110 ILCS 947

in effect

110 ILCS 947/1

(110 ILCS 947/1) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

(110 ILCS 947/5) Sec. 5. Purpose. The General Assembly finds and declares that (1) the provision of a higher education for all residents of this State who desire a higher education and are properly qualified therefor is important to the welfare and security of this State and Nation and, consequently, is an important public purpose, and (2) many qualified students are deterred by financial considerations from completing their education, with a consequent irreparable loss to the State and Nation of talents vital to welfare and security. The number of qualified persons who desire a higher education is increasing rapidly, and the physical facilities, faculties, and staffs of the institutions of higher learning operated by, within and for the residents of the State will have to be expanded greatly to accommodate those persons, with an attendant sharp increase in the cost of educating them. A system of financial assistance of scholarships, grants, and loans for qualified residents of college age will enable them to attend qualified institutions of their choice in the State, public or private. The adoption of new federal student loan legislation necessitates that the State update and broaden its system of financial student assistance. As market conditions permit, the Commission is specifically encouraged to offer reasonable and affordable supplemental or alternative educational loans to students who seek to obtain these loans. As part of these alternative or supplemental direct lending initiatives, the Commission may give priority consideration to students assisted by the Commission's need-based programs. The system of financial assistance provided under this Act includes prepaid programs for college savings, and the Commission is specifically encouraged to enlist employers in providing voluntary matching donations to the amount that their employees save through these prepaid programs. (Source: P.A. 96-198, eff. 8-10-09.)

110 ILCS 947/10 Definitions

(110 ILCS 947/10) Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act, and except to the extent that any of the following words or phrases is specifically qualified by its context: "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission created by this Act. "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance of an individual's status as a student in an institution of higher learning, regardless of the terms used at the institution to describe that status. "Approved high school" means any public high school located in this State; and any high school, located in this State or elsewhere (whether designated as a high school, secondary school, academy, preparatory school, or otherwise) which in the judgment of the State Superintendent of Education provides a course of instruction at the secondary level and maintains standards of instruction substantially equivalent to those of the public high schools located in this State. "Institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", or "institution" means an educational organization located in this State which (1) provides at least an organized 2 year program of collegiate grade in the liberal arts or sciences, or both, directly applicable toward the attainment of a baccalaureate degree or a program in health education directly applicable toward the attainment of a certificate, diploma, or an associate degree; (2) either is (A) operated by this State, or (B) operated publicly or privately, not for profit, or (C) operated for profit, provided such for profit organization (i) offers degree programs which have been approved by the Board of Higher Education for a minimum of 3 years under the Academic Degree Act, and (ii) enrolls a majority of its students in such degree programs, and (iii) maintains an accredited status with the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; (3) in the judgment of the Commission meets standards substantially equivalent to those of comparable institutions operated by this State; and (4) if so required by the Commission, uses the State as its primary guarantor of student loans made under the federal Higher Education Act of 1965. For otherwise eligible educational organizations which provide academic programs for incarcerated students, the terms "institution of higher learning", "qualified institutions", and "institution" shall specifically exclude academic programs for incarcerated students. "Academic year" means a 12 month period of time, normally but not exclusively, from September 1 of any year through August 31 of the ensuing year. "Full-time student" means any undergraduate student enrolled in 12 or more semester or quarter hours of credit courses in any given semester or quarter or in the equivalent number of units of registration as determined by the Commission. "Part-time student" means any undergraduate student, other than a full-time student, enrolled in 6 or more semester or quarter hours of credit courses in any given semester or quarter or in the equivalent number of units of registration as determined by the Commission. Beginning with fiscal year 1999, the Commission may, on a program by program basis, expand this definition of "part-time student" to include students who enroll in less than 6 semester or quarter hours of credit courses in any given semester or quarter. "Public university" means any public 4-year university in this State. "Public university campus" means any campus under the governance or supervision of a public university. (Source: P.A. 100-587, eff. 6-4-18; 100-1015, eff. 8-21-18.)

110 ILCS 947/15 Illinois Student Assistance Commission

(110 ILCS 947/15) Sec. 15. Illinois Student Assistance Commission. (a) There is established the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, consisting of 10 persons to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The membership of the Commission shall consist of one representative of the institutions of higher learning operated by the State; one representative of the private institutions of higher learning located in the State; one representative of the public community colleges located in the State; one representative of the public high schools located in the State; 5 citizens of the State chosen for their knowledge of and interest in higher education, but not employed by, professionally affiliated with, or members of the governing boards of any institution of higher learning located in the State, and one student member selected from nominations submitted to the Governor by multi-campus student organizations, including but not limited to, the recognized advisory committee of students of the Illinois Community College Board, the recognized advisory committee of students of the Board of Higher Education, and the recognized advisory committee of students of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities. The Governor shall designate one member, other than the student member, as chairman. Each member of the Commission, including the student member, shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in performing the member's duties under this Act. Subject to a requirement that Commission members in office on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995 may serve the full term to which they were appointed, the appointment of Commission members to terms that commence on or after that effective date shall be made in a manner that gives effect at the earliest possible time to the change that is required by this amendatory Act in the representative composition of the Commission's membership. (b) The term of office of each member, other than the student member, is 6 years from July 1 of the year of appointment, and until the member's successor is appointed and qualified. If a member's tenure of office, other than that of the student member, is terminated for any reason before the member's term has expired, the Governor shall fill the vacancy by the appointment of a person who has the same representative status as the person whose term has been so terminated, and the new appointee shall hold office only for the remainder of that term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. The term of the student member shall be for 2 years from July 1 of each odd-numbered year and until a successor is appointed and qualified. If the tenure of the student member is terminated for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as heretofore provided for a regular term of office appointment of the student member. The new student appointee shall hold office for the remainder of that term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. A student appointee's status on the Commission may not be considered in determining the student appointee's eligibility for programs administered by the Commission. (c) In accordance with the provisions of the State Universities Civil Service Act, the Commission shall employ a professionally qualified person as the Executive Director of the Commission, and such other employees as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act. (d) The Commission shall meet at least once in each fiscal year, and may meet at other times which the Chairman may designate by giving at least 10 days' written notice to each member. (Source: P.A. 102-23, eff. 6-25-21.)

110 ILCS 947/20 Functions of Commission

(110 ILCS 947/20) Sec. 20. Functions of Commission. (a) The Commission, in accordance with this Act, shall prepare and supervise the issuance of public information concerning its provisions; prescribe the form and regulate the submission of applications for assistance; provide for and conduct, or cause to be conducted, all eligibility determinations of applicants; award the appropriate financial assistance; and, upon request by a member of the General Assembly, nominate or evaluate and recommend for nomination applicants for General Assembly scholarships in accordance with criteria specified by the member under Section 30-9 of the School Code. (b) The Commission is authorized to participate in any programs for monetary assistance to students and to receive, hold, and disburse all such funds made available by any agency or organization for the purpose or purposes for which they are made available. The Commission is authorized to administer a program of grant assistance as authorized by the Baccalaureate Savings Act. The Commission is authorized to participate in any programs established to improve student financial aid services or the proficiency of persons engaged in student financial aid services and to receive, hold, and disburse all funds made available by any agency or organization for the purpose or purposes for which they are made available subject to the appropriations of the General Assembly. (c) The Commission is authorized to deny a scholarship or a grant to any person who has defaulted on a guaranteed student loan and who is not maintaining a satisfactory repayment record. If a person has a defaulted guaranteed student loan but is otherwise eligible for assistance pursuant to Section 40, the Commission shall award one term of assistance during which a satisfactory repayment record must be established. If such a repayment record is not established, additional assistance shall be denied until a satisfactory repayment record is established. (d) The Commission is authorized to participate with federal, state, county, local, and university law enforcement agencies in cooperative efforts to detect and prosecute incidents of fraud in student assistance programs. (e) The Administrative Review Law shall apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final administrative decisions of the Commission. (f) The Commission is authorized to make all necessary and proper rules, not inconsistent with this Act, for the efficient exercise of the foregoing functions. (g) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the functions of the Commission shall be exercised without regard to any applicant's race, creed, sex, color, national origin, or ancestry. (h) The Commission is authorized to establish systems and programs to encourage employers to match employee contributions to prepaid programs of college savings by making donations to the Commission for prepaid programs of college savings to make higher education affordable for all residents of the State and to receive, hold, and disburse all such funds made available through those programs for the purposes for which they are authorized by rule or by law. (Source: P.A. 96-198, eff. 8-10-09.)

110 ILCS 947/22

(110 ILCS 947/22) Sec. 22. Child care resources eligibility notification; college students. (a) To complement student financial assistance programs and to enhance their effectiveness for students with dependents, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall annually include information about the Child Care Assistance Program and the federal dependent care allowance in the language that institutions are required to provide to students eligible for Monetary Award Program grants. The language shall, at a minimum, include information about program eligibility and how to apply. The language shall also direct students to the Department of Human Services for additional information about the Child Care Assistance Program and to the institution's financial aid office for additional information about the federal dependent care allowance. (b) An institution of higher learning that participates in the Monetary Award Program shall provide, at a minimum, the notice described in subsection (a) to all students who are enrolled, or who are accepted for enrollment and are intending to enroll, and who have been identified by the Commission as Monetary Award Program-eligible at the institution. An institution of higher learning shall also provide, at a minimum, the notice described in subsection (a) to any student identified by the institution as a student with dependents. (c) An institution may provide additional information about benefits and resources the institution or community offers to the students identified in subsection (b). If possible, the institution may designate a public benefits liaison or single point person to assist students in taking the necessary steps to obtain public benefits if eligible. (d) The Commission shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section on or before October 1, 2022. (Source: P.A. 102-829, eff. 5-13-22.)

110 ILCS 947/25

(110 ILCS 947/25) Sec. 25. State scholar program. (a) An applicant is eligible to be designated a State Scholar when the Commission finds the candidate: (1) is a resident of this State, including a resident attending a Department of Defense school, and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; (2) has successfully completed the program of instruction at an approved high school, or is a student in good standing at such a school and is engaged in a program which in due course will be completed by the end of the academic year, and in either event that the candidate's academic standing is above the class median; and that the candidate has not had any university, college, normal school, private junior college or public community college, or other advanced training subsequent to graduation from high school; and (3) has superior capacity to profit by a higher education. (b) In determining an applicant's superior capacity to profit by a higher education, the Commission shall consider the candidate's scholastic record in high school and the results of the examination conducted under the provisions of this Act. The Commission shall establish by rule the minimum conditions of eligibility in terms of the foregoing factors, and the relative weight to be accorded to those factors. (c) The Commission shall base its State Scholar designations upon the eligibility formula prescribed in its rules, except that notwithstanding those rules or any other provision of this Section, a student nominated by his or her school shall be designated a State Scholar if that student achieves an Illinois Standard Test Score at or above the 95th percentile among students taking the designated examinations in Illinois that year, as determined by the Commission. (d) The Commission shall obtain the results of a competitive examination from the applicants. The examination shall provide a measure of each candidate's ability to perform college work and shall have demonstrated utility in such a selection program. The Commission shall select, and designate by rule, the specific examinations to be used in determining the applicant's superior capacity to profit from a higher education. Candidates may be asked by the Commission to take those steps necessary to provide results of the designated examination as part of their applications. Any nominal cost of obtaining or providing the examination results shall be paid by the candidate to the agency designated by the Commission to provide the examination service. In the event that a candidate or candidates are unable to participate in the examination for financial reasons, the Commission may choose to pay the examination fee on the candidate's or candidates' behalf. Any notary fee which may also be required as part of the total application shall be paid by the applicant. (e) The Commission shall award to each State Scholar a certificate or other suitable form of recognition. The decision to attend a non-qualified institution of higher learning shall not disqualify applicants who are otherwise fully qualified. (f) Subject to appropriation, each State Scholar who enrolls or is enrolled in an institution of higher learning in this State shall also receive a one-time grant of $1,000 to be applied to tuition and mandatory fees and paid directly to the institution of higher learning. However, a student who has been awarded a Merit Recognition Scholarship under Section 31 of this Act may not be awarded a grant under this subsection (f), although he or she may still be designated a State Scholar. (g) The Commission shall conduct a study detailing all of the following information: (1) The number of students designated State Scholars in 2008 and 2009. (2) The number of State Scholars who applied to State universities in 2008 and 2009. (3) The number of State Scholars who were denied admittance into the State universities to which they applied in 2008 and 2009. All data collected from a State university in regards to the study conducted under this subsection (g) must be verified by that university. On or before January 1, 2010, the Commission must submit a report to the General Assembly that contains the findings of the study conducted under this subsection (g) and the Commission's recommendations on how to make State universities more accessible to State Scholars. (h) The Commission shall adopt all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. (Source: P.A. 95-715, eff. 1-1-09; 95-760, eff. 7-28-08; 96-315, eff. 8-11-09; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)

110 ILCS 947/27 Prepare for Illinois' Future Program

(110 ILCS 947/27) Sec. 27. Prepare for Illinois' Future Program. (a) Subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall as soon as is practicable, develop and implement a Prepare for Illinois' Future Program to offer comprehensive test preparation and professional licensure preparation, free of charge and at no cost to students, with a goal of serving all students at institutions of higher education. If funding for the program is insufficient to support universal access, then the Commission may prioritize offering the services to recipients of the Monetary Award Program grant assistance under Section 35 of this Act. (b) The Program shall offer students, at a minimum, test preparation services for the Medical College Admission Test, the Law School Admission Test, the Graduate Record Examination, the Graduate Management Admission Test, and other preparation programs for professional exams that may include, but are not limited to, exams for nursing, teaching, real estate, securities, and law. The program may also provide preparation for credentials such as, but not limited to, the Securities Industry Essentials Exam, a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional exam, and a Wealth Management Specialist exam. In establishing the Program, the Commission shall consider, among other factors, whether the test and licensure exam preparation and credentialing programs can be provided by a single vendor. (c) The Commission shall report to the General Assembly and Governor on the Program's usage as soon as is practicable after the Program has been in place for at least one academic year. To the extent that appropriate data is available, the Commission shall also report information on the program's effectiveness, with a goal of providing multi-stage research to gauge the impact of this investment on in-state university recruitment and retention, the State's talent pipeline, and the longitudinal value provided to State students. Institutions of higher education shall provide information to the Commission as needed to facilitate completion of this report. (Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)

110 ILCS 947/30 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/30) Sec. 30. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98; 90-728, eff. 1-1-99. Repealed by P.A. 91-128, eff. 7-1-00.)

110 ILCS 947/31 Merit Recognition Scholarship program

(110 ILCS 947/31) Sec. 31. Merit Recognition Scholarship program. (a) As used in this Section: "Eligible applicant" means a student from any high school in this State, either approved by or not recognized by the State Board of Education, who is engaged in a program of study that in due course will be completed by the end of the academic year, and (i) whose cumulative high school grade point average is at or above the 95th percentile of his or her high school class after completion of the 6th semester of a high school program of instruction or (ii) whose score on a standardized examination determined by the Commission, taken before or during the 6th semester of high school, is at or above the 95th percentile of students in the State who take the standardized college entrance examination. These high school students are all eligible to receive a scholarship to be awarded under this Section. "Qualified student" means a person: (1) who is a resident of this State and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; (2) who, as an eligible applicant, is in good academic standing at the high school in which he or she is enrolled and has made a timely application for a Merit Recognition Scholarship under this Section; (3) who has successfully completed the program of instruction at any high school located in this State; and (4) who enrolls or is enrolled in a qualified Illinois institution of higher learning or a Service Academy as an undergraduate student or cadet and has not received a baccalaureate degree. "Merit Recognition Scholarship" means a $1,000 academic scholarship awarded under this Section during an academic year to a qualified student, without regard to financial need, as a scholarship to any qualified Illinois institution of higher learning or a Service Academy in which the student is or will be enrolled as an undergraduate student or cadet. "Service Academy" means the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, or the U.S. Naval Academy. (b) In order to identify, encourage, promote, and reward the distinguished academic achievement of students from every high school located in this State, each qualified student shall be awarded a Merit Recognition Scholarship by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to any qualified Illinois institution of higher learning or to any Service Academy. (b-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a student who has received a grant under the State Scholar program under Section 25 of this Act is ineligible to receive a Merit Recognition Scholarship. (c) No Merit Recognition Scholarship provided for a qualified student under this Section shall be considered in evaluating the financial situation of that student or be deemed a financial resource of or a form of financial aid or assistance to that student, for purposes of determining the eligibility of the student for any scholarship, grant, or monetary assistance awarded by the Commission, the State, or any agency thereof pursuant to the provisions of any other Section of this Act or any other law of this State; nor shall any Merit Recognition Scholarship provided for a qualified student under this Section reduce the amount of any scholarship, grant, or monetary assistance that that student is eligible to be awarded by the Commission, the State, or any agency thereof in accordance with the provisions of any other Section of this Act or any other law of this State. (d) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is designated as administrator of the Merit Recognition Scholarship program. Each high school located in this State shall certify to the Commission the names of its students who are eligible applicants, specifying which of the students certified as eligible applicants have completed the program of instruction at that high school and the graduation date fixed for their high school class and specifying for each of the other eligible applicants whose names appear on the certification the semester of high school last completed by them. The Commission shall promptly notify those eligible applicants so certified who are reasonably assured of receiving a Merit Recognition Scholarship in accordance with the annual funding levels recommended in the Governor's budget of their eligibility to apply for a scholarship under this Section, other than any eligible applicant named on any such certification who, as an eligible applicant, has previously made application to the Commission for a Merit Recognition Scholarship under this Section. An otherwise eligible applicant who fails to make a timely application (as determined by the Commission) for a Merit Recognition Scholarship under this Section shall no longer be deemed an eligible applicant and shall not qualify for the award. (e) All applications for Merit Recognition Scholarships to be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission on forms that the Commission shall provide for eligible applicants. The form of applications and the information required to be set forth therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with their applications such supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary. (f) The names and addresses of Merit Recognition Scholarship recipients are a matter of public record. (g) Whenever an eligible applicant who has completed the program of instruction at any high school located in this State thereafter makes timely application to the Commission for a Merit Recognition Scholarship under this Section, the Commission shall promptly determine whether that eligible applicant is a qualified student as defined in subsection (a) of this Section. Each such eligible applicant so determined by the Commission to be a qualified student shall be awarded a Merit Recognition Scholarship in the amount of $1,000, effective exclusively during the academic year following the qualified student's high school graduation, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. (h) Subject to a separate appropriation for purposes of this Section, payment of any Merit Recognition Scholarship awarded under this Section shall be determined exclusively by the Commission. All scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this subsection (h) shall be paid to the qualified Illinois institution of higher learning or Service Academy and used only for payment of the educational expenses incurred by the student in connection with his or her attendance as an undergraduate student or cadet at that institution or Service Academy, including but not limited to tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, required Service Academy uniforms, and travel and personal expenses related to the student's attendance at that institution or Service Academy. Any Merit Recognition Scholarship awarded under this Section shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment. Should a qualified student withdraw from enrollment prior to completion of the first semester or quarter for which the Merit Recognition Scholarship is applicable, the student shall refund to the Commission the amount of the scholarship received. (i) The Commission shall administer the Merit Recognition Scholarship program established by this Section and shall make all necessary and proper rules, not inconsistent with this Section, for its effective implementation. (j) When an appropriation to the Commission for purposes of this Section is insufficient to provide scholarships to all qualified students, the Commission shall allocate the appropriation in accordance with this subsection (j). If funds are insufficient to provide all qualified students with a scholarship as authorized by subsection (g) of this Section, the Commission shall allocate the scholarships to qualified students in order of decreasing relative academic rank, as determined by the Commission using a formula based upon the qualified student's grade point average, score on the appropriate statewide standardized examination, or a combination of grade point average and standardized test score. All Merit Recognition Scholarships awarded shall be in the amount of $1,000. (k) The Commission, in determining the number of Merit Recognition Scholarships to be offered pursuant to subsection (j) of this Section, shall take into consideration past experience with the rate of merit scholarship funds unclaimed by qualified students. To the extent necessary to avoid an over-commitment of funds, the Commission may allocate scholarship funds on the basis of the date the Commission receives a completed application form. (Source: P.A. 95-715, eff. 1-1-09.)

110 ILCS 947/35

(110 ILCS 947/35) Sec. 35. Monetary award program. (a) The Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for grant assistance under this Section. Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes, an applicant is eligible for a grant under this Section when the Commission finds that the applicant: (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; (2) is enrolled or has been accepted for enrollment in a qualified institution for the purpose of obtaining a degree, certificate, or other credential offered by the institution, as applicable; and (3) in the absence of grant assistance, will be deterred by financial considerations from completing an educational program at the qualified institution of his or her choice. (b) The Commission shall award renewals only upon the student's application and upon the Commission's finding that the applicant: (1) has remained a student in good standing; (2) remains a resident of this State; and (3) is in a financial situation that continues to warrant assistance. (c) All grants shall be applicable only to tuition and necessary fee costs. The Commission shall determine the grant amount for each student, which shall not exceed the smallest of the following amounts: (1) subject to appropriation, $5,468 for fiscal year 2009, $5,968 for fiscal year 2010, $6,468 for fiscal year 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year 2022, $8,508 for fiscal year 2023, and $10,896 for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, or such lesser amount as the Commission finds to be available, during an academic year; (2) the amount which equals 2 semesters or 3 quarters tuition and other necessary fees required generally by the institution of all full-time undergraduate students; or (3) such amount as the Commission finds to be appropriate in view of the applicant's financial resources. Subject to appropriation, the maximum grant amount for students not subject to subdivision (1) of this subsection (c) must be increased by the same percentage as any increase made by law to the maximum grant amount under subdivision (1) of this subsection (c). "Tuition and other necessary fees" as used in this Section include the customary charge for instruction and use of facilities in general, and the additional fixed fees charged for specified purposes, which are required generally of nongrant recipients for each academic period for which the grant applicant actually enrolls, but do not include fees payable only once or breakage fees and other contingent deposits which are refundable in whole or in part. The Commission may prescribe, by rule not inconsistent with this Section, detailed provisions concerning the computation of tuition and other necessary fees. (d) No applicant, including those presently receiving scholarship assistance under this Act, is eligible for monetary award program consideration under this Act after receiving a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours of award payments. (d-5) In this subsection (d-5), "renewing applicant" means a student attending an institution of higher learning who received a Monetary Award Program grant during the prior academic year. Beginning with the processing of applications for the 2020-2021 academic year, the Commission shall annually publish a priority deadline date for renewing applicants. Subject to appropriation, a renewing applicant who files by the published priority deadline date shall receive a grant if he or she continues to meet the eligibility requirements under this Section. A renewing applicant's failure to apply by the priority deadline date established under this subsection (d-5) shall not disqualify him or her from receiving a grant if sufficient funding is available to provide awards after that date. (e) The Commission, in determining the number of grants to be offered, shall take into consideration past experience with the rate of grant funds unclaimed by recipients. The Commission shall notify applicants that grant assistance is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. (e-5) The General Assembly finds and declares that it is an important purpose of the Monetary Award Program to facilitate access to college both for students who pursue postsecondary education immediately following high school and for those who pursue postsecondary education later in life, particularly Illinoisans who are dislocated workers with financial need and who are seeking to improve their economic position through education. For the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 academic years, the Commission shall give additional and specific consideration to the needs of dislocated workers with the intent of allowing applicants who are dislocated workers an opportunity to secure financial assistance even if applying later than the general pool of applicants. The Commission's consideration shall include, in determining the number of grants to be offered, an estimate of the resources needed to serve dislocated workers who apply after the Commission initially suspends award announcements for the upcoming regular academic year, but prior to the beginning of that academic year. For the purposes of this subsection (e-5), a dislocated worker is defined as in the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. (f) (Blank). (g) The Commission shall determine the eligibility of and make grants to applicants enrolled at qualified for-profit institutions in accordance with the criteria set forth in this Section. The eligibility of applicants enrolled at such for-profit institutions shall be limited as follows: (1) Beginning with the academic year 1997, only to eligible first-time freshmen and first-time transfer students who have attained an associate degree. (2) Beginning with the academic year 1998, only to eligible freshmen students, transfer students who have attained an associate degree, and students who receive a grant under paragraph (1) for the academic year 1997 and whose grants are being renewed for the academic year 1998. (3) Beginning with the academic year 1999, to all eligible students. (h) The Commission may award a grant to an eligible applicant enrolled at an Illinois public institution of higher learning in a program that will culminate in the award of an occupational or career and technical certificate as that term is defined in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1501.301. (i) The Commission may adopt rules to implement this Section. (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)

110 ILCS 947/36 Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access grant program

(110 ILCS 947/36) Sec. 36. Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access grant program. (a) The Commission each year shall determine eligibility for the Illinois Incentive for Access grant from applications received for Monetary Award Program grant assistance under Section 35 of this Act. An applicant shall be determined as eligible for an Illinois Incentive for Access grant under this Section when the Commission finds that the applicant: (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; (2) has limited personal or family financial resources available for expenditure on educational expenses, as defined by current federal student financial aid methodology; (3) has not already received a baccalaureate degree; and (4) is enrolled at least one-half time as a freshman undergraduate student at an approved Illinois institution of higher learning participating in the Monetary Award Program administered by the Commission. (b) Subject to a separate appropriation made for purposes of awarding grants under this Section, Illinois Incentive for Access grants shall be paid in multiple disbursements as determined by the Commission (i) in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per applicant per year for applicants with an expected family contribution of $0, as defined by current federal student aid methodology, and (ii) in an amount not to exceed $500 for applicants with an expected family contribution of $500 or less but more than $0, as defined by current federal student aid methodology. In awarding grants, the Commission shall give priority to applicants with an expected family contribution of $0. No recipient may receive a grant under this Section for more than 2 semesters or 3 quarters of award payments. (c) Eligibility for grants awarded under this Section shall be determined solely on the basis of the financial resources of the applicant and the applicant's family. Cost of attendance at the institution in which the applicant is enrolled shall not affect eligibility for an award, except that State student financial assistance awarded under this Act, including the Illinois Incentive for Access award, may not exceed the institution's cost of attendance. (d) The Commission shall notify applicants that grant assistance is contingent upon availability of appropriated funds. (e) The Commission shall submit a written evaluation of the Illinois Incentive for Access program to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Board of Higher Education on or before October 1, 1999, including a report of the progress made toward the goal of increasing the access and retention rates for Illinois Incentive for Access grant recipients. (Source: P.A. 93-455, eff. 7-1-04.)

110 ILCS 947/37

(110 ILCS 947/37) Sec. 37. Higher education license plate grant program. (a) Each year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall receive a separate appropriation for the purpose of providing grant assistance to students enrolled at Illinois private colleges and universities. Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes, an applicant is eligible for a grant to a degree-granting, not-for-profit private college or university located in this State under this Section when the institution finds that the applicant: (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and (2) in the absence of grant assistance, will be deterred by financial considerations from completing an educational program at the qualified institution of his or her choice. (b) The private college or university shall award renewals only upon the student's application and upon the institution's finding that the applicant: (1) has remained a student in good standing at a degree-granting, not-for-profit private college or university located in this State; (2) remains a resident of this State; and (3) is in a financial situation that continues to warrant assistance. (c) All grants shall be applicable only to tuition and necessary fee costs for 2 semesters or 3 quarters in an academic year. Requests for summer term assistance must be made separately and shall be considered on an individual basis according to Commission policy. The institution shall determine the grant amount for each full-time and part-time student, which shall be the smallest of the following amounts: (1) $2,000 for 2 semesters or 3 quarters of full-time undergraduate enrollment or $1,000 for 2 semesters or 3 quarters of part-time undergraduate enrollment, or such lesser amount as the institution finds to be available; or (2) the amount that equals the tuition and other necessary fees for 2 semesters or 3 quarters required generally by the institution of all full-time undergraduate students, or in the case of part-time students an amount of tuition and fees for 2 semesters or 3 quarters that does not exceed one-half the amount of tuition and necessary fees generally charged to full-time undergraduate students by the institution; or (3) such amount as the institution finds to be appropriate in view of the applicant's financial resources. "Tuition and other necessary fees" as used in this Section includes the customary charge for instruction and use of facilities in general, and the additional fixed fees charged for specified purposes, which are required generally of nongrant recipients for each academic period for which the grant applicant actually enrolls, but does not include fees payable only once or breakage fees and other contingent deposits that are refundable in whole or in part. The Commission may prescribe, by rule not inconsistent with this Section, detailed provisions concerning the computation of tuition and other necessary fees. (d) No applicant, including those presently receiving scholarship assistance under this Act, is eligible for grant program consideration under this Section after receiving a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 10 semesters or 15 quarters of award payments. The institution shall determine when award payments for part-time enrollment or interim or summer terms shall be counted as a partial semester or quarter of payment. (e) The Commission shall ensure that in each school year the total amount of grants awarded under this Section for study at each degree-granting, not-for-profit private college or university in this State shall be at least equal to the total amount deposited into the University Grant Fund from the issuance or renewal of license plates bearing the name of that degree-granting, not-for-profit private college or university during the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the school year begins. The institution shall notify applicants that grant assistance is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. (Source: P.A. 90-278, eff. 7-31-97; 91-670, eff. 12-22-99.)

110 ILCS 947/38

(110 ILCS 947/38) Sec. 38. Monetary award program accountability. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is directed to assess the educational persistence of monetary award program recipients. An assessment under this Section shall include an analysis of such factors as undergraduate educational goals, chosen field of study, retention rates, and expected time to complete a degree. The assessment also shall include an analysis of the academic success of monetary award program recipients through a review of measures that are typically associated with academic success, such as grade point average, satisfactory academic progress, and credit hours earned. Each analysis should take into consideration student class level, dependency types, and the type of higher education institution at which each monetary award program recipient is enrolled. The Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Board of Higher Education are authorized and directed to share data with the Commission as needed to allow completion of the assessment. The Commission shall report its findings to the General Assembly and the Board of Higher Education by February 1, 1999 and at least every 2 years thereafter. (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)

110 ILCS 947/39 Monetary Award Program Plus

(110 ILCS 947/39) Sec. 39. Monetary Award Program Plus. (a) The Commission shall receive and consider applications for monetary grant assistance under this Section to benefit those students who will not receive Monetary Award Program grants awarded in accordance with Section 35 of this Act, but who will benefit from assistance in paying for the costs of attendance at institutions of higher learning. Subject to a separate appropriation for this purpose and sufficient revenue from the sale of student loan assets, transaction processing, or refinancing, an applicant is eligible for a Monetary Award Program Plus grant under this Section if the Commission finds that the applicant meets all of the following qualifications: (1) He or she is a resident of this State and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. (2) He or she is enrolled at least half-time as a sophomore, junior, or senior at a MAP-eligible institution, as defined under the Monetary Award Program. (3) He or she will not receive in the same academic year a Monetary Award Program grant under Section 35 of this Act. (4) He or she is from a family that had an adjusted gross income, listed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, of less than $200,000 for the 2005 taxable year. (b) All grants under this Section are applicable only to tuition and mandatory fee costs. The Commission shall determine the grant amount for each student, which amount must not exceed $500 per year or $250 per semester and must not exceed tuition and mandatory fees net of State and federal financial aid. (c) Grants under this Section may be awarded only for the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 semesters. (d) The Commission shall pay Monetary Award Program Plus grant awards to eligible students by application date, on a first-come, first-served basis. (e) The Commission, in determining the number of Monetary Award Program Plus grants to be awarded, shall utilize whatever appropriate data is available and shall notify applicants that grant assistance is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. (f) The Commission shall determine if sufficient funds are available from the sale of student loan assets, transaction processing, or refinancing to continue Monetary Award Program Plus beyond the Spring 2007 semester and shall prepare a report for the Governor and General Assembly indicating whether funding is available and how it can be used to support the program. (Source: P.A. 94-1056, eff. 7-31-06.)

110 ILCS 947/40

(110 ILCS 947/40) Sec. 40. Illinois Veteran grant program. (a) As used in this Section: "Qualified applicant" means a person who served in the Armed Forces of the United States, a Reserve component of the Armed Forces, or the Illinois National Guard, excluding members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and those whose only service has been attendance at a service academy, and who meets all of the qualifications of either paragraphs (1) through (4) or paragraphs (2), (3), and (5): (1) At the time of entering federal active duty service the person was one of the following: (A) An Illinois resident. (B) An Illinois resident within 6 months of entering such service. (C) Enrolled at a State-controlled university or public community college in this State. (2) The person meets one of the following requirements: (A) He or she served at least one year of federal active duty. (B) He or she served less than one year of federal active duty and received an honorable discharge for medical reasons directly connected with such service. (C) He or she served less than one year of federal active duty and was discharged prior to August 11, 1967. (D) He or she served less than one year of federal active duty in a foreign country during a time of hostilities in that foreign country. (3) The person received an honorable discharge after leaving federal active duty service. (4) The person returned to this State within 6 months after leaving federal active duty service, or, if married to a person in continued military service stationed outside this State, returned to this State within 6 months after his or her spouse left service or was stationed within this State. (5) The person does not meet the requirements of paragraph (1), but (i) is a resident of Illinois at the time of application to the Commission and (ii) at some point after leaving federal active duty service, was a resident of Illinois for at least 15 consecutive years. "Time of hostilities" means any action by the Armed Forces of the United States that is recognized by the issuance of a Presidential proclamation or a Presidential executive order and in which the Armed Forces expeditionary medal or other campaign service medals are awarded according to Presidential executive order. (b) A person who otherwise qualifies under subsection (a) of this Section but has not left federal active duty service and has served at least one year of federal active duty or has served for less than one year of federal active duty in a foreign country during a time of hostilities in that foreign country and who can provide documentation demonstrating an honorable service record is eligible to receive assistance under this Section. (c) A qualified applicant is not required to pay any tuition or mandatory fees while attending a State-controlled university or public community college in this State for a period that is equivalent to 4 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms. A qualified applicant who has previously received benefits under this Section for a non-mandatory fee shall continue to receive benefits covering such fees while he or she is enrolled in a continuous program of study. The qualified applicant shall no longer receive a grant covering non-mandatory fees if he or she fails to enroll during an academic term, unless he or she is serving federal active duty service. (d) A qualified applicant who has been or is to be awarded assistance under this Section shall receive that assistance if the qualified applicant notifies his or her postsecondary institution of that fact by the end of the school term for which assistance is requested. (e) Assistance under this Section is considered an entitlement that the State-controlled college or public community college in which the qualified applicant is enrolled shall honor without any condition other than the qualified applicant's maintenance of minimum grade levels and a satisfactory student loan repayment record pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 20 of this Act. (f) The Commission shall administer the grant program established by this Section and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. (g) All applications for assistance under this Section must be made to the Commission on forms that the Commission shall provide. The Commission shall determine the form of application and the information required to be set forth in the application, and the Commission shall require qualified applicants to submit with their applications any supporting documents that the Commission deems necessary. Upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs shall assist the Commission in determining the eligibility of applicants for assistance under this Section. (h) Assistance under this Section is available as long as the federal government provides educational benefits to veterans. Assistance must not be paid under this Section after 6 months following the termination of educational benefits to veterans by the federal government, except for persons who already have begun their education with assistance under this Section. If the federal government terminates educational benefits to veterans and at a later time resumes those benefits, assistance under this Section shall resume. (Source: P.A. 104-234, eff. 8-15-25.)

110 ILCS 947/45 Illinois National Guard and Naval Militia grant program

(110 ILCS 947/45) Sec. 45. Illinois National Guard and Naval Militia grant program. (a) As used in this Section: "State-controlled university or community college" means those institutions under the administration of the Chicago State University Board of Trustees, the Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees, the Governors State University Board of Trustees, the Illinois State University Board of Trustees, the Northeastern Illinois University Board of Trustees, the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees, the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees, Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees, University of Illinois Board of Trustees, or the Illinois Community College Board. "Tuition and fees" does not include expenses for any sectarian or denominational instruction, the construction or maintenance of sectarian or denominational facilities, or any other sectarian or denominational purposes or activity. "Fees" means matriculation, graduation, activity, term, or incidental fees. Exemption shall not be granted from any other fees, including book rental, service, laboratory, supply, and union building fees, hospital and medical insurance fees, and any fees established for the operation and maintenance of buildings, the income of which is pledged to the payment of interest and principal on bonds issued by the governing board of any university or community college. (b) Any person who has served at least one year in the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Naval Militia and who possesses all necessary entrance requirements shall, upon application and proper proof, be awarded a grant to the State-controlled university or community college of his or her choice, consisting of exemption from tuition and fees for not more than the equivalent of 4 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms, in relation to his or her course of study at that State-controlled university or community college while he or she is a member of the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Naval Militia. Beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year, any person who has served over 10 years in the Illinois National Guard shall be awarded an additional grant to the State-controlled university or community college of his or her choice, consisting of an exemption from tuition and fees for not more than the equivalent of an additional 2 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, if the recipient of any grant awarded under this Section ceases to be a member of the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Naval Militia while enrolled in a course of study under that grant, the grant shall be terminated as of the date membership in the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Naval Militia ended, and the recipient shall be permitted to complete the school term in which he or she is then enrolled only upon payment of tuition and other fees allocable to the part of the term then remaining. If the recipient of a grant awarded under this Section ceases to be a member of the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Naval Militia while enrolled in a course of study under that grant but (i) has served in the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Naval Militia for at least 5 years and (ii) has served a cumulative total of at least 6 months of active duty, then that recipient shall continue to be eligible for a grant for one year after membership in the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Naval Militia ended, provided that the recipient has not already received the exemption from tuition and fees for the equivalent of 4 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms, under this Section. If the recipient of the grant fails to complete his or her military service obligations or requirements for satisfactory participation, the Department of Military Affairs shall require the recipient to repay the amount of the grant received, prorated according to the fraction of the service obligation not completed, and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Department of Military Affairs may adopt rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of the grant under this Section. Unsatisfactory participation shall be defined by rules adopted by the Department of Military Affairs. Repayments shall be deposited into the National Guard and Naval Militia Grant Fund. The National Guard and Naval Militia Grant Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All money in the National Guard and Naval Militia Grant Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the purposes of this Section. On June 30, 2026, or as soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the remaining balance from the National Guard and Naval Militia Grant Fund into the General Revenue Fund. Upon completion of the transfer, the National Guard and Naval Militia Grant Fund is dissolved, and any future deposits due to that Fund and any outstanding obligations or liabilities of that Fund shall pass to the General Revenue Fund. A grant awarded under this Section shall be considered an entitlement which the State-controlled university or community college in which the holder is enrolled shall honor without any condition other than the holder's maintenance of minimum grade levels and a satisfactory student loan repayment record pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 20 of this Act. (c) Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes, the Commission may reimburse the State-controlled university or community college for grants authorized by this Section. (Source: P.A. 104-2, eff. 6-16-25.)

110 ILCS 947/47 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/47) Sec. 47. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 98-920, eff. 8-15-14. Repealed internally, eff. 12-1-15.)

110 ILCS 947/50

(110 ILCS 947/50) Sec. 50. Teachers of Illinois scholarship program. (a) As used in this Section: "Qualified bilingual applicant" means a qualified student who demonstrates proficiency in a language other than English by (i) receiving a State Seal of Biliteracy from the State Board of Education or (ii) receiving a passing score on an educator licensure target language proficiency test. "Qualified student" means a student who: (i) was enrolled in a public school district in this State, at any point in kindergarten through grade 12, that had an average of least 70% of students who were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch during the most recent 3 school years for which data is available from the State Board of Education; (ii) was either: (A) enrolled in a public school district in this State, at any point in kindergarten through grade 12, that had a 3-year average teacher vacancy rate at or above the 3-year statewide average teacher vacancy rate, excluding public school districts that had zero vacancies, in any school year among the most recent 3 school years for which data is available from the State Board of Education; or (B) enrolled in a public school district in this State, at any point in kindergarten through grade 12, in which the number of teacher vacancies in the district was at or above the statewide average number of teacher vacancies, excluding public school districts that had zero vacancies, in any school year among the most recent 3 school years for which data is available from the State Board of Education; (iii) has graduated from high school or has received a State of Illinois High School Diploma; (iv) is an Illinois resident and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; (v) has made a timely application for a teacher scholarship under this Section; (vi) is enrolled on at least a half-time basis at a qualified Illinois institution of higher learning; (vii) is enrolled in a course of study leading to teacher licensure, including alternative teacher licensure, to be a preschool, elementary, or secondary school teacher, or, if the student is already licensed to teach, in a course of study leading to an additional teaching endorsement or a master's degree in an academic field in which he or she is teaching or plans to teach or who has received one or more College and Career Pathway Endorsements pursuant to Section 80 of the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act and commits to enrolling in a course of study leading to teacher licensure, including alternative teacher licensure, to be a preschool, elementary, or secondary school teacher; (viii) maintains a grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; and (ix) continues to advance satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree. (b) The Commission shall determine, at its discretion, how to verify whether an applicant is a qualified student. The Commission shall award teacher scholarships under this Section to qualified students who demonstrate to the Commission that they satisfy the requirements and purpose of this Section. All qualified students may apply. A student who received a scholarship under this Section in a previous academic year may not be disqualified from receiving a subsequent award if the public school district where the student had been enrolled no longer meets the criteria regarding free or reduced-price lunch or teacher vacancies described in this Section, as long as the student maintains all other conditions of eligibility. (c) The annual teacher scholarship amount shall be computed by the institution. Each teacher scholarship awarded under this Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the total cost of attendance of the qualified Illinois institution of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $7,500. (d) The total amount of teacher scholarship assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the total cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is enrolled. If the amount of a teacher scholarship to be awarded to a scholarship recipient as provided in subsection (c) of this Section exceeds the total cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is enrolled, the teacher scholarship shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial assistance available to the recipient exceeds the total cost of attendance. (e) The maximum number of academic terms for which a recipient can receive teacher scholarship assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters. (f) In any academic year for which an eligible applicant under this Section accepts financial assistance through the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, the Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program, or the Teach Illinois Scholarship Program, the applicant shall not be eligible for scholarship assistance awarded under this Section. (g) All applications for teacher scholarships to be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission on forms which the Commission shall provide. Applicants must submit an application annually. Applicants must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The form of applications and the information required to be set forth therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall require applicants to submit with their applications such supporting documents or recommendations as the Commission deems necessary. If an application is incomplete, the Commission shall notify the applicant. The applicant shall then have an opportunity to furnish the missing information; however, the application shall be considered for processing only as of the date when the application is complete and received by the Commission. Applicants may be required to furnish the institution at which they are enrolled with a copy of their high school transcripts, any other documentation verifying high school graduation, or a copy of their State of Illinois High School Diplomas. (h) Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes, payment of any teacher scholarship awarded under this Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be paid to the institution and used only for payment of the tuition and fee and room and board expenses incurred by the student in connection with his or her attendance at a qualified Illinois institution of higher learning. Any teacher scholarship awarded under this Section shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment within a regular academic year. If a recipient withdraws from enrollment prior to completion of the first semester or quarter for which the teacher scholarship is applicable, the school shall refund to the Commission the full amount of the teacher scholarship. (i) The Commission shall administer the teacher scholarship program established by this Section and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. The Commission shall make information available on its website regarding school districts that meet the criteria set forth in the definition of a qualified student under subsection (a). (j) When an appropriation to the Commission for a given fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all qualified students, the Commission shall allocate the appropriation in accordance with this subsection. If funds are insufficient to provide all qualified students with a scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal year to qualified students who submit a timely complete application form on or before a date specified by the Commission based on the following order of priority: (1) To students who received a scholarship under this Section in the prior academic year and who remain eligible for a teacher scholarship under this Section. (2) To students who demonstrate the most financial need, as determined by the Commission. (3) To students with the earliest date of received completed applications. (4) To students enrolled at or above the junior level. (k) If at least $2,850,000 but less than $4,200,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal year for scholarships awarded under this Section, then at least 10% of the funds appropriated shall be reserved for qualified bilingual applicants, with priority being given to qualified bilingual applicants who are enrolled in an educator preparation program with a concentration in bilingual, bicultural education. If at least $4,200,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal year for the Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, then at least 30% of the funds appropriated shall be reserved for qualified bilingual applicants, with priority being given to qualified bilingual applicants who are enrolled in an educator preparation program with a concentration in bilingual, bicultural education. For a fiscal year to which this subsection applies, if, on or after January 1 of that fiscal year, appropriated funds remain after awarding reserved funds to qualified bilingual applicants, then the Commission may, in its discretion, award a portion of the reserved funds to other qualified students in accordance with subsection (j). (l) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any academic year, each recipient of a teacher scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign and submit a teaching agreement or promissory note to the Commission under which the recipient pledges that, within the one-year period following the termination of the program for which the recipient was awarded a teacher scholarship, the recipient (i) shall begin teaching for a period of not less than one year for each year of scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this Section and shall teach on a continuous basis for the required period of time; (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a public school district in this State that had a 3-year average teacher vacancy rate at or above the 3-year statewide average teacher vacancy rate, excluding public school districts that had zero vacancies, in any school year among the most recent 3 school years for which data is available from the State Board of Education or a public school district in this State in which the number of teacher vacancies in the district was at or above the statewide average number of teacher vacancies, excluding public school districts that had zero vacancies, in any school year among the most recent 3 school years for which data is available from the State Board of Education in the year during which the recipient begins teaching at the school or may instead, if the recipient received a scholarship as a qualified bilingual applicant, fulfill this teaching obligation in a program in transitional bilingual education pursuant to Article 14C of the School Code or in a school in which 20 or more English learner students in the same language classification are enrolled; and (iii) shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching agreement provided for in this subsection. Recipients of a teacher scholarship under this Section are also required to provide the Commission with evidence of compliance with program requirements, including, but not limited to annual follow-up questionnaires. Recipients of a teacher scholarship under this Section must also promise to use the proceeds of the scholarship for educational expenses. (l-5) If, prior to the 2025-2026 academic year, an individual received a scholarship under this Section and signed an agreement pledging to teach at a school meeting specified criteria and that individual receives a subsequent scholarship under this Section on or after November 21, 2025 (the effective date of Public Act 104-437), then that recipient may complete his or her entire teaching obligation at a school meeting the criteria described in subsection (l) of this Section and the Commission shall consider such employment to satisfy the terms of that recipient's agreement to teach signed before November 21, 2025 (the effective date of Public Act 104-437). (m) If a recipient of a teacher scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the teaching obligation set forth in subsection (l) of this Section, the scholarship converts to a loan. The repayment period shall be completed within 10 years after the scholarship converts to a loan. The 10-year period may be extended if the recipient (i) serves, for not more than 3 years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces; (ii) is temporarily disabled, for not more than 3 years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician; (iii) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment, for one continuous period not to exceed 2 years, and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (iv) withdraws from a course of study leading to licensure as a teacher but is enrolled full time in another academic discipline; or (v) is pursuing a graduate course of study and is enrolled on a full-time basis for one continuous period of time not to exceed 3 years. During the time a recipient qualifies for any extensions, the recipient is not required to make payments and interest does not accrue. The recipient shall enter repayment status on the earliest of the following: the first day of the first calendar month after the recipient has ceased to pursue a course of study leading to licensure as a teacher at the preschool, elementary, or secondary level, but not before 6 months have elapsed after the cessation of at least half-time enrollment in such a course of study; the date the recipient informs the Commission that the recipient does not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation; or the day after the latest date upon which the recipient must have begun teaching after completing the postsecondary education for which the scholarship was awarded. The Commission shall require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, at an annual rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees. If a recipient who enters into repayment under this subsection (m) subsequently, within 5 years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the description under subsection (l) of this Section, the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the recipient in proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed. All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller for deposit into the State's General Revenue Fund. A recipient is not required to repay the amount of the scholarship received if the recipient becomes permanently totally disabled, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician, or if the recipient's representative provides the Commission with a death certificate or other evidence that the recipient has died. (n) A recipient of a teacher scholarship shall not be considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (l) if the recipient (i) enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the field of teaching at a qualified Illinois institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the United States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking full-time employment for one continuous period not to exceed 2 years and is unable to find full time employment as a teacher at a school district in this State that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (l) of this Section and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (v) becomes a person with a permanent total disability as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (vi) is taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, needed to obtain licensure as a teacher in Illinois; or (vii) is fulfilling teaching requirements associated with other programs administered by the Commission and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation. (o) Scholarship recipients under this Section who withdraw from a program of teacher education but remain enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in another academic discipline shall not be required to commence repayment of their Teachers of Illinois scholarship so long as they remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis or if they can document for the Commission special circumstances that warrant extension of repayment. (o-5) The Commission may not require repayment of any Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship from any recipient who: (1) received that scholarship during the 2024-2025 academic year; (2) would have remained eligible for the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship if it remained in effect for the 2025-2026 academic year; (3) does not meet the definition of a qualified student under the Teachers of Illinois scholarship program established by Public Act 104-437; and (4) does not complete the educator preparation program in which the recipient was enrolled when receiving the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship. (p) The State Board of Education shall furnish all appropriate data referenced within the definition of a qualified student under subsection (a) on a timely basis to the Commission. (q) Each qualified Illinois institution of higher learning that receives funds from the Teachers of Illinois scholarship program shall ensure that each scholarship recipient enrolled at the institution meets with an academic advisor at least once per academic year to facilitate on-time completion of the recipient's educator preparation program. Institutions shall also submit eligibility information for qualified students in sufficient time for the Commission to make award announcements. Teacher scholarship awards under this Section shall be paid directly to the approved institution of record that certifies to the Commission that the applicant is an eligible recipient. The Commission shall annually establish priority claim dates for the submission of payment requests and inform institutions of the required priority dates. Late payment requests shall result in the delayed processing of payments. Payment requests shall be processed in the sequence of receipt by the Commission and as funds are available. Institutions may submit their payment requests beginning 10 days prior to the start of classes for the term for which payment is being requested. The Commission shall disburse scholarship funds in 2 or 3 installments, depending on the number of terms financed by the scholarship, except that multiple disbursements are not required in cases in which the applicant's eligibility is not determined until the final term of the regular academic year for which the scholarship is being awarded or if a student is attending only one term and the maximum award does not exceed the student's cost of attendance. Funds shall be remitted by the Commission to institutions on behalf of recipients. Upon receipt of scholarship funds, the institution shall verify the recipient's enrollment status for the term for which the award was intended. If enrolled, the institution may credit the scholarship funds to the recipient's account for expenses due and payable. The balance of the disbursement shall be released to the recipient. Upon receipt of the scholarship funds, if the recipient has withdrawn from enrollment for the terms for which the award was intended, the institution shall return the amount of the scholarship payment to the Commission. (r) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 104-437 shall first apply beginning with awards made for the 2025-2026 academic year. (Source: P.A. 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-437, eff. 11-21-25; 104-852, eff. 8-21-26.)

110 ILCS 947/52 Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program; Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching

(110 ILCS 947/52) Sec. 52. Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program; Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching. (a) In this Section, "Foundation" means the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching, a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. (a-2) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois students to pursue teaching careers, especially in teacher shortage disciplines (which shall be defined to include early childhood education) or at hard-to-staff schools (as defined by the Commission in consultation with the State Board of Education), to provide those students with the crucial mentoring, guidance, and in-service support that will significantly increase the likelihood that they will complete their full teaching commitments and elect to continue teaching in targeted disciplines and hard-to-staff schools, and to ensure that students in this State will continue to have access to a pool of highly qualified teachers, each qualified student shall be awarded a Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program scholarship to any Illinois institution of higher learning. The Commission shall administer the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, which shall be managed by the Foundation pursuant to the terms of a grant agreement meeting the requirements of Section 4 of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. (a-3) For purposes of this Section, a qualified student shall be a student who meets the following qualifications: (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States; (2) is a high school graduate or a person who has received a State of Illinois High School Diploma; (3) is enrolled or accepted, on at least a half-time basis, at an institution of higher learning; (4) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study leading to initial certification or pursuing additional course work needed to gain State Board of Education approval to teach, including alternative teacher licensure; and (5) is a participant in programs managed by and is approved to receive a scholarship from the Foundation. (a-5) (Blank). (b) (Blank). (b-5) Funds designated for the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program shall be used by the Commission for the payment of scholarship assistance under this Section or for the award of grant funds, subject to the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act, to the Foundation. Subject to appropriation, awards of grant funds to the Foundation shall be made on an annual basis and following an application for grant funds by the Foundation. (b-10) Each year, the Foundation shall include in its application to the Commission for grant funds an estimate of the amount of scholarship assistance to be provided to qualified students during the grant period. Any amount of appropriated funds exceeding the estimated amount of scholarship assistance may be awarded by the Commission to the Foundation for management expenses expected to be incurred by the Foundation in providing the mentoring, guidance, and in-service supports that will increase the likelihood that qualified students will complete their teaching commitments and elect to continue teaching in hard-to-staff schools. If the estimate of the amount of scholarship assistance described in the Foundation's application is less than the actual amount required for the award of scholarship assistance to qualified students, the Foundation shall be responsible for using awarded grant funds to ensure all qualified students receive scholarship assistance under this Section. (b-15) All grant funds not expended or legally obligated within the time specified in a grant agreement between the Foundation and the Commission shall be returned to the Commission within 45 days. Any funds legally obligated by the end of a grant agreement shall be liquidated within 45 days or otherwise returned to the Commission within 90 days after the end of the grant agreement that resulted in the award of grant funds. (c) Each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room and board costs of the Illinois institution of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $5,000; except that, in the case of a recipient who does not reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. All scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be paid to the institution on behalf of recipients. (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at which the student is enrolled. In any academic year for which a qualified student under this Section accepts financial assistance through any other teacher scholarship program administered by the Commission, a qualified student shall not be eligible for scholarship assistance awarded under this Section. (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section. Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment each academic year. (f) All applications for scholarship assistance to be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Foundation in a form determined by the Foundation. Each year, the Foundation shall notify the Commission of the individuals awarded scholarship assistance under this Section. Each year, at least 30% of the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program scholarships shall be awarded to students residing in counties having a population of less than 500,000. (g) (Blank). (h) The Commission shall administer the payment of scholarship assistance provided through the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for the effective implementation of this Section. (i) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by the Foundation to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the 2-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient: (i) shall begin teaching for a period of not less than 5 years, (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool or an Illinois public elementary or secondary school that qualifies for teacher loan cancellation under Section 465(a)(2)(A) of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(A)) or other Illinois schools deemed eligible for fulfilling the teaching commitment as designated by the Foundation, and (iii) shall, upon request of the Foundation, provide the Foundation with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching agreement provided for in this subsection. Upon request, the Foundation shall provide evidence of teacher fulfillment to the Commission. (j) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the teaching obligation set forth in subsection (i) of this Section, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees. If a recipient who enters into repayment under this subsection (j) subsequently, within 5 years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the description under subsection (i) of this Section, the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the recipient in proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed. Reduction of the amount owed shall not be construed as reinstatement in the Golden Apple Scholars program. Reinstatement in the program shall be solely at the discretion of the Golden Apple Foundation on terms determined by the Foundation. Payments received by the Commission under this subsection (j) shall be remitted to the State Comptroller for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, except that that portion of a recipient's repayment that equals the amount in expenses that the Commission has reasonably incurred in attempting collection from that recipient shall be remitted to the State Comptroller for deposit into the ISAC Accounts Receivable Fund, a special fund in the State treasury. (k) A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the Foundation under this Section shall not be considered to have failed to fulfill the teaching obligations of the agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (i) if the recipient (i) enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the field of teaching at an institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving as a member of the armed services of the United States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total disability, as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a teacher at a school that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (i) and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (v) is taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a teacher in Illinois; (vi) is fulfilling teaching requirements associated with other programs administered by the Commission and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation; or (vii) is participating in a program established under Executive Order 10924 of the President of the United States or the federal National Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.). Any such extension of the period during which the teaching requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to limitations of duration as established by the Commission. (l) A recipient who fails to fulfill the teaching obligations of the agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (i) of this Section shall repay the amount of scholarship assistance awarded to them under this Section within 10 years. (m) Annually, at a time determined by the Commission in consultation with the Foundation, the Foundation shall submit a report to assist the Commission in monitoring the Foundation's performance of grant activities. The report shall describe the following: (1) the Foundation's anticipated expenditures for the next fiscal year; (2) the number of qualified students receiving scholarship assistance at each institution of higher learning where a qualified student was enrolled under this Section during the previous fiscal year; (3) the total monetary value of scholarship funds paid to each institution of higher learning at which a qualified student was enrolled during the previous fiscal year; (4) the number of scholarship recipients who completed a baccalaureate degree during the previous fiscal year; (5) the number of scholarship recipients who fulfilled their teaching obligation during the previous fiscal year; (6) the number of scholarship recipients who failed to fulfill their teaching obligation during the previous fiscal year; (7) the number of scholarship recipients granted an extension described in subsection (k) of this Section during the previous fiscal year; (8) the number of scholarship recipients required to repay scholarship assistance in accordance with subsection (j) of this Section during the previous fiscal year; (9) the number of scholarship recipients who successfully repaid scholarship assistance in full during the previous fiscal year; (10) the number of scholarship recipients who defaulted on their obligation to repay scholarship assistance during the previous fiscal year; (11) the amount of scholarship assistance subject to collection in accordance with subsection (j) of this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year; (12) the amount of collected funds to be remitted to the Comptroller in accordance with subsection (j) of this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year; and (13) other information that the Commission may reasonably request. (n) Nothing in this Section shall affect the rights of the Commission to collect moneys owed to it by recipients of scholarship assistance through the Illinois Future Teacher Corps Program, repealed by Public Act 98-533. (o) The Auditor General shall prepare an annual audit of the operations and finances of the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program. This audit shall be provided to the Governor, General Assembly, and the Commission. (p) The suspension of grant making authority found in Section 4.2 of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act shall not apply to grants made pursuant to this Section. (Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-437, eff. 11-21-25.)

110 ILCS 947/55

(110 ILCS 947/55) Sec. 55. Police officer or fire officer survivor grant. Grants shall be provided for any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child, or child in the legal custody of police officers and fire officers who are killed or who become a person with a permanent disability with 90% to 100% disability in the line of duty while employed by, or in the voluntary service of, this State or any local public entity in this State. Beneficiaries need not be Illinois residents at the time of enrollment in order to receive this grant. With respect to disabled police and fire officers, children need not be born, legally adopted, or in the legal custody of the officer before the disability occurred in order to receive this grant. Beneficiaries are entitled to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of full payment of tuition and mandatory fees at any State-sponsored Illinois institution of higher learning for either full or part-time study, or the equivalent of 8 semesters or 12 quarters of payment of tuition and mandatory fees at the rate established by the Commission for private institutions in the State of Illinois, provided the recipient is maintaining satisfactory academic progress. This benefit may be used for undergraduate or graduate study. The benefits of this Section shall be administered by and paid out of funds available to the Commission and shall accrue to the bona fide applicant without the requirement of demonstrating financial need to qualify for those benefits. (Source: P.A. 100-673, eff. 8-3-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

110 ILCS 947/60

(110 ILCS 947/60) Sec. 60. Grants for dependents of Department of Corrections employees who are killed or who become a person with a permanent disability in the line of duty. Any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child, or child in the legal custody of an employee of the Department of Corrections who is assigned to a security position with the Department with responsibility for inmates of any correctional institution under the jurisdiction of the Department and who is killed or who becomes a person with a permanent disability with 90% to 100% disability in the line of duty is entitled to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of full payment of tuition and mandatory fees at any State-supported Illinois institution of higher learning for either full or part-time study, or the equivalent of 8 semesters or 12 quarters of payment of tuition and mandatory fees at the rate established by the Commission for private institutions in the State of Illinois, provided the recipient is maintaining satisfactory academic progress. This benefit may be used for undergraduate or graduate study. Beneficiaries need not be Illinois residents at the time of enrollment in order to receive this grant. With respect to disabled employees of the Department of Corrections, children need not be born, legally adopted, or in the legal custody of the employee before the disability occurred in order to receive this grant. The benefits of this Section shall be administered by and paid out of funds available to the Commission and shall accrue to the bona fide applicant without the requirement of demonstrating financial need to qualify for those benefits. (Source: P.A. 100-673, eff. 8-3-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

110 ILCS 947/62

(110 ILCS 947/62) Sec. 62. Grants for exonerated persons and their dependents. (a) In this Section: "Dependent" means any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child, or child in the legal custody of an individual. "Exonerated person" means an individual who has received a pardon from the Governor of the State of Illinois stating that such a pardon is issued on the grounds of innocence of the crime for which he or she was imprisoned or an individual who has received a certificate of innocence from a circuit court pursuant to Section 2-702 of the Code of Civil Procedure. "Satisfactory academic progress" means the qualified applicant's maintenance of minimum standards of academic performance, consistent with requirements for maintaining federal financial aid eligibility, as determined by the institution of higher learning. (b) Subject to a separate appropriation for this purpose, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for grant assistance under this Section. Recipients of grants issued by the Commission in accordance with this Section must be exonerated persons or, as provided in subsection (c-5) of this Section, their dependents. Provided that the recipient is maintaining satisfactory academic progress and subject to subsection (c-5) of this Section, the funds from the grant may be used to pay up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of full payment of tuition and mandatory fees at any public university or public community college located in this State for either full or part-time study. This benefit may be used for undergraduate or graduate study. Beginning with grants awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year, a grant under this Section may also be used at any private, not-for-profit college or university in this State that is approved to participate in the Monetary Award Program under Section 35 of this Act. A recipient attending such a private, not-for-profit college or university shall receive payment of tuition and mandatory fees in an amount not to exceed the maximum grant payable to a student enrolled in the most expensive comparable program of study at a public college or university in this State. In addition, an exonerated person or, as provided in subsection (c-5) of this Section, a dependent who has not yet received a high school diploma or a State of Illinois High School Diploma and completes a high school equivalency preparation course through an Illinois Community College Board-approved provider may use grant funds to pay costs associated with obtaining a State of Illinois High School Diploma, including payment of the cost of the high school equivalency test and up to one retest on each test module, and any additional fees that may be required in order to obtain a State of Illinois High School Diploma or an official transcript of test scores after successful completion of the high school equivalency test. (c) An applicant for a grant under this Section need not demonstrate financial need to qualify for the benefits and need not be a resident of this State at the time of enrollment. (c-5) Beginning no later than the 2025-2026 academic year, if an exonerated person has been found by the Commission to qualify for a grant under this Section and the exonerated person has not yet exhausted the benefit for which the exonerated person is eligible under subsection (b), the exonerated person may designate one or more dependents to use any unexpended portion of the benefit for which the exonerated person is eligible, up to the total benefit for which the exonerated person is eligible under subsection (b). The combined benefit used by the exonerated person and any designated dependents may not exceed the total benefit for which the exonerated person is eligible under subsection (b). If funding is insufficient to serve all applicants, the Commission may prioritize applicants who have been exonerated over applicants who are dependents of exonerated persons. (d) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer this Section. (Source: P.A. 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23; 103-1046, eff. 1-1-25.)

110 ILCS 947/65

(110 ILCS 947/65) Sec. 65. Student to student grant program. (a) As used in this Section: "Voluntary contribution" includes fees collected from students by college or university officials when the fee is optional or refundable to students and has been approved by a majority of those voting in a campus-wide referendum of students. "College or university" means any of the State-supported institutions of higher learning administered by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University, the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Governors State University, the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University, the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University, or the boards of trustees of public community college districts as established and defined by the Public Community College Act. (b) Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes, the Commission shall make matching grants to each college or university for a program of student grant assistance. Such grants shall match equally the amount raised by college or university students for the grant program. Contributions from individuals who are not then enrolled as college or university students or from private or eleemosynary groups and associations made directly to the student fund or through a college or university student shall not be included in the total amount that the State shall match. If the sum appropriated is insufficient to match equally the amount raised by students, the amount payable to each college or university shall be proportionately reduced. (c) Grant programs under this Section shall be administered by each college or university, and grants under those programs shall be awarded to individuals on a need basis as prescribed by the Commission. (d) No grant to any student from funds raised through voluntary contributions and matched from the State appropriation under this Section may exceed $1,000 per year. (e) Each college or university shall submit to the Commission an annual report of the activities, operation and results of its grant program under this Section. (Source: P.A. 89-4, eff. 1-1-96.)

110 ILCS 947/65.05

(110 ILCS 947/65.05) Sec. 65.05. Traineeship and fellowship program; training of professional personnel. (a) The Commission, with the advice of the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities created under Section 14-3.01 of the School Code, may make traineeship or fellowship grants to persons of good character who are interested in working in programs for the education of children with disabilities, for either part-time or full-time study in programs designed to qualify them under Section 14-1.10 of the School Code. Persons to qualify for a traineeship must have earned at least 60 semester hours of college credit, and persons to qualify for a fellowship must be graduates of a recognized college or university. Such traineeships and fellowships may be in amounts of not more than $1,500 per academic year for traineeships and not more than $3,000 per academic year for fellowships, except an additional sum up to $2,500 annually for each grantee may be allowed to any approved institution of higher learning in Illinois for the actual cost to the institution, as certified by the institution. Part-time students and summer session students may be awarded grants on a pro rata basis. The Commission shall make traineeship or fellowship grants available to bilingual individuals who are interested in working in programs for the education of children from non-English speaking backgrounds, for either part-time or full-time study programs to qualify them under Section 14-1.10 of the School Code. (b) All grants shall be made under rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission and issued pursuant to this Act; provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State Board of Education prior to July 1, 1994 pursuant to the exercise of any right, power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business transferred from the State Board of Education to the Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the Commission in accordance with law. (c) The Commission, with the advice of and in consultation with the State Board of Education, may contract with any approved institution of higher learning in Illinois to offer courses required for the professional training of special education personnel at such times and locations as may best serve the needs of children with disabilities in Illinois and may reimburse the institution of higher learning for any financial loss incurred due to low enrollments, distance from campus, or other good and substantial reason satisfactory to the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities. (d) The Commission shall administer the traineeship and fellowship account and related record of each person who is attending an institution of higher learning under a traineeship or fellowship awarded pursuant to this Section and at each proper time shall certify to the State Comptroller the current payment to be made to the holder of each fellowship, in accordance with an appropriate certificate of the holder of such fellowship endorsed by the institution of higher learning attended by the holder. (e) Following the completion of such program of study the recipient of such traineeship or fellowship is expected to accept employment within one year in an approved program of special education for children with disabilities in Illinois on the basis of 1/2 year of service for each academic year of training received through a grant under this Section. Persons who fail to comply with this provision may, at the discretion of the Commission with the advice of the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities, be required to refund all or part of the traineeship or fellowship moneys received. (f) This Section is substantially the same as Section 14-10.01 of the School Code, which Section is repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a continuation of the traineeship and fellowship program established by that prior law, and not as a new or different traineeship or fellowship program. The State Board of Education shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, and pending business in any way relating to the traineeship and fellowship program continued under this Section; and all traineeship and fellowship grants at any time made under that program by, and all applications for any such traineeship or fellowship grants at any time made to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the administration and implementation of the traineeship and fellowship program continued under this Section. The State Board of Education shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the Commission may request to assist it in administering this Section. (Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

110 ILCS 947/65.10

(110 ILCS 947/65.10) Sec. 65.10. Fellowship program. The Commission, with the advice of the Advisory Council on Education of Gifted Children created under Section 14A-4 of the School Code, may make fellowship grants to persons of good character who are graduates of a recognized college or university and are interested in working in programs for the education of gifted children, for full-time study at the graduate level in programs designed to improve their competence for working in such programs. Such grants shall not exceed 50 in any academic year and may be in amounts of $2,000 per academic year and shall be granted under rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission and issued pursuant to this Act; provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right, power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business transferred from the State Board of Education to the Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the Commission in accordance with law. The Commission shall encourage the application of qualified teachers who are not teaching because of a reduction in force in their school districts. Traineeship program. To encourage a greater number of teachers in mathematics and science in the elementary and secondary schools of Illinois, the Commission, with the advice of the Advisory Council on Education of Gifted Children, may make traineeship grants available to persons whose undergraduate degree involves a major in science or mathematics. These grants are intended to encourage individuals to enter the teaching profession. Such grants shall not exceed 25 in any academic year and may be in amounts of $1,000 per academic year and shall be granted under rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission and issued pursuant to this Act; provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right, power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business transferred from the State Board of Education to the Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the Commission in accordance with law. The rules and regulations promulgated as provided in this Section shall delineate the eligibility criteria to be applied in determining applicants' eligibility for the fellowship and traineeship grants, including the specific criteria used to determine applicants' financial need for the grants. These rules and regulations shall explain the method for evaluating the eligibility criteria, including the weight given to each of the relevant factors. The Commission shall administer the fellowship or traineeship account and related record of each person who is attending an institution of higher learning under a fellowship or traineeship awarded pursuant to this Section and at each proper time shall certify to the State Comptroller the current payment to be made to the holder of each fellowship or traineeship, in accordance with an appropriate certificate of the holder of such fellowship or traineeship endorsed by the institution of higher learning attended by the holder. Following the completion of such program of study the recipient of a traineeship grant is expected not to reject employment within one year in an elementary or secondary school in Illinois on the basis of 1/2 year of service for each academic year of training received through a grant under this Article. The recipient of a fellowship grant is expected to contribute to the further development of educational programs for gifted children in Illinois for a period of 2 years. Persons who fail to comply with these provisions may, at the discretion of the Commission and with the advice of the Advisory Council on Education of Gifted Children, be required to refund all or part of the traineeship or fellowship moneys received, and this condition shall be agreed to in writing by all grant recipients at the time the fellowship or traineeship is initially awarded. The rules and regulations promulgated as provided in this Section shall prescribe the standards used by the Commission in determining whether to require that grant recipients refund all or part of the traineeship or fellowship moneys received. This Section is substantially the same as Section 14A-8 of the School Code, which Section is repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a continuation of the fellowship and traineeship programs established by that prior law and not as a new or different fellowship or traineeship program. The State Board of Education shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, and pending business in any way relating to the traineeship and fellowship programs continued under this Section; and all traineeship and fellowship grants at any time made under those programs by, and all applications for any such traineeship or fellowship grants at any time made to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the administration and implementation of the traineeship and fellowship programs continued under this Section. The State Board of Education shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the Commission may request to assist it in administering this Section. (Source: P.A. 88-228.)

110 ILCS 947/65.15

(110 ILCS 947/65.15) Sec. 65.15. Special education teacher scholarships. (a) There shall be awarded annually 250 scholarships to persons qualifying as members of any of the following groups: (1) Students who are otherwise qualified to receive a scholarship as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section and who make application to the Commission for such scholarship and agree to take courses that will prepare the student for the teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the School Code. (2) Persons holding a valid certificate issued under the laws relating to the certification of teachers and who make application to the Commission for such scholarship and agree to take courses that will prepare them for the teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the School Code. (3) Persons who (A) have graduated high school; (B) have not been certified as a teacher; and (C) make application to the Commission for such scholarship and agree to take courses that will prepare them for the teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the School Code. Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be issued pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commission; provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right, power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business transferred from the State Board of Education to the Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the Commission in accordance with law. For the purposes of this Section scholarships awarded each school year shall be deemed to be issued on July 1 of the year prior to the start of the postsecondary school term and all calculations for use of the scholarship shall be based on such date. Each scholarship shall entitle its holder to exemption from fees as provided in subsection (a) of Section 65.40 while enrolled in a special education program of teacher education, for a period of not more than 4 calendar years and shall be available for use at any time during such period of study except as provided in subsection (b) of Section 65.40. Scholarships issued to holders of a valid certificate issued under the laws relating to the certification of teachers as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection may also entitle the holder thereof to a program of teacher education that will prepare the student for the teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the School Code at the graduate level. (b) The principal, or his or her designee, of an approved high school shall certify to the Commission, for students who are Illinois residents and are completing an application, that the students ranked scholastically in the upper one-half of their graduating class at the end of the sixth semester. (c) Each holder of a scholarship must furnish proof to the Commission, in such form and at such intervals as the Commission prescribes, of the holder's continued enrollment in a teacher education program qualifying the holder for the scholarship. Any holder of a scholarship who fails to register in a special education program of teacher education at the university within 10 days after the commencement of the term, quarter or semester immediately following the receipt of the scholarship or who, having registered, withdraws from the university or transfers out of teacher education, shall thereupon forfeit the right to use it and it may be granted to the person having the next highest rank as shown on the list held by the Commission. If the person having the next highest rank, within 10 days after notification thereof by the Commission, fails to register at any such university in a special education program of teacher education, or who, having registered, withdraws from the university or transfers out of teacher education, the scholarship may then be granted to the person shown on the list as having the rank next below such person. (d) Any person who has accepted a scholarship under the preceding subsections of this Section must, within one year after graduation from or termination of enrollment in a teacher education program, begin teaching at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool or elementary or secondary school for a period of at least 2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation or termination, excluding, however, from the computation of that 5 year period (i) any time up to 3 years spent in the military service, whether such service occurs before or after the person graduates; (ii) any time that person is enrolled full-time in an academic program related to the field of teaching leading to a graduate or postgraduate degree; (iii) the time that person is a person with a temporary total disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) the time that person is seeking and unable to find full time employment as a teacher at an Illinois public, private, or parochial school; (v) the time that person is taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a teacher in Illinois; or (vi) the time that person is fulfilling teaching requirements associated with other programs administered by the Commission if he or she cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation. A person who has accepted a scholarship under the preceding subsections of this Section and who has been unable to fulfill the teaching requirements of this Section may receive a deferment from the obligation of repayment under this subsection (d) under guidelines established by the Commission; provided that no guideline established for any such purpose by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 shall be affected by the transfer to the Commission of the responsibility for administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, and all guidelines so established shall become the guidelines of the Commission until modified or changed by the Commission. Any such person who fails to fulfill this teaching requirement shall pay to the Commission the amount of tuition waived by virtue of his or her acceptance of the scholarship, together with interest at 5% per year on that amount. However, this obligation to repay the amount of tuition waived plus interest does not apply when the failure to fulfill the teaching requirement results from the death or adjudication as a person under legal disability of the person holding the scholarship, and no claim for repayment may be filed against the estate of such a decedent or person under legal disability. If a recipient who enters into repayment under this paragraph subsequently, within 5 years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the description under this subsection (d), the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the recipient in proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed. Payments received by the Commission under this subsection (d) shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for deposit in the General Revenue Fund. Each person receiving a scholarship shall be provided with a description of the provisions of this subsection (d) at the time he or she qualifies for the benefits of such a scholarship. (e) This Section is basically the same as Sections 30-1, 30-2, 30-3, and 30-4a of the School Code, which are repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a continuation of the teacher scholarship program established by that prior law, and not as a new or different teacher scholarship program. The State Board of Education shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, and pending business in any way relating to the teacher scholarship program continued under this Section; and all scholarships at any time awarded under that program by, and all applications for any such scholarships at any time made to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the administration and implementation of the teacher scholarship program continued under this Section. The State Board of Education shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the Commission may request to assist it in administering this Section. (Source: P.A. 103-448, eff. 8-4-23.)

110 ILCS 947/65.20

(110 ILCS 947/65.20) Sec. 65.20. Science-mathematics teacher scholarships. (a) The Commission may annually award a number of scholarships, not to exceed 200, to persons holding valid teaching certificates issued under Article 21 of the School Code. Such scholarships shall be issued to teachers who make application to the Commission and who agree to take courses at qualified institutions of higher learning that will prepare them to teach science or mathematics at the secondary school level. (b) Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be issued pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commission; provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right, power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business transferred from the State Board of Education to the Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the Commission in accordance with law. In awarding scholarships, the Commission shall give priority to those teachers with the greatest amount of seniority within school districts. (c) Each scholarship shall be utilized by its holder for the payment of tuition at any qualified institution of higher learning. Such tuition shall be available only for courses that will enable the teacher to be certified to teach science or mathematics at the secondary school level. The Commission, in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board, shall determine which courses are eligible for tuition payments under this Section. (d) The Commission shall make tuition payments directly to the qualified institution of higher learning which the teacher attends for the courses prescribed or may make payments to the teacher. Any teacher who receives payments and who fails to enroll in the courses prescribed shall refund the payments to the Commission. (e) Following the completion of the program of study, the teacher must accept employment within 2 years in a secondary school in Illinois within 60 miles of the teacher's residence to teach science or mathematics; provided, however, that the teacher instead may elect to accept employment within such 2 year period to teach science or mathematics in a secondary school in Illinois which is more than 60 miles from the teacher's residence. Teachers who fail to comply with this provision shall refund all of the scholarship awarded to the Commission, whether payments were made directly to the institutions of higher learning or to the teachers, and this condition shall be agreed to in writing by all scholarship recipients at the time the scholarship is awarded. No teacher shall be required to refund tuition payments if his or her failure to obtain employment as a mathematics or science teacher in a secondary school is the result of financial conditions within school districts. The rules and regulations promulgated as provided in this Section shall include provisions regarding the waiving and deferral of such payments. (f) The Commission, with the cooperation of the State Board of Education, shall assist teachers who have participated in the scholarship program established by this Section in finding employment to teach science or mathematics at the secondary level. (g) This Section is substantially the same as Section 30-4b of the School Code, which Section is repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a continuation of the science-mathematics teacher scholarship program established by that prior law, and not as a new or different science-mathematics teacher scholarship program. The State Board of Education shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, and pending business in any way relating to the science-mathematics teacher scholarship program continued under this Section; and all scholarships at any time awarded under that program by, and all applications for any such scholarships at any time made to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the administration and implementation of the science-mathematics teacher scholarship program continued under this Section. The State Board of Education shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the Commission may request to assist it in administering this Section. (h) Appropriations for the scholarships outlined in this Section shall be made to the Commission from funds appropriated by the General Assembly. (i) For the purposes of this Section: "Qualified institution of higher learning" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, and the public community colleges subject to the Public Community College Act. "Secondary school level" means grades 9 through 12 or a portion of such grades. (Source: P.A. 88-228; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-4, eff. 1-1-96.)

110 ILCS 947/65.25

(110 ILCS 947/65.25) Sec. 65.25. Teacher shortage scholarships. (a) The Commission may annually award a number of scholarships to persons preparing to teach in areas of identified staff shortages. Such scholarships shall be issued to individuals who make application to the Commission and who agree to take courses at qualified institutions of higher learning which will prepare them to teach in areas of identified staff shortages. (b) Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be issued pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commission; provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right, power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business transferred from the State Board of Education to the Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the Commission in accordance with law. The Commission shall allocate the scholarships awarded between persons initially preparing to teach, persons holding valid teaching certificates issued under Articles 21 and 34 of the School Code, and persons holding a bachelor's degree from any accredited college or university who have been employed for a minimum of 10 years in a field other than teaching. (c) Each scholarship shall be utilized by its holder for the payment of tuition and non-revenue bond fees at any qualified institution of higher learning. Such tuition and fees shall be available only for courses that will enable the individual to be certified to teach in areas of identified staff shortages. The Commission shall determine which courses are eligible for tuition payments under this Section. (d) The Commission may make tuition payments directly to the qualified institution of higher learning which the individual attends for the courses prescribed or may make payments to the teacher. Any teacher who received payments and who fails to enroll in the courses prescribed shall refund the payments to the Commission. (e) Following the completion of the program of study, persons who held valid teaching certificates and persons holding a bachelor's degree from any accredited college or university who have been employed for a minimum of 10 years in a field other than teaching prior to receiving a teacher shortage scholarship must accept employment within 2 years in a school in Illinois within 60 miles of the person's residence to teach in an area of identified staff shortage for a period of at least 3 years; provided, however that any such person instead may elect to accept employment within such 2 year period to teach in an area of identified staff shortage for a period of at least 3 years in a school in Illinois which is more than 60 miles from such person's residence. Persons initially preparing to teach prior to receiving a teacher shortage scholarship must accept employment within 2 years in a school in Illinois to teach in an area of identified staff shortage for a period of at least 3 years. Individuals who fail to comply with this provision shall refund all of the scholarships awarded to the Commission, whether payments were made directly to the institutions of higher learning or to the individuals, and this condition shall be agreed to in writing by all scholarship recipients at the time the scholarship is awarded. No individual shall be required to refund tuition payments if his or her failure to obtain employment as a teacher in a school is the result of financial conditions within school districts. The rules and regulations promulgated as provided in this Section shall contain provisions regarding the waiving and deferral of such payments. (f) The Commission, with the cooperation of the State Board of Education, shall assist individuals who have participated in the scholarship program established by this Section in finding employment in areas of identified staff shortages. (g) Beginning in September, 1994 and annually thereafter, the Commission, using data annually supplied by the State Board of Education under procedures developed by it to measure the level of shortage of qualified bilingual personnel serving students with disabilities, shall annually publish (i) the level of shortage of qualified bilingual personnel serving students with disabilities, and (ii) allocations of scholarships for personnel preparation training programs in the areas of bilingual special education teacher training and bilingual school service personnel. (h) Appropriations for the scholarships outlined in this Section shall be made to the Commission from funds appropriated by the General Assembly. (i) This Section is substantially the same as Section 30-4c of the School Code, which Section is repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a continuation of the teacher shortage scholarship program established under that prior law, and not as a new or different teacher shortage scholarship program. The State Board of Education shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, and pending business in any way relating to the teacher shortage scholarship program continued under this Section; and all scholarships at any time awarded under that program by, and all applications for any such scholarships at any time made to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the administration and implementation of the teacher shortage scholarship program continued under this Section. The State Board of Education shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the Commission may request to assist it in administering this Section. (j) For the purposes of this Section: "Qualified institution of higher learning" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, the public community colleges subject to the Public Community College Act and any Illinois privately operated college, community college or university offering degrees and instructional programs above the high school level either in residence or by correspondence. The Board of Higher Education and the Commission, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall identify qualified institutions to supply the demand for bilingual special education teachers and bilingual school service personnel. "Areas of identified staff shortages" means courses of study, including, but not limited to, agricultural education, in which the number of teachers is insufficient to meet student or school district demand for such instruction as determined by the State Board of Education. (Source: P.A. 99-826, eff. 1-1-17.)

110 ILCS 947/65.27 Teach Illinois Scholarship Program

(110 ILCS 947/65.27) Sec. 65.27. Teach Illinois Scholarship Program. (a) For the purposes of this Section: "Area of identified staff shortage" means a school district in which the number of teachers is insufficient to meet student or school district demand or a subject area for which the number of teachers who are qualified to teach that subject area is insufficient to meet student or school district demand, as determined by the State Board of Education. "Qualified institution of higher learning" means one of the universities listed in Section 65.40 of this Act. (b) The Commission shall implement and administer a teacher scholarship program, to be known as the Teach Illinois Scholarship Program. The Commission shall annually award scholarships to persons preparing to teach in areas of identified staff shortages. These scholarships shall be awarded to individuals who make application to the Commission and who agree to take courses at qualified institutions of higher learning that will prepare them to teach in areas of identified staff shortages. (c) Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be issued pursuant to rules promulgated by the Commission. (d) Each scholarship shall be utilized by its holder for the payment of tuition and non-revenue bond fees at any qualified institution of higher learning. Such tuition and fees shall be available only for courses that will enable the individual to be certified to teach in areas of identified staff shortages. The Commission shall determine which courses are eligible for tuition payments under this Section. (e) The Commission shall make tuition payments directly to the qualified institution of higher learning that the individual attends for the courses prescribed. (f) Following the completion of the program of study, the individual must accept employment to teach in an elementary or secondary school in Illinois in an area of identified staff shortage for a period of at least 5 years. Individuals who fail to comply with this provision shall refund all of the awarded scholarships to the Commission, whether payments were made directly to the institutions of higher learning or to the individuals, and this condition shall be agreed to in writing by all scholarship recipients at the time the scholarship is awarded. No individual shall be required to refund tuition payments if his or her failure to obtain employment as a teacher in a school is the result of financial conditions within school districts. The rules promulgated as provided in this Section shall contain provisions regarding the waiving and deferral of such payments. (g) The Commission, with the cooperation of the State Board of Education, shall assist individuals who have participated in the scholarship program established by this Section in finding employment in areas of identified staff shortages. (h) The scholarships under this Section are subject to appropriations to the Commission by the General Assembly. (Source: P.A. 94-205, eff. 1-1-06.)

110 ILCS 947/65.30 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/65.30) Sec. 65.30. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22. Repealed by P.A. 104-437, eff. 11-21-25.)

110 ILCS 947/65.35

(110 ILCS 947/65.35) Sec. 65.35. Administrator internships. Under the internship program established by the State Board of Education to provide experience to women and minorities interested in preparing for positions as school administrators, the Commission may annually award internship grants pursuant to appropriation for this purpose. This Section is substantially the same as Section 30-4e of the School Code, which Section is repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a continuation of the administrator internship program established under that prior law, and not as a new or different administrator internship program. The State Board of Education shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, and pending business in any way relating to the administrator internship program continued under this Section; and all internship grants at any time made under that program by, and all applications for any such internship grants at any time made to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the administration and implementation of the administrator internship program continued under this Section. The State Board of Education shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the Commission may request to assist it in administering this Section. (Source: P.A. 88-228.)

110 ILCS 947/65.40

(110 ILCS 947/65.40) Sec. 65.40. General provisions; leaves of absence. (a) The scholarships issued under Section 65.15 may be used at the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University. Unless otherwise indicated, the scholarships shall exempt the holder from the payment of tuition and other necessary fees as defined in Section 35 of this Act. Any student who has been or shall be awarded a scholarship shall be reimbursed by the appropriate university or community college for any charges which he or she has paid and for which exemption is granted under this Section, if application for such reimbursement is made within 2 months following the school term for which the charges were paid. The holder of a scholarship shall be subject to all examinations, rules and requirements of the university or community college in which he or she is enrolled except as herein directed. This Section does not prohibit the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University, the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Governors State University, the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University, the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, and the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University for the institutions under their respective jurisdictions from granting other scholarships. (b) Any student enrolled in a university to which he or she is holding a scholarship issued under Section 65.15 who satisfies the president of the university or someone designated by the president that the student requires leave of absence for the purpose of earning funds to defray his or her expenses while in attendance or on account of illness or military service may be granted such leave and allowed a period of not to exceed 6 years in which to complete his or her course at the university. Time spent in the armed forces shall not be part of the 6 years. (Source: P.A. 91-496, eff. 8-13-99.)

110 ILCS 947/65.45

(110 ILCS 947/65.45) Sec. 65.45. Special education grants. (a) Special education grants shall be awarded by the Commission to (i) teachers under contract who are teaching special education courses in a school district within an area designated as a poverty area by the Office of Economic Opportunity, but who are not certified to teach special education programs pursuant to Section 14-9.01 of the School Code and (ii) teachers licensed pursuant to Section 21B-15 of the School Code, but who are not certified pursuant to Section 14-9.01 of that Code. The amount of any grant awarded a participating teacher under this Section shall consist of (i) the tuition and other necessary fees required of the teacher by the institution of higher learning at which he or she enrolls under this Section, but limited to the maximum amount to which a student enrolled in that institution would be entitled as a scholarship under Section 35 of this Act, and (ii) a stipend of $100 for each semester hour or equivalent, not exceeding 21 semester hours, for continuous enrollment, including summer sessions, in one calendar year. For purposes of this Section "tuition and other necessary fees" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 35 of this Act. Participating teachers shall enroll in an institution of higher learning providing special education programs. Such institutions shall be approved by the Commission, in conjunction with the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education. (b) Teachers under contract who participate in this program shall be required to contract with the Commission to teach a special education program for 2 years in a school district within an area designated as a poverty area by the Office of Economic Opportunity. Such commitment shall begin at the completion of the training program of the participating teacher and shall be completed within 3 years unless extended by the Commission. In addition, the participating teacher shall be required to sign a note payable to the Commission, for the full amount of benefits awarded to that teacher under this Section, with interest as provided herein, subject to cancellation as provided in this Section. Completion of one year of such commitment shall operate to cancel 50% of the amount of benefits provided a participating teacher. The failure of a participating teacher to complete all or part of such commitment shall obligate the participant to proportionately repay the amount of benefits provided, plus 5% interest on that amount. Participating teachers who are not under contract shall be subject to those obligations, except that such teachers shall be required to teach in a special education program for such 2 year period in a school district within an area designated as a poverty area by the Office of Economic Opportunity. (c) If a participating teacher fails to cancel his or her commitment as provided in this Section, the Commission shall cause an appropriate action to be commenced on the note signed by that teacher, except where the failure to cancel the commitment was occasioned by the death or total and permanent disability of that teacher. (d) This Section is substantially the same as Section 30-14.3 of the School Code, which Section is repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a continuation of the special education grant program established by that prior law and not as a new or different special education grant program. The State Board of Education shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, and pending business in any way relating to the special education grant program continued under this Section; and all grants at any time made under that program by, and all applications for any such grants at any time made to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the administration and implementation of the special education grant program continued under this Section. The State Board of Education shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the Commission may request to assist it in administering this Section. (e) As used in this Section the term "special education program" means a program provided for children who have such disabilities as are set forth in Sections 14-1.02 through 14-1.07 of the School Code. (Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

110 ILCS 947/65.50

(110 ILCS 947/65.50) Sec. 65.50. Teacher training full-time undergraduate scholarships. (a) Five hundred new scholarships shall be provided each year for qualified high school students or high school graduates who desire to pursue full-time undergraduate studies in teacher education at public or private universities or colleges and community colleges in this State. The Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated for this program, shall provide funding and shall designate each year's new recipients from among those applicants who qualify for consideration by showing: (1) that he or she is a resident of this State and a citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States; (2) that he or she has successfully completed the program of instruction at an approved high school or is a student in good standing at such a school and is engaged in a program that will be completed by the end of the academic year, and in either event that his or her cumulative grade average was or is in the upper 1/4 of the high school class; (3) that he or she has superior capacity to profit by a higher education; and (4) that he or she agrees to teach in Illinois schools in accordance with subsection (b). No rule or regulation promulgated by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right, power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business transferred from the State Board of Education to the Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the Commission in accordance with law. If in any year the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, the Commission shall give priority in awarding scholarships to students in financial need. The Commission shall consider factors such as the applicant's family income, the size of the applicant's family and the number of other children in the applicant's family attending college in determining the financial need of the individual. Unless otherwise indicated, these scholarships shall be good for a period of up to 4 years while the recipient is enrolled for residence credit at a public or private university or college or at a community college. The scholarship shall cover tuition, fees and a stipend of $1,500 per year. For purposes of calculating scholarship awards for recipients attending private universities or colleges, tuition and fees for students at private colleges and universities shall not exceed the average tuition and fees for students at 4-year public colleges and universities for the academic year in which the scholarship is made. (b) Upon graduation from or termination of enrollment in a teacher education program, any person who accepted a scholarship under the undergraduate scholarship program continued by this Section, including persons whose graduation or termination of enrollment occurred prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993, shall teach in any school in this State for at least 4 of the 7 years immediately following his or her graduation or termination. If the recipient spends up to 4 years in military service before or after he or she graduates, the period of military service shall be excluded from the computation of that 7 year period. A recipient who is enrolled full-time in an academic program leading to a graduate degree in education shall have the period of graduate study excluded from the computation of that 7 year period. Any person who fails to fulfill the teaching requirement shall pay to the Commission an amount equal to one-fourth of the scholarship received for each unfulfilled year of the 4-year teaching requirement, together with interest at 8% per year on that amount. However, this obligation to repay does not apply when the failure to fulfill the teaching requirement results from involuntarily leaving the profession due to a decrease in the number of teachers employed by the school board or a discontinuation of a type of teaching service under Section 24-12 of the School Code or from the death or adjudication as incompetent of the person holding the scholarship. No claim for repayment may be filed against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent. Each person applying for such a scholarship shall be provided with a copy of this subsection at the time he or she applies for the benefits of such scholarship. (c) This Section is substantially the same as Sections 30-14.5 and 30-14.6 of the School Code, which are repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a continuation of the teacher training undergraduate scholarship program established by that prior law, and not as a new or different teacher training undergraduate scholarship program. The State Board of Education shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, and pending business in any way relating to the teacher training undergraduate scholarship program continued under this Section, and all scholarships at any time awarded under that program by, and all applications for any such scholarship at any time made to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the administration and implementation of the teacher training undergraduate scholarship program continued under this Section. The State Board of Education shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the Commission may request to assist it in administering this Section. (Source: P.A. 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22.)

110 ILCS 947/65.55

(110 ILCS 947/65.55) Sec. 65.55. Consolidation of scholarship, fellowship and traineeship programs. All scholarship, fellowship or traineeship programs administered by the Commission under the provisions of Sections 65.05, 65.10, 65.15, 65.20, 65.25, 65.30, 65.35, 65.45, and 65.50 involving financial awards may be consolidated into one program whereby awards are made in the areas of outstanding students, minorities and shortage areas. When sufficient funds are not available to award all applicants, preference shall be given based upon financial need. Awards made under the provisions of this Section shall be contingent upon a commitment to teach in the Illinois public schools in the area of the award unless the recipient elects to repay the amount of the award in lieu of teaching. The Commission shall adopt rules for the implementation and administration of this Section; provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right, power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business transferred from the State Board of Education to the Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the Commission in accordance with law. This Section is substantially the same as Section 30-14.7 of the School Code, which Section is repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be construed as a continuation of that prior law and not as a new or different law. The State Board of Education shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, and pending business in any way relating to the consolidation of scholarship, fellowship, and traineeship programs under this Section; and all scholarship, fellowship or traineeship grants awarded by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 under the consolidated financial awards program continued in this Section shall be unaffected by the transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for administering and implementing the provisions of this Section. The State Board of Education shall furnish to the Commission such other information as the Commission may request to assist it in administering this Section. (Source: P.A. 88-228.)

110 ILCS 947/65.56 Illinois Teachers and Child Care Providers Loan Repayment Program

(110 ILCS 947/65.56) Sec. 65.56. Illinois Teachers and Child Care Providers Loan Repayment Program. (a) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois students to enter and continue teaching in Illinois schools in low-income areas and to encourage students to enter the early child care profession and serve low-income areas, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under this Section. This program shall be known as the Illinois Teachers and Child Care Providers Loan Repayment Program. The Commission shall administer the program and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for the program's effective implementation. The Commission may use up to 5% of the appropriation for this program for administration and promotion of teacher incentive programs. (b) Beginning January 1, 2003, subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, the Commission shall award a grant to each qualified applicant in an amount equal to the amount of educational loans forgiven on behalf of the qualified applicant pursuant to Sections 424 and 425 of Title IV of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (20 U.S.C. 1078-10 and 1078-11), up to a maximum of $5,000. The Commission shall encourage the recipient of a grant under this Section to use the grant amount awarded to pay off his or her educational loans. (c) A person is a qualified applicant under this Section if he or she meets all of the following qualifications: (1) The person is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen. (2) The person is a resident of this State. (3) The person is a borrower who has had an amount of his or her educational loans forgiven pursuant to Sections 424 and 425 of Title IV of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. (4) The person has fulfilled the obligations set forth by Sections 424 and 425 of Title IV of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 in this State. (d) All applications for grant assistance under this Section shall be made to the Commission. The form of application and the information required to be set forth in the application shall be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall require applicants to submit with their applications such supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary. (e) A qualified applicant must apply for a grant under this Section within 6 months after receiving notification of loan forgiveness pursuant to Sections 424 and 425 of Title IV of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. (Source: P.A. 92-597, eff. 7-1-02.)

110 ILCS 947/65.57 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/65.57) Sec. 65.57. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 91-711, eff. 7-1-00. Repealed by P.A. 92-597, eff. 7-1-02.)

110 ILCS 947/65.60

(110 ILCS 947/65.60) Sec. 65.60. Administration of federal scholarship programs. The State Board of Education shall be the administrator of the Robert C. Byrd federal scholarship program. The State Board of Education is not precluded from establishing an agreement with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission or any other State agency or other entity to perform tasks pertaining to the Robert C. Byrd federal scholarship program. (Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

110 ILCS 947/65.65 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/65.65) Sec. 65.65. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 92-445, eff. 8-17-01. Repealed by P.A. 93-21, eff. 7-1-03.)

110 ILCS 947/65.70 Optometric Education Scholarship Program

(110 ILCS 947/65.70) Sec. 65.70. Optometric Education Scholarship Program. (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the provision of graduate education leading to a doctoral degree in optometry for persons of this State who desire such an education is important to the health and welfare of this State and Nation and, consequently, is an important public purpose. Many qualified potential optometrists are deterred by financial considerations from pursuing their optometric education with consequent irreparable loss to the State and Nation of talents vital to health and welfare. A program of scholarships, repayment of which may be excused if the individual practices professional optometry in this State, will enable such individuals to attend qualified public or private institutions of their choice in the State. (b) Beginning with the 2003-2004 academic year, the Commission shall, each year, consider applications for scholarship assistance under this Section. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under this Section if the Commission finds that the applicant is: (1) a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen; (2) a resident of Illinois; and (3) enrolled on a full-time basis in a public or private college of optometry located in this State that awards a doctorate degree in optometry and is approved by the Department of Professional Regulation. (c) Each year the Commission shall award 10 scholarships under this Section among applicants qualified pursuant to subsection (b). Two of these scholarships each shall be awarded to eligible applicants enrolled in their first year, second year, third year, and fourth year. The remaining 2 scholarships shall be awarded to any level of student. The Commission shall receive funding for the scholarships through appropriations from the Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary Board Fund. If in any year the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, the Commission shall give priority in awarding scholarships to students demonstrating exceptional merit and who are in financial need. A scholarship shall be in the amount of $5,000 each year applicable to tuition and fees. (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is enrolled. (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section. (f) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, payment of any scholarship awarded under this Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be paid to the institution on behalf of the recipients. Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment within an academic year. (g) The Commission shall administer the Optometric Education Scholarship Program established by this Section and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. (h) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the one-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall practice in this State as a licensed optometrist under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 for a period of not less than one year for each year of scholarship assistance awarded under this Section. Each recipient shall, upon request of the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the practice agreement provided for in this subsection. (i) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the practice obligation set forth in subsection (h) of this Section, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to the fraction of the obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section. (j) A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the Commission under this Section shall not be in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (h) if the recipient (i) is serving as a member of the armed services of the United States; (ii) is enrolled in a residency program following graduation at an approved institution; (iii) is a person with a temporary total disability, as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or (iii) cannot fulfill the employment obligation due to his or her death, disability, or incompetency, as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician. No claim for repayment may be filed against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent. Any extension of the period during which the employment requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to limitations of duration as established by the Commission. (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

110 ILCS 947/65.75

(110 ILCS 947/65.75) Sec. 65.75. Grant for a person raised by a grandparent. (a) The Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for grant assistance under this Section. An applicant is eligible for a grant under this Section if the Commission finds that the applicant: (1) has been in the legal custody of his or her grandparent and received public aid assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code for a period of at least the consecutive 12 months preceding the initial application for assistance under this Section; (2) has graduated from high school with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; (3) has been recommended for assistance under this Section by the principal or other appropriate administrative officer of his or her high school; and (4) is enrolled in or plans to enroll in an institution of higher learning in this State full-time. (b) Applicants who are determined to be eligible for assistance under this Section shall receive, subject to appropriation, a renewable grant of $1,000 to be applied to tuition and mandatory fees and paid directly to the institution of higher learning at which the applicant is enrolled. However, the total amount of assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual in any fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded by the Commission to that individual for that fiscal year, must not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at which the student is enrolled. (c) A grant awarded under this Section may be renewed for a total of up to 4 years of full-time enrollment. All of the following are conditions of grant renewal: (1) The student must provide the Commission with a recommendation for the grant by an academic counselor, advisor, or instructor at the student's institution of higher learning. (2) The student must have, at the time of renewal, a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent at the institution of higher learning. (d) The Commission shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. (Source: P.A. 94-968, eff. 1-1-07.)

110 ILCS 947/65.80 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/65.80) Sec. 65.80. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 94-1020, eff. 7-11-06. Repealed by P.A. 101-306, eff. 8-9-19.)

110 ILCS 947/65.85 Southern Illinois University's Achieve Program; grants to participants

(110 ILCS 947/65.85) Sec. 65.85. Southern Illinois University's Achieve Program; grants to participants. Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award grants to eligible students who are participants in the Clinical Center Achieve Program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. The Commission shall award grants to student participants based on a needs-based formula, as determined by the Commission. The amount of the grant shall equal the amount of fees charged the student as a participant of the program. Grant funds shall be paid directly to Southern Illinois University. (Source: P.A. 96-229, eff. 8-11-09.)

110 ILCS 947/65.90

(110 ILCS 947/65.90) Sec. 65.90. Medical assistant grants. (a) Beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year through the 2020-2021 academic year, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for grant assistance under this Section. An applicant is eligible for a grant under this Section if the Commission finds that the applicant meets all of the following qualifications: (1) He or she is a resident of this State and a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen. (2) He or she is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a medical assistant program at a public community college in this State that will lead to certification to work as a medical assistant. (b) Recipients shall be selected from among applicants qualified pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section based on financial need, as determined by the Commission. Preference may be given to previous recipients of assistance under this Section, provided they continue to maintain eligibility and maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the institution at which they enroll. (c) Each grant awarded under this Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the institution at which the recipient is enrolled, except that no recipient may receive more than $5,000 in a single academic year. (d) The total amount of grant assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is enrolled. (e) All applications for grant assistance to be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as set forth by the Commission. The form of application and the information required to be set forth in the application shall be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with their applications such supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary. (f) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, payment of any grants awarded under this Section shall be determined by the Commission. All grant funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be paid to the institution on behalf of the recipients. Grant funds are applicable toward 2 semesters of enrollment within an academic year. Up to 2% of the appropriation for this grant program may be used by the Commission for the costs of administering the grant program. (g) The Commission shall administer the grant program established by this Section and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. (Source: P.A. 99-359, eff. 1-1-16.)

110 ILCS 947/65.95

(110 ILCS 947/65.95) Sec. 65.95. Police training academy job training scholarship program. (a) The Commission shall, each year, receive applications for scholarships under this Section. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under this Section if the Commission finds that the applicant has successfully completed the police training academy job training program established under Section 22-83 of the School Code and been accepted to a public institution of higher learning in the State. (b) Applicants who are determined to be eligible for assistance under this Section shall receive, subject to appropriation, a renewable scholarship to be applied to tuition and mandatory fees and paid directly to the public institution of higher learning at which the applicant is enrolled. However, the total amount of assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual in any fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded by the Commission to that individual for that fiscal year, must not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at which the student is enrolled. (c) A scholarship awarded under this Section may be renewed for a total of up to 4 years of full-time enrollment. The Commission may by rule set the academic requirements necessary to maintain participation in the program. (d) Students granted a scholarship under this Section shall be granted access to any needed noncredit remedial courses in order to ensure academic success at the public institution of higher learning. Students granted a scholarship under this Section shall also be admitted to a student retention program offered by the public institution of higher learning, including, but not limited to, any CHANCE program the public institution may have established. (e) The Commission shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. (Source: P.A. 104-2, eff. 6-16-25.)

110 ILCS 947/65.100 AIM HIGH Grant Program

(110 ILCS 947/65.100) Sec. 65.100. AIM HIGH Grant Program. (a) The General Assembly makes all of the following findings: (1) Both access and affordability are important aspects of the Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success report. (2) This State is in the top quartile with respect to the percentage of family income needed to pay for college. (3) Research suggests that as loan amounts increase, rather than an increase in grant amounts, the probability of college attendance decreases. (4) There is further research indicating that socioeconomic status may affect the willingness of students to use loans to attend college. (5) Strategic use of tuition discounting can decrease the amount of loans that students must use to pay for tuition. (6) A modest, individually tailored tuition discount can make the difference in a student choosing to attend college and enhance college access for low-income and middle-income families. (7) Even if the federally calculated financial need for college attendance is met, the federally determined Expected Family Contribution can still be a daunting amount. (8) This State is the second largest exporter of students in the country. (9) When talented Illinois students attend universities in this State, the State and those universities benefit. (10) State universities in other states have adopted pricing and incentives that allow many Illinois residents to pay less to attend an out-of-state university than to remain in this State for college. (11) Supporting Illinois student attendance at Illinois public universities can assist in State efforts to maintain and educate a highly trained workforce. (12) Modest tuition discounts that are individually targeted and tailored can result in enhanced revenue for public universities. (13) By increasing a public university's capacity to strategically use tuition discounting, the public university will be capable of creating enhanced tuition revenue by increasing enrollment yields. (b) In this Section: "Eligible applicant" means a student from any high school in this State, whether or not recognized by the State Board of Education, who is engaged in a program of study that in due course will be completed by the end of the school year and who meets all of the qualifications and requirements under this Section. "Tuition and other necessary fees" includes the customary charge for instruction and use of facilities in general and the additional fixed fees charged for specified purposes that are required generally of non-grant recipients for each academic period for which the grant applicant actually enrolls, but does not include fees payable only once or breakage fees and other contingent deposits that are refundable in whole or in part. The Commission may adopt, by rule not inconsistent with this Section, detailed provisions concerning the computation of tuition and other necessary fees. (c) Beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, each public university may establish a merit-based scholarship program known as the AIM HIGH Grant Program. Each year, the Commission shall receive and consider applications from public universities under this Section. Each participating public university shall indicate that grants under the program come from AIM HIGH and shall use the words "AIM HIGH" in the name of any grant under the program and in any published or posted materials about the program. Subject to appropriation and any tuition waiver limitation established by the Board of Higher Education, a public university campus may award a grant to a student under this Section if it finds that the applicant meets all of the following criteria: (1) He or she is a resident of this State and a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States. (2) He or she files a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and demonstrates financial need with a household income no greater than 8 times the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). The household income of the applicant at the time of initial application shall be deemed to be the household income of the applicant for the duration of the program. (3) He or she meets the minimum cumulative grade point average or ACT or SAT college admissions test score, as determined by the public university campus. (4) He or she is enrolled in a public university as an undergraduate student on a full-time basis. (5) He or she has not yet received a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours. (6) He or she is not incarcerated. (7) He or she is not in default on any student loan or does not owe a refund or repayment on any State or federal grant or scholarship. (8) Any other reasonable criteria, as determined by the public university campus. Each public university campus shall allow qualified full-time undergraduate students to apply for a grant but may choose to allow qualified part-time undergraduate students who are enrolling in their final semester at the public university campus to also apply. (d) Each public university campus shall determine grant renewal criteria consistent with the requirements under this Section. (e) Each participating public university campus shall post on its Internet website criteria and eligibility requirements for receiving awards that use funds under this Section that include a range in the sizes of these individual awards. The criteria and amounts must also be reported to the Commission and the Board of Higher Education, who shall post the information on their respective Internet websites. (f) After enactment of an appropriation for this Program, the Commission shall determine an allocation of funds to each public university in an amount proportionate to the number of undergraduate students who are residents of this State and citizens or eligible noncitizens of the United States and who were enrolled at each public university campus in the previous academic year. All applications must be made to the Commission on or before a date determined by the Commission and on forms that the Commission shall provide to each public university campus. The form of the application and the information required shall be determined by the Commission and shall include, without limitation, the total public university campus funds used to match funds received from the Commission in the previous academic year under this Section, if any, the total enrollment of undergraduate students who are residents of this State from the previous academic year, and any supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary. Each public university campus shall match the amount of funds received by the Commission with financial aid for eligible students. A public university in which an average of at least 49% of the students seeking a bachelor's degree or certificate received a Pell Grant over the prior 3 academic years, as reported to the Commission, shall match 35% of the amount of funds awarded in a given academic year with non-loan financial aid for eligible students. A public university in which an average of less than 49% of the students seeking a bachelor's degree or certificate received a Pell Grant over the prior 3 academic years, as reported to the Commission, shall match 70% of the amount of funds awarded in a given academic year with non-loan financial aid for eligible students. A public university campus is not required to claim its entire allocation. The Commission shall make available to all public universities, on a date determined by the Commission, any unclaimed funds and the funds must be made available to those public university campuses in the proportion determined under this subsection (f), excluding from the calculation those public university campuses not claiming their full allocations. Each public university campus may determine the award amounts for eligible students on an individual or broad basis, but, subject to renewal eligibility, each renewed award may not be less than the amount awarded to the eligible student in his or her first year attending the public university campus. Notwithstanding this limitation, a renewal grant may be reduced due to changes in the student's cost of attendance, including, but not limited to, if a student reduces the number of credit hours in which he or she is enrolled, but remains a full-time student, or switches to a course of study with a lower tuition rate. An eligible applicant awarded grant assistance under this Section is eligible to receive other financial aid. Total grant aid to the student from all sources may not exceed the total cost of attendance at the public university campus. (g) All money allocated to a public university campus under this Section may be used only for financial aid purposes for students attending the public university campus during the academic year, not including summer terms. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any funds received by a public university campus under this Section that are not granted to students in the academic year for which the funds are received may be retained by the public university campus for expenditure on students participating in the Program or students eligible to participate in the Program. (h) Each public university campus that establishes a Program under this Section must annually report to the Commission, on or before a date determined by the Commission, the number of undergraduate students enrolled at that campus who are residents of this State. (i) Each public university campus must report to the Commission the total non-loan financial aid amount given by the public university campus to undergraduate students in the 2017-2018 academic year or the 2021-2022 academic year, not including the summer terms. To be eligible to receive funds under the Program, a public university campus may not decrease the total amount of non-loan financial aid it gives to undergraduate students, not including any funds received from the Commission under this Section or any funds used to match grant awards under this Section, to an amount lower than the amount reported under this subsection (i) for the 2017-2018 academic year or the 2021-2022 academic year, whichever is less, not including the summer terms. (j) On or before a date determined by the Commission, each public university campus that participates in the Program under this Section shall annually submit a report to the Commission with all of the following information: (1) The Program's impact on tuition revenue and enrollment goals and increase in access and affordability at the public university campus. (2) Total funds received by the public university campus under the Program. (3) Total non-loan financial aid awarded to undergraduate students attending the public university campus. (4) Total amount of funds matched by the public university campus. (5) Total amount of claimed and unexpended funds retained by the public university campus. (6) The percentage of total financial aid distributed under the Program by the public university campus. (7) The total number of students receiving grants from the public university campus under the Program and those students' grade level, race, gender, income level, family size, Monetary Award Program eligibility, Pell Grant eligibility, and zip code of residence and the amount of each grant award. This information shall include unit record data on those students regarding variables associated with the parameters of the public university's Program, including, but not limited to, a student's ACT or SAT college admissions test score, high school or university cumulative grade point average, or program of study. On or before October 1, 2020 and annually on or before October 1 through 2024, the Commission shall submit a report with the findings under this subsection (j) and any other information regarding the AIM HIGH Grant Program to (i) the Governor, (ii) the Speaker of the House of Representatives, (iii) the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, (iv) the President of the Senate, and (v) the Minority Leader of the Senate. The reports to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct. The Commission's report may not disaggregate data to a level that may disclose personally identifying information of individual students. The sharing and reporting of student data under this subsection (j) must be in accordance with the requirements under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and the Illinois School Student Records Act. All parties must preserve the confidentiality of the information as required by law. The names of the grant recipients under this Section are not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Public university campuses that fail to submit a report under this subsection (j) or that fail to adhere to any other requirements under this Section may not be eligible for distribution of funds under the Program for the next academic year, but may be eligible for distribution of funds for each academic year thereafter. (k) The Commission shall adopt rules to implement this Section. (l) (Blank). (Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-516, eff. 8-11-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

110 ILCS 947/65.105

(110 ILCS 947/65.105) Sec. 65.105. Adult vocational community college scholarship. (a) The Commission shall, subject to appropriation, establish and administer an adult vocational community college scholarship program. (b) Beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for scholarships under this Section. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under this Section if the Commission finds that the applicant meets all of the following qualifications: (1) He or she is over the age of 30. (2) He or she has been unemployed and is actively searching for employment, including being enrolled on the Department of Employment Security's job-search website for at least 6 months prior to the date the application is submitted by the applicant. (3) He or she is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at his or her local community college organized under the Public Community College Act. (4) He or she can identify the specific training certificate, credential, or associate degree that he or she is seeking to obtain; the career that the certificate, credential, or degree will help create; and how long it will take the applicant to reach this goal. Applicants may re-apply for the scholarship under this Section if they can demonstrate continual progress, in terms of grades and attendance, toward the desired certificate, credential, or degree. (c) The scholarship shall be sufficient to cover the cost of tuition and fees to attend the community college, but in no event shall the scholarship exceed $2,000 per scholarship recipient per academic year. The total amount of a scholarship awarded by the Commission under this Section to an individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the community college at which the student is enrolled. (d) All applications for scholarships to be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission in a form as set forth by the Commission. The form of application and the information required to be set forth in the application shall be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with their applications such supporting documents as the Commission deems necessary. (e) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, payment of any scholarships awarded under this Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be paid to the community college on behalf of the recipients. Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters of enrollment within an academic year. Up to 2% of the appropriation for this scholarship program may be used by the Commission for the costs of administering the scholarship program. If funds appropriated for the program are insufficient to provide grants to each eligible applicant, the Commission may prioritize the distribution of grants based on factors that include an applicant's financial need, duration of unemployment, prior level of educational attainment, or date of application. (f) The Commission shall adopt all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. (Source: P.A. 101-315, eff. 1-1-20.)

110 ILCS 947/65.110 Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarship

(110 ILCS 947/65.110) Sec. 65.110. Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarship. (a) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award annually up to 250 Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, which may also be known as School Social Work scholarships. A qualified applicant: (1) holds a valid Illinois-licensed clinical social work license or social work license or is pursuing a clinical social work license or social work license; (2) has obtained a master's degree in social work from an approved program or will obtain a master's degree in social work from an approved program before enrolling in the academic program that this scholarship would support; (3) is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen; and (4) submits an application to the Commission for such scholarship and agrees to take courses to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Social Work. (b) If an appropriation for this Section for a given fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all qualified applicants, the Commission shall allocate the appropriation as follows: (1) first, to students who received a scholarship under this Section in the prior academic year and who remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section; (2) (blank); and (3) then, to new, qualified applicants in accordance with this Section. (c) Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be issued pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission. (d) Each scholarship shall be applied to the payment of tuition and mandatory fees at a State public university or at a private, not-for-profit institution of higher learning in this State that prepares students to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Social Work. Each scholarship may be applied to pay tuition and mandatory fees required to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Social Work. A scholarship for a recipient attending a private, not-for-profit institution of higher learning shall not exceed the maximum grant payable to a student enrolled in the most expensive comparable program of study at a public university in this State. (e) The Commission shall make tuition and fee payments directly to the qualified institution of higher learning that the applicant attends. (f) Any person who has accepted a scholarship under this Section must, within one year after graduation or termination of enrollment in a Post-Master of Social Work Professional Education License with an endorsement in School Social Work program, begin working as a school social worker at a public or nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or secondary school located in this State for at least 2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation or termination, excluding, however, from the computation of that 5-year period: (i) any time up to 3 years spent in the military service, whether such service occurs before or after the person graduates; (ii) the time that person is a person with a temporary total disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; and (iii) the time that person is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a school social worker at a State public or nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or secondary school. (g) If a recipient of a scholarship under this Section fails to fulfill the work obligation set forth in subsection (f), the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to the fraction of the obligation not completed, at a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section. All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller for deposit into this State's General Revenue Fund. A recipient of a scholarship under this Section is not considered to be in violation of the failure to fulfill the work obligation under subsection (f) if the recipient (i) enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the field of social work at a qualified Illinois institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the United States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a school social worker at an Illinois public or nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or secondary school that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (f) and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or (v) becomes a person with a permanent total disability, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician. (Source: P.A. 104-437, eff. 11-21-25; 104-798, eff. 8-7-26.)

110 ILCS 947/65.115 School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program

(110 ILCS 947/65.115) Sec. 65.115. School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. (a) To encourage Illinois students to work, and to continue to work, as a school social worker in public school districts in this State or in State municipalities, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under this Section. This program shall be known as the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. The Commission shall administer the program and shall adopt all necessary and proper rules to effectively implement the program. (b) Beginning July 1, 2022, subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, the Commission shall award a grant, up to a maximum of $6,500, to each qualified applicant. The Commission may encourage the recipient of a grant under this Section to use the grant award for repayment of the recipient's educational loan. If funds are insufficient to provide all qualified applicants with a grant as authorized by this Section, the Commission shall allocate the available grant funds for the fiscal year to qualified applicants who submit a complete application on or before a date specified by the Commission, based on the following order of priority: (1) first, to students who received a grant under this Section in the prior fiscal year and who remain eligible for a grant under this Section; and (2) then, to new, qualified applicants in accordance with this Section. (c) A person is a qualified applicant under this Section if he or she meets all of the following qualifications: (1) The person is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen. (2) The person is a resident of this State. (3) The person is a borrower with an outstanding balance due on an educational loan related to obtaining a degree in social work. (4) The person has been employed as a school social worker by a public elementary school or secondary school in this State for at least 12 consecutive months or as a social worker for an Illinois municipality who did not report directly to a police department. (5) The person is currently employed as a school social worker by a public elementary school or secondary school in this State or as a social worker for an Illinois municipality who does not report directly to a police department. (d) An applicant shall submit an application, in a form determined by the Commission, for grant assistance under this Section to the Commission. An applicant is required to submit, with the application, supporting documentation as the Commission may deem necessary. (e) (Blank). (Source: P.A. 104-437, eff. 11-21-25.)

110 ILCS 947/65.120 iGROW Tech Scholarship Program

(110 ILCS 947/65.120) Sec. 65.120. iGROW Tech Scholarship Program. (a) As used in this Section: "Eligible applicant" means a student who has graduated from high school or has received a State of Illinois High School Diploma, who has maintained a cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, who is pursuing or intends to pursue a qualifying degree in a qualified institution, and who is entitled to apply for assistance under this Section. "Full-time" means the number of credit hours the Commission determines is full-time enrollment for a student for purposes of the program created under this Section. "Minority student" has the same meaning as the term is defined under Section 50 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act (110 ILCS 947). "Program" means the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program created under this Section. "Qualifying degree" means an associate or a bachelor's degree granted by a qualified institution in the field of computer information sciences; information technology; information science; computer science; computer systems networking and telecommunications; computer and information systems security or information assurance, including cybersecurity; or management information systems. "Qualifying job" means a job with an employer in this State performing work that is directly related to the field of study that qualified the candidate for assistance under this Section. "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a resident of this State; (ii) who, as an eligible applicant, has made a timely application for an iGROW tech scholarship under this Section; (iii) who is enrolled on at least a half-time basis at a qualified institution; (iv) who is enrolled in a course of study in the field of computer and information sciences; information technology; information science; computer science; computer systems networking and telecommunications; computer and information systems security or information assurance, including cybersecurity; or management information systems; (v) who maintains a grade point average of no less than a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; and (vi) who continues to advance satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree. "Recipient" means an Illinois resident enrolled in a qualified institution who receives an award under this Section. (b) Subject to appropriation, and no sooner than the 2024-2025 academic year, there is established the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Program to recruit and train individuals to work in technology jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high wages by awarding scholarships. (c) Each iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be determined by the Commission in an amount up to and including the full costs of tuition and fees and room and board of the qualified institution at which the recipient is enrolled if the institution is public, or an equivalent rate established by the Commission for private institutions. The total amount of iGROW tech scholarship assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in any given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is enrolled. If the amount of financial assistance to be awarded to a qualified student exceeds the cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is enrolled, the iGROW tech scholarship shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of attendance. (d) The maximum number of academic terms for which a qualified student can receive iGROW tech scholarship assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters. (e) All applications for scholarships awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission on forms which the Commission shall provide for eligible applicants. The form of applications and the information required to be set forth therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with their applications such supporting documents or recommendations as the Commission deems necessary. (f) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, payment of any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be paid to the qualified institution and used only for payment of the tuition and fees assessed by the institution and the standard housing and food allowance used for all undergraduate students by the qualified student in connection with his or her attendance at a qualified institution. Any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment annually. The qualified institution can only request payment for tuition and fees up to the amount of actual tuition and fee expenses incurred. If a student withdraws after the expiration of the tuition refund or withdrawal adjustment period, the student may receive payment for tuition and fees incurred up to the term award. The housing and food allowance shall be prorated based on the qualified institution's return of funds policy. (g) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any academic year, each recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that the recipient (i) shall work in the State in a qualified job for a period of not less than one year for each year of scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this Section; however, in no event shall he or she agree to work in the State in a qualified job for a period of less than 2 years; and (ii) shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided for in this subsection. If a recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the obligations set forth in this subsection, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to the fraction of the employment obligation not completed, at a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section. All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller for deposit into the State's General Revenue Fund. A recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship shall not be considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection if the recipient (I) enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the technology degree for which he or she qualified for the iGROW tech scholarship at a qualified institution; (II) is serving, not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the United States; (III) is a person with a temporary total disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (IV) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment with a State employer that satisfies the criteria set forth in this subsection and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (V) becomes a person with a permanent total disability as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or (VI) meets any other criteria that the Commission may deem necessary. (h) Scholarship recipients under this Section who withdraw from a program of computer science or other related major area of study provided under this Section but remain enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in another academic discipline shall not be required to commence repayment of their iGROW tech scholarship so long as they remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis or if they can document for the Commission special circumstances that warrant extension of repayment. (i) If the Program does not expend at least 90% of the amount appropriated for the Program in a given fiscal year for 3 consecutive fiscal years on or before January 1 in each of those fiscal years, then up to 3% of amount appropriated for the Program for each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated to increasing awareness of the program. (j) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. (k) The Commission shall establish a methodology for prioritizing applications from applicants who demonstrate a financial need or hardship, applications from minority students, and applications from applicants demonstrating academic excellence. After the first academic year that the Program operates, the Commission shall prioritize the applications of those applicants who received a scholarship under this Section during the prior academic year and who remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section. (l) Each fiscal year, the Commission may use up to 5% of money appropriated for the Program for administration. (m) Scholarships may be made under this Section through the 2029-30 academic year. (n) The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys in the fund may come from both public entities and institutional, organizational, or other private entities. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission to implement and administer the Program pursuant to this Section. (Source: P.A. 103-519, eff. 1-1-24.)

110 ILCS 947/65.125 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program

(110 ILCS 947/65.125) Sec. 65.125. Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. (a) As used in this Section, "incumbent workforce" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act. (b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall implement and administer an early childhood educator scholarship program, to be known as the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. Under the Program, the Commission shall annually award scholarships to early childhood education students enrolled in institutions of higher education participating in the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity under the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act with preference given to members of the incumbent workforce. (c) To ensure alignment with Consortium goals and changing workforce needs, the Commission shall work in partnership with the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board in program design, and the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall solicit feedback from the Consortium advisory committee established under Section 25 of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act. (d) In awarding a scholarship under this Section, the Commission may give preference to applicants who received a scholarship under this Section during the prior academic year, to applicants with financial need, or both. (e) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges to continue or return to teaching or direct services in the early childhood care and education field in this State after they complete their program of study. (f) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the Program. (Source: P.A. 103-588, eff. 6-5-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)

110 ILCS 947/65.130 Journalism Student Scholarship Program

(110 ILCS 947/65.130) Sec. 65.130. Journalism Student Scholarship Program. (a) As used in this Section, "local news organization" has the meaning given to that term in the Strengthening Community Media Act. (b) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois students to pursue careers in journalism, especially in underserved areas of the State, and to provide those students with financial assistance to increase the likelihood that they will complete their full academic commitment and elect to remain in Illinois to pursue a career in journalism, subject to appropriation, not sooner than the 2025-2026 academic year, the Commission shall implement and administer the Journalism Student Scholarship Program. The Commission shall annually award scholarships to persons preparing to work in Illinois, with preference given to those preparing to work in underserved areas. These scholarships shall be awarded to individuals who make application to the Commission and agree to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the 2-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall: (1) begin working in journalism in this State for a period of not less than 2 years; (2) fulfill this obligation at local news organization; and (3) upon request of the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching agreement provided for in this subsection. (c) An eligible student is a student who meets the following qualifications: (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States; (2) is a high school graduate or a person who has received an Illinois high school diploma; (3) is enrolled or accepted, on at least a half-time basis, at an institution of higher learning; and (4) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study leading to a career in journalism or a similar field. (d) Each scholarship shall be used by the recipient for the payment of tuition and fees at an institution of higher learning. (e) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall adopt all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective implementation. (Source: P.A. 103-1021, eff. 1-1-25; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)

110 ILCS 947/67 Illinois DREAM Fund Commission

(110 ILCS 947/67) Sec. 67. Illinois DREAM Fund Commission. (a) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish an Illinois DREAM Fund Commission. The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, members to the Illinois DREAM Fund Commission, which shall be comprised of 9 members representing the geographic and ethnic diversity of this State, including students, college and university administrators and faculty, and other individuals committed to advancing the educational opportunities of the children of immigrants. (b) The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission is charged with all of the following responsibilities: (1) Administering this Section and raising funds for the Illinois DREAM Fund. (2) Establishing a not-for-profit entity charged with raising funds for the administration of this Section, any educational or training programs the Commission is tasked with administering, and funding scholarships to students who are the children of immigrants to the United States. (3) Publicizing the availability of scholarships from the Illinois DREAM Fund. (4) Selecting the recipients of scholarships funded through the Illinois DREAM Fund. (5) Researching issues pertaining to the availability of assistance with the costs of higher education for the children of immigrants and other issues regarding access for and the performance of the children of immigrants within higher education. (6) Overseeing implementation of the other provisions of Public Act 97-233. (7) Establishing and administering training programs for high school counselors and counselors, admissions officers, and financial aid officers of public institutions of higher education. The training programs shall instruct participants on the educational opportunities available to college-bound students who are the children of immigrants, including, but not limited to, in-state tuition and scholarship programs. The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission may also establish a public awareness campaign regarding educational opportunities available to college bound students who are the children of immigrants. The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission shall establish, by rule, procedures for accepting and evaluating applications for scholarships from the children of immigrants and issuing scholarships to selected student applicants. (c) To receive a scholarship under this Section, a student must meet all of the following qualifications: (1) Have resided with his or her parents or guardian while attending a public or private high school in this State. (2) Have graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State. (3) Have attended school in this State for at least 3 years as of the date he or she graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma. (4) Have at least one parent who immigrated to the United States. (d) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish an Illinois DREAM Fund to provide scholarships under this Section. The Illinois DREAM Fund shall be funded entirely from private contributions, gifts, grants, awards, and proceeds from the scratch-off created in Section 21.16 of the Illinois Lottery Law. (e) The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission shall develop a comprehensive program, including creation of informational materials and a marketing plan, to educate people in the State of Illinois about the purpose and benefits of contributions made to the Illinois DREAM Fund. The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission shall develop specific marketing materials for the voluntary use by persons licensed pursuant to the Transmitters of Money Act. (Source: P.A. 103-338, eff. 7-28-23; 103-381, eff. 7-28-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

110 ILCS 947/70

(110 ILCS 947/70) Sec. 70. Administration of scholarship and grant programs. (a) An applicant to whom the Commission has awarded a scholarship or grant under this Act may apply for enrollment as a student in any qualified institution of higher learning. The institution is not required to accept the applicant for enrollment, but is free to exact compliance with its own admissions requirements, standards, and policies. The institution may receive the payments of tuition and other necessary fees provided by the scholarship or grant, for credit against the student's obligation for such tuition and fees, and for no other purpose, and shall be contractually obligated: (1) to provide facilities and instruction to the student on the same terms as to other students generally; (2) to provide the notices and information described in this Act; and to maintain records and documents which demonstrate the eligibility of the students for whom scholarships and grants are claimed. (b) If, in the course of any academic period, any student enrolled in any institution pursuant to a scholarship or grant awarded under this Act for any reason ceases to be a student in good standing, the institution shall promptly give written notice to the Commission concerning that change of status and the reason therefor. For purposes of this Section, a student does not cease to be a student in good standing merely because he or she is not classified as a full-time student. (c) A student to whom a renewal scholarship or grant has been awarded may either re-enroll in the institution which he or she attended during the preceding year, or enroll in any other qualified institution of higher learning; and in either event, the institution accepting the student for enrollment or re-enrollment shall notify the Commission of that acceptance and may receive payments and shall be contractually obligated as provided with respect to a first-year scholarship or grant. (d) The Commission shall administer the scholarship and grant accounts and related records of each student who is attending an institution of higher learning under financial assistance awarded pursuant to this Act, and at each proper time shall certify to the State Comptroller, in the manner prescribed by law, the current payment to be made to the institution on account of such financial assistance, in accordance with an appropriate certificate from the institution. The Commission may require the participating institution of higher learning to perform specific eligibility evaluation procedures as a condition of participation. (e) The Commission shall conduct on-site audits of educational institutions participating in Commission administered programs. When institutions have claimed and received funds on behalf of ineligible recipients, the Commission may adjust subsequent institutional payments to recover those funds. (f) The Commission may, upon the request of any institution which received payment for scholarship and grant awards for each of the last 5 years, certify to the Comptroller an advance payment for the current term to be made to the institution on account of such financial assistance in an amount not to exceed 75% of announced awards for the institution for such financial assistance for the current term, adjusted for attrition over the last 5 years. For the purposes of this Section, "attrition" is the number of announced award winners enrolled on the 10th class day as a percentage of the total announced awards. The request for an advance payment for the current term shall not be submitted until 10 class days after the last day for registration for that term. Upon appropriate certification from the institution presented for each payment period, after the standard tuition and mandatory fees have been established for all students for the term of payment and the award recipient has enrolled, the Commission shall certify to the State Comptroller the balance of the current payment to be made to the institution on account of such financial assistance. If an advance payment received by an institution exceeds the payment to which that institution is entitled, the Commission shall reduce subsequent payments to that institution for later terms within the same academic year as the overpayment by an amount equal to the overpayment; if the reduction cannot be made, the institution shall refund the overpayment to the Commission. The Commission may deny or reduce the advance payment provided to any institution under this Section if it has reason to believe that the advance payment for the current term may exceed the full payment the institution is entitled to receive for such assistance for that term. (g) The personal identity and address of a scholarship, grant, or other financial assistance applicant or recipient under a non-discretionary program administered by the Commission, including, but not limited to, the Monetary Award Program under Section 35 of this Act, is information that is intended to remain private and shall be exempt from inspection and copying under the Freedom of Information Act. This subsection does not apply to the publication of the names of State Scholars designated pursuant to Section 25 of this Act or information disclosed in the aggregate in which a person's identity cannot be determined. (Source: P.A. 100-887, eff. 8-14-18; 101-596, eff. 12-6-19.)

110 ILCS 947/72 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/72) Sec. 72. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 89-512, eff. 7-11-96. Repealed by P.A. 94-91, eff. 7-1-05.)

110 ILCS 947/75 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/75) Sec. 75. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 97-233, eff. 8-1-11. Repealed by P.A. 98-251, eff. 8-9-13.)

110 ILCS 947/77 Illinois Student Assistance Commission Contracts and Grants Fund

(110 ILCS 947/77) Sec. 77. Illinois Student Assistance Commission Contracts and Grants Fund. (a) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission Contracts and Grants Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. All gifts, grants, or donations of money received by the Commission must be deposited into this Fund and, where appropriate, other funds made available through contracts with governmental, public, and private agencies or persons may also be deposited into this Fund. (b) Moneys in the Fund may be used by the Commission, subject to appropriation, for support of the Commission's student and borrower assistance outreach, research, and training activities. (Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)

110 ILCS 947/80 Additional assistance; Loans; Powers and Duties

(110 ILCS 947/80) Sec. 80. Additional assistance; Loans; Powers and Duties. The Commission shall have the following powers in furtherance of its programs: (a) To guarantee the loan of money in amounts not to exceed the yearly or aggregate totals authorized by the Federal Higher Education Act of 1965. The Commission may guarantee loans for qualified borrowers for use at any approved institution of higher learning provided the borrower and institution are eligible for the loan under the Higher Education Act of 1965. All loans shall be guaranteed and bear interest as prescribed by the Higher Education Act of 1965, or by any other Federal statute hereafter enacted providing for Federal payment of interest or other subsidy on behalf of borrowers. Loans made by eligible lenders in accordance with this Act shall be guaranteed whether made from funds fully owned by the lender or from funds held by the lender in a trust or similar capacity and available for such loans. (b) To sue and be sued in the name of the Commission. (c) To adopt rules and regulations governing the guarantee, origination, or servicing of loans and any other matters relating to the activities of the Commission. (d) To originate, guarantee, acquire, and service loans and to perform such other acts as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the loans. (e) To require that any educational loan made under this Act shall be repaid and be secured in such manner and at such time as the Commission prescribes, including perfecting a security interest therein in such manner as the Commission shall determine. (f) To enter into such contracts and guarantee agreements with eligible lenders, eligible education institutions, individuals, corporations, and loan servicing organizations and with any other governmental agency and with any agency of the United States, including agreements for Federal reinsurance of losses resulting from the death, default, or total and permanent disability of borrowers, as are necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and to carry out its functions under this Act, and to make such payments as may be specified in such contracts and agreements from such sources as set forth therein, all notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act or any other law. (g) To receive and accept from any agency of the United States or any agency of the State of Illinois or any municipality, county, or other political subdivision thereof or from any individual, association, or corporation gifts, grants, or donations of money. (h) To participate in any Federal government program for guaranteed loans or subsidies to borrowers and to receive, hold, and disburse funds made available for the purpose or purposes for which they are made available. (i) To pay to eligible lenders an administrative cost allowance in such amount, at such times, and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Commission. (j) To pay the Federal government a portion of those funds obtained by the Commission from collection and recoupment of losses on defaulted loans in such amounts and in such manner as provided by any Federal reinsurance agreement. (k) To charge and collect premiums for insurance on loans and other appropriate charges and pay such insurance premiums or a portion thereof and other charges as are appropriate. (l) To create such entities and organizations and programs as the Commission determines are necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and to carry out any function under this Act. (l-5) To deduct from the salary, wages, commissions, and bonuses of any employee in this State and, to the extent permitted by the laws of the United States and individual states in which an employee might reside, any employee outside the State of Illinois by serving a notice of administrative wage garnishment on an employer, in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission, for the recovery of a student loan debt owned or serviced by the Commission. Levy must not be made until the Commission has caused a demand to be made on the employee, in a manner consistent with rules adopted by the Commission, such that the employee is provided an opportunity to contest the existence or amount of the student loan obligation. (m) Except with respect to obligations issued prior to July 14, 1994, to exercise all functions, rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities now or hereafter authorized to be exercised by any other State agency pursuant to the Higher Education Loan Act of this State. The authorization to any other State agency to exercise those functions, rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities is not affected by this authorization to the Commission. (Source: P.A. 97-950, eff. 8-13-12.)

110 ILCS 947/83 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/83) Sec. 83. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 100-926, eff. 1-1-19. Repealed internally, eff. 6-1-23.)

110 ILCS 947/85 (Repealed)

(110 ILCS 947/85) Sec. 85. (Repealed). (Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-553.)

110 ILCS 947/87

(110 ILCS 947/87) Sec. 87. Coordination of reviews. In accordance with the Federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, the Commission is designated as the Illinois agency ultimately responsible for the coordination of reviews of Illinois postsecondary institutions in cooperation with the Board of Higher Education, State Board of Education, Department of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State, Department of Transportation and other appropriate State agencies. As such, the Commission is granted the powers and duties necessary for the proper implementation and execution of these functions, including rulemaking. The eligibility of schools to operate in Illinois shall be determined in accordance with audit and review information provided by the Commission to the appropriate State agencies. These eligibility audits shall apply rules that are consistent with those of the Federal Higher Education Act concerning institutional eligibility and program integrity. The Commission is authorized to provide or coordinate with the Board of Higher Education, State Board of Education, the Department of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State, Department of Transportation and other involved agencies, administration of institutional reviews for all institutions participating in the Federal Title IV Financial Aid programs: 1. at least once every 3 years; 2. at least once a year when it appears a school is out of, or will soon be out of, compliance with stated eligibility standards; and 3. within 2 months of, or as soon as practicable following, a request from a State or Federal agency citing questionable activities or changes in the school's financial, operations or management status or practices. Federal funds provided through the United States Department of Education are to be used in enabling the Commission and other appropriate State agencies to conduct the oversight activities prescribed in this Section. (Source: P.A. 88-483.)

110 ILCS 947/90

(110 ILCS 947/90) Sec. 90. State income tax refund and other payment intercept. The Commission may provide by rule for certification to the Comptroller: (a) of delinquent or defaulted amounts due and owing from a borrower on any loan guaranteed by the Commission under this Act or on any "eligible loan" as that term is defined under the Educational Loan Purchase Program Law; and (b) of any amounts recoverable under Section 120 in a civil action from a person who received a scholarship, grant, monetary award, or guaranteed loan. The purpose of certification shall be to intercept State income tax refunds and other payments due such borrowers and persons in order to satisfy, in whole or in part: (i) delinquent or defaulted amounts due and owing from any such borrower on any such guaranteed or eligible loan; and (ii) amounts recoverable from a person against whom a civil action will lie under the provisions of Section 120. The rule shall provide for notice to any such borrower or person affected, and any final administrative decision rendered by the Commission with respect to any certification made pursuant to this Section shall be reviewed only under and in accordance with the Administrative Review Law. (Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

110 ILCS 947/91 Notice to Secretary of State

(110 ILCS 947/91) Sec. 91. Notice to Secretary of State. The Commission shall establish by rule mutually agreed procedures to furnish the Secretary of State annually or at other mutually agreed periodic intervals with the names and social security numbers of natural persons who the Commission determines are registered with the Secretary of State as dealers, salespersons or investment advisers under the Illinois Securities Law of 1953 and have defaulted on an educational loan guaranteed by the Commission. (Source: P.A. 88-494.)

110 ILCS 947/95

(110 ILCS 947/95) Sec. 95. Capacity of minors. Any person otherwise qualifying for a loan guaranteed or originated by the Commission shall not be disqualified by reason of being under the age of 21 years; and each such person shall have the rights, powers, privileges and obligations of a person of full age with respect thereto. (Source: P.A. 87-997; 88-553.)

110 ILCS 947/100

(110 ILCS 947/100) Sec. 100. ISAC originated loans. (a) To further the purposes of this Act, the Commission is authorized to originate loans for educational purposes, to students enrolled at higher education institutions. The Commission may establish borrower eligibility requirements for Commission originated loans. Loans originated by the Commission may be, but are not required to be, guaranteed by the Commission or any other entity. (b) The Commission may make loans with the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to this Act or with such other funds as may be available to the Commission. (c) The administrative expenses of the Commission's direct lending programs shall be supported by the General Revenue Fund through an appropriation by the General Assembly for such purposes and may also be paid with such other funds as may be available to the Commission. (Source: P.A. 89-442, eff. 12-21-95.)

110 ILCS 947/105

(110 ILCS 947/105) Sec. 105. Procedure on default. Upon default by the borrower on any loan guaranteed under this Act, upon the death of the borrower, or upon report from the lender that the borrower has become a person with a total and permanent disability, as determined in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, the lender shall promptly notify the Commission, and the Commission shall pay to the lender the amount of loss sustained by the lender upon that loan as soon as that amount has been determined. The amount of loss on any loan shall be determined in accordance with the definitions, rules, and regulations of the Commission, and shall not exceed (1) the unpaid balance of the principal amount; (2) the unpaid accrued interest; and (3) the unpaid late charges. Upon payment by the Commission of the guaranteed portion of the loss, the Commission shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of the obligation upon the insured loan and shall be entitled to an assignment of the note or other evidence of the guaranteed loan by the lender. The Commission shall file any and all lawsuits on delinquent and defaulted student loans in the County of Cook where venue shall be deemed to be proper. A defendant may request a change of venue to the county where he resides, and the court has the authority to grant the change. Any defendant, within 30 days of service of summons, may file a written request by mail with the Commission to change venue. Upon receipt, the Commission shall move the court for the change of venue. The Commission shall upon the filing and completion of the requirements for the "Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income", pursuant to Title 11, Chapter 13 of the United States Code, proceed to collect the outstanding balance of the loan guaranteed under this Act. Educational loans guaranteed under this Act shall not be discharged by the filing of the "Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income", unless the loan first became due more than 5 years, exclusive of any applicable suspension period, prior to the filing of the petition; or unless excepting the debt from discharge will impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's dependents. The Commission shall proceed to recover educational loans upon the filing of a petition under "Individual Liquidation", pursuant to Title 11, Chapter 7 of the United States Code, unless the loan first became due more than 5 years, exclusive of any applicable suspension period, prior to the filing of the petition; or unless excepting the debt from discharge will impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's dependents. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to preclude any forbearance for the benefit of the borrower which may be agreed upon by the party to the guaranteed loan and approved by the Commission, to preclude forbearance by the Commission in the enforcement of the guaranteed obligation after payment on that guarantee, or to require collection of the amount of any loan by the lender or by the Commission from the estate of a deceased borrower or from a borrower found by the lender to have become a person with a total and permanent disability. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to excuse the holder of a loan from exercising reasonable care and diligence in the making and collection of loans under this Act. If the Commission after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to a lender finds that it has substantially failed to exercise such care and diligence, the Commission shall disqualify that lender for the guarantee of further loans until the Commission is satisfied that the lender's failure has ceased and finds that there is reasonable assurance that the lender will in the future exercise necessary care and diligence or comply with the rules and regulations of the Commission. (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

110 ILCS 947/110

(110 ILCS 947/110) Sec. 110. Disposition of moneys received by Commission; Appropriations; Insufficient appropriations. (a) All moneys received by the Commission in furtherance of its guarantee loan program for guaranteeing loans for attendance at institutions of higher education shall be paid into the account established by the Comptroller for that purpose. (b) Moneys received by the Commission from the United States Department of Education by way of any agreement between the Commission and the federal government for advance payments, reinsurance reimbursements, or reimbursement of allowable administrative costs shall be available to the Commission as authorized by federal law and regulation subject to the appropriation of the General Assembly. Moneys not so employed in a fiscal year may be retained by the Commission in the account established for that purpose beyond the close of a fiscal year or may be returned to the federal government as required by federal law or regulation. (c) Moneys received by the Commission from collection and recoupment of losses paid by the Commission under its guaranty shall be returned to the Federal government as required by Federal law or regulation. Where a portion of those funds represents collections on loans on which the Commission was reimbursed by the federal government under a reinsurance agreement for less than 100% of the amount of the Commission's guaranty, an amount equal to the pro-rata share of the non-reinsured portion of those collections shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund at the close of each fiscal year. Moneys received by the Commission from collection and recoupment of losses paid by the Commission under its guaranty which are not payable to the General Revenue Fund but which under Federal law are available to the Commission for payment of allowable administrative expenses shall be available to the Commission as authorized by federal law and regulation subject to the appropriation of the General Assembly. (d) The Governor shall include, in each annual State budget, a proposal for an appropriation in such amount as shall be necessary and sufficient for the period covered by the budget for the purpose of paying the obligations of the Commission for the guaranteed portion of losses on insured loans resulting from the death, default, or total and permanent disability of student borrowers. If for any reason the General Assembly fails to make appropriations of amounts sufficient for the State to pay those obligations, this Section shall constitute an irrevocable and continuing appropriation of all amounts necessary for that purpose, and the irrevocable and continuing authority for and direction to the Comptroller and to the Treasurer of the State to make the necessary transfers out of and disbursements from the revenues and funds of the State for that purpose, and the full faith and credit of the State of Illinois is pledged for the punctual payment of such obligations. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

110 ILCS 947/113 Federal Student Loan Fund; Student Loan Operating Fund; Federal Reserve Recall Fund

(110 ILCS 947/113) Sec. 113. Federal Student Loan Fund; Student Loan Operating Fund; Federal Reserve Recall Fund. The Commission shall create the Federal Student Loan Fund, the Student Loan Operating Fund, and the Federal Reserve Recall Fund. At the request of the Commission's Executive Director, the Comptroller shall transfer funds, as necessary, from the Student Assistance Commission Student Loan Fund into the Federal Student Loan Fund, the Student Loan Operating Fund, and the Federal Reserve Recall Fund. On or before August 31, 2000, the Commission's Executive Director shall request the Comptroller to transfer all funds from the Student Assistance Commission Student Loan Fund into any of the following funds: the Federal Student Loan Fund, the Student Loan Operating Fund, or the Federal Reserve Recall Fund. On September 1, 2000, the Student Assistance Commission Student Loan Fund is abolished. Any future liabilities of this abolished fund shall be assignable to the appropriate fund created as one of its successors. At the request of the Commission's Executive Director, the Comptroller shall transfer funds from the Federal Student Loan Fund into the Student Loan Operating Fund. (Source: P.A. 91-670, eff. 12-22-99; 92-45, eff. 6-29-01.)

110 ILCS 947/115

(110 ILCS 947/115) Sec. 115. Partial invalidity. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is invalid, that invalidity shall not affect its other provisions or applications of the Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

110 ILCS 947/120

(110 ILCS 947/120) Sec. 120. Penalty for fraudulent information. Any person who by means of any false statement, wilful misrepresentation, or through other fraudulent device obtains or attempts to obtain or aids or abets any person in obtaining a scholarship, grant, monetary award, or guaranteed loan under this Act or Section 30-14.2 of the School Code to which the person is not entitled shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Any scholarship, grant, monetary award, or guaranteed loan obtained by such a person by such means shall be recoverable in a civil action, if necessary, from the person who received the scholarship, grant, monetary award, or guaranteed loan. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

110 ILCS 947/125

(110 ILCS 947/125) Sec. 125. Short title. Sections 125 through 170 of this Act may also be cited as the Education Loan Purchase Program Law. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

110 ILCS 947/130 Purpose

(110 ILCS 947/130) Sec. 130. Purpose. The General Assembly finds and declares that (1) the provision of an education for all residents of this State who desire an education and are properly qualified therefor is important to the welfare and security of this State and Nation and, consequently, is an important public purpose, and (2) many qualified students are deterred by financial considerations from completing their education, with a consequent irreparable loss to the State and Nation of talents vital to welfare and security. Improved access to loans will enable those residents to attend the institutions of their choice. Establishment of a secondary market for certain loans will reduce lender administrative costs associated with educational loans, facilitate the early identification and treatment of delinquent loan accounts, and reduce potential student loan default losses so as to improve student access to loans made by commercial lenders. (Source: P.A. 89-442, eff. 12-21-95.)

110 ILCS 947/135 Definitions

(110 ILCS 947/135) Sec. 135. Definitions. In this Act, and except to the extent that any of the following words or phrases is specifically qualified by its context: (a) "Purchase Program" means the Commission exercising its power to establish a secondary market for certain loans of borrowers by the purchase thereof with the proceeds from the sale of the bonds of the Commission issued pursuant to this Act, with the earnings received by the Commission from any authorized investment, or with eligible loan receipts. (b) "Eligible loans" means loans of borrowers made, purchased, or guaranteed by or transferred to the Commission, including but not limited to loans on which: (1) the borrower is contractually delinquent in his repayment obligations within time limitations specified by the Commission; or (2) the borrower is temporarily unable to meet his repayment obligations for reasons of unemployment, or financial, medical or other hardship as determined by the Commission; or (3) the borrower has at least one loan held by the Commission under the Purchase Program; or (4) the borrower's lender, because of the bankruptcy of that lender, is no longer able or the Commission otherwise determines that such lender is no longer able to satisfactorily service the borrower's loan or fulfill the borrower's credit needs under the Commission's program; or (5) the borrower has defaulted on his loan, but has subsequently established a satisfactory repayment history under the rules of the Commission; and notwithstanding the limitations of this Act, the Purchase Program shall have the authority to purchase those defaulted accounts in order to restore the borrower's credit rating and continued eligibility for benefits under other Federal student assistance programs. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the Commission from making or purchasing any category of loans if the Commission determines that the making or purchasing of such loans would tend to make more loans available to eligible borrowers. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to excuse the holder of an eligible loan from exercising reasonable care and diligence in the making and collecting of such loans. If the Commission finds that the lender has substantially failed to exercise that care and diligence, the Commission shall disqualify the lender from participation in Commission programs until the Commission is satisfied that the lender's failure has ceased and finds that there is reasonable assurance that the lender will in the future exercise necessary care and diligence and comply with the rules and regulations of the Commission. (c) "Eligible loan receipts" means any of the following: (1) Principal, accrued interest, late charges and other sums paid on eligible loans held by the Commission. (2) Reimbursements paid by the federal government, the State of Illinois, the Commission exercising its power to guarantee the loans of borrowers, or any other source held by the Commission. (3) Accruing interest payments and special allowance payments paid by the federal government pursuant to the Higher Education Act of 1965 or any other federal statute providing for federal payment of interest and special allowances on loans or by any other source on eligible loans held by the Commission. (4) Any other sums paid by any source to the Commission on or for eligible loans held by the Commission. (d) "Bonds" means bonds, notes, and other evidences of borrowing of the Commission. (Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

110 ILCS 947/140

(110 ILCS 947/140) Sec. 140. Powers and duties. The Commission shall have the following powers in furtherance of the programs authorized by this Act: (a) To adopt rules and regulations governing the purchasing, servicing, and selling of eligible loans and any other matters relating to the activities of the guaranteed loan programs. (b) To perform such other acts as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the making, purchasing, servicing, and selling of eligible loans. (c) To sue and be sued in the name of the Commission. (d) To make, purchase, service, sell, or otherwise deal in, at prices and on terms and conditions determined by the Commission, eligible loans, including loans guaranteed by the Commission. (e) To issue bonds to make or acquire eligible loans or to refund the bonds of the Commission and to provide for the security and payment of those bonds and for the rights of the holders thereof. (f) To retain in accounts designated in the resolution or resolutions authorizing the bonds of the Commission and to disburse therefrom all proceeds from the sale of the bonds of the Commission issued pursuant to this Act, all eligible loans receipts received by the Commission, and all earnings received by the Commission from any authorized investment. (g) To hire and retain such attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, and other employees as may be required by the Commission, to determine their qualifications, to define their duties, to fix their compensation, and to pay that compensation from the proceeds from the sale of the bonds of the Commission issued pursuant to this Act and from the earnings received by the Commission from any authorized investment as provided in the resolution or resolutions authorizing the bonds, all notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act or any other law. (h) To enter into contracts, to execute instruments, to invest and to accumulate assets, to incur liabilities, and to do all things necessary or incidental to the proper management of such affairs and the proper conduct of such business as are authorized under this Act. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

110 ILCS 947/145 Issuance of Bonds

(110 ILCS 947/145) Sec. 145. Issuance of Bonds. (a) The Commission has power, and is authorized from time to time, to issue bonds (1) to make or acquire eligible loans, (2) to refund the bonds of the Commission, or (3) for a combination of such purposes. The Commission shall not have outstanding at any one time bonds in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $5,000,000,000, excluding bonds issued to refund the bonds of the Commission. The Commission is authorized to use the proceeds from the sale of bonds issued pursuant to this Act to fund the reserves created therefor, including a reserve for interest coming due on the bonds for one year following the issuance of the bonds, as provided in the resolution or resolutions authorizing the bonds and to pay the necessary expenses of issuing the bonds, including but not limited to, legal, printing, and consulting fees. (b) The Commission has power, and is authorized from time to time, to issue refunding bonds (1) to refund unpaid matured bonds; (2) to refund unpaid matured coupons evidencing interest upon its unpaid matured bonds; and (3) to refund interest at the coupon rate upon its unpaid matured bonds that has accrued since the maturity of those bonds. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for the bonds to be refunded on a par for par basis of the bonds, interest coupons, and interest not represented by coupons, if any, or may be sold at not less than par or may be exchanged in part and sold in part; and the proceeds received at any such sale shall be used to pay the bonds, interest coupons, and interest not represented by coupons, if any. Bonds and interest coupons which have been received in exchange or paid shall be cancelled and the obligation for interest, not represented by coupons which have been discharged, shall be evidenced by a written acknowledgement of the exchange or payment thereof. (c) The Commission has power, and is authorized from time to time, to also issue refunding bonds under this Section, to refund bonds at or prior to their maturity or which by their terms are subject to redemption before maturity, or both, in an amount necessary to refund (1) the principal amount of the bonds to be refunded, (2) the interest to accrue up to and including the maturity date or dates thereof, and (3) the applicable redemption premiums, if any. Those refunding bonds may be exchanged for not less than an equal principal amount of bonds to be refunded or may be sold and the proceeds received at the sale thereof (excepting the accrued interest received) used to complete such refunding, including the payment of the costs of issuance thereof. (d) The bonds shall be authorized by resolution of the Commission and may be issued in one or more series, may bear such date or dates, may be in such denomination or denominations, may mature at such time or times not exceeding 40 years from the respective dates thereof, may mature in such amount or amounts, may bear interest at such rate or rates, may be in such form either coupon or registered as to principal only or as to both principal and interest, may carry such registration privileges (including the conversion of a fully registered bond to a coupon bond or bonds and the conversion of a coupon bond to a fully registered bond), may be executed in such manner, may be made payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places within or without the State, and may be subject to such terms of redemption prior to their expressed maturity, with or without premium, as the resolution or other resolutions may provide. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds may be invested as the resolution or resolutions and as the Commission from time to time may provide. All bonds issued under this Act shall be sold in the manner and at such price as the Commission may deem to be in the best interest of the public. The resolution may provide that the bonds be executed with one manual signature and that other signatures may be printed, lithographed or engraved thereon. The Commission shall not be authorized to create and the bonds shall not in any event constitute State debt of the State of Illinois within the meaning of the Constitution or statutes of the State of Illinois, and the same shall be so stated upon the face of each bond. The source of payment for the bonds shall be stated on the face of each bond. The issuance of bonds under this Act is in all respects for the benefit of the People of the State of Illinois, and in consideration thereof the bonds issued pursuant to this Act and the income therefrom shall be free from all taxation by the State or its political subdivisions, except for estate, transfer, and inheritance taxes. For purposes of Section 250 of the Illinois Income Tax Act, the exemption of the income from bonds issued under this Act shall terminate after all of the bonds have been paid. The amount of such income that shall be added and then subtracted on the Illinois income tax return of a taxpayer, pursuant to Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act, from federal adjusted gross income or federal taxable income in computing Illinois base income shall be the interest net of any bond premium amortization. (Source: P.A. 92-45, eff. 6-29-01; 93-623, eff. 12-19-03.)

110 ILCS 947/150 Security for Bonds

(110 ILCS 947/150) Sec. 150. Security for Bonds. In connection with the issuance of any bonds under this Act, and in order to secure the payment of any such bonds and the interest thereon, the Commission shall have the power: (a) To collect all eligible loan receipts, to pay the bonds at maturity and accruing interest thereon in accordance with their terms, and to create and maintain all reserves therefor as provided by the resolution or resolutions authorizing the bonds and to use any funds available to the Commission from its lending activities in the furtherance of its programs, as determined by the Commission, including, but not limited to, transferring such funds to other entities. (b) To provide that bonds issued under this Act shall be payable from and secured by a pledge of and a lien on all or any part of the income and revenues derived from, and to pledge and assign to or in trust for the benefit of the holder or holders of bonds issued under this Act all or any part of the incomes and revenues derived from all eligible loan receipts. (c) To covenant with or for the benefit of the holder or holders of the bonds issued under this Act that so long as any such bonds shall remain outstanding and unpaid the Commission will collect all eligible loan receipts, will pay the bonds at maturity and accruing interest thereon in accordance with their terms, will create and maintain all reserves therefor, and may pay the administrative expenses of the Commission for the administration of the loan programs as provided by the resolution or resolutions authorizing the bonds, until the bonds and accruing interest have been paid in accordance with their terms. (d) To covenant with or for the benefit of the holder or holders of bonds issued under this Act as to all matters deemed advisable by the Commission, including: (1) The terms and conditions for creating and maintaining sinking funds, reserve funds, and such other special funds as may be created in the resolution or resolutions authorizing the bonds, separate and apart from all other funds and accounts of the Commission. (2) The procedure by which the terms of any contract with the holders of the bonds may be amended, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which consent may be given. (3) The procedure for refunding the bonds. (4) Such other covenants as may be deemed necessary or desirable to assure the successful operation of its loan programs and the prompt payment of the principal of and interest upon the bonds so authorized. (e) To vest in a trustee or trustees the right to receive all or any part of the income and revenue pledged and assigned to, or for the benefit of the holder or holders of bonds issued under this Act, to hold, apply, and dispose of the same, to enforce any covenant made to secure or pay or in relation to the bonds, to execute and deliver a trust agreement or trust agreements which may set forth the powers and duties and the remedies available to the trustee or trustees and limiting the liabilities thereof and describing what occurrences shall constitute events of default upon which the trustee or trustees or the holder or holders of any specified amount or percentage of the bonds may exercise such rights, and to enforce any and all such covenants and resort to such remedies as may be appropriate. (f) To covenant to perform any and all acts and to do any and all things as may be necessary or convenient or desirable in order to secure its bonds, or as may in the judgment of the Commission tend to make the bonds more marketable, notwithstanding that those acts or things may not be enumerated herein, it being the intention hereof to give the Commission the right to issue bonds pursuant to this Act and the power to make all covenants, to perform all acts, and to do all things not inconsistent with the Constitution of the State of Illinois. (Source: P.A. 88-553; 89-442, eff. 12-21-95.)

110 ILCS 947/152 Bonds guaranteed by the State of Illinois

(110 ILCS 947/152) Sec. 152. Bonds guaranteed by the State of Illinois. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, bonds issued in accordance with the provisions of this Act may be designated by the Commission as guaranteed by the State of Illinois, and any bonds so designated shall so state on the face thereof. This guarantee shall constitute a general obligation of the State of Illinois, and the full faith, credit, and resources of the State of Illinois are hereby irrevocably pledged for the punctual payment of the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on any such bond as the same shall become due, whether at maturity or upon any earlier redemption date. The provisions of this Section shall be irrepealable until all such bonds are paid in full as to both principal and interest. Any bonds designated pursuant to this Section shall be issued by the Commission on or prior to December 31, 2009 and shall be limited in aggregate principal issuance amount to not greater than $50,000,000. Any bonds designated pursuant to this Section shall mature at such time or times not exceeding 5 years from the date thereof and must be issued with a debt service reserve equal to at least 4% of the principal amount of the bonds, of which 75% of such reserve shall be funded from the proceeds of the bonds, and 25% of such reserve shall be funded by the Commission and not out of proceeds of the bonds. Proceeds of any bonds designated pursuant to this Section may be used only in connection with the rehabilitation loan program, to fund a debt service reserve as herein described, and for costs of issuance of the bonds. Upon written notice to the Governor from the Chairperson of the Commission that the Commission has determined that amounts pledged pursuant to Section 150 of this Act to pay the bonds will not be sufficient for the payment of amounts due with respect to the bonds during the next State of Illinois fiscal year, the Governor shall include an appropriation in the State of Illinois budget for the next fiscal year with respect to the bonds. The appropriation shall be for such amount as determined by the Commission. Amounts included in the appropriation for the payment of interest on variable rate bonds may, at the determination of the Commission, be up to the maximum amount of interest that may be payable for the period covered by the budget; provided that any amounts appropriated for interest on variable rate bonds in excess of amounts necessary to pay the interest shall promptly be reimbursed by the Commission to the State of Illinois. If for any reason the General Assembly fails to make appropriations sufficient to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on the bonds, as the same by their terms shall become due, this Section shall constitute an irrevocable and continuing appropriation of all amounts necessary for that purpose and the irrevocable and continuing authority for and direction to the State Treasurer and the State Comptroller to make the necessary transfers, as directed by the Governor, out of and disbursements from the revenues and funds of the State of Illinois. The State of Illinois pledges and agrees that it will not limit or alter the rights and powers vested in the Commission in this Section so as to impair the terms of any such irrevocable guarantee of the State of Illinois until each such guarantee is satisfied in full or the bonds shall have otherwise been paid in full. If the State of Illinois fails to honor any guarantee made pursuant to this Section, a civil action to compel payment may be instituted in the Supreme Court of Illinois as a court of original jurisdiction by any holder or holders of the bonds to which such failure relates. Delivery of a summons and a copy of the complaint to the Attorney General shall constitute sufficient service to give the Supreme Court of Illinois jurisdiction of the subject matter of such a suit and jurisdiction over the State of Illinois and its officers named as defendants for the purpose of compelling such payment. Any case, controversy, or cause of action concerning the validity of this Section relates to the revenue of the State of Illinois. If the Supreme Court of Illinois denies any holder or holders of bonds leave to file an original action in the Supreme Court, the holder or holders may bring such action in the Circuit Court of Sangamon County. (Source: P.A. 96-9, eff. 5-7-09.)

110 ILCS 947/155

(110 ILCS 947/155) Sec. 155. Enforcement of contract. The provisions of this Act and of any resolution or proceeding authorizing the issuance of bonds shall constitute a contract with the holders of the bonds, and the provisions thereof shall be enforceable either by mandamus or other proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce and compel the performance of all duties required by this Act and by any resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds adopted in response hereto. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

110 ILCS 947/160 Moneys of the Commission

(110 ILCS 947/160) Sec. 160. Moneys of the Commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act or of any other law, all proceeds from the sale of the bonds of the Commission issued pursuant to this Act or pledged or assigned to or in trust for the benefit of the holder or holders thereof shall be deposited by the Chairman of the Commission in such bank or banks or trust company or trust companies as may be designated by the Commission, and all deposits of such moneys shall, if required by the Commission, be secured by direct or fully guaranteed obligations of the United States of America, of a market value equal at all times to the amount of the moneys on deposit. Such moneys shall be disbursed as may be directed by the Commission and in accordance with the terms of any agreements with the holder or holders of any bonds. This Section shall not be construed as limiting the power of the Commission to agree in connection with the issuance of any of its bonds as to the custody and disposition of the moneys received from the sale of the bonds or from the income and revenues pledged or assigned to or in trust for the benefit of the holder or holders thereof. In addition to the authority otherwise available to invest funds, the Commission may invest any of its funds in obligations the interest upon which is tax-exempt under the provision of Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any successor code or provision. When all of the bonds of the Commission have been paid or provision has been made for the payment thereof and when the Commission has determined that it has accumulated more funds than are necessary therefor, those surplus funds shall be paid into the Student Loan Fund established under Section 110. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

110 ILCS 947/165

(110 ILCS 947/165) Sec. 165. Validity of bonds. The bonds bearing the signature of officers of the Commission in office on the date of the signing thereof shall be valid and binding obligations, notwithstanding that before the delivery thereof and payment therefor any of the persons whose signatures appear thereon shall have ceased to be such officers. The validity of the bonds shall not be dependent on nor affected by the validity or regularity of any proceedings to acquire any eligible loans purchased under this Act or to issue any bonds being refunded thereby. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

110 ILCS 947/170

(110 ILCS 947/170) Sec. 170. Bonds as legal investments. The State and all counties, cities, villages, incorporated towns and other municipal corporations, political subdivisions and public bodies, and public officers of any thereof, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, all insurance companies, insurance associations, and other persons carrying on an insurance business, and all executors, administrators, guardians, trustees, and other fiduciaries may legally invest any sinking funds, moneys, or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds issued pursuant to this Act, it being the purpose of this Section to authorize the investment in such bonds of all sinking, insurance, retirement, compensation, pension, and trust funds, whether owned or controlled by private or public persons or officers; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section may be construed as relieving any person, firm, or corporation from any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities for purchase or investment. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

110 ILCS 947/175

(110 ILCS 947/175) Sec. 175. Supplemental nature of Act; construction and purpose. The powers conferred by this Act shall be in addition to and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law, general or special, and may be exercised notwithstanding the provisions of any other such law and without regard to the procedure required by any other such laws. Insofar as the provisions of this Act are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, general or special, the provisions of this Act shall be controlling. (Source: P.A. 87-997; 88-553.)

110 ILCS 947/205 Prior law; other Acts

(110 ILCS 947/205) Sec. 205. Prior law; other Acts. (a) A provision of this Act that is the same or substantially the same as a prior law shall be construed as a continuation of the prior law and not as a new or different law. (b) A citation in another Act to an Act or to a Section of an Act that is continued in this Act, including a Section continued in this Act by this amendatory Act of 1993, shall be construed to be a citation to that continued provision in this Act. (c) If any other Act of the 87th General Assembly changes, adds, or repeals a provision of prior law that is continued in this Act, then that change, addition, or repeal in the other Act shall be construed together with this Act. (d) If any other Act of the 88th General Assembly changes, adds, or repeals a provision of prior law that is continued in this Act by this amendatory Act of 1993, then that change, addition, or repeal in the other Act shall be construed together with this Act. (Source: P.A. 87-997; 88-228.)

110 ILCS 947/320

(110 ILCS 947/320) Sec. 320. This Act takes effect upon becoming law. (Source: P.A. 87-997.)

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs.aspFetched: 10/17/2026