Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB2791 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2791 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzlez, 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 on the effective date of the amendatory Act,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 Illinois Student Assistance Commission is responsible for collections shall be released from the remaining financial repayment obligations under that program. 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 and in the Nursing Education Scholarship Law, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of a recipient to fulfill the recipient's obligations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2791 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzlez, 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 on the effective date of the amendatory Act,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 Illinois Student Assistance Commission is responsible for collections shall be released from the remaining financial repayment obligations under that program. 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 and in the Nursing Education Scholarship Law, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of a recipient to fulfill the recipient's obligations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b A BILL FOR
2	2	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2791 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzlez, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3	3	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
4	4	110 ILCS 947/20
5	5	110 ILCS 947/50
6	6	110 ILCS 947/52
7	7	110 ILCS 947/65.15
8	8	110 ILCS 947/65.70
9	9	110 ILCS 947/65.110
10	10	110 ILCS 947/65.120
11	11	110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752
12	12	110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753
13	13	110 ILCS 975/3.1
14	14	110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754
15	15	110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756
16	16	110 ILCS 975/6.5
17	17	Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that on the effective date of the amendatory Act,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 Illinois Student Assistance Commission is responsible for collections shall be released from the remaining financial repayment obligations under that program. 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 and in the Nursing Education Scholarship Law, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of a recipient to fulfill the recipient's obligations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
18	18	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
19	19	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
20	20	A BILL FOR
21	21	HB2791LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
22	22	HB2791 LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
23	23	1 AN ACT concerning education.
24	24	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
25	25	3 represented in the General Assembly:
26	26	4 Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
27	27	5 amended by changing Sections 20, 50, 52, 65.15, 65.70, 65.110,
28	28	6 and 65.120 as follows:
29	29	7 (110 ILCS 947/20)
30	30	8 Sec. 20. Functions of Commission.
31	31	9 (a) The Commission, in accordance with this Act, shall
32	32	10 prepare and supervise the issuance of public information
33	33	11 concerning its provisions; prescribe the form and regulate the
34	34	12 submission of applications for assistance; provide for and
35	35	13 conduct, or cause to be conducted, all eligibility
36	36	14 determinations of applicants; award the appropriate financial
37	37	15 assistance; and, upon request by a member of the General
38	38	16 Assembly, nominate or evaluate and recommend for nomination
39	39	17 applicants for General Assembly scholarships in accordance
40	40	18 with criteria specified by the member under Section 30-9 of
41	41	19 the School Code.
42	42	20 (b) The Commission is authorized to participate in any
43	43	21 programs for monetary assistance to students and to receive,
44	44	22 hold, and disburse all such funds made available by any agency
45	45	23 or organization for the purpose or purposes for which they are
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49	49	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2791 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzlez, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
50	50	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
51	51	110 ILCS 947/20
52	52	110 ILCS 947/50
53	53	110 ILCS 947/52
54	54	110 ILCS 947/65.15
55	55	110 ILCS 947/65.70
56	56	110 ILCS 947/65.110
57	57	110 ILCS 947/65.120
58	58	110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752
59	59	110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753
60	60	110 ILCS 975/3.1
61	61	110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754
62	62	110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756
63	63	110 ILCS 975/6.5
64	64	Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that on the effective date of the amendatory Act,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 Illinois Student Assistance Commission is responsible for collections shall be released from the remaining financial repayment obligations under that program. 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 and in the Nursing Education Scholarship Law, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of a recipient to fulfill the recipient's obligations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
65	65	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
66	66	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
67	67	A BILL FOR
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73	73	110 ILCS 947/20
74	74	110 ILCS 947/50
75	75	110 ILCS 947/52
76	76	110 ILCS 947/65.15
77	77	110 ILCS 947/65.70
78	78	110 ILCS 947/65.110
79	79	110 ILCS 947/65.120
80	80	110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752
81	81	110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753
82	82	110 ILCS 975/3.1
83	83	110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754
84	84	110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756
85	85	110 ILCS 975/6.5
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104	104	1 made available. The Commission is authorized to administer a
105	105	2 program of grant assistance as authorized by the Baccalaureate
106	106	3 Savings Act. The Commission is authorized to participate in
107	107	4 any programs established to improve student financial aid
108	108	5 services or the proficiency of persons engaged in student
109	109	6 financial aid services and to receive, hold, and disburse all
110	110	7 funds made available by any agency or organization for the
111	111	8 purpose or purposes for which they are made available subject
112	112	9 to the appropriations of the General Assembly.
113	113	10 (c) The Commission is authorized to deny a scholarship or
114	114	11 a grant to any person who has defaulted on a guaranteed student
115	115	12 loan and who is not maintaining a satisfactory repayment
116	116	13 record. If a person has a defaulted guaranteed student loan
117	117	14 but is otherwise eligible for assistance pursuant to Section
118	118	15 40, the Commission shall award one term of assistance during
119	119	16 which a satisfactory repayment record must be established. If
120	120	17 such a repayment record is not established, additional
121	121	18 assistance shall be denied until a satisfactory repayment
122	122	19 record is established.
123	123	20 (d) The Commission is authorized to participate with
124	124	21 federal, state, county, local, and university law enforcement
125	125	22 agencies in cooperative efforts to detect and prosecute
126	126	23 incidents of fraud in student assistance programs.
127	127	24 (e) The Administrative Review Law shall apply to and
128	128	25 govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final
129	129	26 administrative decisions of the Commission.
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140	140	1 (f) The Commission is authorized to make all necessary and
141	141	2 proper rules, not inconsistent with this Act, for the
142	142	3 efficient exercise of the foregoing functions.
143	143	4 (g) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the functions of
144	144	5 the Commission shall be exercised without regard to any
145	145	6 applicant's race, creed, sex, color, national origin, or
146	146	7 ancestry.
147	147	8 (h) The Commission is authorized to establish systems and
148	148	9 programs to encourage employers to match employee
149	149	10 contributions to prepaid programs of college savings by making
150	150	11 donations to the Commission for prepaid programs of college
151	151	12 savings to make higher education affordable for all residents
152	152	13 of the State and to receive, hold, and disburse all such funds
153	153	14 made available through those programs for the purposes for
154	154	15 which they are authorized by rule or by law.
155	155	16 (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
156	156	17 contrary, on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
157	157	18 104th General Assembly, any recipient of a scholarship, grant,
158	158	19 or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan
159	159	20 under a State program for which the Commission is responsible
160	160	21 for collections shall be released from the remaining financial
161	161	22 repayment obligations under that program. This includes
162	162	23 financial repayment obligations under Section 50, 52, 65.15,
163	163	24 65.70, 65.110, or 65.120, the Nursing Education Scholarship
164	164	25 Law, or any other similarly structured State scholarship,
165	165	26 grant, or waiver program for which the Commission is or may
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176	176	1 become responsible for collections.
177	177	2 The release from financial repayment obligations under
178	178	3 this subsection (i) applies only to financial repayment
179	179	4 obligations resulting from a recipient's failure to complete
180	180	5 any required employment obligation under the terms of the
181	181	6 scholarship, grant, or waiver. The release does not apply to
182	182	7 amounts owed to the Commission for other reasons, including,
183	183	8 but not limited to, error, fraud, rescission of funds, or
184	184	9 because a recipient ceased to be eligible for the amount
185	185	10 initially awarded.
186	186	11 (Source: P.A. 96-198, eff. 8-10-09.)
187	187	12 (110 ILCS 947/50)
188	188	13 Sec. 50. Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
189	189	14 program.
190	190	15 (a) As used in this Section:
191	191	16 "Eligible applicant" means a minority student who has
192	192	17 graduated from high school or has received a State of
193	193	18 Illinois High School Diploma and has maintained a
194	194	19 cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0
195	195	20 scale, and who by reason thereof is entitled to apply for
196	196	21 scholarships to be awarded under this Section.
197	197	22 "Minority student" means a student who is any of the
198	198	23 following:
199	199	24 (1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person
200	200	25 having origins in any of the original peoples of North
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211	211	1 and South America, including Central America, and who
212	212	2 maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment).
213	213	3 (2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the
214	214	4 original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or
215	215	5 the Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited
216	216	6 to, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
217	217	7 Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and
218	218	8 Vietnam).
219	219	9 (3) Black or African American (a person having
220	220	10 origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa).
221	221	11 (4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban,
222	222	12 Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or
223	223	13 other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race).
224	224	14 (5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a
225	225	15 person having origins in any of the original peoples
226	226	16 of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).
227	227	17 "Qualified bilingual minority applicant" means a
228	228	18 qualified student who demonstrates proficiency in a
229	229	19 language other than English by (i) receiving a State Seal
230	230	20 of Biliteracy from the State Board of Education or (ii)
231	231	21 receiving a passing score on an educator licensure target
232	232	22 language proficiency test.
233	233	23 "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a
234	234	24 resident of this State and a citizen or permanent resident
235	235	25 of the United States; (ii) who is a minority student, as
236	236	26 defined in this Section; (iii) who, as an eligible
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247	247	1 applicant, has made a timely application for a minority
248	248	2 teaching scholarship under this Section; (iv) who is
249	249	3 enrolled on at least a half-time basis at a qualified
250	250	4 Illinois institution of higher learning; (v) who is
251	251	5 enrolled in a course of study leading to teacher
252	252	6 licensure, including alternative teacher licensure, or, if
253	253	7 the student is already licensed to teach, in a course of
254	254	8 study leading to an additional teaching endorsement or a
255	255	9 master's degree in an academic field in which he or she is
256	256	10 teaching or plans to teach or who has received one or more
257	257	11 College and Career Pathway Endorsements pursuant to
258	258	12 Section 80 of the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness
259	259	13 Act and commits to enrolling in a course of study leading
260	260	14 to teacher licensure, including alternative teacher
261	261	15 licensure; (vi) who maintains a grade point average of no
262	262	16 less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; and (vii) who continues to
263	263	17 advance satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
264	264	18 (b) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
265	265	19 minority students to pursue teaching careers at the preschool
266	266	20 or elementary or secondary school level and to address and
267	267	21 alleviate the teacher shortage crisis in this State described
268	268	22 under the provisions of the Transitions in Education Act, each
269	269	23 qualified student shall be awarded a minority teacher
270	270	24 scholarship to any qualified Illinois institution of higher
271	271	25 learning. However, preference may be given to qualified
272	272	26 applicants enrolled at or above the junior level.
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283	283	1 (c) Each minority teacher scholarship awarded under this
284	284	2 Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and
285	285	3 fees and room and board costs of the qualified Illinois
286	286	4 institution of higher learning at which the recipient is
287	287	5 enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $5,000; except that in the
288	288	6 case of a recipient who does not reside on-campus at the
289	289	7 institution at which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the
290	290	8 scholarship shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee
291	291	9 expenses and a commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of
292	292	10 $5,000. However, if at least $2,850,000 is appropriated in a
293	293	11 given fiscal year for the Minority Teachers of Illinois
294	294	12 scholarship program, then, in each fiscal year thereafter,
295	295	13 each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be in an
296	296	14 amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room and
297	297	15 board costs of the qualified Illinois institution of higher
298	298	16 learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual
299	299	17 maximum of $7,500; except that in the case of a recipient who
300	300	18 does not reside on-campus at the institution at which he or she
301	301	19 is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient
302	302	20 to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to
303	303	21 an annual maximum of $7,500.
304	304	22 (d) The total amount of minority teacher scholarship
305	305	23 assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an
306	306	24 individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other
307	307	25 financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year,
308	308	26 shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at
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319	319	1 which the student is enrolled. If the amount of a minority
320	320	2 teacher scholarship to be awarded to a qualified student as
321	321	3 provided in subsection (c) of this Section exceeds the cost of
322	322	4 attendance at the institution at which the student is
323	323	5 enrolled, the minority teacher scholarship shall be reduced by
324	324	6 an amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
325	325	7 assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
326	326	8 attendance.
327	327	9 (e) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
328	328	10 qualified student can receive minority teacher scholarship
329	329	11 assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
330	330	12 (f) In any academic year for which an eligible applicant
331	331	13 under this Section accepts financial assistance through the
332	332	14 Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program, as authorized by
333	333	15 Section 551 et seq. of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the
334	334	16 applicant shall not be eligible for scholarship assistance
335	335	17 awarded under this Section.
336	336	18 (g) All applications for minority teacher scholarships to
337	337	19 be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission
338	338	20 on forms which the Commission shall provide for eligible
339	339	21 applicants. The form of applications and the information
340	340	22 required to be set forth therein shall be determined by the
341	341	23 Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible
342	342	24 applicants to submit with their applications such supporting
343	343	25 documents or recommendations as the Commission deems
344	344	26 necessary.
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355	355	1 (h) Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes,
356	356	2 payment of any minority teacher scholarship awarded under this
357	357	3 Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship
358	358	4 funds distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be
359	359	5 paid to the institution and used only for payment of the
360	360	6 tuition and fee and room and board expenses incurred by the
361	361	7 student in connection with his or her attendance at a
362	362	8 qualified Illinois institution of higher learning. Any
363	363	9 minority teacher scholarship awarded under this Section shall
364	364	10 be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment. If a
365	365	11 qualified student withdraws from enrollment prior to
366	366	12 completion of the first semester or quarter for which the
367	367	13 minority teacher scholarship is applicable, the school shall
368	368	14 refund to the Commission the full amount of the minority
369	369	15 teacher scholarship.
370	370	16 (i) The Commission shall administer the minority teacher
371	371	17 scholarship aid program established by this Section and shall
372	372	18 make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
373	373	19 Section for its effective implementation.
374	374	20 (j) When an appropriation to the Commission for a given
375	375	21 fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
376	376	22 qualified students, the Commission shall allocate the
377	377	23 appropriation in accordance with this subsection. If funds are
378	378	24 insufficient to provide all qualified students with a
379	379	25 scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission
380	380	26 shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal
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391	391	1 year to qualified students who submit a complete application
392	392	2 form on or before a date specified by the Commission based on
393	393	3 the following order of priority:
394	394	4 (1) To students who received a scholarship under this
395	395	5 Section in the prior academic year and who remain eligible
396	396	6 for a minority teacher scholarship under this Section.
397	397	7 (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (k), to
398	398	8 students who demonstrate financial need, as determined by
399	399	9 the Commission.
400	400	10 (k) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subsection (j), at
401	401	11 least 35% of the funds appropriated for scholarships awarded
402	402	12 under this Section in each fiscal year shall be reserved for
403	403	13 qualified male minority applicants, with priority being given
404	404	14 to qualified Black male applicants beginning with fiscal year
405	405	15 2023. If the Commission does not receive enough applications
406	406	16 from qualified male minorities on or before January 1 of each
407	407	17 fiscal year to award 35% of the funds appropriated for these
408	408	18 scholarships to qualified male minority applicants, then the
409	409	19 Commission may award a portion of the reserved funds to
410	410	20 qualified female minority applicants in accordance with
411	411	21 subsection (j).
412	412	22 Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at least $2,850,000
413	413	23 but less than $4,200,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal
414	414	24 year for scholarships awarded under this Section, then at
415	415	25 least 10% of the funds appropriated shall be reserved for
416	416	26 qualified bilingual minority applicants, with priority being
417	417
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419	419
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427	427	1 given to qualified bilingual minority applicants who are
428	428	2 enrolled in an educator preparation program with a
429	429	3 concentration in bilingual, bicultural education. Beginning
430	430	4 with fiscal year 2023, if at least $4,200,000 is appropriated
431	431	5 in a given fiscal year for the Minority Teachers of Illinois
432	432	6 scholarship program, then at least 30% of the funds
433	433	7 appropriated shall be reserved for qualified bilingual
434	434	8 minority applicants, with priority being given to qualified
435	435	9 bilingual minority applicants who are enrolled in an educator
436	436	10 preparation program with a concentration in bilingual,
437	437	11 bicultural education. Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at
438	438	12 least $2,850,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal year for
439	439	13 scholarships awarded under this Section but the Commission
440	440	14 does not receive enough applications from qualified bilingual
441	441	15 minority applicants on or before January 1 of that fiscal year
442	442	16 to award at least 10% of the funds appropriated to qualified
443	443	17 bilingual minority applicants, then the Commission may, in its
444	444	18 discretion, award a portion of the reserved funds to other
445	445	19 qualified students in accordance with subsection (j).
446	446	20 (l) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
447	447	21 academic year, each recipient of a minority teacher
448	448	22 scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by
449	449	23 the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient
450	450	24 pledges that, within the one-year period following the
451	451	25 termination of the program for which the recipient was awarded
452	452	26 a minority teacher scholarship, the recipient (i) shall begin
453	453
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455	455
456	456
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459	459
460	460
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462	462	HB2791 - 12 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
463	463	1 teaching for a period of not less than one year for each year
464	464	2 of scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
465	465	3 Section; (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a
466	466	4 nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool,
467	467	5 elementary school, or secondary school at which no less than
468	468	6 30% of the enrolled students are minority students in the year
469	469	7 during which the recipient begins teaching at the school or
470	470	8 may instead, if the recipient received a scholarship as a
471	471	9 qualified bilingual minority applicant, fulfill this teaching
472	472	10 obligation in a program in transitional bilingual education
473	473	11 pursuant to Article 14C of the School Code or in a school in
474	474	12 which 20 or more English learner students in the same language
475	475	13 classification are enrolled; and (iii) shall, upon request by
476	476	14 the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that he
477	477	15 or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
478	478	16 agreement provided for in this subsection.
479	479	17 (m) (Blank). If a recipient of a minority teacher
480	480	18 scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the
481	481	19 teaching obligation set forth in subsection (l) of this
482	482	20 Section, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay
483	483	21 the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to
484	484	22 the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, at a
485	485	23 rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable
486	486	24 collection fees. If a recipient who enters into repayment
487	487	25 under this subsection (m) subsequently, within 5 years of
488	488	26 entering repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the
489	489
490	490
491	491
492	492
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495	495
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498	498	HB2791 - 13 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
499	499	1 description under subsection (l) of this Section, the
500	500	2 Commission may reduce the amount owed by the recipient in
501	501	3 proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed.
502	502	4 The Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to
503	503	5 its collection activities for repayment of scholarships under
504	504	6 this Section. All repayments collected under this Section
505	505	7 shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller for deposit into
506	506	8 the State's General Revenue Fund.
507	507	9 (n) (Blank). A recipient of minority teacher scholarship
508	508	10 shall not be considered in violation of the agreement entered
509	509	11 into pursuant to subsection (l) if the recipient (i) enrolls
510	510	12 on a full time basis as a graduate student in a course of study
511	511	13 related to the field of teaching at a qualified Illinois
512	512	14 institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not in excess
513	513	15 of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the United
514	514	16 States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total disability
515	515	17 for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as established by
516	516	18 sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and
517	517	19 unable to find full time employment as a teacher at an Illinois
518	518	20 public, private, or parochial preschool or elementary or
519	519	21 secondary school that satisfies the criteria set forth in
520	520	22 subsection (l) of this Section and is able to provide evidence
521	521	23 of that fact; (v) becomes a person with a permanent total
522	522	24 disability as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified
523	523	25 physician; (vi) is taking additional courses, on at least a
524	524	26 half-time basis, needed to obtain licensure as a teacher in
525	525
526	526
527	527
528	528
529	529
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531	531
532	532
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535	535	1 Illinois; or (vii) is fulfilling teaching requirements
536	536	2 associated with other programs administered by the Commission
537	537	3 and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a
538	538	4 period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation.
539	539	5 (o) (Blank). Scholarship recipients under this Section who
540	540	6 withdraw from a program of teacher education but remain
541	541	7 enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in
542	542	8 another academic discipline shall not be required to commence
543	543	9 repayment of their Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
544	544	10 so long as they remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis
545	545	11 or if they can document for the Commission special
546	546	12 circumstances that warrant extension of repayment.
547	547	13 (p) If the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
548	548	14 program does not expend at least 90% of the amount
549	549	15 appropriated for the program in a given fiscal year for 3
550	550	16 consecutive fiscal years and the Commission does not receive
551	551	17 enough applications from the groups identified in subsection
552	552	18 (k) on or before January 1 in each of those fiscal years to
553	553	19 meet the percentage reserved for those groups under subsection
554	554	20 (k), then up to 3% of amount appropriated for the program for
555	555	21 each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated to increasing
556	556	22 awareness of the program and for the recruitment of Black male
557	557	23 applicants. The Commission shall make a recommendation to the
558	558	24 General Assembly by January 1 of the year immediately
559	559	25 following the end of that third fiscal year regarding whether
560	560	26 the amount allocated to increasing awareness and recruitment
561	561
562	562
563	563
564	564
565	565
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567	567
568	568
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571	571	1 should continue.
572	572	2 (q) Each qualified Illinois institution of higher learning
573	573	3 that receives funds from the Minority Teachers of Illinois
574	574	4 scholarship program shall host an annual information session
575	575	5 at the institution about the program for teacher candidates of
576	576	6 color in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission.
577	577	7 Additionally, the institution shall ensure that each
578	578	8 scholarship recipient enrolled at the institution meets with
579	579	9 an academic advisor at least once per academic year to
580	580	10 facilitate on-time completion of the recipient's educator
581	581	11 preparation program.
582	582	12 (r) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 101-654
583	583	13 will first take effect with awards made for the 2022-2023
584	584	14 academic year.
585	585	15 (Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
586	586	16 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; revised 7-19-24.)
587	587	17 (110 ILCS 947/52)
588	588	18 Sec. 52. Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program; Golden
589	589	19 Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching.
590	590	20 (a) In this Section, "Foundation" means the Golden Apple
591	591	21 Foundation for Excellence in Teaching, a registered 501(c)(3)
592	592	22 not-for-profit corporation.
593	593	23 (a-2) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
594	594	24 students, especially minority students, to pursue teaching
595	595	25 careers, especially in teacher shortage disciplines (which
596	596
597	597
598	598
599	599
600	600
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602	602
603	603
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606	606	1 shall be defined to include early childhood education) or at
607	607	2 hard-to-staff schools (as defined by the Commission in
608	608	3 consultation with the State Board of Education), to provide
609	609	4 those students with the crucial mentoring, guidance, and
610	610	5 in-service support that will significantly increase the
611	611	6 likelihood that they will complete their full teaching
612	612	7 commitments and elect to continue teaching in targeted
613	613	8 disciplines and hard-to-staff schools, and to ensure that
614	614	9 students in this State will continue to have access to a pool
615	615	10 of highly qualified highly-qualified teachers, each qualified
616	616	11 student shall be awarded a Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois
617	617	12 Program scholarship to any Illinois institution of higher
618	618	13 learning. The Commission shall administer the Golden Apple
619	619	14 Scholars of Illinois Program, which shall be managed by the
620	620	15 Foundation pursuant to the terms of a grant agreement meeting
621	621	16 the requirements of Section 4 of the Illinois Grant Funds
622	622	17 Recovery Act.
623	623	18 (a-3) For purposes of this Section, a qualified student
624	624	19 shall be a student who meets the following qualifications:
625	625	20 (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
626	626	21 eligible noncitizen of the United States;
627	627	22 (2) is a high school graduate or a person who has
628	628	23 received a State of Illinois High School Diploma;
629	629	24 (3) is enrolled or accepted, on at least a half-time
630	630	25 basis, at an institution of higher learning;
631	631	26 (4) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study
632	632
633	633
634	634
635	635
636	636
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638	638
639	639
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641	641	HB2791 - 17 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
642	642	1 leading to initial certification or pursuing additional
643	643	2 course work needed to gain State Board of Education
644	644	3 approval to teach, including alternative teacher
645	645	4 licensure; and
646	646	5 (5) is a participant in programs managed by and is
647	647	6 approved to receive a scholarship from the Foundation.
648	648	7 (a-5) (Blank).
649	649	8 (b) (Blank).
650	650	9 (b-5) Funds designated for the Golden Apple Scholars of
651	651	10 Illinois Program shall be used by the Commission for the
652	652	11 payment of scholarship assistance under this Section or for
653	653	12 the award of grant funds, subject to the Illinois Grant Funds
654	654	13 Recovery Act, to the Foundation. Subject to appropriation,
655	655	14 awards of grant funds to the Foundation shall be made on an
656	656	15 annual basis and following an application for grant funds by
657	657	16 the Foundation.
658	658	17 (b-10) Each year, the Foundation shall include in its
659	659	18 application to the Commission for grant funds an estimate of
660	660	19 the amount of scholarship assistance to be provided to
661	661	20 qualified students during the grant period. Any amount of
662	662	21 appropriated funds exceeding the estimated amount of
663	663	22 scholarship assistance may be awarded by the Commission to the
664	664	23 Foundation for management expenses expected to be incurred by
665	665	24 the Foundation in providing the mentoring, guidance, and
666	666	25 in-service supports that will increase the likelihood that
667	667	26 qualified students will complete their teaching commitments
668	668
669	669
670	670
671	671
672	672
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674	674
675	675
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678	678	1 and elect to continue teaching in hard-to-staff schools. If
679	679	2 the estimate of the amount of scholarship assistance described
680	680	3 in the Foundation's application is less than the actual amount
681	681	4 required for the award of scholarship assistance to qualified
682	682	5 students, the Foundation shall be responsible for using
683	683	6 awarded grant funds to ensure all qualified students receive
684	684	7 scholarship assistance under this Section.
685	685	8 (b-15) All grant funds not expended or legally obligated
686	686	9 within the time specified in a grant agreement between the
687	687	10 Foundation and the Commission shall be returned to the
688	688	11 Commission within 45 days. Any funds legally obligated by the
689	689	12 end of a grant agreement shall be liquidated within 45 days or
690	690	13 otherwise returned to the Commission within 90 days after the
691	691	14 end of the grant agreement that resulted in the award of grant
692	692	15 funds.
693	693	16 (c) Each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
694	694	17 in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room
695	695	18 and board costs of the Illinois institution of higher learning
696	696	19 at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of
697	697	20 $5,000; except that, in the case of a recipient who does not
698	698	21 reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at
699	699	22 which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship
700	700	23 shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a
701	701	24 commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. All
702	702	25 scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this Section
703	703	26 shall be paid to the institution on behalf of recipients.
704	704
705	705
706	706
707	707
708	708
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710	710
711	711
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713	713	HB2791 - 19 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
714	714	1 (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
715	715	2 the Commission under this Section to an individual in any
716	716	3 given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
717	717	4 awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the
718	718	5 cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at
719	719	6 which the student is enrolled. In any academic year for which a
720	720	7 qualified student under this Section accepts financial
721	721	8 assistance through any other teacher scholarship program
722	722	9 administered by the Commission, a qualified student shall not
723	723	10 be eligible for scholarship assistance awarded under this
724	724	11 Section.
725	725	12 (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12
726	726	13 quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section.
727	727	14 Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3
728	728	15 quarters of enrollment each academic year.
729	729	16 (f) All applications for scholarship assistance to be
730	730	17 awarded under this Section shall be made to the Foundation in a
731	731	18 form determined by the Foundation. Each year, the Foundation
732	732	19 shall notify the Commission of the individuals awarded
733	733	20 scholarship assistance under this Section. Each year, at least
734	734	21 30% of the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program
735	735	22 scholarships shall be awarded to students residing in counties
736	736	23 having a population of less than 500,000.
737	737	24 (g) (Blank).
738	738	25 (h) The Commission shall administer the payment of
739	739	26 scholarship assistance provided through the Golden Apple
740	740
741	741
742	742
743	743
744	744
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746	746
747	747
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749	749	HB2791 - 20 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
750	750	1 Scholars of Illinois Program and shall make all necessary and
751	751	2 proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for the
752	752	3 effective implementation of this Section.
753	753	4 (i) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
754	754	5 academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
755	755	6 this Section shall be required by the Foundation to sign an
756	756	7 agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the
757	757	8 2-year period following the termination of the academic
758	758	9 program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
759	759	10 recipient: (i) shall begin teaching for a period of not less
760	760	11 than 5 years, (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a
761	761	12 nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool or
762	762	13 an Illinois public elementary or secondary school that
763	763	14 qualifies for teacher loan cancellation under Section
764	764	15 465(a)(2)(A) of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
765	765	16 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(A)) or other Illinois schools deemed
766	766	17 eligible for fulfilling the teaching commitment as designated
767	767	18 by the Foundation, and (iii) shall, upon request of the
768	768	19 Foundation, provide the Foundation with evidence that he or
769	769	20 she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
770	770	21 agreement provided for in this subsection. Upon request, the
771	771	22 Foundation shall provide evidence of teacher fulfillment to
772	772	23 the Commission.
773	773	24 (j) (Blank). If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under
774	774	25 this Section fails to fulfill the teaching obligation set
775	775	26 forth in subsection (i) of this Section, the Commission shall
776	776
777	777
778	778
779	779
780	780
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782	782
783	783
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785	785	HB2791 - 21 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
786	786	1 require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships
787	787	2 received, prorated according to the fraction of the teaching
788	788	3 obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
789	789	4 applicable, reasonable collection fees. If a recipient who
790	790	5 enters into repayment under this subsection (j) subsequently,
791	791	6 within 5 years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a
792	792	7 school meeting the description under subsection (i) of this
793	793	8 Section, the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the
794	794	9 recipient in proportion to the amount of the teaching
795	795	10 obligation completed. Reduction of the amount owed shall not
796	796	11 be construed as reinstatement in the Golden Apple Scholars
797	797	12 program. Reinstatement in the program shall be solely at the
798	798	13 discretion of the Golden Apple Foundation on terms determined
799	799	14 by the Foundation. Payments received by the Commission under
800	800	15 this subsection (j) shall be remitted to the State Comptroller
801	801	16 for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, except that that
802	802	17 portion of a recipient's repayment that equals the amount in
803	803	18 expenses that the Commission has reasonably incurred in
804	804	19 attempting collection from that recipient shall be remitted to
805	805	20 the State Comptroller for deposit into the ISAC Accounts
806	806	21 Receivable Fund, a special fund in the State treasury.
807	807	22 (k) (Blank). A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the
808	808	23 Foundation under this Section shall not be considered to have
809	809	24 failed to fulfill the teaching obligations of the agreement
810	810	25 entered into pursuant to subsection (i) if the recipient (i)
811	811	26 enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course
812	812
813	813
814	814
815	815
816	816
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818	818
819	819
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821	821	HB2791 - 22 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
822	822	1 of study related to the field of teaching at an institution of
823	823	2 higher learning; (ii) is serving as a member of the armed
824	824	3 services of the United States; (iii) is a person with a
825	825	4 temporary total disability, as established by sworn affidavit
826	826	5 of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and unable to find
827	827	6 full-time employment as a teacher at a school that satisfies
828	828	7 the criteria set forth in subsection (i) and is able to provide
829	829	8 evidence of that fact; (v) is taking additional courses, on at
830	830	9 least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a
831	831	10 teacher in Illinois; (vi) is fulfilling teaching requirements
832	832	11 associated with other programs administered by the Commission
833	833	12 and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a
834	834	13 period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation;
835	835	14 or (vii) is participating in a program established under
836	836	15 Executive Order 10924 of the President of the United States or
837	837	16 the federal National Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
838	838	17 12501 et seq.). Any such extension of the period during which
839	839	18 the teaching requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to
840	840	19 limitations of duration as established by the Commission.
841	841	20 (l) (Blank). A recipient who fails to fulfill the teaching
842	842	21 obligations of the agreement entered into pursuant to
843	843	22 subsection (i) of this Section shall repay the amount of
844	844	23 scholarship assistance awarded to them under this Section
845	845	24 within 10 years.
846	846	25 (m) Annually, at a time determined by the Commission in
847	847	26 consultation with the Foundation, the Foundation shall submit
848	848
849	849
850	850
851	851
852	852
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854	854
855	855
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857	857	HB2791 - 23 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
858	858	1 a report to assist the Commission in monitoring the
859	859	2 Foundation's performance of grant activities. The report shall
860	860	3 describe the following:
861	861	4 (1) the Foundation's anticipated expenditures for the
862	862	5 next fiscal year;
863	863	6 (2) the number of qualified students receiving
864	864	7 scholarship assistance at each institution of higher
865	865	8 learning where a qualified student was enrolled under this
866	866	9 Section during the previous fiscal year;
867	867	10 (3) the total monetary value of scholarship funds paid
868	868	11 to each institution of higher learning at which a
869	869	12 qualified student was enrolled during the previous fiscal
870	870	13 year;
871	871	14 (4) the number of scholarship recipients who completed
872	872	15 a baccalaureate degree during the previous fiscal year;
873	873	16 (5) the number of scholarship recipients who reported
874	874	17 that they had fulfilled their teaching obligation during
875	875	18 the previous fiscal year;
876	876	19 (6) the number of scholarship recipients who reported
877	877	20 that they had failed to fulfill their teaching obligation
878	878	21 during the previous fiscal year;
879	879	22 (7) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients
880	880	23 granted an extension described in subsection (k) of this
881	881	24 Section during the previous fiscal year;
882	882	25 (8) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients
883	883	26 required to repay scholarship assistance in accordance
884	884
885	885
886	886
887	887
888	888
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890	890
891	891
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893	893	HB2791 - 24 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
894	894	1 with subsection (j) of this Section during the previous
895	895	2 fiscal year;
896	896	3 (9) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients who
897	897	4 successfully repaid scholarship assistance in full during
898	898	5 the previous fiscal year;
899	899	6 (10) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients who
900	900	7 defaulted on their obligation to repay scholarship
901	901	8 assistance during the previous fiscal year;
902	902	9 (11) (blank); the amount of scholarship assistance
903	903	10 subject to collection in accordance with subsection (j) of
904	904	11 this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year;
905	905	12 (12) (blank); and the amount of collected funds to be
906	906	13 remitted to the Comptroller in accordance with subsection
907	907	14 (j) of this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year;
908	908	15 and
909	909	16 (13) other information that the Commission may
910	910	17 reasonably request.
911	911	18 (n) Nothing in this Section shall affect the rights of the
912	912	19 Commission to collect information on the completion of
913	913	20 teaching obligations moneys owed to it by recipients of
914	914	21 scholarship assistance through the Illinois Future Teacher
915	915	22 Corps Program, repealed by Public Act 98-533.
916	916	23 (o) The Auditor General shall prepare an annual audit of
917	917	24 the operations and finances of the Golden Apple Scholars of
918	918	25 Illinois Program. This audit shall be provided to the
919	919	26 Governor, General Assembly, and the Commission.
920	920
921	921
922	922
923	923
924	924
925	925	HB2791 - 24 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
926	926
927	927
928	928	HB2791- 25 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 25 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
929	929	HB2791 - 25 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
930	930	1 (p) The suspension of grant making authority found in
931	931	2 Section 4.2 of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act shall not
932	932	3 apply to grants made pursuant to this Section.
933	933	4 (Source: P.A. 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22; 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23;
934	934	5 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; revised
935	935	6 10-16-24.)
936	936	7 (110 ILCS 947/65.15)
937	937	8 Sec. 65.15. Special education teacher scholarships.
938	938	9 (a) There shall be awarded annually 250 scholarships to
939	939	10 persons qualifying as members of any of the following groups:
940	940	11 (1) Students who are otherwise qualified to receive a
941	941	12 scholarship as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this
942	942	13 Section and who make application to the Commission for
943	943	14 such scholarship and agree to take courses that will
944	944	15 prepare the student for the teaching of children described
945	945	16 in Section 14-1 of the School Code.
946	946	17 (2) Persons holding a valid certificate issued under
947	947	18 the laws relating to the certification of teachers and who
948	948	19 make application to the Commission for such scholarship
949	949	20 and agree to take courses that will prepare them for the
950	950	21 teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the
951	951	22 School Code.
952	952	23 (3) Persons who (A) have graduated high school; (B)
953	953	24 have not been certified as a teacher; and (C) make
954	954	25 application to the Commission for such scholarship and
955	955
956	956
957	957
958	958
959	959
960	960	HB2791 - 25 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
961	961
962	962
963	963	HB2791- 26 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 26 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
964	964	HB2791 - 26 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
965	965	1 agree to take courses that will prepare them for the
966	966	2 teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the
967	967	3 School Code.
968	968	4 Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be issued
969	969	5 pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commission;
970	970	6 provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State
971	971	7 Board of Education prior to the effective date of this
972	972	8 amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right,
973	973	9 power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business
974	974	10 transferred from the State Board of Education to the
975	975	11 Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and
976	976	12 all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and
977	977	13 regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the
978	978	14 Commission in accordance with law.
979	979	15 For the purposes of this Section scholarships awarded each
980	980	16 school year shall be deemed to be issued on July 1 of the year
981	981	17 prior to the start of the postsecondary school term and all
982	982	18 calculations for use of the scholarship shall be based on such
983	983	19 date. Each scholarship shall entitle its holder to exemption
984	984	20 from fees as provided in subsection (a) of Section 65.40 while
985	985	21 enrolled in a special education program of teacher education,
986	986	22 for a period of not more than 4 calendar years and shall be
987	987	23 available for use at any time during such period of study
988	988	24 except as provided in subsection (b) of Section 65.40.
989	989	25 Scholarships issued to holders of a valid certificate
990	990	26 issued under the laws relating to the certification of
991	991
992	992
993	993
994	994
995	995
996	996	HB2791 - 26 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
997	997
998	998
999	999	HB2791- 27 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 27 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1000	1000	HB2791 - 27 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1001	1001	1 teachers as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection may
1002	1002	2 also entitle the holder thereof to a program of teacher
1003	1003	3 education that will prepare the student for the teaching of
1004	1004	4 children described in Section 14-1 of the School Code at the
1005	1005	5 graduate level.
1006	1006	6 (b) The principal, or his or her designee, of an approved
1007	1007	7 high school shall certify to the Commission, for students who
1008	1008	8 are Illinois residents and are completing an application, that
1009	1009	9 the students ranked scholastically in the upper one-half of
1010	1010	10 their graduating class at the end of the sixth semester.
1011	1011	11 (c) Each holder of a scholarship must furnish proof to the
1012	1012	12 Commission, in such form and at such intervals as the
1013	1013	13 Commission prescribes, of the holder's continued enrollment in
1014	1014	14 a teacher education program qualifying the holder for the
1015	1015	15 scholarship. Any holder of a scholarship who fails to register
1016	1016	16 in a special education program of teacher education at the
1017	1017	17 university within 10 days after the commencement of the term,
1018	1018	18 quarter or semester immediately following the receipt of the
1019	1019	19 scholarship or who, having registered, withdraws from the
1020	1020	20 university or transfers out of teacher education, shall
1021	1021	21 thereupon forfeit the right to use it and it may be granted to
1022	1022	22 the person having the next highest rank as shown on the list
1023	1023	23 held by the Commission. If the person having the next highest
1024	1024	24 rank, within 10 days after notification thereof by the
1025	1025	25 Commission, fails to register at any such university in a
1026	1026	26 special education program of teacher education, or who, having
1027	1027
1028	1028
1029	1029
1030	1030
1031	1031
1032	1032	HB2791 - 27 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1033	1033
1034	1034
1035	1035	HB2791- 28 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 28 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1036	1036	HB2791 - 28 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1037	1037	1 registered, withdraws from the university or transfers out of
1038	1038	2 teacher education, the scholarship may then be granted to the
1039	1039	3 person shown on the list as having the rank next below such
1040	1040	4 person.
1041	1041	5 (d) Any person accepting who has accepted a scholarship
1042	1042	6 under the preceding subsections of this Section must sign an
1043	1043	7 agreement pledging (i) that, within one year after graduation
1044	1044	8 from or termination of enrollment in a teacher education
1045	1045	9 program, the recipient will begin teaching at a nonprofit
1046	1046	10 Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, or
1047	1047	11 elementary school, or secondary school for a period of at
1048	1048	12 least 2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation
1049	1049	13 or termination and (ii) that the recipient will provide the
1050	1050	14 Commission, upon the Commission's request, with evidence that
1051	1051	15 the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the
1052	1052	16 teaching agreement provided for in this subsection. ,
1053	1053	17 excluding, however, from the computation of that 5 year period
1054	1054	18 (i) any time up to 3 years spent in the military service,
1055	1055	19 whether such service occurs before or after the person
1056	1056	20 graduates; (ii) any time that person is enrolled full-time in
1057	1057	21 an academic program related to the field of teaching leading
1058	1058	22 to a graduate or postgraduate degree; (iii) the time that
1059	1059	23 person is a person with a temporary total disability for a
1060	1060	24 period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by the
1061	1061	25 sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) the time that
1062	1062	26 person is seeking and unable to find full time employment as a
1063	1063
1064	1064
1065	1065
1066	1066
1067	1067
1068	1068	HB2791 - 28 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1069	1069
1070	1070
1071	1071	HB2791- 29 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 29 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1072	1072	HB2791 - 29 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1073	1073	1 teacher at an Illinois public, private, or parochial school;
1074	1074	2 (v) the time that person is taking additional courses, on at
1075	1075	3 least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a
1076	1076	4 teacher in Illinois; or (vi) the time that person is
1077	1077	5 fulfilling teaching requirements associated with other
1078	1078	6 programs administered by the Commission if he or she cannot
1079	1079	7 concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a period of
1080	1080	8 time equal to the length of the teaching obligation.
1081	1081	9 A person who has accepted a scholarship under the
1082	1082	10 preceding subsections of this Section and who has been unable
1083	1083	11 to fulfill the teaching requirements of this Section may
1084	1084	12 receive a deferment from the obligation of repayment under
1085	1085	13 this subsection (d) under guidelines established by the
1086	1086	14 Commission; provided that no guideline established for any
1087	1087	15 such purpose by the State Board of Education prior to the
1088	1088	16 effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 shall be
1089	1089	17 affected by the transfer to the Commission of the
1090	1090	18 responsibility for administering and implementing the
1091	1091	19 provisions of this Section, and all guidelines so established
1092	1092	20 shall become the guidelines of the Commission until modified
1093	1093	21 or changed by the Commission.
1094	1094	22 Any such person who fails to fulfill this teaching
1095	1095	23 requirement shall pay to the Commission the amount of tuition
1096	1096	24 waived by virtue of his or her acceptance of the scholarship,
1097	1097	25 together with interest at 5% per year on that amount. However,
1098	1098	26 this obligation to repay the amount of tuition waived plus
1099	1099
1100	1100
1101	1101
1102	1102
1103	1103
1104	1104	HB2791 - 29 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1105	1105
1106	1106
1107	1107	HB2791- 30 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 30 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1108	1108	HB2791 - 30 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1109	1109	1 interest does not apply when the failure to fulfill the
1110	1110	2 teaching requirement results from the death or adjudication as
1111	1111	3 a person under legal disability of the person holding the
1112	1112	4 scholarship, and no claim for repayment may be filed against
1113	1113	5 the estate of such a decedent or person under legal
1114	1114	6 disability. If a recipient who enters into repayment under
1115	1115	7 this paragraph subsequently, within 5 years of entering
1116	1116	8 repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the description
1117	1117	9 under this subsection (d), the Commission may reduce the
1118	1118	10 amount owed by the recipient in proportion to the amount of the
1119	1119	11 teaching obligation completed. Payments received by the
1120	1120	12 Commission under this subsection (d) shall be remitted to the
1121	1121	13 State Treasurer for deposit in the General Revenue Fund. Each
1122	1122	14 person receiving a scholarship shall be provided with a
1123	1123	15 description of the provisions of this subsection (d) at the
1124	1124	16 time he or she qualifies for the benefits of such a
1125	1125	17 scholarship.
1126	1126	18 (e) (Blank). This Section is basically the same as
1127	1127	19 Sections 30-1, 30-2, 30-3, and 30-4a of the School Code, which
1128	1128	20 are repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be
1129	1129	21 construed as a continuation of the teacher scholarship program
1130	1130	22 established by that prior law, and not as a new or different
1131	1131	23 teacher scholarship program. The State Board of Education
1132	1132	24 shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the
1133	1133	25 State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and
1134	1134	26 implementing the provisions of this Section, all books,
1135	1135
1136	1136
1137	1137
1138	1138
1139	1139
1140	1140	HB2791 - 30 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1141	1141
1142	1142
1143	1143	HB2791- 31 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 31 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1144	1144	HB2791 - 31 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1145	1145	1 accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements,
1146	1146	2 and pending business in any way relating to the teacher
1147	1147	3 scholarship program continued under this Section; and all
1148	1148	4 scholarships at any time awarded under that program by, and
1149	1149	5 all applications for any such scholarships at any time made
1150	1150	6 to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the
1151	1151	7 transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the
1152	1152	8 administration and implementation of the teacher scholarship
1153	1153	9 program continued under this Section. The State Board of
1154	1154	10 Education shall furnish to the Commission such other
1155	1155	11 information as the Commission may request to assist it in
1156	1156	12 administering this Section.
1157	1157	13 (Source: P.A. 103-448, eff. 8-4-23.)
1158	1158	14 (110 ILCS 947/65.70)
1159	1159	15 Sec. 65.70. Optometric Education Scholarship Program.
1160	1160	16 (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the
1161	1161	17 provision of graduate education leading to a doctoral degree
1162	1162	18 in optometry for persons of this State who desire such an
1163	1163	19 education is important to the health and welfare of this State
1164	1164	20 and Nation and, consequently, is an important public purpose.
1165	1165	21 Many qualified potential optometrists are deterred by
1166	1166	22 financial considerations from pursuing their optometric
1167	1167	23 education with consequent irreparable loss to the State and
1168	1168	24 Nation of talents vital to health and welfare. A program of
1169	1169	25 scholarships for individuals who pledge to practice , repayment
1170	1170
1171	1171
1172	1172
1173	1173
1174	1174
1175	1175	HB2791 - 31 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1176	1176
1177	1177
1178	1178	HB2791- 32 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 32 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1179	1179	HB2791 - 32 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1180	1180	1 of which may be excused if the individual practices
1181	1181	2 professional optometry in this State, will enable such
1182	1182	3 individuals to attend qualified public or private institutions
1183	1183	4 of their choice in the State.
1184	1184	5 (b) Beginning with the 2003-2004 academic year, the
1185	1185	6 Commission shall, each year, consider applications for
1186	1186	7 scholarship assistance under this Section. An applicant is
1187	1187	8 eligible for a scholarship under this Section if the
1188	1188	9 Commission finds that the applicant is:
1189	1189	10 (1) a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
1190	1190	11 (2) a resident of Illinois; and
1191	1191	12 (3) enrolled on a full-time basis in a public or
1192	1192	13 private college of optometry located in this State that
1193	1193	14 awards a doctorate degree in optometry and is approved by
1194	1194	15 the Department of Professional Regulation.
1195	1195	16 (c) Each year the Commission shall award 10 scholarships
1196	1196	17 under this Section among applicants qualified pursuant to
1197	1197	18 subsection (b). Two of these scholarships each shall be
1198	1198	19 awarded to eligible applicants enrolled in their first year,
1199	1199	20 second year, third year, and fourth year. The remaining 2
1200	1200	21 scholarships shall be awarded to any level of student. The
1201	1201	22 Commission shall receive funding for the scholarships through
1202	1202	23 appropriations from the Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary
1203	1203	24 Board Fund. If in any year the number of qualified applicants
1204	1204	25 exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, the
1205	1205	26 Commission shall give priority in awarding scholarships to
1206	1206
1207	1207
1208	1208
1209	1209
1210	1210
1211	1211	HB2791 - 32 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1212	1212
1213	1213
1214	1214	HB2791- 33 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 33 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1215	1215	HB2791 - 33 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1216	1216	1 students demonstrating exceptional merit and who are in
1217	1217	2 financial need. A scholarship shall be in the amount of $5,000
1218	1218	3 each year applicable to tuition and fees.
1219	1219	4 (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
1220	1220	5 the Commission under this Section to an individual in any
1221	1221	6 given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
1222	1222	7 awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the
1223	1223	8 cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is
1224	1224	9 enrolled.
1225	1225	10 (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12
1226	1226	11 quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section.
1227	1227	12 (f) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such
1228	1228	13 purposes, payment of any scholarship awarded under this
1229	1229	14 Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship
1230	1230	15 funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be
1231	1231	16 paid to the institution on behalf of the recipients.
1232	1232	17 Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3
1233	1233	18 quarters of enrollment within an academic year.
1234	1234	19 (g) The Commission shall administer the Optometric
1235	1235	20 Education Scholarship Program established by this Section and
1236	1236	21 shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent
1237	1237	22 with this Section for its effective implementation.
1238	1238	23 (h) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
1239	1239	24 academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
1240	1240	25 this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an
1241	1241	26 agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the
1242	1242
1243	1243
1244	1244
1245	1245
1246	1246
1247	1247	HB2791 - 33 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1248	1248
1249	1249
1250	1250	HB2791- 34 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 34 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1251	1251	HB2791 - 34 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1252	1252	1 one-year period following the termination of the academic
1253	1253	2 program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
1254	1254	3 recipient shall practice in this State as a licensed
1255	1255	4 optometrist under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987
1256	1256	5 for a period of not less than one year for each year of
1257	1257	6 scholarship assistance awarded under this Section. Each
1258	1258	7 recipient shall, upon request of the Commission, provide the
1259	1259	8 Commission with evidence that the recipient he or she is
1260	1260	9 fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the practice
1261	1261	10 agreement provided for in this subsection.
1262	1262	11 (i) (Blank). If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under
1263	1263	12 this Section fails to fulfill the practice obligation set
1264	1264	13 forth in subsection (h) of this Section, the Commission shall
1265	1265	14 require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships
1266	1266	15 received, prorated according to the fraction of the obligation
1267	1267	16 not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
1268	1268	17 applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
1269	1269	18 authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
1270	1270	19 activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.
1271	1271	20 (j) (Blank). A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the
1272	1272	21 Commission under this Section shall not be in violation of the
1273	1273	22 agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (h) if the
1274	1274	23 recipient (i) is serving as a member of the armed services of
1275	1275	24 the United States; (ii) is enrolled in a residency program
1276	1276	25 following graduation at an approved institution; (iii) is a
1277	1277	26 person with a temporary total disability, as established by
1278	1278
1279	1279
1280	1280
1281	1281
1282	1282
1283	1283	HB2791 - 34 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1284	1284
1285	1285
1286	1286	HB2791- 35 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 35 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1287	1287	HB2791 - 35 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1288	1288	1 sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or (iii) cannot
1289	1289	2 fulfill the employment obligation due to his or her death,
1290	1290	3 disability, or incompetency, as established by sworn affidavit
1291	1291	4 of a qualified physician. No claim for repayment may be filed
1292	1292	5 against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent. Any
1293	1293	6 extension of the period during which the employment
1294	1294	7 requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to limitations
1295	1295	8 of duration as established by the Commission.
1296	1296	9 (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
1297	1297	10 (110 ILCS 947/65.110)
1298	1298	11 Sec. 65.110. Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work
1299	1299	12 Professional Educator License scholarship.
1300	1300	13 (a) Subject to appropriation, beginning with awards for
1301	1301	14 the 2022-2023 academic year, the Commission shall award
1302	1302	15 annually up to 250 Post-Master of Social Work School Social
1303	1303	16 Work Professional Educator License scholarships to a person
1304	1304	17 who:
1305	1305	18 (1) holds a valid Illinois-licensed clinical social
1306	1306	19 work license or social work license;
1307	1307	20 (2) has obtained a master's degree in social work from
1308	1308	21 an approved program;
1309	1309	22 (3) is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
1310	1310	23 and
1311	1311	24 (4) submits an application to the Commission for such
1312	1312	25 scholarship and agrees to take courses to obtain an
1313	1313
1314	1314
1315	1315
1316	1316
1317	1317
1318	1318	HB2791 - 35 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1319	1319
1320	1320
1321	1321	HB2791- 36 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 36 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1322	1322	HB2791 - 36 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1323	1323	1 Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement
1324	1324	2 in School Social Work.
1325	1325	3 (b) If an appropriation for this Section for a given
1326	1326	4 fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
1327	1327	5 qualified applicants, the Commission shall allocate the
1328	1328	6 appropriation in accordance with this subsection (b). If funds
1329	1329	7 are insufficient to provide all qualified applicants with a
1330	1330	8 scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission
1331	1331	9 shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal
1332	1332	10 year to qualified applicants who submit a complete application
1333	1333	11 on or before a date specified by the Commission, based on the
1334	1334	12 following order of priority:
1335	1335	13 (1) firstly, to students who received a scholarship
1336	1336	14 under this Section in the prior academic year and who
1337	1337	15 remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section;
1338	1338	16 (2) secondly, to new, qualified applicants who are
1339	1339	17 members of a racial minority, as defined in subsection
1340	1340	18 (c); and
1341	1341	19 (3) finally, to other new, qualified applicants in
1342	1342	20 accordance with this Section.
1343	1343	21 (c) Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be
1344	1344	22 issued pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission. In
1345	1345	23 awarding scholarships, the Commission shall give priority to
1346	1346	24 those applicants who are members of a racial minority. Racial
1347	1347	25 minorities are underrepresented as school social workers in
1348	1348	26 elementary and secondary schools in this State, and the
1349	1349
1350	1350
1351	1351
1352	1352
1353	1353
1354	1354	HB2791 - 36 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1355	1355
1356	1356
1357	1357	HB2791- 37 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 37 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1358	1358	HB2791 - 37 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1359	1359	1 General Assembly finds that it is in the interest of this State
1360	1360	2 to provide them with priority consideration for programs that
1361	1361	3 encourage their participation in this field and thereby foster
1362	1362	4 a profession that is more reflective of the diversity of
1363	1363	5 Illinois students and the parents they will serve. A more
1364	1364	6 reflective workforce in school social work allows improved
1365	1365	7 outcomes for students and a better utilization of services.
1366	1366	8 Therefore, the Commission shall give priority to those
1367	1367	9 applicants who are members of a racial minority. In this
1368	1368	10 subsection (c), "racial minority" means a person who is a
1369	1369	11 citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident of
1370	1370	12 the United States and who is:
1371	1371	13 (1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black
1372	1372	14 racial groups in Africa);
1373	1373	15 (2) Hispanic (a person of Spanish or Portuguese
1374	1374	16 culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America,
1375	1375	17 or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race);
1376	1376	18 (3) Asian American (a person having origins in any of
1377	1377	19 the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
1378	1378	20 Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); or
1379	1379	21 (4) American Indian or Alaskan Native (a person having
1380	1380	22 origins in any of the original peoples of North America).
1381	1381	23 (d) Each scholarship shall be applied to the payment of
1382	1382	24 tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Illinois,
1383	1383	25 Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University,
1384	1384	26 Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University,
1385	1385
1386	1386
1387	1387
1388	1388
1389	1389
1390	1390	HB2791 - 37 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1391	1391
1392	1392
1393	1393	HB2791- 38 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 38 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1394	1394	HB2791 - 38 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1395	1395	1 Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University,
1396	1396	2 Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.
1397	1397	3 Each scholarship may be applied to pay tuition and mandatory
1398	1398	4 fees required to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator
1399	1399	5 License with an endorsement in School Social Work.
1400	1400	6 (e) The Commission shall make tuition and fee payments
1401	1401	7 directly to the qualified institution of higher learning that
1402	1402	8 the applicant attends.
1403	1403	9 (f) Any person accepting who has accepted a scholarship
1404	1404	10 under this Section must sign an agreement pledging (i) that,
1405	1405	11 within one year after graduation or termination of enrollment
1406	1406	12 in a Post-Master of Social Work Professional Education License
1407	1407	13 with an endorsement in School Social Work program, the
1408	1408	14 recipient will begin working as a school social worker at a
1409	1409	15 public or nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary
1410	1410	16 school, or secondary school located in this State for at least
1411	1411	17 2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation or
1412	1412	18 termination and (ii) that the recipient shall, upon request of
1413	1413	19 the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that the
1414	1414	20 recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the work
1415	1415	21 agreement provided for in this subsection. , excluding,
1416	1416	22 however, from the computation of that 5-year period: (i) any
1417	1417	23 time up to 3 years spent in the military service, whether such
1418	1418	24 service occurs before or after the person graduates; (ii) the
1419	1419	25 time that person is a person with a temporary total disability
1420	1420	26 for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by
1421	1421
1422	1422
1423	1423
1424	1424
1425	1425
1426	1426	HB2791 - 38 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1427	1427
1428	1428
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1430	1430	HB2791 - 39 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1431	1431	1 the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; and (iii) the
1432	1432	2 time that person is seeking and unable to find full-time
1433	1433	3 employment as a school social worker at a State public or
1434	1434	4 nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or
1435	1435	5 secondary school.
1436	1436	6 (g) (Blank). If a recipient of a scholarship under this
1437	1437	7 Section fails to fulfill the work obligation set forth in
1438	1438	8 subsection (f), the Commission shall require the recipient to
1439	1439	9 repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated
1440	1440	10 according to the fraction of the obligation not completed, at
1441	1441	11 a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable
1442	1442	12 collection fees. The Commission is authorized to establish
1443	1443	13 rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of
1444	1444	14 scholarships under this Section. All repayments collected
1445	1445	15 under this Section shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller
1446	1446	16 for deposit into this State's General Revenue Fund.
1447	1447	17 A recipient of a scholarship under this Section is not
1448	1448	18 considered to be in violation of the failure to fulfill the
1449	1449	19 work obligation under subsection (f) if the recipient (i)
1450	1450	20 enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course
1451	1451	21 of study related to the field of social work at a qualified
1452	1452	22 Illinois institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not
1453	1453	23 in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the
1454	1454	24 United States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total
1455	1455	25 disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as
1456	1456	26 established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician;
1457	1457
1458	1458
1459	1459
1460	1460
1461	1461
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1463	1463
1464	1464
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1467	1467	1 (iv) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a
1468	1468	2 school social worker at an Illinois public or nonpublic
1469	1469	3 not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or secondary
1470	1470	4 school that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (f)
1471	1471	5 and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or (v) becomes a
1472	1472	6 person with a permanent total disability, as established by
1473	1473	7 the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician.
1474	1474	8 (Source: P.A. 102-621, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
1475	1475	9 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22.)
1476	1476	10 (110 ILCS 947/65.120)
1477	1477	11 Sec. 65.120. iGROW Tech Scholarship Program.
1478	1478	12 (a) As used in this Section:
1479	1479	13 "Eligible applicant" means a student who has graduated
1480	1480	14 from high school or has received a State of Illinois High
1481	1481	15 School Diploma, who has maintained a cumulative grade point
1482	1482	16 average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, who is pursuing or
1483	1483	17 intends to pursue a qualifying degree in a qualified
1484	1484	18 institution, and who is entitled to apply for assistance under
1485	1485	19 this Section.
1486	1486	20 "Full-time" means the number of credit hours the
1487	1487	21 Commission determines is full-time enrollment for a student
1488	1488	22 for purposes of the program created under this Section.
1489	1489	23 "Minority student" has the same meaning as the term is
1490	1490	24 defined under Section 50 of the Higher Education Student
1491	1491	25 Assistance Act (110 ILCS 947).
1492	1492
1493	1493
1494	1494
1495	1495
1496	1496
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1498	1498
1499	1499
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1501	1501	HB2791 - 41 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1502	1502	1 "Program" means the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program created
1503	1503	2 under this Section.
1504	1504	3 "Qualifying degree" means an associate or a bachelor's
1505	1505	4 degree granted by a qualified institution in the field of
1506	1506	5 computer information sciences; information technology;
1507	1507	6 information science; computer science; computer systems
1508	1508	7 networking and telecommunications; computer and information
1509	1509	8 systems security or information assurance, including
1510	1510	9 cybersecurity; or management information systems.
1511	1511	10 "Qualifying job" means a job with an employer in this
1512	1512	11 State performing work that is directly related to the field of
1513	1513	12 study that qualified the candidate for assistance under this
1514	1514	13 Section.
1515	1515	14 "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a resident
1516	1516	15 of this State; (ii) who, as an eligible applicant, has made a
1517	1517	16 timely application for an iGROW tech scholarship under this
1518	1518	17 Section; (iii) who is enrolled on at least a half-time basis at
1519	1519	18 a qualified institution; (iv) who is enrolled in a course of
1520	1520	19 study in the field of computer and information sciences;
1521	1521	20 information technology; information science; computer science;
1522	1522	21 computer systems networking and telecommunications; computer
1523	1523	22 and information systems security or information assurance,
1524	1524	23 including cybersecurity; or management information systems;
1525	1525	24 (v) who maintains a grade point average of no less than a 2.5
1526	1526	25 on a 4.0 scale; and (vi) who continues to advance
1527	1527	26 satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
1528	1528
1529	1529
1530	1530
1531	1531
1532	1532
1533	1533	HB2791 - 41 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1534	1534
1535	1535
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1537	1537	HB2791 - 42 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1538	1538	1 "Recipient" means an Illinois resident enrolled in a
1539	1539	2 qualified institution who receives an award under this
1540	1540	3 Section.
1541	1541	4 (b) Subject to appropriation, and no sooner than the
1542	1542	5 2024-2025 academic year, there is established the Illinois
1543	1543	6 Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship
1544	1544	7 Program to recruit and train individuals to work in technology
1545	1545	8 jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high
1546	1546	9 wages by awarding scholarships.
1547	1547	10 (c) Each iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
1548	1548	11 shall be determined by the Commission in an amount up to and
1549	1549	12 including the full costs of tuition and fees and room and board
1550	1550	13 of the qualified institution at which the recipient is
1551	1551	14 enrolled if the institution is public, or an equivalent rate
1552	1552	15 established by the Commission for private institutions. The
1553	1553	16 total amount of iGROW tech scholarship assistance awarded by
1554	1554	17 the Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in
1555	1555	18 any given fiscal year, when added to other financial
1556	1556	19 assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not
1557	1557	20 exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the
1558	1558	21 student is enrolled. If the amount of financial assistance to
1559	1559	22 be awarded to a qualified student exceeds the cost of
1560	1560	23 attendance at the institution at which the student is
1561	1561	24 enrolled, the iGROW tech scholarship shall be reduced by an
1562	1562	25 amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
1563	1563	26 assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
1564	1564
1565	1565
1566	1566
1567	1567
1568	1568
1569	1569	HB2791 - 42 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1570	1570
1571	1571
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1573	1573	HB2791 - 43 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1574	1574	1 attendance.
1575	1575	2 (d) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
1576	1576	3 qualified student can receive iGROW tech scholarship
1577	1577	4 assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
1578	1578	5 (e) All applications for scholarships awarded under this
1579	1579	6 Section shall be made to the Commission on forms which the
1580	1580	7 Commission shall provide for eligible applicants. The form of
1581	1581	8 applications and the information required to be set forth
1582	1582	9 therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the
1583	1583	10 Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with
1584	1584	11 their applications such supporting documents or
1585	1585	12 recommendations as the Commission deems necessary.
1586	1586	13 (f) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, payment of
1587	1587	14 any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
1588	1588	15 determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds
1589	1589	16 distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be paid
1590	1590	17 to the qualified institution and used only for payment of the
1591	1591	18 tuition and fees assessed by the institution and the standard
1592	1592	19 housing and food allowance used for all undergraduate students
1593	1593	20 by the qualified student in connection with his or her
1594	1594	21 attendance at a qualified institution.
1595	1595	22 Any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
1596	1596	23 shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment
1597	1597	24 annually. The qualified institution can only request payment
1598	1598	25 for tuition and fees up to the amount of actual tuition and fee
1599	1599	26 expenses incurred.
1600	1600
1601	1601
1602	1602
1603	1603
1604	1604
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1606	1606
1607	1607
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1609	1609	HB2791 - 44 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1610	1610	1 If a student withdraws after the expiration of the tuition
1611	1611	2 refund or withdrawal adjustment period, the student may
1612	1612	3 receive payment for tuition and fees incurred up to the term
1613	1613	4 award. The housing and food allowance shall be prorated based
1614	1614	5 on the qualified institution's return of funds policy.
1615	1615	6 (g) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
1616	1616	7 academic year, each recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship
1617	1617	8 awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission
1618	1618	9 to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that
1619	1619	10 the recipient (i) shall work in the State in a qualified job
1620	1620	11 for a period of not less than one year for each year of
1621	1621	12 scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
1622	1622	13 Section; however, in no event shall he or she agree to work in
1623	1623	14 the State in a qualified job for a period of less than 2 years;
1624	1624	15 and (ii) shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the
1625	1625	16 Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has
1626	1626	17 fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided for in this
1627	1627	18 subsection.
1628	1628	19 If a recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship awarded under
1629	1629	20 this Section fails to fulfill the obligations set forth in
1630	1630	21 this subsection, the Commission shall require the recipient to
1631	1631	22 repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated
1632	1632	23 according to the fraction of the employment obligation not
1633	1633	24 completed, at a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if
1634	1634	25 applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
1635	1635	26 authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
1636	1636
1637	1637
1638	1638
1639	1639
1640	1640
1641	1641	HB2791 - 44 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1642	1642
1643	1643
1644	1644	HB2791- 45 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 45 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1645	1645	HB2791 - 45 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1646	1646	1 activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.
1647	1647	2 All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded
1648	1648	3 to the State Comptroller for deposit into the State's General
1649	1649	4 Revenue Fund.
1650	1650	5 A recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship shall not be
1651	1651	6 considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant
1652	1652	7 to this subsection if the recipient (I) enrolls on a full-time
1653	1653	8 basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the
1654	1654	9 technology degree for which he or she qualified for the iGROW
1655	1655	10 tech scholarship at a qualified institution; (II) is serving,
1656	1656	11 not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of
1657	1657	12 the United States; (III) is a person with a temporary total
1658	1658	13 disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as
1659	1659	14 established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (IV)
1660	1660	15 is seeking and unable to find full-time employment with a
1661	1661	16 State employer that satisfies the criteria set forth in this
1662	1662	17 subsection and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (V)
1663	1663	18 becomes a person with a permanent total disability as
1664	1664	19 established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or
1665	1665	20 (VI) meets any other criteria that the Commission may deem
1666	1666	21 necessary.
1667	1667	22 (h) (Blank.) Scholarship recipients under this Section who
1668	1668	23 withdraw from a program of computer science or other related
1669	1669	24 major area of study provided under this Section but remain
1670	1670	25 enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in
1671	1671	26 another academic discipline shall not be required to commence
1672	1672
1673	1673
1674	1674
1675	1675
1676	1676
1677	1677	HB2791 - 45 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1678	1678
1679	1679
1680	1680	HB2791- 46 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 46 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1681	1681	HB2791 - 46 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1682	1682	1 repayment of their iGROW tech scholarship so long as they
1683	1683	2 remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis or if they can
1684	1684	3 document for the Commission special circumstances that warrant
1685	1685	4 extension of repayment.
1686	1686	5 (i) If the Program does not expend at least 90% of the
1687	1687	6 amount appropriated for the Program in a given fiscal year for
1688	1688	7 3 consecutive fiscal years on or before January 1 in each of
1689	1689	8 those fiscal years, then up to 3% of amount appropriated for
1690	1690	9 the Program for each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated
1691	1691	10 to increasing awareness of the program.
1692	1692	11 (j) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall
1693	1693	12 make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
1694	1694	13 Section for its effective implementation.
1695	1695	14 (k) The Commission shall establish a methodology for
1696	1696	15 prioritizing applications from applicants who demonstrate a
1697	1697	16 financial need or hardship, applications from minority
1698	1698	17 students, and applications from applicants demonstrating
1699	1699	18 academic excellence. After the first academic year that the
1700	1700	19 Program operates, the Commission shall prioritize the
1701	1701	20 applications of those applicants who received a scholarship
1702	1702	21 under this Section during the prior academic year and who
1703	1703	22 remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section.
1704	1704	23 (l) Each fiscal year, the Commission may use up to 5% of
1705	1705	24 money appropriated for the Program for administration.
1706	1706	25 (m) Scholarships may be made under this Section through
1707	1707	26 the 2029-30 academic year.
1708	1708
1709	1709
1710	1710
1711	1711
1712	1712
1713	1713	HB2791 - 46 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1714	1714
1715	1715
1716	1716	HB2791- 47 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 47 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1717	1717	HB2791 - 47 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1718	1718	1 (n) The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW)
1719	1719	2 Tech Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State
1720	1720	3 treasury. Moneys in the fund may come from both public
1721	1721	4 entities and institutional, organizational, or other private
1722	1722	5 entities. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to
1723	1723	6 appropriation, by the Commission to implement and administer
1724	1724	7 the Program pursuant to this Section.
1725	1725	8 (Source: P.A. 103-519, eff. 1-1-24.)
1726	1726	9 Section 10. The Nursing Education Scholarship Law is
1727	1727	10 amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 3.1, 4, 6, and 6.5 as
1728	1728	11 follows:
1729	1729	12 (110 ILCS 975/2) (from Ch. 144, par. 2752)
1730	1730	13 Sec. 2. Legislative finding and declaration of policy.
1731	1731	14 (a) The General Assembly finds and hereby declares that
1732	1732	15 the provision of a higher education leading to an associate
1733	1733	16 degree in nursing, an associate degree in applied sciences in
1734	1734	17 nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing, a baccalaureate
1735	1735	18 degree in nursing, a graduate degree in nursing, or a
1736	1736	19 certificate in practical nursing for persons of this State who
1737	1737	20 desire such an education is important to the health, welfare
1738	1738	21 and security of this State and Nation, and consequently is an
1739	1739	22 important public purpose. Many qualified and potential nurses
1740	1740	23 are deterred by financial considerations from pursuing their
1741	1741	24 nursing education, with consequent irreparable loss to the
1742	1742
1743	1743
1744	1744
1745	1745
1746	1746
1747	1747	HB2791 - 47 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1748	1748
1749	1749
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1751	1751	HB2791 - 48 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1752	1752	1 State and Nation of talents vital to health, welfare and
1753	1753	2 security. A system of scholarships for individuals who plan to
1754	1754	3 work in this State as , repayment of which may be excused if the
1755	1755	4 individual is employed as a registered professional nurse or a
1756	1756	5 licensed practical nurse after obtaining an associate degree
1757	1757	6 in nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing,
1758	1758	7 hospital-based diploma in nursing, baccalaureate degree in
1759	1759	8 nursing, graduate degree in nursing, or certificate in
1760	1760	9 practical nursing, will enable such individuals to attend
1761	1761	10 approved institutions of their choice in the State, public or
1762	1762	11 private.
1763	1763	12 (b) The General Assembly finds that there is a critical
1764	1764	13 shortage of nursing instructors in this State, and such a
1765	1765	14 shortage will only worsen the shortage of available nurses in
1766	1766	15 this State and jeopardize the quality of healthcare citizens
1767	1767	16 of this State have every right to enjoy. In order to provide
1768	1768	17 for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this
1769	1769	18 State, the General Assembly declares that there is a need for
1770	1770	19 an increase in skilled nurse educators in this State.
1771	1771	20 (Source: P.A. 96-805, eff. 10-30-09.)
1772	1772	21 (110 ILCS 975/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2753)
1773	1773	22 Sec. 3. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or
1774	1774	23 referred to, have the following meanings except where the
1775	1775	24 context clearly indicates otherwise:
1776	1776	25 (1) "Board" means the Board of Higher Education created by
1777	1777
1778	1778
1779	1779
1780	1780
1781	1781
1782	1782	HB2791 - 48 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1783	1783
1784	1784
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1786	1786	HB2791 - 49 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1787	1787	1 the Board of Higher Education Act.
1788	1788	2 (2) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public
1789	1789	3 Health.
1790	1790	4 (3) "Approved institution" means a public community
1791	1791	5 college, private junior college, hospital-based diploma in
1792	1792	6 nursing program, or public or private college or university
1793	1793	7 with a pre-licensure nursing education program located in this
1794	1794	8 State that has approval by the Department of Financial and
1795	1795	9 Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing
1796	1796	10 program, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing
1797	1797	11 program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
1798	1798	12 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
1799	1799	13 nursing program, or certificate in a practical nursing program
1800	1800	14 or a post-licensure nursing education program approved by the
1801	1801	15 Board of Higher Education or any successor agency with similar
1802	1802	16 authority.
1803	1803	17 (4) "Baccalaureate degree in nursing program" means a
1804	1804	18 program offered by an approved institution and leading to a
1805	1805	19 bachelor of science degree in nursing.
1806	1806	20 (5) "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance
1807	1807	21 of an individual's status as a student in an approved
1808	1808	22 institution, regardless of the terms used at the institution
1809	1809	23 to describe such status.
1810	1810	24 (6) "Academic year" means the period of time from
1811	1811	25 September 1 of one year through August 31 of the next year or
1812	1812	26 as otherwise defined by the academic institution.
1813	1813
1814	1814
1815	1815
1816	1816
1817	1817
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1819	1819
1820	1820
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1822	1822	HB2791 - 50 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1823	1823	1 (7) "Associate degree in nursing program or hospital-based
1824	1824	2 diploma in nursing program" means a program offered by an
1825	1825	3 approved institution and leading to an associate degree in
1826	1826	4 nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing, or
1827	1827	5 hospital-based diploma in nursing.
1828	1828	6 (8) "Graduate degree in nursing program" means a program
1829	1829	7 offered by an approved institution and leading to a master of
1830	1830	8 science degree in nursing or a doctorate of philosophy or
1831	1831	9 doctorate of nursing degree in nursing.
1832	1832	10 (9) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois
1833	1833	11 Department of Public Health.
1834	1834	12 (10) "Accepted for admission" means a student has
1835	1835	13 completed the requirements for entry into an associate degree
1836	1836	14 in nursing program, associate degree in applied sciences in
1837	1837	15 nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
1838	1838	16 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
1839	1839	17 nursing program, or certificate in practical nursing program
1840	1840	18 at an approved institution, as documented by the institution.
1841	1841	19 (11) "Fees" means those mandatory charges, in addition to
1842	1842	20 tuition, that all enrolled students must pay, including
1843	1843	21 required course or lab fees.
1844	1844	22 (12) "Full-time student" means a student enrolled for at
1845	1845	23 least 12 hours per term or as otherwise determined by the
1846	1846	24 academic institution.
1847	1847	25 (13) "Law" means the Nursing Education Scholarship Law.
1848	1848	26 (14) "Nursing employment obligation" means employment in
1849	1849
1850	1850
1851	1851
1852	1852
1853	1853
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1855	1855
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1858	1858	HB2791 - 51 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1859	1859	1 this State as a registered professional nurse, licensed
1860	1860	2 practical nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse in
1861	1861	3 direct patient care for at least one year for each year of
1862	1862	4 scholarship assistance received through the Nursing Education
1863	1863	5 Scholarship Program.
1864	1864	6 (15) "Part-time student" means a person who is enrolled
1865	1865	7 for at least one-third of the number of hours required per term
1866	1866	8 by a school for its full-time students.
1867	1867	9 (16) "Practical nursing program" means a program offered
1868	1868	10 by an approved institution leading to a certificate in
1869	1869	11 practical nursing.
1870	1870	12 (17) "Registered professional nurse" means a person who is
1871	1871	13 currently licensed as a registered professional nurse by the
1872	1872	14 Department of Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice
1873	1873	15 Act.
1874	1874	16 (18) "Licensed practical nurse" means a person who is
1875	1875	17 currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse by the
1876	1876	18 Department of Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice
1877	1877	19 Act.
1878	1878	20 (19) "School term" means an academic term, such as a
1879	1879	21 semester, quarter, trimester, or number of clock hours, as
1880	1880	22 defined by an approved institution.
1881	1881	23 (20) "Student in good standing" means a student
1882	1882	24 maintaining a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at
1883	1883	25 least the academic grade of a "C".
1884	1884	26 (21) (Blank). "Total and permanent disability" means a
1885	1885
1886	1886
1887	1887
1888	1888
1889	1889
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1891	1891
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1895	1895	1 physical or mental impairment, disease, or loss of a permanent
1896	1896	2 nature that prevents nursing employment with or without
1897	1897	3 reasonable accommodation. Proof of disability shall be a
1898	1898	4 declaration from the social security administration, Illinois
1899	1899	5 Workers' Compensation Commission, Department of Defense, or an
1900	1900	6 insurer authorized to transact business in Illinois who is
1901	1901	7 providing disability insurance coverage to a contractor.
1902	1902	8 (22) "Tuition" means the established charges of an
1903	1903	9 institution of higher learning for instruction at that
1904	1904	10 institution.
1905	1905	11 (23) "Nurse educator" means a person who is currently
1906	1906	12 licensed as a registered nurse by the Department of
1907	1907	13 Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice Act, who has
1908	1908	14 a graduate degree in nursing, and who is employed by an
1909	1909	15 approved academic institution to educate registered nursing
1910	1910	16 students, licensed practical nursing students, and registered
1911	1911	17 nurses pursuing graduate degrees.
1912	1912	18 (24) "Nurse educator employment obligation" means
1913	1913	19 employment in this State as a nurse educator for at least 2
1914	1914	20 years for each year of scholarship assistance received under
1915	1915	21 Section 6.5 of this Law.
1916	1916	22 (25) "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance
1917	1917	23 Commission.
1918	1918	24 Rulemaking authority to implement the provisions of this
1919	1919	25 Act is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance
1920	1920	26 with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure
1921	1921
1922	1922
1923	1923
1924	1924
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1927	1927
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1931	1931	1 Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
1932	1932	2 Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
1933	1933	3 whatever reason, is unauthorized.
1934	1934	4 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
1935	1935	5 (110 ILCS 975/3.1)
1936	1936	6 Sec. 3.1. Approved institutions. An approved institution
1937	1937	7 must maintain compliance with all applicable State and federal
1938	1938	8 laws. An approved institution approved to participate in the
1939	1939	9 scholarship program under this Law is not necessarily eligible
1940	1940	10 for other programs administered by the Commission and is not,
1941	1941	11 in order to participate in the program under this Law,
1942	1942	12 required to meet the definition of "institution of higher
1943	1943	13 learning", "qualified institution", or "institution" as
1944	1944	14 defined in Section 10 of the Higher Education Student
1945	1945	15 Assistance Act. The Commission may establish by rule
1946	1946	16 additional requirements for approved institutions.
1947	1947	17 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
1948	1948	18 (110 ILCS 975/4) (from Ch. 144, par. 2754)
1949	1949	19 Sec. 4. Functions of Department. The Department shall
1950	1950	20 prepare and supervise the issuance of public information about
1951	1951	21 the provisions of this Article, ; prescribe the form and
1952	1952	22 regulate the submission of applications for scholarships, ;
1953	1953	23 determine the eligibility of applicants, ; award the
1954	1954	24 appropriate scholarships, and ; prescribe the contracts or
1955	1955
1956	1956
1957	1957
1958	1958
1959	1959
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1961	1961
1962	1962
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1965	1965	1 other acknowledgments of scholarship which an applicant is
1966	1966	2 required to execute; and determine whether all or any part of a
1967	1967	3 recipient's scholarship needs to be monetarily repaid, or has
1968	1968	4 been excused from repayment, and the extent of any repayment
1969	1969	5 or excused repayment. The Department may require a recipient
1970	1970	6 to reimburse the State for expenses, including but not limited
1971	1971	7 to attorney's fees, incurred by the Department or other agent
1972	1972	8 of the State for a successful legal action against the
1973	1973	9 recipient for a breach of any provision of the scholarship
1974	1974	10 contract. The Department is authorized to make all necessary
1975	1975	11 and proper rules, not inconsistent with this Article, for the
1976	1976	12 efficient exercise of the foregoing functions.
1977	1977	13 (Source: P.A. 100-872, eff. 8-14-18.)
1978	1978	14 (110 ILCS 975/6) (from Ch. 144, par. 2756)
1979	1979	15 Sec. 6. Nursing requirements for scholarship recipients.
1980	1980	16 In accepting a scholarship under Section 5, a recipient must
1981	1981	17 pledge that (i) within Within 12 months after graduation from
1982	1982	18 an associate degree in nursing program, hospital-based diploma
1983	1983	19 in nursing program, baccalaureate degree in nursing program,
1984	1984	20 graduate degree in nursing program, or certificate in
1985	1985	21 practical nursing program, the any recipient will who accepted
1986	1986	22 a scholarship under Section 5 shall begin meeting the required
1987	1987	23 nursing employment obligation and (ii) upon request by the
1988	1988	24 Commission, the recipient will provide the Commission with
1989	1989	25 evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the
1990	1990
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1992	1992
1993	1993
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1996	1996
1997	1997
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2000	2000	1 terms of the agreement provided for in this Section. In order
2001	2001	2 to defer his or her continuous employment obligation, a
2002	2002	3 recipient must request the deferment in writing from the
2003	2003	4 Department. A recipient shall notify program staff within 30
2004	2004	5 days if he or she spends up to 4 years in military service
2005	2005	6 before or after graduation. A recipient shall notify program
2006	2006	7 staff within 30 days if he or she is enrolled in an academic
2007	2007	8 program leading to a graduate degree in nursing. If a
2008	2008	9 recipient receives funding through the Nursing Education
2009	2009	10 Scholarship Program for a higher degree, the nursing
2010	2010	11 employment obligation shall be deferred until he or she is no
2011	2011	12 longer enrolled or has graduated. The recipient must begin
2012	2012	13 meeting the required nursing employment obligations no later
2013	2013	14 than 6 months after the end of the deferments.
2014	2014	15 Any person who fails to fulfill the nursing employment
2015	2015	16 obligation shall pay to the Department an amount equal to the
2016	2016	17 amount of scholarship funds received per year for each
2017	2017	18 unfulfilled year of the nursing employment obligation,
2018	2018	19 together with interest at 7% per year on the unpaid balance.
2019	2019	20 Payment must begin within 6 months following the date of the
2020	2020	21 occurrence initiating the repayment. All repayments must be
2021	2021	22 completed within 6 years from the date of the occurrence
2022	2022	23 initiating the repayment. However, this obligation may be
2023	2023	24 deferred and re-evaluated every 6 months when the failure to
2024	2024	25 fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from
2025	2025	26 involuntarily leaving the profession due to a decrease in the
2026	2026
2027	2027
2028	2028
2029	2029
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2032	2032
2033	2033
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2036	2036	1 number of nurses employed in the State or when the failure to
2037	2037	2 fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from total
2038	2038	3 and permanent disability. The repayment obligation shall be
2039	2039	4 excused if the failure to fulfill the nursing employment
2040	2040	5 obligation results from the death or adjudication as
2041	2041	6 incompetent of the person holding the scholarship. No claim
2042	2042	7 for repayment may be filed against the estate of such a
2043	2043	8 decedent or incompetent.
2044	2044	9 Each person applying for such a scholarship shall be
2045	2045	10 provided with a copy of this Section at the time of application
2046	2046	11 for the benefits of such scholarship.
2047	2047	12 (Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02; 93-879, eff. 1-1-05.)
2048	2048	13 (110 ILCS 975/6.5)
2049	2049	14 Sec. 6.5. Nurse educator scholarships.
2050	2050	15 (a) Beginning with the fall term of the 2009-2010 academic
2051	2051	16 year, the Department shall provide scholarships to individuals
2052	2052	17 selected from among those applicants who qualify for
2053	2053	18 consideration by showing the following:
2054	2054	19 (1) that he or she has been a resident of this State
2055	2055	20 for at least one year prior to application and is a citizen
2056	2056	21 or a lawful permanent resident of the United States;
2057	2057	22 (2) that he or she is enrolled in or accepted for
2058	2058	23 admission to a graduate degree in nursing program at an
2059	2059	24 approved institution; and
2060	2060	25 (3) that he or she agrees to meet the nurse educator
2061	2061
2062	2062
2063	2063
2064	2064
2065	2065
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2067	2067
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2071	2071	1 employment obligation.
2072	2072	2 (b) If in any year the number of qualified applicants
2073	2073	3 exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded under this
2074	2074	4 Section, the Department shall, in consultation with the
2075	2075	5 Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board, consider the
2076	2076	6 following factors in granting priority in awarding
2077	2077	7 scholarships:
2078	2078	8 (1) Financial need, as shown on a standardized
2079	2079	9 financial needs assessment form used by an approved
2080	2080	10 institution, of students who will pursue their education
2081	2081	11 on a full-time or close to full-time basis and who already
2082	2082	12 have a diploma in nursing and are pursuing a higher
2083	2083	13 degree.
2084	2084	14 (2) A student's status as a registered nurse who is
2085	2085	15 pursuing a graduate degree in nursing to pursue employment
2086	2086	16 in an approved institution that educates licensed
2087	2087	17 practical nurses and that educates registered nurses in
2088	2088	18 undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.
2089	2089	19 (3) A student's merit, as shown through his or her
2090	2090	20 grade point average, class rank, experience as a nurse,
2091	2091	21 including supervisory experience, experience as a nurse in
2092	2092	22 the United States military, and other academic and
2093	2093	23 extracurricular activities.
2094	2094	24 (c) Unless otherwise indicated, scholarships under this
2095	2095	25 Section shall be awarded to recipients at approved
2096	2096	26 institutions for a period of up to 3 years.
2097	2097
2098	2098
2099	2099
2100	2100
2101	2101
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2103	2103
2104	2104
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2107	2107	1 (d) In accepting a scholarship under this Section, a
2108	2108	2 recipient must pledge that (i) within Within 12 months after
2109	2109	3 graduation from a graduate degree in nursing program for nurse
2110	2110	4 educators, the any recipient will who accepted a scholarship
2111	2111	5 under this Section shall begin meeting the required nurse
2112	2112	6 educator employment obligation and (ii) the recipient will,
2113	2113	7 upon request by the Commission, provide the Commission with
2114	2114	8 evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the
2115	2115	9 terms of the agreement provided for in this Section. In order
2116	2116	10 to defer his or her continuous employment obligation, a
2117	2117	11 recipient must request the deferment in writing from the
2118	2118	12 Department. A recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she
2119	2119	13 notifies the Department, within 30 days after enlisting, that
2120	2120	14 he or she is spending up to 4 years in military service. A
2121	2121	15 recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she notifies the
2122	2122	16 Department, within 30 days after enrolling, that he or she is
2123	2123	17 enrolled in an academic program leading to a graduate degree
2124	2124	18 in nursing. The recipient must begin meeting the required
2125	2125	19 nurse educator employment obligation no later than 6 months
2126	2126	20 after the end of the deferment or deferments.
2127	2127	21 Any person who fails to fulfill the nurse educator
2128	2128	22 employment obligation shall pay to the Department an amount
2129	2129	23 equal to the amount of scholarship funds received per year for
2130	2130	24 each unfulfilled year of the nurse educator employment
2131	2131	25 obligation, together with interest at 7% per year on the
2132	2132	26 unpaid balance. Payment must begin within 6 months following
2133	2133
2134	2134
2135	2135
2136	2136
2137	2137
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2139	2139
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2143	2143	1 the date of the occurrence initiating the repayment. All
2144	2144	2 repayments must be completed within 6 years from the date of
2145	2145	3 the occurrence initiating the repayment. However, this
2146	2146	4 repayment obligation may be deferred and re-evaluated every 6
2147	2147	5 months when the failure to fulfill the nurse educator
2148	2148	6 employment obligation results from involuntarily leaving the
2149	2149	7 profession due to a decrease in the number of nurses employed
2150	2150	8 in this State or when the failure to fulfill the nurse educator
2151	2151	9 employment obligation results from total and permanent
2152	2152	10 disability. The repayment obligation shall be excused if the
2153	2153	11 failure to fulfill the nurse educator employment obligation
2154	2154	12 results from the death or adjudication as incompetent of the
2155	2155	13 person holding the scholarship. No claim for repayment may be
2156	2156	14 filed against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent.
2157	2157	15 The Department may allow a nurse educator employment
2158	2158	16 obligation fulfillment alternative if the nurse educator
2159	2159	17 scholarship recipient is unsuccessful in finding work as a
2160	2160	18 nurse educator. The Department shall maintain a database of
2161	2161	19 all available nurse educator positions in this State.
2162	2162	20 (e) Each person applying for a scholarship under this
2163	2163	21 Section must be provided with a copy of this Section at the
2164	2164	22 time of application for the benefits of this scholarship.
2165	2165	23 (f) Rulemaking authority to implement this Act is
2166	2166	24 conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all
2167	2167	25 provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and
2168	2168	26 all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
2169	2169
2170	2170
2171	2171
2172	2172
2173	2173
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2179	2179	1 Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
2180	2180	2 whatever reason, is unauthorized.
2181	2181	3 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22;
2182	2182	4 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
2183	2183
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2185	2185
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