DCFS-SCHOLARSHIPS Senate SponsorsSen. Sara Feigenholtz, John F. Curran, Rachel Ventura and Mary Edly-Allen House Sponsors(Rep. Kam Buckner-Carol Ammons) 8/9/2024SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0943 20 ILCS 505/8from Ch. 23, par. 5008 Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In a provision requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to award post-secondary education scholarships and fee waivers to eligible students, removes a provision that conditions the renewal of awarded scholarships and fee waivers on students continuing to work toward graduation. Instead provides that while students shall not be required to maintain a specified minimum grade point average to continue to receive scholarships and fee waivers, students must be making satisfactory progress toward completing their degree at a community college, university, or college. Requires the Department to adopt rules identifying the criteria for "satisfactory progress toward completing a degree" (rather than the criteria for "continuing to work toward graduation"). Removes a provision requiring a community college or public university that an applicant attends to waive any tuition and fee amounts that exceed the amounts paid to the applicant under the State's Monetary Award Program. Effective immediately.Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In a provision providing that post-secondary education scholarships and fee waivers awarded to eligible students by the Department of Children and Family Services shall be available to students for at least 5 years, provides that such scholarships shall be available so long as the eligible students are continuing to work toward graduation and completion of a certificate or degree program (rather than so long as the eligible students are continuing to work toward graduation). Removes a provision requiring a community college or public university that a scholarship applicant attends to waive any tuition and fee amounts that exceed the amounts paid to the applicant under the federal Pell Grant Program. Provides that tuition and fee waivers shall be available to a student for at least the first 5 years the student is enrolled in a community college, university, or college maintained by the State of Illinois so long as the student continues to work toward graduation and completion of a certificate or degree program (rather than makes satisfactory progress toward completing the student's degree). Effective immediately. 2/6/2024SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz 2/6/2024SenateFirst Reading 2/6/2024SenateReferred to Assignments 2/14/2024SenateAssigned to Higher Education 3/5/2024SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz 3/5/2024SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 3/12/2024SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Higher Education 3/12/2024SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted 3/13/2024SenateDo Pass as Amended Higher Education; 011-000-000 3/13/2024SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 14, 2024 3/14/2024SenateSecond Reading 3/14/2024SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 20, 2024 4/9/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. John F. Curran 4/10/2024SenateThird Reading - Passed; 058-000-000 4/10/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura 4/10/2024HouseArrived in House 4/10/2024HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Kam Buckner 4/11/2024HouseFirst Reading 4/11/2024HouseReferred to Rules Committee 4/11/2024SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen 4/15/2024HouseAssigned to Higher Education Committee 5/1/2024HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 011-000-000 5/2/2024HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/14/2024HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 5/14/2024HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 5/17/2024HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 108-000-000 5/17/2024SenatePassed Both Houses 5/17/2024HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons 6/14/2024SenateSent to the Governor 8/9/2024SenateGovernor Approved 8/9/2024SenateEffective Date August 9, 2024 8/9/2024SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0943