103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3397 Introduced 2/8/2024, by Sen. Celina Villanueva SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 110 ILCS 947/10110 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. Effective July 1, 2025. LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3397 Introduced 2/8/2024, by Sen. Celina Villanueva SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 110 ILCS 947/10110 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. Effective July 1, 2025. LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b A BILL FOR
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3397 Introduced 2/8/2024, by Sen. Celina Villanueva SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 947/10110 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. Effective July 1, 2025.
LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
A BILL FOR
SB3397LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b SB3397 LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 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 SB3397 Introduced 2/8/2024, by Sen. Celina Villanueva SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 947/10110 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. Effective July 1, 2025.
LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
A BILL FOR
110 ILCS 947/10
110 ILCS 947/35
LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397- 2 -LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b SB3397 - 2 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 - 2 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 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
SB3397 - 2 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397- 3 -LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b SB3397 - 3 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 - 3 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 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
SB3397 - 3 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397- 4 -LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b SB3397 - 4 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 - 4 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 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.
SB3397 - 4 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397- 5 -LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b SB3397 - 5 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 - 5 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 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, $8,508 for fiscal year 2023, and $10,896 for fiscal
18 year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, or such lesser
19 amount as the Commission finds to be available, during an
20 academic year;
21 (2) the amount which equals 2 semesters or 3 quarters
22 tuition and other necessary fees required generally by the
23 institution of all full-time undergraduate students; or
24 (3) such amount as the Commission finds to be
25 appropriate in view of the applicant's financial
26 resources.
SB3397 - 5 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397- 6 -LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b SB3397 - 6 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 - 6 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
1 Subject to appropriation, the maximum grant amount for
2 students not subject to subdivision (1) of this subsection (c)
3 must be increased by the same percentage as any increase made
4 by law to the maximum grant amount under subdivision (1) of
5 this subsection (c).
6 "Tuition and other necessary fees" as used in this Section
7 include the customary charge for instruction and use of
8 facilities in general, and the additional fixed fees charged
9 for specified purposes, which are required generally of
10 nongrant recipients for each academic period for which the
11 grant applicant actually enrolls, but do not include fees
12 payable only once or breakage fees and other contingent
13 deposits which are refundable in whole or in part. The
14 Commission may prescribe, by rule not inconsistent with this
15 Section, detailed provisions concerning the computation of
16 tuition and other necessary fees.
17 (d) No applicant, including those presently receiving
18 scholarship assistance under this Act, is eligible for
19 monetary award program consideration under this Act after
20 receiving a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 135
21 semester credit hours of award payments.
22 (d-5) In this subsection (d-5), "renewing applicant" means
23 a student attending an institution of higher learning who
24 received a Monetary Award Program grant during the prior
25 academic year. Beginning with the processing of applications
26 for the 2020-2021 academic year, the Commission shall annually
SB3397 - 6 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397- 7 -LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b SB3397 - 7 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 - 7 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
1 publish a priority deadline date for renewing applicants.
2 Subject to appropriation, a renewing applicant who files by
3 the published priority deadline date shall receive a grant if
4 he or she continues to meet the eligibility requirements under
5 this Section. A renewing applicant's failure to apply by the
6 priority deadline date established under this subsection (d-5)
7 shall not disqualify him or her from receiving a grant if
8 sufficient funding is available to provide awards after that
9 date.
10 (e) The Commission, in determining the number of grants to
11 be offered, shall take into consideration past experience with
12 the rate of grant funds unclaimed by recipients. The
13 Commission shall notify applicants that grant assistance is
14 contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.
15 (e-5) The General Assembly finds and declares that it is
16 an important purpose of the Monetary Award Program to
17 facilitate access to college both for students who pursue
18 postsecondary education immediately following high school and
19 for those who pursue postsecondary education later in life,
20 particularly Illinoisans who are dislocated workers with
21 financial need and who are seeking to improve their economic
22 position through education. For the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017
23 academic years, the Commission shall give additional and
24 specific consideration to the needs of dislocated workers with
25 the intent of allowing applicants who are dislocated workers
26 an opportunity to secure financial assistance even if applying
SB3397 - 7 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397- 8 -LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b SB3397 - 8 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 - 8 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
1 later than the general pool of applicants. The Commission's
2 consideration shall include, in determining the number of
3 grants to be offered, an estimate of the resources needed to
4 serve dislocated workers who apply after the Commission
5 initially suspends award announcements for the upcoming
6 regular academic year, but prior to the beginning of that
7 academic year. For the purposes of this subsection (e-5), a
8 dislocated worker is defined as in the federal Workforce
9 Innovation and Opportunity Act.
10 (f) (Blank).
11 (g) (Blank). The Commission shall determine the
12 eligibility of and make grants to applicants enrolled at
13 qualified for-profit institutions in accordance with the
14 criteria set forth in this Section. The eligibility of
15 applicants enrolled at such for-profit institutions shall be
16 limited as follows:
17 (1) Beginning with the academic year 1997, only to
18 eligible first-time freshmen and first-time transfer
19 students who have attained an associate degree.
20 (2) Beginning with the academic year 1998, only to
21 eligible freshmen students, transfer students who have
22 attained an associate degree, and students who receive a
23 grant under paragraph (1) for the academic year 1997 and
24 whose grants are being renewed for the academic year 1998.
25 (3) Beginning with the academic year 1999, to all
26 eligible students.
SB3397 - 8 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397- 9 -LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b SB3397 - 9 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
SB3397 - 9 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b
1 (h) The Commission may award a grant to an eligible
2 applicant enrolled at an Illinois public institution of higher
3 learning in a program that will culminate in the award of an
4 occupational or career and technical certificate as that term
5 is defined in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1501.301.
6 (i) The Commission may adopt rules to implement this
7 Section.
8 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)
SB3397 - 9 - LRB103 38539 RJT 68675 b