementation.
11 (k) The Commission shall establish a methodology for
12 prioritizing applications from applicants who demonstrate a
13 financial need or hardship, applications from minority
14 students, and applications from applicants demonstrating
15 academic excellence. After the first academic year that the
16 Program operates, the Commission shall prioritize the
17 applications of those applicants who received a scholarship
18 under this Section during the prior academic year and who
19 remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section.
20 (l) Each fiscal year, the Commission may use up to 5% of
21 money appropriated for the Program for administration.
22 (m) Scholarships may be made under this Section through
23 the 2029-30 academic year.
24 (n) The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW)
25 Tech Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State
26 treasury. Moneys in the fund may come from both public
HB5482 - 46 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 47 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 47 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 47 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 entities and institutional, organizational, or other private
2 entities. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to
3 appropriation, by the Commission to implement and administer
4 the Program pursuant to this Section.
5 (Source: P.A. 103-519, eff. 1-1-24.)
6 Section 10. The Nursing Education Scholarship Law is
7 amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 3.1, 4, 6, and 6.5 as
8 follows:
9 (110 ILCS 975/2) (from Ch. 144, par. 2752)
10 Sec. 2. Legislative finding and declaration of policy.
11 (a) The General Assembly finds and hereby declares that
12 the provision of a higher education leading to an associate
13 degree in nursing, an associate degree in applied sciences in
14 nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing, a baccalaureate
15 degree in nursing, a graduate degree in nursing, or a
16 certificate in practical nursing for persons of this State who
17 desire such an education is important to the health, welfare
18 and security of this State and Nation, and consequently is an
19 important public purpose. Many qualified and potential nurses
20 are deterred by financial considerations from pursuing their
21 nursing education, with consequent irreparable loss to the
22 State and Nation of talents vital to health, welfare and
23 security. A system of scholarships for individuals who plan to
24 work in this State as , repayment of which may be excused if the
HB5482 - 47 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 48 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 48 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 48 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 individual is employed as a registered professional nurse or a
2 licensed practical nurse after obtaining an associate degree
3 in nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing,
4 hospital-based diploma in nursing, baccalaureate degree in
5 nursing, graduate degree in nursing, or certificate in
6 practical nursing, will enable such individuals to attend
7 approved institutions of their choice in the State, public or
8 private.
9 (b) The General Assembly finds that there is a critical
10 shortage of nursing instructors in this State, and such a
11 shortage will only worsen the shortage of available nurses in
12 this State and jeopardize the quality of healthcare citizens
13 of this State have every right to enjoy. In order to provide
14 for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this
15 State, the General Assembly declares that there is a need for
16 an increase in skilled nurse educators in this State.
17 (Source: P.A. 96-805, eff. 10-30-09.)
18 (110 ILCS 975/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2753)
19 Sec. 3. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or
20 referred to, have the following meanings except where the
21 context clearly indicates otherwise:
22 (1) "Board" means the Board of Higher Education created by
23 the Board of Higher Education Act.
24 (2) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public
25 Health.
HB5482 - 48 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 49 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 49 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 49 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 (3) "Approved institution" means a public community
2 college, private junior college, hospital-based diploma in
3 nursing program, or public or private college or university
4 with a pre-licensure nursing education program located in this
5 State that has approval by the Department of Financial and
6 Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing
7 program, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing
8 program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
9 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
10 nursing program, or certificate in a practical nursing program
11 or a post-licensure nursing education program approved by the
12 Board of Higher Education or any successor agency with similar
13 authority.
14 (4) "Baccalaureate degree in nursing program" means a
15 program offered by an approved institution and leading to a
16 bachelor of science degree in nursing.
17 (5) "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance
18 of an individual's status as a student in an approved
19 institution, regardless of the terms used at the institution
20 to describe such status.
21 (6) "Academic year" means the period of time from
22 September 1 of one year through August 31 of the next year or
23 as otherwise defined by the academic institution.
24 (7) "Associate degree in nursing program or hospital-based
25 diploma in nursing program" means a program offered by an
26 approved institution and leading to an associate degree in
HB5482 - 49 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 50 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 50 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 50 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing, or
2 hospital-based diploma in nursing.
3 (8) "Graduate degree in nursing program" means a program
4 offered by an approved institution and leading to a master of
5 science degree in nursing or a doctorate of philosophy or
6 doctorate of nursing degree in nursing.
7 (9) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois
8 Department of Public Health.
9 (10) "Accepted for admission" means a student has
10 completed the requirements for entry into an associate degree
11 in nursing program, associate degree in applied sciences in
12 nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
13 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
14 nursing program, or certificate in practical nursing program
15 at an approved institution, as documented by the institution.
16 (11) "Fees" means those mandatory charges, in addition to
17 tuition, that all enrolled students must pay, including
18 required course or lab fees.
19 (12) "Full-time student" means a student enrolled for at
20 least 12 hours per term or as otherwise determined by the
21 academic institution.
22 (13) "Law" means the Nursing Education Scholarship Law.
23 (14) "Nursing employment obligation" means employment in
24 this State as a registered professional nurse, licensed
25 practical nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse in
26 direct patient care for at least one year for each year of
HB5482 - 50 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 51 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 51 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 51 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 scholarship assistance received through the Nursing Education
2 Scholarship Program.
3 (15) "Part-time student" means a person who is enrolled
4 for at least one-third of the number of hours required per term
5 by a school for its full-time students.
6 (16) "Practical nursing program" means a program offered
7 by an approved institution leading to a certificate in
8 practical nursing.
9 (17) "Registered professional nurse" means a person who is
10 currently licensed as a registered professional nurse by the
11 Department of Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice
12 Act.
13 (18) "Licensed practical nurse" means a person who is
14 currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse by the
15 Department of Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice
16 Act.
17 (19) "School term" means an academic term, such as a
18 semester, quarter, trimester, or number of clock hours, as
19 defined by an approved institution.
20 (20) "Student in good standing" means a student
21 maintaining a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at
22 least the academic grade of a "C".
23 (21) (Blank). "Total and permanent disability" means a
24 physical or mental impairment, disease, or loss of a permanent
25 nature that prevents nursing employment with or without
26 reasonable accommodation. Proof of disability shall be a
HB5482 - 51 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 52 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 52 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 52 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 declaration from the social security administration, Illinois
2 Workers' Compensation Commission, Department of Defense, or an
3 insurer authorized to transact business in Illinois who is
4 providing disability insurance coverage to a contractor.
5 (22) "Tuition" means the established charges of an
6 institution of higher learning for instruction at that
7 institution.
8 (23) "Nurse educator" means a person who is currently
9 licensed as a registered nurse by the Department of
10 Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice Act, who has
11 a graduate degree in nursing, and who is employed by an
12 approved academic institution to educate registered nursing
13 students, licensed practical nursing students, and registered
14 nurses pursuing graduate degrees.
15 (24) "Nurse educator employment obligation" means
16 employment in this State as a nurse educator for at least 2
17 years for each year of scholarship assistance received under
18 Section 6.5 of this Law.
19 (25) "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance
20 Commission.
21 Rulemaking authority to implement the provisions of this
22 Act is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance
23 with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure
24 Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
25 Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
26 whatever reason, is unauthorized.
HB5482 - 52 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 53 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 53 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 53 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
2 (110 ILCS 975/3.1)
3 Sec. 3.1. Approved institutions. An approved institution
4 must maintain compliance with all applicable State and federal
5 laws. An approved institution approved to participate in the
6 scholarship program under this Section is not necessarily
7 eligible for other programs administered by the Commission and
8 is not, in order to participate in the program under this
9 Section, required to meet the definition of "institution of
10 higher learning", "qualified institution", or "institution" as
11 defined in Section 10 of the Higher Education Student
12 Assistance Act. The Commission may establish by rule
13 additional requirements for approved institutions.
14 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
15 (110 ILCS 975/4) (from Ch. 144, par. 2754)
16 Sec. 4. Functions of Department. The Department shall
17 prepare and supervise the issuance of public information about
18 the provisions of this Article; prescribe the form and
19 regulate the submission of applications for scholarships;
20 determine the eligibility of applicants; award the appropriate
21 scholarships; and prescribe the contracts or other
22 acknowledgments of scholarship which an applicant is required
23 to execute; and determine whether all or any part of a
24 recipient's scholarship needs to be monetarily repaid, or has
HB5482 - 53 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 54 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 54 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 54 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 been excused from repayment, and the extent of any repayment
2 or excused repayment. The Department may require a recipient
3 to reimburse the State for expenses, including but not limited
4 to attorney's fees, incurred by the Department or other agent
5 of the State for a successful legal action against the
6 recipient for a breach of any provision of the scholarship
7 contract. The Department is authorized to make all necessary
8 and proper rules, not inconsistent with this Article, for the
9 efficient exercise of the foregoing functions.
10 (Source: P.A. 100-872, eff. 8-14-18.)
11 (110 ILCS 975/6) (from Ch. 144, par. 2756)
12 Sec. 6. Nursing requirements for scholarship recipients.
13 In accepting a scholarship under this Section, a recipient
14 must pledge that (i) within Within 12 months after graduation
15 from an associate degree in nursing program, hospital-based
16 diploma in nursing program, baccalaureate degree in nursing
17 program, graduate degree in nursing program, or certificate in
18 practical nursing program, the any recipient will who accepted
19 a scholarship under Section 5 shall begin meeting the required
20 nursing employment obligation, and (ii) upon request by the
21 Commission, the recipient will provide the Commission with
22 evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the
23 terms of the agreement provided for in this Section. In order
24 to defer his or her continuous employment obligation, a
25 recipient must request the deferment in writing from the
HB5482 - 54 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 55 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 55 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 55 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 Department. A recipient shall notify program staff within 30
2 days if he or she spends up to 4 years in military service
3 before or after graduation. A recipient shall notify program
4 staff within 30 days if he or she is enrolled in an academic
5 program leading to a graduate degree in nursing. If a
6 recipient receives funding through the Nursing Education
7 Scholarship Program for a higher degree, the nursing
8 employment obligation shall be deferred until he or she is no
9 longer enrolled or has graduated. The recipient must begin
10 meeting the required nursing employment obligations no later
11 than 6 months after the end of the deferments.
12 Any person who fails to fulfill the nursing employment
13 obligation shall pay to the Department an amount equal to the
14 amount of scholarship funds received per year for each
15 unfulfilled year of the nursing employment obligation,
16 together with interest at 7% per year on the unpaid balance.
17 Payment must begin within 6 months following the date of the
18 occurrence initiating the repayment. All repayments must be
19 completed within 6 years from the date of the occurrence
20 initiating the repayment. However, this obligation may be
21 deferred and re-evaluated every 6 months when the failure to
22 fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from
23 involuntarily leaving the profession due to a decrease in the
24 number of nurses employed in the State or when the failure to
25 fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from total
26 and permanent disability. The repayment obligation shall be
HB5482 - 55 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 56 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 56 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 56 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 excused if the failure to fulfill the nursing employment
2 obligation results from the death or adjudication as
3 incompetent of the person holding the scholarship. No claim
4 for repayment may be filed against the estate of such a
5 decedent or incompetent.
6 Each person applying for such a scholarship shall be
7 provided with a copy of this Section at the time of application
8 for the benefits of such scholarship.
9 (Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02; 93-879, eff. 1-1-05.)
10 (110 ILCS 975/6.5)
11 Sec. 6.5. Nurse educator scholarships.
12 (a) Beginning with the fall term of the 2009-2010 academic
13 year, the Department shall provide scholarships to individuals
14 selected from among those applicants who qualify for
15 consideration by showing the following:
16 (1) that he or she has been a resident of this State
17 for at least one year prior to application and is a citizen
18 or a lawful permanent resident of the United States;
19 (2) that he or she is enrolled in or accepted for
20 admission to a graduate degree in nursing program at an
21 approved institution; and
22 (3) that he or she agrees to meet the nurse educator
23 employment obligation.
24 (b) If in any year the number of qualified applicants
25 exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded under this
HB5482 - 56 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 57 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 57 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 57 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 Section, the Department shall, in consultation with the
2 Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board, consider the
3 following factors in granting priority in awarding
4 scholarships:
5 (1) Financial need, as shown on a standardized
6 financial needs assessment form used by an approved
7 institution, of students who will pursue their education
8 on a full-time or close to full-time basis and who already
9 have a diploma in nursing and are pursuing a higher
10 degree.
11 (2) A student's status as a registered nurse who is
12 pursuing a graduate degree in nursing to pursue employment
13 in an approved institution that educates licensed
14 practical nurses and that educates registered nurses in
15 undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.
16 (3) A student's merit, as shown through his or her
17 grade point average, class rank, experience as a nurse,
18 including supervisory experience, experience as a nurse in
19 the United States military, and other academic and
20 extracurricular activities.
21 (c) Unless otherwise indicated, scholarships under this
22 Section shall be awarded to recipients at approved
23 institutions for a period of up to 3 years.
24 (d) In accepting a scholarship under this Section, a
25 recipient must pledge that (i) within Within 12 months after
26 graduation from a graduate degree in nursing program for nurse
HB5482 - 57 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 58 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 58 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 58 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 educators, the any recipient will who accepted a scholarship
2 under this Section shall begin meeting the required nurse
3 educator employment obligation, and (ii) the recipient will,
4 upon request by the Commission, provide the Commission with
5 evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the
6 terms of the agreement provided for in this Section. In order
7 to defer his or her continuous employment obligation, a
8 recipient must request the deferment in writing from the
9 Department. A recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she
10 notifies the Department, within 30 days after enlisting, that
11 he or she is spending up to 4 years in military service. A
12 recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she notifies the
13 Department, within 30 days after enrolling, that he or she is
14 enrolled in an academic program leading to a graduate degree
15 in nursing. The recipient must begin meeting the required
16 nurse educator employment obligation no later than 6 months
17 after the end of the deferment or deferments.
18 Any person who fails to fulfill the nurse educator
19 employment obligation shall pay to the Department an amount
20 equal to the amount of scholarship funds received per year for
21 each unfulfilled year of the nurse educator employment
22 obligation, together with interest at 7% per year on the
23 unpaid balance. Payment must begin within 6 months following
24 the date of the occurrence initiating the repayment. All
25 repayments must be completed within 6 years from the date of
26 the occurrence initiating the repayment. However, this
HB5482 - 58 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 59 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 59 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 59 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
1 repayment obligation may be deferred and re-evaluated every 6
2 months when the failure to fulfill the nurse educator
3 employment obligation results from involuntarily leaving the
4 profession due to a decrease in the number of nurses employed
5 in this State or when the failure to fulfill the nurse educator
6 employment obligation results from total and permanent
7 disability. The repayment obligation shall be excused if the
8 failure to fulfill the nurse educator employment obligation
9 results from the death or adjudication as incompetent of the
10 person holding the scholarship. No claim for repayment may be
11 filed against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent.
12 The Department may allow a nurse educator employment
13 obligation fulfillment alternative if the nurse educator
14 scholarship recipient is unsuccessful in finding work as a
15 nurse educator. The Department shall maintain a database of
16 all available nurse educator positions in this State.
17 (e) Each person applying for a scholarship under this
18 Section must be provided with a copy of this Section at the
19 time of application for the benefits of this scholarship.
20 (f) Rulemaking authority to implement this Act is
21 conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all
22 provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and
23 all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
24 Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
25 whatever reason, is unauthorized.
26 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22;
HB5482 - 59 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482- 60 -LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b HB5482 - 60 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 60 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b
HB5482 - 60 - LRB103 38559 RJT 68695 b