HB2635 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 07558 NHT 47668 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB2635

Introduced 2/18/2011, by Rep. Tom Cross

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/36

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access grant program.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by changing Section 36 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/36)

Sec. 36. Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access grant program.

(a) The 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.)