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
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
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
LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
A BILL FOR
HB2791LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
5 amended by changing Sections 20, 50, 52, 65.15, 65.70, 65.110,
6 and 65.120 as follows:
7 (110 ILCS 947/20)
8 Sec. 20. Functions of Commission.
9 (a) The Commission, in accordance with this Act, shall
10 prepare and supervise the issuance of public information
11 concerning its provisions; prescribe the form and regulate the
12 submission of applications for assistance; provide for and
13 conduct, or cause to be conducted, all eligibility
14 determinations of applicants; award the appropriate financial
15 assistance; and, upon request by a member of the General
16 Assembly, nominate or evaluate and recommend for nomination
17 applicants for General Assembly scholarships in accordance
18 with criteria specified by the member under Section 30-9 of
19 the School Code.
20 (b) The Commission is authorized to participate in any
21 programs for monetary assistance to students and to receive,
22 hold, and disburse all such funds made available by any agency
23 or organization for the purpose or purposes for which they are
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
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
LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
A BILL FOR
110 ILCS 947/20
110 ILCS 947/50
110 ILCS 947/52
110 ILCS 947/65.15
110 ILCS 947/65.70
110 ILCS 947/65.110
110 ILCS 947/65.120
110 ILCS 975/2 from Ch. 144, par. 2752
110 ILCS 975/3 from Ch. 144, par. 2753
110 ILCS 975/3.1
110 ILCS 975/4 from Ch. 144, par. 2754
110 ILCS 975/6 from Ch. 144, par. 2756
110 ILCS 975/6.5
LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 2 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 2 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 2 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 made available. The Commission is authorized to administer a
2 program of grant assistance as authorized by the Baccalaureate
3 Savings Act. The Commission is authorized to participate in
4 any programs established to improve student financial aid
5 services or the proficiency of persons engaged in student
6 financial aid services and to receive, hold, and disburse all
7 funds made available by any agency or organization for the
8 purpose or purposes for which they are made available subject
9 to the appropriations of the General Assembly.
10 (c) The Commission is authorized to deny a scholarship or
11 a grant to any person who has defaulted on a guaranteed student
12 loan and who is not maintaining a satisfactory repayment
13 record. If a person has a defaulted guaranteed student loan
14 but is otherwise eligible for assistance pursuant to Section
15 40, the Commission shall award one term of assistance during
16 which a satisfactory repayment record must be established. If
17 such a repayment record is not established, additional
18 assistance shall be denied until a satisfactory repayment
19 record is established.
20 (d) The Commission is authorized to participate with
21 federal, state, county, local, and university law enforcement
22 agencies in cooperative efforts to detect and prosecute
23 incidents of fraud in student assistance programs.
24 (e) The Administrative Review Law shall apply to and
25 govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final
26 administrative decisions of the Commission.
HB2791 - 2 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 3 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 3 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 3 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 (f) The Commission is authorized to make all necessary and
2 proper rules, not inconsistent with this Act, for the
3 efficient exercise of the foregoing functions.
4 (g) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the functions of
5 the Commission shall be exercised without regard to any
6 applicant's race, creed, sex, color, national origin, or
7 ancestry.
8 (h) The Commission is authorized to establish systems and
9 programs to encourage employers to match employee
10 contributions to prepaid programs of college savings by making
11 donations to the Commission for prepaid programs of college
12 savings to make higher education affordable for all residents
13 of the State and to receive, hold, and disburse all such funds
14 made available through those programs for the purposes for
15 which they are authorized by rule or by law.
16 (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
17 contrary, on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
18 104th General Assembly, any recipient of a scholarship, grant,
19 or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan
20 under a State program for which the Commission is responsible
21 for collections shall be released from the remaining financial
22 repayment obligations under that program. This includes
23 financial repayment obligations under Section 50, 52, 65.15,
24 65.70, 65.110, or 65.120, the Nursing Education Scholarship
25 Law, or any other similarly structured State scholarship,
26 grant, or waiver program for which the Commission is or may
HB2791 - 3 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 4 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 4 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 4 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 become responsible for collections.
2 The release from financial repayment obligations under
3 this subsection (i) applies only to financial repayment
4 obligations resulting from a recipient's failure to complete
5 any required employment obligation under the terms of the
6 scholarship, grant, or waiver. The release does not apply to
7 amounts owed to the Commission for other reasons, including,
8 but not limited to, error, fraud, rescission of funds, or
9 because a recipient ceased to be eligible for the amount
10 initially awarded.
11 (Source: P.A. 96-198, eff. 8-10-09.)
12 (110 ILCS 947/50)
13 Sec. 50. Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
14 program.
15 (a) As used in this Section:
16 "Eligible applicant" means a minority student who has
17 graduated from high school or has received a State of
18 Illinois High School Diploma and has maintained a
19 cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0
20 scale, and who by reason thereof is entitled to apply for
21 scholarships to be awarded under this Section.
22 "Minority student" means a student who is any of the
23 following:
24 (1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person
25 having origins in any of the original peoples of North
HB2791 - 4 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 5 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 5 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 5 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 and South America, including Central America, and who
2 maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment).
3 (2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the
4 original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or
5 the Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited
6 to, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
7 Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and
8 Vietnam).
9 (3) Black or African American (a person having
10 origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa).
11 (4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban,
12 Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or
13 other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race).
14 (5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a
15 person having origins in any of the original peoples
16 of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).
17 "Qualified bilingual minority applicant" means a
18 qualified student who demonstrates proficiency in a
19 language other than English by (i) receiving a State Seal
20 of Biliteracy from the State Board of Education or (ii)
21 receiving a passing score on an educator licensure target
22 language proficiency test.
23 "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a
24 resident of this State and a citizen or permanent resident
25 of the United States; (ii) who is a minority student, as
26 defined in this Section; (iii) who, as an eligible
HB2791 - 5 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 6 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 6 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 6 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 applicant, has made a timely application for a minority
2 teaching scholarship under this Section; (iv) who is
3 enrolled on at least a half-time basis at a qualified
4 Illinois institution of higher learning; (v) who is
5 enrolled in a course of study leading to teacher
6 licensure, including alternative teacher licensure, or, if
7 the student is already licensed to teach, in a course of
8 study leading to an additional teaching endorsement or a
9 master's degree in an academic field in which he or she is
10 teaching or plans to teach or who has received one or more
11 College and Career Pathway Endorsements pursuant to
12 Section 80 of the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness
13 Act and commits to enrolling in a course of study leading
14 to teacher licensure, including alternative teacher
15 licensure; (vi) who maintains a grade point average of no
16 less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; and (vii) who continues to
17 advance satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
18 (b) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
19 minority students to pursue teaching careers at the preschool
20 or elementary or secondary school level and to address and
21 alleviate the teacher shortage crisis in this State described
22 under the provisions of the Transitions in Education Act, each
23 qualified student shall be awarded a minority teacher
24 scholarship to any qualified Illinois institution of higher
25 learning. However, preference may be given to qualified
26 applicants enrolled at or above the junior level.
HB2791 - 6 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 7 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 7 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 7 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 (c) Each minority teacher scholarship awarded under this
2 Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and
3 fees and room and board costs of the qualified Illinois
4 institution of higher learning at which the recipient is
5 enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $5,000; except that in the
6 case of a recipient who does not reside on-campus at the
7 institution at which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the
8 scholarship shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee
9 expenses and a commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of
10 $5,000. However, if at least $2,850,000 is appropriated in a
11 given fiscal year for the Minority Teachers of Illinois
12 scholarship program, then, in each fiscal year thereafter,
13 each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be in an
14 amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room and
15 board costs of the qualified Illinois institution of higher
16 learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual
17 maximum of $7,500; except that in the case of a recipient who
18 does not reside on-campus at the institution at which he or she
19 is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient
20 to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to
21 an annual maximum of $7,500.
22 (d) The total amount of minority teacher scholarship
23 assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an
24 individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other
25 financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year,
26 shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at
HB2791 - 7 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 8 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 8 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 8 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 which the student is enrolled. If the amount of a minority
2 teacher scholarship to be awarded to a qualified student as
3 provided in subsection (c) of this Section exceeds the cost of
4 attendance at the institution at which the student is
5 enrolled, the minority teacher scholarship shall be reduced by
6 an amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
7 assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
8 attendance.
9 (e) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
10 qualified student can receive minority teacher scholarship
11 assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
12 (f) In any academic year for which an eligible applicant
13 under this Section accepts financial assistance through the
14 Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program, as authorized by
15 Section 551 et seq. of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the
16 applicant shall not be eligible for scholarship assistance
17 awarded under this Section.
18 (g) All applications for minority teacher scholarships to
19 be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission
20 on forms which the Commission shall provide for eligible
21 applicants. The form of applications and the information
22 required to be set forth therein shall be determined by the
23 Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible
24 applicants to submit with their applications such supporting
25 documents or recommendations as the Commission deems
26 necessary.
HB2791 - 8 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 9 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 9 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 9 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 (h) Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes,
2 payment of any minority teacher scholarship awarded under this
3 Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship
4 funds distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be
5 paid to the institution and used only for payment of the
6 tuition and fee and room and board expenses incurred by the
7 student in connection with his or her attendance at a
8 qualified Illinois institution of higher learning. Any
9 minority teacher scholarship awarded under this Section shall
10 be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment. If a
11 qualified student withdraws from enrollment prior to
12 completion of the first semester or quarter for which the
13 minority teacher scholarship is applicable, the school shall
14 refund to the Commission the full amount of the minority
15 teacher scholarship.
16 (i) The Commission shall administer the minority teacher
17 scholarship aid program established by this Section and shall
18 make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
19 Section for its effective implementation.
20 (j) When an appropriation to the Commission for a given
21 fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
22 qualified students, the Commission shall allocate the
23 appropriation in accordance with this subsection. If funds are
24 insufficient to provide all qualified students with a
25 scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission
26 shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal
HB2791 - 9 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 10 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 10 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 10 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 year to qualified students who submit a complete application
2 form on or before a date specified by the Commission based on
3 the following order of priority:
4 (1) To students who received a scholarship under this
5 Section in the prior academic year and who remain eligible
6 for a minority teacher scholarship under this Section.
7 (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (k), to
8 students who demonstrate financial need, as determined by
9 the Commission.
10 (k) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subsection (j), at
11 least 35% of the funds appropriated for scholarships awarded
12 under this Section in each fiscal year shall be reserved for
13 qualified male minority applicants, with priority being given
14 to qualified Black male applicants beginning with fiscal year
15 2023. If the Commission does not receive enough applications
16 from qualified male minorities on or before January 1 of each
17 fiscal year to award 35% of the funds appropriated for these
18 scholarships to qualified male minority applicants, then the
19 Commission may award a portion of the reserved funds to
20 qualified female minority applicants in accordance with
21 subsection (j).
22 Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at least $2,850,000
23 but less than $4,200,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal
24 year for scholarships awarded under this Section, then at
25 least 10% of the funds appropriated shall be reserved for
26 qualified bilingual minority applicants, with priority being
HB2791 - 10 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 11 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 11 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 11 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 given to qualified bilingual minority applicants who are
2 enrolled in an educator preparation program with a
3 concentration in bilingual, bicultural education. Beginning
4 with fiscal year 2023, if at least $4,200,000 is appropriated
5 in a given fiscal year for the Minority Teachers of Illinois
6 scholarship program, then at least 30% of the funds
7 appropriated shall be reserved for qualified bilingual
8 minority applicants, with priority being given to qualified
9 bilingual minority applicants who are enrolled in an educator
10 preparation program with a concentration in bilingual,
11 bicultural education. Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at
12 least $2,850,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal year for
13 scholarships awarded under this Section but the Commission
14 does not receive enough applications from qualified bilingual
15 minority applicants on or before January 1 of that fiscal year
16 to award at least 10% of the funds appropriated to qualified
17 bilingual minority applicants, then the Commission may, in its
18 discretion, award a portion of the reserved funds to other
19 qualified students in accordance with subsection (j).
20 (l) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
21 academic year, each recipient of a minority teacher
22 scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by
23 the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient
24 pledges that, within the one-year period following the
25 termination of the program for which the recipient was awarded
26 a minority teacher scholarship, the recipient (i) shall begin
HB2791 - 11 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 12 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 12 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 12 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 teaching for a period of not less than one year for each year
2 of scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
3 Section; (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a
4 nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool,
5 elementary school, or secondary school at which no less than
6 30% of the enrolled students are minority students in the year
7 during which the recipient begins teaching at the school or
8 may instead, if the recipient received a scholarship as a
9 qualified bilingual minority applicant, fulfill this teaching
10 obligation in a program in transitional bilingual education
11 pursuant to Article 14C of the School Code or in a school in
12 which 20 or more English learner students in the same language
13 classification are enrolled; and (iii) shall, upon request by
14 the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that he
15 or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
16 agreement provided for in this subsection.
17 (m) (Blank). If a recipient of a minority teacher
18 scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the
19 teaching obligation set forth in subsection (l) of this
20 Section, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay
21 the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to
22 the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, at a
23 rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable
24 collection fees. If a recipient who enters into repayment
25 under this subsection (m) subsequently, within 5 years of
26 entering repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the
HB2791 - 12 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 13 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 13 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 13 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 description under subsection (l) of this Section, the
2 Commission may reduce the amount owed by the recipient in
3 proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed.
4 The Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to
5 its collection activities for repayment of scholarships under
6 this Section. All repayments collected under this Section
7 shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller for deposit into
8 the State's General Revenue Fund.
9 (n) (Blank). A recipient of minority teacher scholarship
10 shall not be considered in violation of the agreement entered
11 into pursuant to subsection (l) if the recipient (i) enrolls
12 on a full time basis as a graduate student in a course of study
13 related to the field of teaching at a qualified Illinois
14 institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not in excess
15 of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the United
16 States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total disability
17 for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as established by
18 sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and
19 unable to find full time employment as a teacher at an Illinois
20 public, private, or parochial preschool or elementary or
21 secondary school that satisfies the criteria set forth in
22 subsection (l) of this Section and is able to provide evidence
23 of that fact; (v) becomes a person with a permanent total
24 disability as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified
25 physician; (vi) is taking additional courses, on at least a
26 half-time basis, needed to obtain licensure as a teacher in
HB2791 - 13 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 14 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 14 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 14 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 Illinois; or (vii) is fulfilling teaching requirements
2 associated with other programs administered by the Commission
3 and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a
4 period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation.
5 (o) (Blank). Scholarship recipients under this Section who
6 withdraw from a program of teacher education but remain
7 enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in
8 another academic discipline shall not be required to commence
9 repayment of their Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
10 so long as they remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis
11 or if they can document for the Commission special
12 circumstances that warrant extension of repayment.
13 (p) If the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
14 program does not expend at least 90% of the amount
15 appropriated for the program in a given fiscal year for 3
16 consecutive fiscal years and the Commission does not receive
17 enough applications from the groups identified in subsection
18 (k) on or before January 1 in each of those fiscal years to
19 meet the percentage reserved for those groups under subsection
20 (k), then up to 3% of amount appropriated for the program for
21 each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated to increasing
22 awareness of the program and for the recruitment of Black male
23 applicants. The Commission shall make a recommendation to the
24 General Assembly by January 1 of the year immediately
25 following the end of that third fiscal year regarding whether
26 the amount allocated to increasing awareness and recruitment
HB2791 - 14 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 15 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 15 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 15 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 should continue.
2 (q) Each qualified Illinois institution of higher learning
3 that receives funds from the Minority Teachers of Illinois
4 scholarship program shall host an annual information session
5 at the institution about the program for teacher candidates of
6 color in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission.
7 Additionally, the institution shall ensure that each
8 scholarship recipient enrolled at the institution meets with
9 an academic advisor at least once per academic year to
10 facilitate on-time completion of the recipient's educator
11 preparation program.
12 (r) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 101-654
13 will first take effect with awards made for the 2022-2023
14 academic year.
15 (Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
16 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; revised 7-19-24.)
17 (110 ILCS 947/52)
18 Sec. 52. Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program; Golden
19 Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching.
20 (a) In this Section, "Foundation" means the Golden Apple
21 Foundation for Excellence in Teaching, a registered 501(c)(3)
22 not-for-profit corporation.
23 (a-2) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
24 students, especially minority students, to pursue teaching
25 careers, especially in teacher shortage disciplines (which
HB2791 - 15 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 16 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 16 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 16 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 shall be defined to include early childhood education) or at
2 hard-to-staff schools (as defined by the Commission in
3 consultation with the State Board of Education), to provide
4 those students with the crucial mentoring, guidance, and
5 in-service support that will significantly increase the
6 likelihood that they will complete their full teaching
7 commitments and elect to continue teaching in targeted
8 disciplines and hard-to-staff schools, and to ensure that
9 students in this State will continue to have access to a pool
10 of highly qualified highly-qualified teachers, each qualified
11 student shall be awarded a Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois
12 Program scholarship to any Illinois institution of higher
13 learning. The Commission shall administer the Golden Apple
14 Scholars of Illinois Program, which shall be managed by the
15 Foundation pursuant to the terms of a grant agreement meeting
16 the requirements of Section 4 of the Illinois Grant Funds
17 Recovery Act.
18 (a-3) For purposes of this Section, a qualified student
19 shall be a student who meets the following qualifications:
20 (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
21 eligible noncitizen of the United States;
22 (2) is a high school graduate or a person who has
23 received a State of Illinois High School Diploma;
24 (3) is enrolled or accepted, on at least a half-time
25 basis, at an institution of higher learning;
26 (4) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study
HB2791 - 16 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 17 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 17 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 17 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 leading to initial certification or pursuing additional
2 course work needed to gain State Board of Education
3 approval to teach, including alternative teacher
4 licensure; and
5 (5) is a participant in programs managed by and is
6 approved to receive a scholarship from the Foundation.
7 (a-5) (Blank).
8 (b) (Blank).
9 (b-5) Funds designated for the Golden Apple Scholars of
10 Illinois Program shall be used by the Commission for the
11 payment of scholarship assistance under this Section or for
12 the award of grant funds, subject to the Illinois Grant Funds
13 Recovery Act, to the Foundation. Subject to appropriation,
14 awards of grant funds to the Foundation shall be made on an
15 annual basis and following an application for grant funds by
16 the Foundation.
17 (b-10) Each year, the Foundation shall include in its
18 application to the Commission for grant funds an estimate of
19 the amount of scholarship assistance to be provided to
20 qualified students during the grant period. Any amount of
21 appropriated funds exceeding the estimated amount of
22 scholarship assistance may be awarded by the Commission to the
23 Foundation for management expenses expected to be incurred by
24 the Foundation in providing the mentoring, guidance, and
25 in-service supports that will increase the likelihood that
26 qualified students will complete their teaching commitments
HB2791 - 17 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 18 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 18 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 18 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 and elect to continue teaching in hard-to-staff schools. If
2 the estimate of the amount of scholarship assistance described
3 in the Foundation's application is less than the actual amount
4 required for the award of scholarship assistance to qualified
5 students, the Foundation shall be responsible for using
6 awarded grant funds to ensure all qualified students receive
7 scholarship assistance under this Section.
8 (b-15) All grant funds not expended or legally obligated
9 within the time specified in a grant agreement between the
10 Foundation and the Commission shall be returned to the
11 Commission within 45 days. Any funds legally obligated by the
12 end of a grant agreement shall be liquidated within 45 days or
13 otherwise returned to the Commission within 90 days after the
14 end of the grant agreement that resulted in the award of grant
15 funds.
16 (c) Each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
17 in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room
18 and board costs of the Illinois institution of higher learning
19 at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of
20 $5,000; except that, in the case of a recipient who does not
21 reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at
22 which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship
23 shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a
24 commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. All
25 scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this Section
26 shall be paid to the institution on behalf of recipients.
HB2791 - 18 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 19 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 19 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 19 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
2 the Commission under this Section to an individual in any
3 given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
4 awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the
5 cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at
6 which the student is enrolled. In any academic year for which a
7 qualified student under this Section accepts financial
8 assistance through any other teacher scholarship program
9 administered by the Commission, a qualified student shall not
10 be eligible for scholarship assistance awarded under this
11 Section.
12 (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12
13 quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section.
14 Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3
15 quarters of enrollment each academic year.
16 (f) All applications for scholarship assistance to be
17 awarded under this Section shall be made to the Foundation in a
18 form determined by the Foundation. Each year, the Foundation
19 shall notify the Commission of the individuals awarded
20 scholarship assistance under this Section. Each year, at least
21 30% of the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program
22 scholarships shall be awarded to students residing in counties
23 having a population of less than 500,000.
24 (g) (Blank).
25 (h) The Commission shall administer the payment of
26 scholarship assistance provided through the Golden Apple
HB2791 - 19 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 20 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 20 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 20 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 Scholars of Illinois Program and shall make all necessary and
2 proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for the
3 effective implementation of this Section.
4 (i) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
5 academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
6 this Section shall be required by the Foundation to sign an
7 agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the
8 2-year period following the termination of the academic
9 program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
10 recipient: (i) shall begin teaching for a period of not less
11 than 5 years, (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a
12 nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool or
13 an Illinois public elementary or secondary school that
14 qualifies for teacher loan cancellation under Section
15 465(a)(2)(A) of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
16 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(A)) or other Illinois schools deemed
17 eligible for fulfilling the teaching commitment as designated
18 by the Foundation, and (iii) shall, upon request of the
19 Foundation, provide the Foundation with evidence that he or
20 she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
21 agreement provided for in this subsection. Upon request, the
22 Foundation shall provide evidence of teacher fulfillment to
23 the Commission.
24 (j) (Blank). If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under
25 this Section fails to fulfill the teaching obligation set
26 forth in subsection (i) of this Section, the Commission shall
HB2791 - 20 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 21 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 21 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 21 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships
2 received, prorated according to the fraction of the teaching
3 obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
4 applicable, reasonable collection fees. If a recipient who
5 enters into repayment under this subsection (j) subsequently,
6 within 5 years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a
7 school meeting the description under subsection (i) of this
8 Section, the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the
9 recipient in proportion to the amount of the teaching
10 obligation completed. Reduction of the amount owed shall not
11 be construed as reinstatement in the Golden Apple Scholars
12 program. Reinstatement in the program shall be solely at the
13 discretion of the Golden Apple Foundation on terms determined
14 by the Foundation. Payments received by the Commission under
15 this subsection (j) shall be remitted to the State Comptroller
16 for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, except that that
17 portion of a recipient's repayment that equals the amount in
18 expenses that the Commission has reasonably incurred in
19 attempting collection from that recipient shall be remitted to
20 the State Comptroller for deposit into the ISAC Accounts
21 Receivable Fund, a special fund in the State treasury.
22 (k) (Blank). A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the
23 Foundation under this Section shall not be considered to have
24 failed to fulfill the teaching obligations of the agreement
25 entered into pursuant to subsection (i) if the recipient (i)
26 enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course
HB2791 - 21 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 22 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 22 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 22 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 of study related to the field of teaching at an institution of
2 higher learning; (ii) is serving as a member of the armed
3 services of the United States; (iii) is a person with a
4 temporary total disability, as established by sworn affidavit
5 of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and unable to find
6 full-time employment as a teacher at a school that satisfies
7 the criteria set forth in subsection (i) and is able to provide
8 evidence of that fact; (v) is taking additional courses, on at
9 least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a
10 teacher in Illinois; (vi) is fulfilling teaching requirements
11 associated with other programs administered by the Commission
12 and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a
13 period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation;
14 or (vii) is participating in a program established under
15 Executive Order 10924 of the President of the United States or
16 the federal National Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
17 12501 et seq.). Any such extension of the period during which
18 the teaching requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to
19 limitations of duration as established by the Commission.
20 (l) (Blank). A recipient who fails to fulfill the teaching
21 obligations of the agreement entered into pursuant to
22 subsection (i) of this Section shall repay the amount of
23 scholarship assistance awarded to them under this Section
24 within 10 years.
25 (m) Annually, at a time determined by the Commission in
26 consultation with the Foundation, the Foundation shall submit
HB2791 - 22 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 23 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 23 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 23 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 a report to assist the Commission in monitoring the
2 Foundation's performance of grant activities. The report shall
3 describe the following:
4 (1) the Foundation's anticipated expenditures for the
5 next fiscal year;
6 (2) the number of qualified students receiving
7 scholarship assistance at each institution of higher
8 learning where a qualified student was enrolled under this
9 Section during the previous fiscal year;
10 (3) the total monetary value of scholarship funds paid
11 to each institution of higher learning at which a
12 qualified student was enrolled during the previous fiscal
13 year;
14 (4) the number of scholarship recipients who completed
15 a baccalaureate degree during the previous fiscal year;
16 (5) the number of scholarship recipients who reported
17 that they had fulfilled their teaching obligation during
18 the previous fiscal year;
19 (6) the number of scholarship recipients who reported
20 that they had failed to fulfill their teaching obligation
21 during the previous fiscal year;
22 (7) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients
23 granted an extension described in subsection (k) of this
24 Section during the previous fiscal year;
25 (8) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients
26 required to repay scholarship assistance in accordance
HB2791 - 23 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 24 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 24 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 24 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 with subsection (j) of this Section during the previous
2 fiscal year;
3 (9) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients who
4 successfully repaid scholarship assistance in full during
5 the previous fiscal year;
6 (10) (blank); the number of scholarship recipients who
7 defaulted on their obligation to repay scholarship
8 assistance during the previous fiscal year;
9 (11) (blank); the amount of scholarship assistance
10 subject to collection in accordance with subsection (j) of
11 this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year;
12 (12) (blank); and the amount of collected funds to be
13 remitted to the Comptroller in accordance with subsection
14 (j) of this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year;
15 and
16 (13) other information that the Commission may
17 reasonably request.
18 (n) Nothing in this Section shall affect the rights of the
19 Commission to collect information on the completion of
20 teaching obligations moneys owed to it by recipients of
21 scholarship assistance through the Illinois Future Teacher
22 Corps Program, repealed by Public Act 98-533.
23 (o) The Auditor General shall prepare an annual audit of
24 the operations and finances of the Golden Apple Scholars of
25 Illinois Program. This audit shall be provided to the
26 Governor, General Assembly, and the Commission.
HB2791 - 24 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 25 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 25 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 25 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 (p) The suspension of grant making authority found in
2 Section 4.2 of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act shall not
3 apply to grants made pursuant to this Section.
4 (Source: P.A. 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22; 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23;
5 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; revised
6 10-16-24.)
7 (110 ILCS 947/65.15)
8 Sec. 65.15. Special education teacher scholarships.
9 (a) There shall be awarded annually 250 scholarships to
10 persons qualifying as members of any of the following groups:
11 (1) Students who are otherwise qualified to receive a
12 scholarship as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this
13 Section and who make application to the Commission for
14 such scholarship and agree to take courses that will
15 prepare the student for the teaching of children described
16 in Section 14-1 of the School Code.
17 (2) Persons holding a valid certificate issued under
18 the laws relating to the certification of teachers and who
19 make application to the Commission for such scholarship
20 and agree to take courses that will prepare them for the
21 teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the
22 School Code.
23 (3) Persons who (A) have graduated high school; (B)
24 have not been certified as a teacher; and (C) make
25 application to the Commission for such scholarship and
HB2791 - 25 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 26 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 26 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 26 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 agree to take courses that will prepare them for the
2 teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the
3 School Code.
4 Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be issued
5 pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commission;
6 provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State
7 Board of Education prior to the effective date of this
8 amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right,
9 power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business
10 transferred from the State Board of Education to the
11 Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and
12 all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and
13 regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the
14 Commission in accordance with law.
15 For the purposes of this Section scholarships awarded each
16 school year shall be deemed to be issued on July 1 of the year
17 prior to the start of the postsecondary school term and all
18 calculations for use of the scholarship shall be based on such
19 date. Each scholarship shall entitle its holder to exemption
20 from fees as provided in subsection (a) of Section 65.40 while
21 enrolled in a special education program of teacher education,
22 for a period of not more than 4 calendar years and shall be
23 available for use at any time during such period of study
24 except as provided in subsection (b) of Section 65.40.
25 Scholarships issued to holders of a valid certificate
26 issued under the laws relating to the certification of
HB2791 - 26 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 27 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 27 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 27 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 teachers as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection may
2 also entitle the holder thereof to a program of teacher
3 education that will prepare the student for the teaching of
4 children described in Section 14-1 of the School Code at the
5 graduate level.
6 (b) The principal, or his or her designee, of an approved
7 high school shall certify to the Commission, for students who
8 are Illinois residents and are completing an application, that
9 the students ranked scholastically in the upper one-half of
10 their graduating class at the end of the sixth semester.
11 (c) Each holder of a scholarship must furnish proof to the
12 Commission, in such form and at such intervals as the
13 Commission prescribes, of the holder's continued enrollment in
14 a teacher education program qualifying the holder for the
15 scholarship. Any holder of a scholarship who fails to register
16 in a special education program of teacher education at the
17 university within 10 days after the commencement of the term,
18 quarter or semester immediately following the receipt of the
19 scholarship or who, having registered, withdraws from the
20 university or transfers out of teacher education, shall
21 thereupon forfeit the right to use it and it may be granted to
22 the person having the next highest rank as shown on the list
23 held by the Commission. If the person having the next highest
24 rank, within 10 days after notification thereof by the
25 Commission, fails to register at any such university in a
26 special education program of teacher education, or who, having
HB2791 - 27 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 28 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 28 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 28 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 registered, withdraws from the university or transfers out of
2 teacher education, the scholarship may then be granted to the
3 person shown on the list as having the rank next below such
4 person.
5 (d) Any person accepting who has accepted a scholarship
6 under the preceding subsections of this Section must sign an
7 agreement pledging (i) that, within one year after graduation
8 from or termination of enrollment in a teacher education
9 program, the recipient will begin teaching at a nonprofit
10 Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, or
11 elementary school, or secondary school for a period of at
12 least 2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation
13 or termination and (ii) that the recipient will provide the
14 Commission, upon the Commission's request, with evidence that
15 the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the
16 teaching agreement provided for in this subsection. ,
17 excluding, however, from the computation of that 5 year period
18 (i) any time up to 3 years spent in the military service,
19 whether such service occurs before or after the person
20 graduates; (ii) any time that person is enrolled full-time in
21 an academic program related to the field of teaching leading
22 to a graduate or postgraduate degree; (iii) the time that
23 person is a person with a temporary total disability for a
24 period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by the
25 sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) the time that
26 person is seeking and unable to find full time employment as a
HB2791 - 28 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 29 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 29 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 29 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 teacher at an Illinois public, private, or parochial school;
2 (v) the time that person is taking additional courses, on at
3 least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a
4 teacher in Illinois; or (vi) the time that person is
5 fulfilling teaching requirements associated with other
6 programs administered by the Commission if he or she cannot
7 concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a period of
8 time equal to the length of the teaching obligation.
9 A person who has accepted a scholarship under the
10 preceding subsections of this Section and who has been unable
11 to fulfill the teaching requirements of this Section may
12 receive a deferment from the obligation of repayment under
13 this subsection (d) under guidelines established by the
14 Commission; provided that no guideline established for any
15 such purpose by the State Board of Education prior to the
16 effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 shall be
17 affected by the transfer to the Commission of the
18 responsibility for administering and implementing the
19 provisions of this Section, and all guidelines so established
20 shall become the guidelines of the Commission until modified
21 or changed by the Commission.
22 Any such person who fails to fulfill this teaching
23 requirement shall pay to the Commission the amount of tuition
24 waived by virtue of his or her acceptance of the scholarship,
25 together with interest at 5% per year on that amount. However,
26 this obligation to repay the amount of tuition waived plus
HB2791 - 29 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 30 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 30 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 30 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 interest does not apply when the failure to fulfill the
2 teaching requirement results from the death or adjudication as
3 a person under legal disability of the person holding the
4 scholarship, and no claim for repayment may be filed against
5 the estate of such a decedent or person under legal
6 disability. If a recipient who enters into repayment under
7 this paragraph subsequently, within 5 years of entering
8 repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the description
9 under this subsection (d), the Commission may reduce the
10 amount owed by the recipient in proportion to the amount of the
11 teaching obligation completed. Payments received by the
12 Commission under this subsection (d) shall be remitted to the
13 State Treasurer for deposit in the General Revenue Fund. Each
14 person receiving a scholarship shall be provided with a
15 description of the provisions of this subsection (d) at the
16 time he or she qualifies for the benefits of such a
17 scholarship.
18 (e) (Blank). This Section is basically the same as
19 Sections 30-1, 30-2, 30-3, and 30-4a of the School Code, which
20 are repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be
21 construed as a continuation of the teacher scholarship program
22 established by that prior law, and not as a new or different
23 teacher scholarship program. The State Board of Education
24 shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the
25 State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and
26 implementing the provisions of this Section, all books,
HB2791 - 30 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 31 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 31 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 31 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements,
2 and pending business in any way relating to the teacher
3 scholarship program continued under this Section; and all
4 scholarships at any time awarded under that program by, and
5 all applications for any such scholarships at any time made
6 to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the
7 transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the
8 administration and implementation of the teacher scholarship
9 program continued under this Section. The State Board of
10 Education shall furnish to the Commission such other
11 information as the Commission may request to assist it in
12 administering this Section.
13 (Source: P.A. 103-448, eff. 8-4-23.)
14 (110 ILCS 947/65.70)
15 Sec. 65.70. Optometric Education Scholarship Program.
16 (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the
17 provision of graduate education leading to a doctoral degree
18 in optometry for persons of this State who desire such an
19 education is important to the health and welfare of this State
20 and Nation and, consequently, is an important public purpose.
21 Many qualified potential optometrists are deterred by
22 financial considerations from pursuing their optometric
23 education with consequent irreparable loss to the State and
24 Nation of talents vital to health and welfare. A program of
25 scholarships for individuals who pledge to practice , repayment
HB2791 - 31 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 32 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 32 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 32 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 of which may be excused if the individual practices
2 professional optometry in this State, will enable such
3 individuals to attend qualified public or private institutions
4 of their choice in the State.
5 (b) Beginning with the 2003-2004 academic year, the
6 Commission shall, each year, consider applications for
7 scholarship assistance under this Section. An applicant is
8 eligible for a scholarship under this Section if the
9 Commission finds that the applicant is:
10 (1) a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
11 (2) a resident of Illinois; and
12 (3) enrolled on a full-time basis in a public or
13 private college of optometry located in this State that
14 awards a doctorate degree in optometry and is approved by
15 the Department of Professional Regulation.
16 (c) Each year the Commission shall award 10 scholarships
17 under this Section among applicants qualified pursuant to
18 subsection (b). Two of these scholarships each shall be
19 awarded to eligible applicants enrolled in their first year,
20 second year, third year, and fourth year. The remaining 2
21 scholarships shall be awarded to any level of student. The
22 Commission shall receive funding for the scholarships through
23 appropriations from the Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary
24 Board Fund. If in any year the number of qualified applicants
25 exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, the
26 Commission shall give priority in awarding scholarships to
HB2791 - 32 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 33 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 33 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 33 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 students demonstrating exceptional merit and who are in
2 financial need. A scholarship shall be in the amount of $5,000
3 each year applicable to tuition and fees.
4 (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
5 the Commission under this Section to an individual in any
6 given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
7 awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the
8 cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is
9 enrolled.
10 (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12
11 quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section.
12 (f) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such
13 purposes, payment of any scholarship awarded under this
14 Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship
15 funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be
16 paid to the institution on behalf of the recipients.
17 Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3
18 quarters of enrollment within an academic year.
19 (g) The Commission shall administer the Optometric
20 Education Scholarship Program established by this Section and
21 shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent
22 with this Section for its effective implementation.
23 (h) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
24 academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
25 this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an
26 agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the
HB2791 - 33 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 34 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 34 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 34 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 one-year period following the termination of the academic
2 program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
3 recipient shall practice in this State as a licensed
4 optometrist under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987
5 for a period of not less than one year for each year of
6 scholarship assistance awarded under this Section. Each
7 recipient shall, upon request of the Commission, provide the
8 Commission with evidence that the recipient he or she is
9 fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the practice
10 agreement provided for in this subsection.
11 (i) (Blank). If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under
12 this Section fails to fulfill the practice obligation set
13 forth in subsection (h) of this Section, the Commission shall
14 require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships
15 received, prorated according to the fraction of the obligation
16 not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
17 applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
18 authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
19 activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.
20 (j) (Blank). A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the
21 Commission under this Section shall not be in violation of the
22 agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (h) if the
23 recipient (i) is serving as a member of the armed services of
24 the United States; (ii) is enrolled in a residency program
25 following graduation at an approved institution; (iii) is a
26 person with a temporary total disability, as established by
HB2791 - 34 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 35 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 35 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 35 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or (iii) cannot
2 fulfill the employment obligation due to his or her death,
3 disability, or incompetency, as established by sworn affidavit
4 of a qualified physician. No claim for repayment may be filed
5 against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent. Any
6 extension of the period during which the employment
7 requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to limitations
8 of duration as established by the Commission.
9 (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
10 (110 ILCS 947/65.110)
11 Sec. 65.110. Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work
12 Professional Educator License scholarship.
13 (a) Subject to appropriation, beginning with awards for
14 the 2022-2023 academic year, the Commission shall award
15 annually up to 250 Post-Master of Social Work School Social
16 Work Professional Educator License scholarships to a person
17 who:
18 (1) holds a valid Illinois-licensed clinical social
19 work license or social work license;
20 (2) has obtained a master's degree in social work from
21 an approved program;
22 (3) is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
23 and
24 (4) submits an application to the Commission for such
25 scholarship and agrees to take courses to obtain an
HB2791 - 35 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 36 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 36 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 36 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement
2 in School Social Work.
3 (b) If an appropriation for this Section for a given
4 fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
5 qualified applicants, the Commission shall allocate the
6 appropriation in accordance with this subsection (b). If funds
7 are insufficient to provide all qualified applicants with a
8 scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission
9 shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal
10 year to qualified applicants who submit a complete application
11 on or before a date specified by the Commission, based on the
12 following order of priority:
13 (1) firstly, to students who received a scholarship
14 under this Section in the prior academic year and who
15 remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section;
16 (2) secondly, to new, qualified applicants who are
17 members of a racial minority, as defined in subsection
18 (c); and
19 (3) finally, to other new, qualified applicants in
20 accordance with this Section.
21 (c) Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be
22 issued pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission. In
23 awarding scholarships, the Commission shall give priority to
24 those applicants who are members of a racial minority. Racial
25 minorities are underrepresented as school social workers in
26 elementary and secondary schools in this State, and the
HB2791 - 36 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 37 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 37 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 37 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 General Assembly finds that it is in the interest of this State
2 to provide them with priority consideration for programs that
3 encourage their participation in this field and thereby foster
4 a profession that is more reflective of the diversity of
5 Illinois students and the parents they will serve. A more
6 reflective workforce in school social work allows improved
7 outcomes for students and a better utilization of services.
8 Therefore, the Commission shall give priority to those
9 applicants who are members of a racial minority. In this
10 subsection (c), "racial minority" means a person who is a
11 citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident of
12 the United States and who is:
13 (1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black
14 racial groups in Africa);
15 (2) Hispanic (a person of Spanish or Portuguese
16 culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America,
17 or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race);
18 (3) Asian American (a person having origins in any of
19 the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
20 Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); or
21 (4) American Indian or Alaskan Native (a person having
22 origins in any of the original peoples of North America).
23 (d) Each scholarship shall be applied to the payment of
24 tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Illinois,
25 Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University,
26 Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University,
HB2791 - 37 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 38 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 38 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 38 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University,
2 Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.
3 Each scholarship may be applied to pay tuition and mandatory
4 fees required to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator
5 License with an endorsement in School Social Work.
6 (e) The Commission shall make tuition and fee payments
7 directly to the qualified institution of higher learning that
8 the applicant attends.
9 (f) Any person accepting who has accepted a scholarship
10 under this Section must sign an agreement pledging (i) that,
11 within one year after graduation or termination of enrollment
12 in a Post-Master of Social Work Professional Education License
13 with an endorsement in School Social Work program, the
14 recipient will begin working as a school social worker at a
15 public or nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary
16 school, or secondary school located in this State for at least
17 2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation or
18 termination and (ii) that the recipient shall, upon request of
19 the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that the
20 recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the work
21 agreement provided for in this subsection. , excluding,
22 however, from the computation of that 5-year period: (i) any
23 time up to 3 years spent in the military service, whether such
24 service occurs before or after the person graduates; (ii) the
25 time that person is a person with a temporary total disability
26 for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by
HB2791 - 38 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 39 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 39 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 39 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; and (iii) the
2 time that person is seeking and unable to find full-time
3 employment as a school social worker at a State public or
4 nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or
5 secondary school.
6 (g) (Blank). If a recipient of a scholarship under this
7 Section fails to fulfill the work obligation set forth in
8 subsection (f), the Commission shall require the recipient to
9 repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated
10 according to the fraction of the obligation not completed, at
11 a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable
12 collection fees. The Commission is authorized to establish
13 rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of
14 scholarships under this Section. All repayments collected
15 under this Section shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller
16 for deposit into this State's General Revenue Fund.
17 A recipient of a scholarship under this Section is not
18 considered to be in violation of the failure to fulfill the
19 work obligation under subsection (f) if the recipient (i)
20 enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course
21 of study related to the field of social work at a qualified
22 Illinois institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not
23 in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the
24 United States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total
25 disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as
26 established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician;
HB2791 - 39 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 40 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 40 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 40 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 (iv) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a
2 school social worker at an Illinois public or nonpublic
3 not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or secondary
4 school that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (f)
5 and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or (v) becomes a
6 person with a permanent total disability, as established by
7 the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician.
8 (Source: P.A. 102-621, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
9 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22.)
10 (110 ILCS 947/65.120)
11 Sec. 65.120. iGROW Tech Scholarship Program.
12 (a) As used in this Section:
13 "Eligible applicant" means a student who has graduated
14 from high school or has received a State of Illinois High
15 School Diploma, who has maintained a cumulative grade point
16 average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, who is pursuing or
17 intends to pursue a qualifying degree in a qualified
18 institution, and who is entitled to apply for assistance under
19 this Section.
20 "Full-time" means the number of credit hours the
21 Commission determines is full-time enrollment for a student
22 for purposes of the program created under this Section.
23 "Minority student" has the same meaning as the term is
24 defined under Section 50 of the Higher Education Student
25 Assistance Act (110 ILCS 947).
HB2791 - 40 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 41 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 41 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 41 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 "Program" means the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program created
2 under this Section.
3 "Qualifying degree" means an associate or a bachelor's
4 degree granted by a qualified institution in the field of
5 computer information sciences; information technology;
6 information science; computer science; computer systems
7 networking and telecommunications; computer and information
8 systems security or information assurance, including
9 cybersecurity; or management information systems.
10 "Qualifying job" means a job with an employer in this
11 State performing work that is directly related to the field of
12 study that qualified the candidate for assistance under this
13 Section.
14 "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a resident
15 of this State; (ii) who, as an eligible applicant, has made a
16 timely application for an iGROW tech scholarship under this
17 Section; (iii) who is enrolled on at least a half-time basis at
18 a qualified institution; (iv) who is enrolled in a course of
19 study in the field of computer and information sciences;
20 information technology; information science; computer science;
21 computer systems networking and telecommunications; computer
22 and information systems security or information assurance,
23 including cybersecurity; or management information systems;
24 (v) who maintains a grade point average of no less than a 2.5
25 on a 4.0 scale; and (vi) who continues to advance
26 satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
HB2791 - 41 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 42 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 42 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 42 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 "Recipient" means an Illinois resident enrolled in a
2 qualified institution who receives an award under this
3 Section.
4 (b) Subject to appropriation, and no sooner than the
5 2024-2025 academic year, there is established the Illinois
6 Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship
7 Program to recruit and train individuals to work in technology
8 jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high
9 wages by awarding scholarships.
10 (c) Each iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
11 shall be determined by the Commission in an amount up to and
12 including the full costs of tuition and fees and room and board
13 of the qualified institution at which the recipient is
14 enrolled if the institution is public, or an equivalent rate
15 established by the Commission for private institutions. The
16 total amount of iGROW tech scholarship assistance awarded by
17 the Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in
18 any given fiscal year, when added to other financial
19 assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not
20 exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the
21 student is enrolled. If the amount of financial assistance to
22 be awarded to a qualified student exceeds the cost of
23 attendance at the institution at which the student is
24 enrolled, the iGROW tech scholarship shall be reduced by an
25 amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
26 assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
HB2791 - 42 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 43 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 43 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 43 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 attendance.
2 (d) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
3 qualified student can receive iGROW tech scholarship
4 assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
5 (e) All applications for scholarships awarded under this
6 Section shall be made to the Commission on forms which the
7 Commission shall provide for eligible applicants. The form of
8 applications and the information required to be set forth
9 therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the
10 Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with
11 their applications such supporting documents or
12 recommendations as the Commission deems necessary.
13 (f) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, payment of
14 any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
15 determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds
16 distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be paid
17 to the qualified institution and used only for payment of the
18 tuition and fees assessed by the institution and the standard
19 housing and food allowance used for all undergraduate students
20 by the qualified student in connection with his or her
21 attendance at a qualified institution.
22 Any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
23 shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment
24 annually. The qualified institution can only request payment
25 for tuition and fees up to the amount of actual tuition and fee
26 expenses incurred.
HB2791 - 43 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 44 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 44 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 44 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 If a student withdraws after the expiration of the tuition
2 refund or withdrawal adjustment period, the student may
3 receive payment for tuition and fees incurred up to the term
4 award. The housing and food allowance shall be prorated based
5 on the qualified institution's return of funds policy.
6 (g) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
7 academic year, each recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship
8 awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission
9 to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that
10 the recipient (i) shall work in the State in a qualified job
11 for a period of not less than one year for each year of
12 scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
13 Section; however, in no event shall he or she agree to work in
14 the State in a qualified job for a period of less than 2 years;
15 and (ii) shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the
16 Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has
17 fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided for in this
18 subsection.
19 If a recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship awarded under
20 this Section fails to fulfill the obligations set forth in
21 this subsection, the Commission shall require the recipient to
22 repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated
23 according to the fraction of the employment obligation not
24 completed, at a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if
25 applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
26 authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
HB2791 - 44 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 45 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 45 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 45 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.
2 All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded
3 to the State Comptroller for deposit into the State's General
4 Revenue Fund.
5 A recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship shall not be
6 considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant
7 to this subsection if the recipient (I) enrolls on a full-time
8 basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the
9 technology degree for which he or she qualified for the iGROW
10 tech scholarship at a qualified institution; (II) is serving,
11 not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of
12 the United States; (III) is a person with a temporary total
13 disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as
14 established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (IV)
15 is seeking and unable to find full-time employment with a
16 State employer that satisfies the criteria set forth in this
17 subsection and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (V)
18 becomes a person with a permanent total disability as
19 established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or
20 (VI) meets any other criteria that the Commission may deem
21 necessary.
22 (h) (Blank.) Scholarship recipients under this Section who
23 withdraw from a program of computer science or other related
24 major area of study provided under this Section but remain
25 enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in
26 another academic discipline shall not be required to commence
HB2791 - 45 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 46 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 46 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 46 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 repayment of their iGROW tech scholarship so long as they
2 remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis or if they can
3 document for the Commission special circumstances that warrant
4 extension of repayment.
5 (i) If the Program does not expend at least 90% of the
6 amount appropriated for the Program in a given fiscal year for
7 3 consecutive fiscal years on or before January 1 in each of
8 those fiscal years, then up to 3% of amount appropriated for
9 the Program for each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated
10 to increasing awareness of the program.
11 (j) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall
12 make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
13 Section for its effective implementation.
14 (k) The Commission shall establish a methodology for
15 prioritizing applications from applicants who demonstrate a
16 financial need or hardship, applications from minority
17 students, and applications from applicants demonstrating
18 academic excellence. After the first academic year that the
19 Program operates, the Commission shall prioritize the
20 applications of those applicants who received a scholarship
21 under this Section during the prior academic year and who
22 remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section.
23 (l) Each fiscal year, the Commission may use up to 5% of
24 money appropriated for the Program for administration.
25 (m) Scholarships may be made under this Section through
26 the 2029-30 academic year.
HB2791 - 46 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 47 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 47 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 47 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 (n) The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW)
2 Tech Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State
3 treasury. Moneys in the fund may come from both public
4 entities and institutional, organizational, or other private
5 entities. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to
6 appropriation, by the Commission to implement and administer
7 the Program pursuant to this Section.
8 (Source: P.A. 103-519, eff. 1-1-24.)
9 Section 10. The Nursing Education Scholarship Law is
10 amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 3.1, 4, 6, and 6.5 as
11 follows:
12 (110 ILCS 975/2) (from Ch. 144, par. 2752)
13 Sec. 2. Legislative finding and declaration of policy.
14 (a) The General Assembly finds and hereby declares that
15 the provision of a higher education leading to an associate
16 degree in nursing, an associate degree in applied sciences in
17 nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing, a baccalaureate
18 degree in nursing, a graduate degree in nursing, or a
19 certificate in practical nursing for persons of this State who
20 desire such an education is important to the health, welfare
21 and security of this State and Nation, and consequently is an
22 important public purpose. Many qualified and potential nurses
23 are deterred by financial considerations from pursuing their
24 nursing education, with consequent irreparable loss to the
HB2791 - 47 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 48 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 48 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 48 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 State and Nation of talents vital to health, welfare and
2 security. A system of scholarships for individuals who plan to
3 work in this State as , repayment of which may be excused if the
4 individual is employed as a registered professional nurse or a
5 licensed practical nurse after obtaining an associate degree
6 in nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing,
7 hospital-based diploma in nursing, baccalaureate degree in
8 nursing, graduate degree in nursing, or certificate in
9 practical nursing, will enable such individuals to attend
10 approved institutions of their choice in the State, public or
11 private.
12 (b) The General Assembly finds that there is a critical
13 shortage of nursing instructors in this State, and such a
14 shortage will only worsen the shortage of available nurses in
15 this State and jeopardize the quality of healthcare citizens
16 of this State have every right to enjoy. In order to provide
17 for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this
18 State, the General Assembly declares that there is a need for
19 an increase in skilled nurse educators in this State.
20 (Source: P.A. 96-805, eff. 10-30-09.)
21 (110 ILCS 975/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2753)
22 Sec. 3. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or
23 referred to, have the following meanings except where the
24 context clearly indicates otherwise:
25 (1) "Board" means the Board of Higher Education created by
HB2791 - 48 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 49 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 49 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 49 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 the Board of Higher Education Act.
2 (2) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public
3 Health.
4 (3) "Approved institution" means a public community
5 college, private junior college, hospital-based diploma in
6 nursing program, or public or private college or university
7 with a pre-licensure nursing education program located in this
8 State that has approval by the Department of Financial and
9 Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing
10 program, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing
11 program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
12 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
13 nursing program, or certificate in a practical nursing program
14 or a post-licensure nursing education program approved by the
15 Board of Higher Education or any successor agency with similar
16 authority.
17 (4) "Baccalaureate degree in nursing program" means a
18 program offered by an approved institution and leading to a
19 bachelor of science degree in nursing.
20 (5) "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance
21 of an individual's status as a student in an approved
22 institution, regardless of the terms used at the institution
23 to describe such status.
24 (6) "Academic year" means the period of time from
25 September 1 of one year through August 31 of the next year or
26 as otherwise defined by the academic institution.
HB2791 - 49 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 50 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 50 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 50 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 (7) "Associate degree in nursing program or hospital-based
2 diploma in nursing program" means a program offered by an
3 approved institution and leading to an associate degree in
4 nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing, or
5 hospital-based diploma in nursing.
6 (8) "Graduate degree in nursing program" means a program
7 offered by an approved institution and leading to a master of
8 science degree in nursing or a doctorate of philosophy or
9 doctorate of nursing degree in nursing.
10 (9) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois
11 Department of Public Health.
12 (10) "Accepted for admission" means a student has
13 completed the requirements for entry into an associate degree
14 in nursing program, associate degree in applied sciences in
15 nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
16 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
17 nursing program, or certificate in practical nursing program
18 at an approved institution, as documented by the institution.
19 (11) "Fees" means those mandatory charges, in addition to
20 tuition, that all enrolled students must pay, including
21 required course or lab fees.
22 (12) "Full-time student" means a student enrolled for at
23 least 12 hours per term or as otherwise determined by the
24 academic institution.
25 (13) "Law" means the Nursing Education Scholarship Law.
26 (14) "Nursing employment obligation" means employment in
HB2791 - 50 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 51 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 51 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 51 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 this State as a registered professional nurse, licensed
2 practical nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse in
3 direct patient care for at least one year for each year of
4 scholarship assistance received through the Nursing Education
5 Scholarship Program.
6 (15) "Part-time student" means a person who is enrolled
7 for at least one-third of the number of hours required per term
8 by a school for its full-time students.
9 (16) "Practical nursing program" means a program offered
10 by an approved institution leading to a certificate in
11 practical nursing.
12 (17) "Registered professional nurse" means a person who is
13 currently licensed as a registered professional nurse by the
14 Department of Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice
15 Act.
16 (18) "Licensed practical nurse" means a person who is
17 currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse by the
18 Department of Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice
19 Act.
20 (19) "School term" means an academic term, such as a
21 semester, quarter, trimester, or number of clock hours, as
22 defined by an approved institution.
23 (20) "Student in good standing" means a student
24 maintaining a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at
25 least the academic grade of a "C".
26 (21) (Blank). "Total and permanent disability" means a
HB2791 - 51 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 52 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 52 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 52 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 physical or mental impairment, disease, or loss of a permanent
2 nature that prevents nursing employment with or without
3 reasonable accommodation. Proof of disability shall be a
4 declaration from the social security administration, Illinois
5 Workers' Compensation Commission, Department of Defense, or an
6 insurer authorized to transact business in Illinois who is
7 providing disability insurance coverage to a contractor.
8 (22) "Tuition" means the established charges of an
9 institution of higher learning for instruction at that
10 institution.
11 (23) "Nurse educator" means a person who is currently
12 licensed as a registered nurse by the Department of
13 Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice Act, who has
14 a graduate degree in nursing, and who is employed by an
15 approved academic institution to educate registered nursing
16 students, licensed practical nursing students, and registered
17 nurses pursuing graduate degrees.
18 (24) "Nurse educator employment obligation" means
19 employment in this State as a nurse educator for at least 2
20 years for each year of scholarship assistance received under
21 Section 6.5 of this Law.
22 (25) "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance
23 Commission.
24 Rulemaking authority to implement the provisions of this
25 Act is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance
26 with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure
HB2791 - 52 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 53 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 53 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 53 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
2 Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
3 whatever reason, is unauthorized.
4 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
5 (110 ILCS 975/3.1)
6 Sec. 3.1. Approved institutions. An approved institution
7 must maintain compliance with all applicable State and federal
8 laws. An approved institution approved to participate in the
9 scholarship program under this Law is not necessarily eligible
10 for other programs administered by the Commission and is not,
11 in order to participate in the program under this Law,
12 required to meet the definition of "institution of higher
13 learning", "qualified institution", or "institution" as
14 defined in Section 10 of the Higher Education Student
15 Assistance Act. The Commission may establish by rule
16 additional requirements for approved institutions.
17 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
18 (110 ILCS 975/4) (from Ch. 144, par. 2754)
19 Sec. 4. Functions of Department. The Department shall
20 prepare and supervise the issuance of public information about
21 the provisions of this Article, ; prescribe the form and
22 regulate the submission of applications for scholarships, ;
23 determine the eligibility of applicants, ; award the
24 appropriate scholarships, and ; prescribe the contracts or
HB2791 - 53 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 54 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 54 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 54 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 other acknowledgments of scholarship which an applicant is
2 required to execute; and determine whether all or any part of a
3 recipient's scholarship needs to be monetarily repaid, or has
4 been excused from repayment, and the extent of any repayment
5 or excused repayment. The Department may require a recipient
6 to reimburse the State for expenses, including but not limited
7 to attorney's fees, incurred by the Department or other agent
8 of the State for a successful legal action against the
9 recipient for a breach of any provision of the scholarship
10 contract. The Department is authorized to make all necessary
11 and proper rules, not inconsistent with this Article, for the
12 efficient exercise of the foregoing functions.
13 (Source: P.A. 100-872, eff. 8-14-18.)
14 (110 ILCS 975/6) (from Ch. 144, par. 2756)
15 Sec. 6. Nursing requirements for scholarship recipients.
16 In accepting a scholarship under Section 5, a recipient must
17 pledge that (i) within Within 12 months after graduation from
18 an associate degree in nursing program, hospital-based diploma
19 in nursing program, baccalaureate degree in nursing program,
20 graduate degree in nursing program, or certificate in
21 practical nursing program, the any recipient will who accepted
22 a scholarship under Section 5 shall begin meeting the required
23 nursing employment obligation and (ii) upon request by the
24 Commission, the recipient will provide the Commission with
25 evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the
HB2791 - 54 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 55 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 55 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 55 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 terms of the agreement provided for in this Section. In order
2 to defer his or her continuous employment obligation, a
3 recipient must request the deferment in writing from the
4 Department. A recipient shall notify program staff within 30
5 days if he or she spends up to 4 years in military service
6 before or after graduation. A recipient shall notify program
7 staff within 30 days if he or she is enrolled in an academic
8 program leading to a graduate degree in nursing. If a
9 recipient receives funding through the Nursing Education
10 Scholarship Program for a higher degree, the nursing
11 employment obligation shall be deferred until he or she is no
12 longer enrolled or has graduated. The recipient must begin
13 meeting the required nursing employment obligations no later
14 than 6 months after the end of the deferments.
15 Any person who fails to fulfill the nursing employment
16 obligation shall pay to the Department an amount equal to the
17 amount of scholarship funds received per year for each
18 unfulfilled year of the nursing employment obligation,
19 together with interest at 7% per year on the unpaid balance.
20 Payment must begin within 6 months following the date of the
21 occurrence initiating the repayment. All repayments must be
22 completed within 6 years from the date of the occurrence
23 initiating the repayment. However, this obligation may be
24 deferred and re-evaluated every 6 months when the failure to
25 fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from
26 involuntarily leaving the profession due to a decrease in the
HB2791 - 55 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 56 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 56 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 56 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 number of nurses employed in the State or when the failure to
2 fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from total
3 and permanent disability. The repayment obligation shall be
4 excused if the failure to fulfill the nursing employment
5 obligation results from the death or adjudication as
6 incompetent of the person holding the scholarship. No claim
7 for repayment may be filed against the estate of such a
8 decedent or incompetent.
9 Each person applying for such a scholarship shall be
10 provided with a copy of this Section at the time of application
11 for the benefits of such scholarship.
12 (Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02; 93-879, eff. 1-1-05.)
13 (110 ILCS 975/6.5)
14 Sec. 6.5. Nurse educator scholarships.
15 (a) Beginning with the fall term of the 2009-2010 academic
16 year, the Department shall provide scholarships to individuals
17 selected from among those applicants who qualify for
18 consideration by showing the following:
19 (1) that he or she has been a resident of this State
20 for at least one year prior to application and is a citizen
21 or a lawful permanent resident of the United States;
22 (2) that he or she is enrolled in or accepted for
23 admission to a graduate degree in nursing program at an
24 approved institution; and
25 (3) that he or she agrees to meet the nurse educator
HB2791 - 56 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 57 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 57 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 57 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 employment obligation.
2 (b) If in any year the number of qualified applicants
3 exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded under this
4 Section, the Department shall, in consultation with the
5 Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board, consider the
6 following factors in granting priority in awarding
7 scholarships:
8 (1) Financial need, as shown on a standardized
9 financial needs assessment form used by an approved
10 institution, of students who will pursue their education
11 on a full-time or close to full-time basis and who already
12 have a diploma in nursing and are pursuing a higher
13 degree.
14 (2) A student's status as a registered nurse who is
15 pursuing a graduate degree in nursing to pursue employment
16 in an approved institution that educates licensed
17 practical nurses and that educates registered nurses in
18 undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.
19 (3) A student's merit, as shown through his or her
20 grade point average, class rank, experience as a nurse,
21 including supervisory experience, experience as a nurse in
22 the United States military, and other academic and
23 extracurricular activities.
24 (c) Unless otherwise indicated, scholarships under this
25 Section shall be awarded to recipients at approved
26 institutions for a period of up to 3 years.
HB2791 - 57 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 58 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 58 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 58 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 (d) In accepting a scholarship under this Section, a
2 recipient must pledge that (i) within Within 12 months after
3 graduation from a graduate degree in nursing program for nurse
4 educators, the any recipient will who accepted a scholarship
5 under this Section shall begin meeting the required nurse
6 educator employment obligation and (ii) the recipient will,
7 upon request by the Commission, provide the Commission with
8 evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the
9 terms of the agreement provided for in this Section. In order
10 to defer his or her continuous employment obligation, a
11 recipient must request the deferment in writing from the
12 Department. A recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she
13 notifies the Department, within 30 days after enlisting, that
14 he or she is spending up to 4 years in military service. A
15 recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she notifies the
16 Department, within 30 days after enrolling, that he or she is
17 enrolled in an academic program leading to a graduate degree
18 in nursing. The recipient must begin meeting the required
19 nurse educator employment obligation no later than 6 months
20 after the end of the deferment or deferments.
21 Any person who fails to fulfill the nurse educator
22 employment obligation shall pay to the Department an amount
23 equal to the amount of scholarship funds received per year for
24 each unfulfilled year of the nurse educator employment
25 obligation, together with interest at 7% per year on the
26 unpaid balance. Payment must begin within 6 months following
HB2791 - 58 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 59 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 59 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 59 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 the date of the occurrence initiating the repayment. All
2 repayments must be completed within 6 years from the date of
3 the occurrence initiating the repayment. However, this
4 repayment obligation may be deferred and re-evaluated every 6
5 months when the failure to fulfill the nurse educator
6 employment obligation results from involuntarily leaving the
7 profession due to a decrease in the number of nurses employed
8 in this State or when the failure to fulfill the nurse educator
9 employment obligation results from total and permanent
10 disability. The repayment obligation shall be excused if the
11 failure to fulfill the nurse educator employment obligation
12 results from the death or adjudication as incompetent of the
13 person holding the scholarship. No claim for repayment may be
14 filed against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent.
15 The Department may allow a nurse educator employment
16 obligation fulfillment alternative if the nurse educator
17 scholarship recipient is unsuccessful in finding work as a
18 nurse educator. The Department shall maintain a database of
19 all available nurse educator positions in this State.
20 (e) Each person applying for a scholarship under this
21 Section must be provided with a copy of this Section at the
22 time of application for the benefits of this scholarship.
23 (f) Rulemaking authority to implement this Act is
24 conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all
25 provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and
26 all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
HB2791 - 59 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791- 60 -LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b HB2791 - 60 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
HB2791 - 60 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
1 Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
2 whatever reason, is unauthorized.
3 (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22;
4 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
HB2791 - 60 - LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b