103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2336 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Cristina Castro SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Removes a for-profit educational organization from the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". Provides that an applicant is eligible for a Monetary Award Program grant, including renewals of such grant, if the applicant, among other requirements, is not attending a for-profit institution of higher education. Removes a provision allowing Monetary Award Program grants to be made to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit institutions. Makes conforming changes. LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2336 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Cristina Castro SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Removes a for-profit educational organization from the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". Provides that an applicant is eligible for a Monetary Award Program grant, including renewals of such grant, if the applicant, among other requirements, is not attending a for-profit institution of higher education. Removes a provision allowing Monetary Award Program grants to be made to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit institutions. Makes conforming changes. LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2336 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Cristina Castro SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Removes a for-profit educational organization from the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". Provides that an applicant is eligible for a Monetary Award Program grant, including renewals of such grant, if the applicant, among other requirements, is not attending a for-profit institution of higher education. Removes a provision allowing Monetary Award Program grants to be made to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit institutions. Makes conforming changes. LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b A BILL FOR SB2336LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 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 10 and 35 as follows: 6 (110 ILCS 947/10) 7 Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act, and except to the 8 extent that any of the following words or phrases is 9 specifically qualified by its context: 10 "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance 11 Commission created by this Act. 12 "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance of an 13 individual's status as a student in an institution of higher 14 learning, regardless of the terms used at the institution to 15 describe that status. 16 "Approved high school" means any public high school 17 located in this State; and any high school, located in this 18 State or elsewhere (whether designated as a high school, 19 secondary school, academy, preparatory school, or otherwise) 20 which in the judgment of the State Superintendent of Education 21 provides a course of instruction at the secondary level and 22 maintains standards of instruction substantially equivalent to 23 those of the public high schools located in this State. 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2336 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Cristina Castro SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Removes a for-profit educational organization from the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". Provides that an applicant is eligible for a Monetary Award Program grant, including renewals of such grant, if the applicant, among other requirements, is not attending a for-profit institution of higher education. Removes a provision allowing Monetary Award Program grants to be made to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit institutions. Makes conforming changes. LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b A BILL FOR 110 ILCS 947/10 110 ILCS 947/35 LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336- 2 -LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 2 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 2 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b 1 "Institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", 2 or "institution" means an educational organization located in 3 this State which 4 (1) provides at least an organized 2 year program of 5 collegiate grade in the liberal arts or sciences, or both, 6 directly applicable toward the attainment of a 7 baccalaureate degree or a program in health education 8 directly applicable toward the attainment of a 9 certificate, diploma, or an associate degree; 10 (2) either is 11 (A) operated by this State, or 12 (B) operated publicly or privately, not for 13 profit, or 14 (C) (blank); operated for profit, provided such 15 for profit organization 16 (i) offers degree programs which have been 17 approved by the Board of Higher Education for a 18 minimum of 3 years under the Academic Degree Act, 19 and 20 (ii) enrolls a majority of its students in 21 such degree programs, and 22 (iii) maintains an accredited status with the 23 Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of 24 the North Central Association of Colleges and 25 Schools; 26 (3) in the judgment of the Commission meets standards SB2336 - 2 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336- 3 -LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 3 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 3 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b 1 substantially equivalent to those of comparable 2 institutions operated by this State; and 3 (4) if so required by the Commission, uses the State 4 as its primary guarantor of student loans made under the 5 federal Higher Education Act of 1965. 6 For otherwise eligible educational organizations which provide 7 academic programs for incarcerated students, the terms 8 "institution of higher learning", "qualified institutions", 9 and "institution" shall specifically exclude academic programs 10 for incarcerated students. 11 "Academic year" means a 12 month period of time, normally 12 but not exclusively, from September 1 of any year through 13 August 31 of the ensuing year. 14 "Full-time student" means any undergraduate student 15 enrolled in 12 or more semester or quarter hours of credit 16 courses in any given semester or quarter or in the equivalent 17 number of units of registration as determined by the 18 Commission. 19 "Part-time student" means any undergraduate student, other 20 than a full-time student, enrolled in 6 or more semester or 21 quarter hours of credit courses in any given semester or 22 quarter or in the equivalent number of units of registration 23 as determined by the Commission. Beginning with fiscal year 24 1999, the Commission may, on a program by program basis, 25 expand this definition of "part-time student" to include 26 students who enroll in less than 6 semester or quarter hours of SB2336 - 3 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336- 4 -LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 4 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 4 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b 1 credit courses in any given semester or quarter. 2 "Public university" means any public 4-year university in 3 this State. 4 "Public university campus" means any campus under the 5 governance or supervision of a public university. 6 (Source: P.A. 100-587, eff. 6-4-18; 100-1015, eff. 8-21-18.) 7 (110 ILCS 947/35) 8 Sec. 35. Monetary award program. 9 (a) The Commission shall, each year, receive and consider 10 applications for grant assistance under this Section. Subject 11 to a separate appropriation for such purposes, an applicant is 12 eligible for a grant under this Section when the Commission 13 finds that the applicant: 14 (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or 15 permanent resident of the United States; 16 (2) is enrolled or has been accepted for enrollment in 17 a qualified institution for the purpose of obtaining a 18 degree, certificate, or other credential offered by the 19 institution, as applicable; and 20 (3) in the absence of grant assistance, will be 21 deterred by financial considerations from completing an 22 educational program at the qualified institution of his or 23 her choice; and . 24 (4) is not attending a for-profit institution of 25 higher education. SB2336 - 4 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336- 5 -LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 5 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 5 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b 1 (b) The Commission shall award renewals only upon the 2 student's application and upon the Commission's finding that 3 the applicant: 4 (1) has remained a student in good standing; 5 (2) remains a resident of this State; and 6 (3) is in a financial situation that continues to 7 warrant assistance; and . 8 (4) is not attending a for-profit institution of 9 higher education. 10 (c) All grants shall be applicable only to tuition and 11 necessary fee costs. The Commission shall determine the grant 12 amount for each student, which shall not exceed the smallest 13 of the following amounts: 14 (1) subject to appropriation, $5,468 for fiscal year 15 2009, $5,968 for fiscal year 2010, $6,468 for fiscal year 16 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year 17 2022, and $8,508 for fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year 18 thereafter, or such lesser amount as the Commission finds 19 to be available, during an academic year; 20 (2) the amount which equals 2 semesters or 3 quarters 21 tuition and other necessary fees required generally by the 22 institution of all full-time undergraduate students; or 23 (3) such amount as the Commission finds to be 24 appropriate in view of the applicant's financial 25 resources. 26 Subject to appropriation, the maximum grant amount for SB2336 - 5 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336- 6 -LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 6 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 6 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b 1 students not subject to subdivision (1) of this subsection (c) 2 must be increased by the same percentage as any increase made 3 by law to the maximum grant amount under subdivision (1) of 4 this subsection (c). 5 "Tuition and other necessary fees" as used in this Section 6 include the customary charge for instruction and use of 7 facilities in general, and the additional fixed fees charged 8 for specified purposes, which are required generally of 9 nongrant recipients for each academic period for which the 10 grant applicant actually enrolls, but do not include fees 11 payable only once or breakage fees and other contingent 12 deposits which are refundable in whole or in part. The 13 Commission may prescribe, by rule not inconsistent with this 14 Section, detailed provisions concerning the computation of 15 tuition and other necessary fees. 16 (d) No applicant, including those presently receiving 17 scholarship assistance under this Act, is eligible for 18 monetary award program consideration under this Act after 19 receiving a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 135 20 semester credit hours of award payments. 21 (d-5) In this subsection (d-5), "renewing applicant" means 22 a student attending an institution of higher learning who 23 received a Monetary Award Program grant during the prior 24 academic year. Beginning with the processing of applications 25 for the 2020-2021 academic year, the Commission shall annually 26 publish a priority deadline date for renewing applicants. SB2336 - 6 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336- 7 -LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 7 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 7 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b 1 Subject to appropriation, a renewing applicant who files by 2 the published priority deadline date shall receive a grant if 3 he or she continues to meet the eligibility requirements under 4 this Section. A renewing applicant's failure to apply by the 5 priority deadline date established under this subsection (d-5) 6 shall not disqualify him or her from receiving a grant if 7 sufficient funding is available to provide awards after that 8 date. 9 (e) The Commission, in determining the number of grants to 10 be offered, shall take into consideration past experience with 11 the rate of grant funds unclaimed by recipients. The 12 Commission shall notify applicants that grant assistance is 13 contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. 14 (e-5) The General Assembly finds and declares that it is 15 an important purpose of the Monetary Award Program to 16 facilitate access to college both for students who pursue 17 postsecondary education immediately following high school and 18 for those who pursue postsecondary education later in life, 19 particularly Illinoisans who are dislocated workers with 20 financial need and who are seeking to improve their economic 21 position through education. For the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 22 academic years, the Commission shall give additional and 23 specific consideration to the needs of dislocated workers with 24 the intent of allowing applicants who are dislocated workers 25 an opportunity to secure financial assistance even if applying 26 later than the general pool of applicants. The Commission's SB2336 - 7 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336- 8 -LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 8 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 8 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b 1 consideration shall include, in determining the number of 2 grants to be offered, an estimate of the resources needed to 3 serve dislocated workers who apply after the Commission 4 initially suspends award announcements for the upcoming 5 regular academic year, but prior to the beginning of that 6 academic year. For the purposes of this subsection (e-5), a 7 dislocated worker is defined as in the federal Workforce 8 Innovation and Opportunity Act. 9 (f) (Blank). 10 (g) (Blank). The Commission shall determine the 11 eligibility of and make grants to applicants enrolled at 12 qualified for-profit institutions in accordance with the 13 criteria set forth in this Section. The eligibility of 14 applicants enrolled at such for-profit institutions shall be 15 limited as follows: 16 (1) Beginning with the academic year 1997, only to 17 eligible first-time freshmen and first-time transfer 18 students who have attained an associate degree. 19 (2) Beginning with the academic year 1998, only to 20 eligible freshmen students, transfer students who have 21 attained an associate degree, and students who receive a 22 grant under paragraph (1) for the academic year 1997 and 23 whose grants are being renewed for the academic year 1998. 24 (3) Beginning with the academic year 1999, to all 25 eligible students. 26 (h) The Commission may award a grant to an eligible SB2336 - 8 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336- 9 -LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 9 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b SB2336 - 9 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b 1 applicant enrolled at an Illinois public institution of higher 2 learning in a program that will culminate in the award of an 3 occupational or career and technical certificate as that term 4 is defined in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1501.301. 5 (i) The Commission may adopt rules to implement this 6 Section. 7 (Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.) SB2336 - 9 - LRB103 29713 RJT 56118 b