104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3096 Introduced , by Rep. Theresa Mah SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/22-87 Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each high school must designate at least one member of its staff as a contact for matters related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), annually provide the individual's name and contact information to the State Board of Education and Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and inform high school seniors that this individual is available to answer questions about FAFSA or to refer them to an appropriate resource. Provides that the contact shall serve as a designated point of contact for information from the State Board of Education and Illinois Student Assistance Commission related to FAFSA, and shall be required to participate in annual training for which the individual shall be eligible to receive continuing professional development units. Effective immediately. LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3096 Introduced , by Rep. Theresa Mah SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/22-87 105 ILCS 5/22-87 Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each high school must designate at least one member of its staff as a contact for matters related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), annually provide the individual's name and contact information to the State Board of Education and Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and inform high school seniors that this individual is available to answer questions about FAFSA or to refer them to an appropriate resource. Provides that the contact shall serve as a designated point of contact for information from the State Board of Education and Illinois Student Assistance Commission related to FAFSA, and shall be required to participate in annual training for which the individual shall be eligible to receive continuing professional development units. Effective immediately. LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3096 Introduced , by Rep. Theresa Mah SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/22-87 105 ILCS 5/22-87 105 ILCS 5/22-87 Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each high school must designate at least one member of its staff as a contact for matters related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), annually provide the individual's name and contact information to the State Board of Education and Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and inform high school seniors that this individual is available to answer questions about FAFSA or to refer them to an appropriate resource. Provides that the contact shall serve as a designated point of contact for information from the State Board of Education and Illinois Student Assistance Commission related to FAFSA, and shall be required to participate in annual training for which the individual shall be eligible to receive continuing professional development units. Effective immediately. LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b A BILL FOR HB3096LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b HB3096 LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b HB3096 LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 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 School Code is amended by changing Section 5 22-87 as follows: 6 (105 ILCS 5/22-87) 7 Sec. 22-87. Graduation requirements; Free Application for 8 Federal Student Aid. 9 (a) Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, in addition 10 to any other requirements under this Code, as a prerequisite 11 to receiving a high school diploma from a public high school, 12 the parent or guardian of each student or, if a student is at 13 least 18 years of age or legally emancipated, the student must 14 comply with either of the following: 15 (1) File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid 16 with the United States Department of Education or, if 17 applicable, an application for State financial aid. 18 (2) On a form created by the State Board of Education, 19 file a waiver with the student's school district 20 indicating that the parent or guardian or, if applicable, 21 the student understands what the Free Application for 22 Federal Student Aid and application for State financial 23 aid are and has chosen not to file an application under 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3096 Introduced , by Rep. Theresa Mah SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/22-87 105 ILCS 5/22-87 105 ILCS 5/22-87 Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each high school must designate at least one member of its staff as a contact for matters related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), annually provide the individual's name and contact information to the State Board of Education and Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and inform high school seniors that this individual is available to answer questions about FAFSA or to refer them to an appropriate resource. Provides that the contact shall serve as a designated point of contact for information from the State Board of Education and Illinois Student Assistance Commission related to FAFSA, and shall be required to participate in annual training for which the individual shall be eligible to receive continuing professional development units. Effective immediately. LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b A BILL FOR 105 ILCS 5/22-87 LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b HB3096 LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b HB3096- 2 -LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b HB3096 - 2 - LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b HB3096 - 2 - LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b 1 paragraph (1). 2 (b) Each school district with a high school must require 3 each high school student to comply with this Section and must 4 provide to each high school student and, if applicable, his or 5 her parent or guardian any support or assistance necessary to 6 comply with this Section. 7 Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each high school 8 must designate at least one member of its staff as a contact 9 for matters related to this Section, annually provide the 10 individual's name and contact information to the State Board 11 of Education and Illinois Student Assistance Commission in a 12 form and manner that these agencies prescribe, and inform high 13 school seniors that this individual is available to answer 14 questions about this Section or to refer them to an 15 appropriate resource, which may include, but is not limited 16 to, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The contact 17 shall serve as a designated point of contact for information 18 from the State Board of Education and Illinois Student 19 Assistance Commission related to this Section, including the 20 free resources available to their students and schools to help 21 them comply with this Section, and shall be required to 22 participate in annual training for which the individual shall 23 be eligible to receive continuing professional development 24 units. 25 A school district must award a high school diploma to a 26 student who is unable to meet the requirements of subsection HB3096 - 2 - LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b HB3096- 3 -LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b HB3096 - 3 - LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b HB3096 - 3 - LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b 1 (a) due to extenuating circumstances, as determined by the 2 school district, if (i) the student has met all other 3 graduation requirements under this Code and (ii) the principal 4 attests that the school district has made a good faith effort 5 to assist the student or, if applicable, his or her parent or 6 guardian in filing an application or a waiver under subsection 7 (a). 8 (c) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to 9 implement this Section. 10 (Source: P.A. 101-180, eff. 6-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.) HB3096 - 3 - LRB104 10900 LNS 20982 b