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92_HB2436enr
HB2436 Enrolled LRB9204486NTsbA
1 AN ACT concerning higher education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Nursing Education Scholarship Law is
5 amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 as
6 follows:
7 (110 ILCS 975/2) (from Ch. 144, par. 2752)
8 Sec. 2. Legislative finding and declaration of policy.
9 The General Assembly finds and hereby declares that the
10 provision of a higher education leading to an associate
11 degree in of nursing, an associate degree in of applied
12 sciences in nursing, a hospital-based diploma in hospital
13 based nursing, program diploma, completion of a practical
14 nursing education program, and a baccalaureate degree in
15 nursing, or a certificate in practical nursing for persons of
16 this State who desire such an education is important to the
17 health, welfare and security of this State and Nation, and
18 consequently is an important public purpose. Many qualified
19 and potential nurses are deterred by financial considerations
20 from pursuing their nursing education, with consequent
21 irreparable loss to the State and Nation of talents vital to
22 health, welfare and security. A system of scholarships,
23 repayment of which may be excused if the individual is
24 employed as a registered practices professional nurse nursing
25 or a licensed practical nurse nursing after obtaining an
26 associate degree in nursing, associate degree in of applied
27 sciences in nursing, or hospital-based diploma in completing
28 a practical nursing education program, hospital based
29 nursing, program diploma, or a baccalaureate degree in
30 nursing, or certificate in practical nursing, will enable
31 such individuals to attend approved qualified institutions of
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1 their choice in the State, public or private.
2 (Source: P.A. 89-237, eff. 8-4-95.)
3 (110 ILCS 975/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2753)
4 Sec. 3. Definitions.
5 The following terms, whenever used or referred to, have
6 the following meanings except where the context clearly
7 indicates otherwise:
8 (1) "Board" means the Board of Higher Education created
9 by the Board of Higher Education Act.
10 (2) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public
11 Health.
12 (3) "Approved institution" means a public community
13 college, private junior college, hospital-based diploma in
14 hospital based nursing program, or public or private college
15 or university located in this State that which has National
16 League for Nursing accreditation or approval by the
17 Department of Professional Regulation for an the associate
18 degree program in nursing program, associate degree in of
19 applied sciences in nursing program, hospital-based diploma
20 in hospital based nursing program diploma, baccalaureate
21 degree in nursing program, or certificate in practical
22 nursing education program of not less than one academic year,
23 or baccalaureate degree in nursing.
24 (4) "Baccalaureate degree in nursing program" means a
25 program offered by an approved institution and leading to a
26 bachelor of science degree in nursing.
27 (5) "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance
28 of an individual's status as a student in an approved
29 institution, regardless of the terms used at the institution
30 to describe such status.
31 (6) "Academic year" means the period of time from
32 September 1 of one year through August 31 of the next year or
33 as otherwise defined by the academic institution.
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1 (7) "Associate degree in nursing program or
2 hospital-based diploma in nursing hospital based program"
3 means a program offered by an approved institution and
4 leading to an the associate degree in of nursing, associate
5 degree in of applied sciences in nursing, or hospital-based
6 diploma in nursing hospital based nursing program diploma.
7 (8) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois
8 Department of Public Health.
9 (9) "Accepted for admission" means a student has
10 completed the requirements for entry into an associate degree
11 in nursing program, associate degree in applied sciences in
12 nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
13 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, or certificate in
14 practical nursing program at an approved institution, as
15 documented by the institution.
16 (10) "Fees" means those mandatory charges, in addition
17 to tuition, that all enrolled students must pay, including
18 required course or lab fees.
19 (11) "Full-time student" means a student enrolled for at
20 least 12 hours per term or as otherwise determined by the
21 academic institution.
22 (12) "Law" means the Nursing Education Scholarship Law.
23 (13) "Nursing employment obligation" means employment in
24 this State as a registered professional nurse or licensed
25 practical nurse in direct patient care for at least one year
26 for each year of scholarship assistance received through the
27 Nursing Education Scholarship Program.
28 (14) "Part-time student" means a person who is enrolled
29 for at least one-third of the number of hours required per
30 term by a school for its full-time students.
31 (15) "Practical nursing program" means a program offered
32 by an approved institution leading to a certificate in
33 practical nursing.
34 (16) "Registered professional nurse" means a person who
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1 is currently licensed as a registered professional nurse by
2 the Department of Professional Regulation under the Nursing
3 and Advanced Practice Nursing Act.
4 (17) "Licensed practical nurse" means a person who is
5 currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse by the
6 Department of Professional Regulation under the Nursing and
7 Advanced Practice Nursing Act.
8 (18) "School term" means an academic term, such as a
9 semester, quarter, trimester, or number of clock hours, as
10 defined by an approved institution.
11 (19) "Student in good standing" means a student
12 maintaining a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at
13 least the academic grade of a "C".
14 (20) "Total and permanent disability" means a physical
15 or mental impairment, disease, or loss of a permanent nature
16 that prevents nursing employment with or without reasonable
17 accommodation. Proof of disability shall be a declaration
18 from the social security administration, Illinois Industrial
19 Commission, Department of Defense, or an insurer authorized
20 to transact business in Illinois who is providing disability
21 insurance coverage to a contractor.
22 (21) "Tuition" means the established charges of an
23 institution of higher learning for instruction at that
24 institution.
25 (Source: P.A. 86-1467; 87-577.)
26 (110 ILCS 975/4) (from Ch. 144, par. 2754)
27 Sec. 4. Functions of Department. The Department shall
28 prepare and supervise the issuance of public information
29 about the provisions of this Article; prescribe the form and
30 regulate the submission of applications for scholarships;
31 determine the eligibility of applicants; award the
32 appropriate scholarships; prescribe the contracts or other
33 acknowledgments of scholarship which an applicant is required
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1 to execute; and determine whether all or any part of a
2 recipient's an applicant's scholarship needs to be monetarily
3 repaid, or has been excused from repayment, and the extent of
4 any repayment or excused repayment. The Department may
5 require a scholarship recipient to reimburse the State for
6 expenses, including but not limited to attorney's fees,
7 incurred by the Department or other agent of the State for a
8 successful legal action against the recipient for a breach of
9 any provision of the scholarship contract. In a breach of
10 contract, the Department may utilize referral to the
11 Department of Professional Regulation to revoke, suspend,
12 refuse to renew, place on probationary status, or take other
13 disciplinary action concerning the recipient's credentials.
14 The Department is authorized to make all necessary and proper
15 rules, not inconsistent with this Article, for the efficient
16 exercise of the foregoing functions.
17 (Source: P.A. 86-1467.)
18 (110 ILCS 975/5) (from Ch. 144, par. 2755)
19 Sec. 5. Nursing education full-time undergraduate
20 scholarships. Beginning with the fall term of the 2002-2003
21 1991-1992 academic year, 500 scholarships shall be provided
22 each year for qualified individuals who desire to enter an
23 approved institution awarding an associate degree, nursing
24 diploma, or baccalaureate degree in nursing or offering an
25 approved practical nursing education program of not less than
26 one academic year. Of the 500 scholarships provided each
27 year, at least 50 shall go to persons entering an approved
28 practical nursing education program of not less than one
29 academic year. the Department, in accordance with rules and
30 regulations promulgated by it for this program, shall provide
31 scholarships to individuals selected funding and shall
32 designate each year's new recipients from among those
33 applicants who qualify for consideration by showing:
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1 (1) that he or she has been a resident of this
2 State for at least one year prior to application, and is
3 a citizen or a lawful permanent resident alien of the
4 United States;
5 (2) that he or she is enrolled in or accepted proof
6 of enrollment or acceptance for admission to an associate
7 degree in a practical nursing program, hospital-based
8 associate degree nursing, diploma in nursing program, or
9 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, or practical
10 nursing program at an approved institution; and
11 (3) that he or she agrees to meet the nursing
12 employment obligation serve as a registered professional
13 nurse or licensed practical nurse in Illinois in
14 accordance with Section 6.
15 If in any year the number of qualified applicants exceeds
16 the number of scholarships to be awarded, the Department
17 shall give priority in awarding scholarships to students in
18 the greatest financial need, as shown on a standardized
19 financial needs assessment form used by an approved
20 institution who will pursue their education on a full-time or
21 closest to full-time basis and who already have a certificate
22 in practical nursing, a diploma in nursing, or an associate
23 degree in nursing and are pursuing a higher degree. The
24 Department shall consider factors such as the applicant's
25 family income, the size of the applicant's family and the
26 number of other children in the applicant's family attending
27 college, and whether the applicant is the head of the
28 household in determining the financial need of the
29 individual.
30 Unless otherwise indicated, these scholarships shall be
31 awarded to recipients at approved institutions good for a
32 period of up to 2 3 years if while the recipient is enrolled
33 in an associate degree in nursing program, up to 3 years if
34 the recipient is enrolled in a hospital-based diploma in
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1 nursing program, up to 4 years if the recipient is enrolled
2 in a baccalaureate degree in nursing program, and up to one
3 year if the recipient is enrolled in a certificate in
4 practical nursing program. At least 50% of the scholarships
5 awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing
6 baccalaureate degrees in nursing, 40% of the scholarships
7 awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing associate
8 degrees in nursing or a diploma in nursing, and 10% of the
9 scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who are pursuing
10 a certificate in practical nursing. for residence credit at a
11 community college, private junior college or hospital based
12 nursing program, and up to 4 years if applicant is pursuing a
13 baccalaureate degree in a public or private college or
14 university; except that the length of scholarships for
15 persons studying to be licensed practical nurses shall be
16 established by the Department. At least 1/2 of the
17 scholarships awarded shall be for recipients who shall attend
18 State supported schools. The scholarship shall cover
19 tuition, fees and a stipend of $2,500 per year for full-time
20 students; except that the amount of scholarships for persons
21 studying to be licensed practical nurses shall be established
22 by the Department. For purposes of calculating scholarship
23 awards for recipients attending private junior colleges or
24 hospital based nursing programs, or private colleges or
25 universities, tuition and fees for these students at private
26 approved institutions shall be deemed to not exceed the
27 Statewide average tuition and fees for students at public
28 approved institutions for the academic year in which the
29 scholarship is made.
30 (Source: P.A. 89-237, eff. 8-4-95.)
31 (110 ILCS 975/6) (from Ch. 144, par. 2756)
32 Sec. 6. Nursing requirements for scholarship recipients.
33 Within 12 months after Upon graduation from an associate
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1 degree in nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing
2 or hospital based program, in professional nursing,
3 baccalaureate degree in nursing program, or certificate in
4 practical nursing other program, or course of study any
5 recipient person who accepted a scholarship under Section 5
6 shall begin meeting the required nursing employment
7 obligation, during the 7 year period immediately following
8 his or her graduation, be employed in this State as a
9 registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse, as
10 each term defined in the Nursing and Advanced Practice
11 Nursing Act, for at least one year for each year of full-time
12 scholarship support received. In order to defer his or her
13 continuous employment obligation, a recipient must request
14 the deferment in writing from the Department. A recipient
15 shall notify program staff within 30 days if he or she spends
16 up to 4 years in military service before or after graduation.
17 A recipient shall notify program staff within 30 days if he
18 or she is enrolled in an academic program leading to a
19 graduate degree in nursing. If a recipient receives funding
20 through the Nursing Education Scholarship Program for a
21 higher degree, the nursing employment obligation shall be
22 deferred until he or she is no longer enrolled or has
23 graduated. The recipient must begin meeting the required
24 nursing employment obligations no later than 6 months after
25 the end of the deferments. If the recipient spends up to 4
26 years in military service before or after he or she
27 graduates, the period of military service shall be excluded
28 from the computation of that 7 year period. A recipient who
29 is enrolled in an academic program leading to a graduate
30 degree in nursing shall have the period of graduate study
31 excluded from the computation of that 7 year period.
32 Calendar years of required employment will be
33 proportionally reduced for less than full academic year
34 scholarship support; provided that employment must be at
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1 least 17.5 hours per week.
2 Any person who fails to fulfill the nursing employment
3 obligation requirement shall pay to the Department an amount
4 equal to the amount of scholarship funds received per year
5 for each unfulfilled year of the nursing employment
6 obligation requirement, together with interest at 7% per year
7 on the unpaid balance. Payment must begin within 6 months
8 following the date of the occurrence initiating the
9 repayment. All repayments must be completed within 6 years
10 from the date of the occurrence initiating the repayment.
11 However, this obligation may be deferred and re-evaluated
12 every 6 months to repay does not apply when the failure to
13 fulfill the nursing employment obligation requirement results
14 from involuntarily leaving the profession due to a decrease
15 in the number of nurses employed in the State or when the
16 failure to fulfill the nursing employment obligation results
17 from total and permanent disability. The repayment
18 obligation shall be excused if the failure to fulfill the
19 nursing employment obligation results from the death or
20 adjudication as incompetent of the person holding the
21 scholarship. No claim for repayment may be filed against the
22 estate of such a decedent or incompetent.
23 Each person applying for such a scholarship shall be
24 provided with a copy of this Section at the time of
25 application he or she applies for the benefits of such
26 scholarship.
27 (Source: P.A. 90-742, eff. 8-13-98.)
28 (110 ILCS 975/7) (from Ch. 144, par. 2757)
29 Sec. 7. Amount of scholarships. To determine a
30 scholarship amount, the Department shall consider tuition and
31 fee charges at community colleges and universities statewide
32 and projected living expenses. Using information provided
33 annually by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, 75%
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1 of the weighted tuition and fees charged by community
2 colleges in Illinois shall be added to the uniform living
3 allowance reported in the weighted Monetary Award Program
4 (MAP) budget to determine the full-time scholarship amount
5 for students pursuing an associate degree or diploma in
6 nursing at an Illinois community college. Scholarship
7 amounts for students pursuing associate or baccalaureate
8 degrees in nursing at a college or university shall include
9 75% of the weighted tuition and fees charged by public
10 universities in Illinois plus the uniform living allowance
11 reported in the weighted MAP budget. Scholarship amounts for
12 students in practical nursing programs shall include 75% of
13 the average of tuition charges at all practical nursing
14 programs plus the uniform living allowance reported in the
15 weighted MAP budget. A scholarship shall be for $2,500 per
16 year for living expenses for the full-time student and up to
17 $2,000 per year for full-time tuition and fees, or a maximum
18 of $4,500 per year, less any other State or federal
19 assistance received by applicant to assist applicant's
20 pursuit of an associate degree, or hospital based program
21 diploma, or baccalaureate degree in nursing. The amount of a
22 scholarship for a person studying to be a licensed practical
23 nurse, however, shall be determined by the Department. The
24 full-time student applicant may receive a scholarship for 3
25 academic years if pursuing an associate degree or diploma,
26 and for 4 academic years if pursuing a baccalaureate in
27 nursing degree. A scholarship may be made to a part time
28 (but not less than 1/3 time) student but it shall cover only
29 tuition and fees and shall not exceed the aggregate of $4,000
30 for the total time applicant may take to complete the
31 associate degree, or hospital based program in nursing, or
32 baccalaureate nursing program. The Department may provide
33 that scholarships shall be on a quarterly or semi-annual
34 basis and shall be contingent upon the student's applicant's
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1 diligently pursuing nursing applicant's studies and being a
2 student in good standing. Scholarship awards may be provided
3 to part-time students; the amount shall be determined by
4 applying the proportion represented by the part-time
5 enrollment to full-time enrollment ratio to the average
6 per-term scholarship amount for a student in the same nursing
7 degree category.
8 (Source: P.A. 86-1467; 87-577.)
9 (110 ILCS 975/9) (from Ch. 144, par. 2759)
10 Sec. 9. Student enrollment and obligations of
11 institutions.
12 (a) An approved institution is free to accept a student
13 an applicant in compliance with its own admissions
14 requirements, standards, and policies. The Department may
15 disburse any scholarship for tuition and fees to the approved
16 institution direct for the payment of tuition and other
17 necessary fees or for credit against the student's obligation
18 for such tuition and fees, and upon acceptance thereof the
19 approved institution shall be contractually obligated (1) to
20 provide facilities and instruction to the student on the same
21 terms as to other students generally, and (2) to provide the
22 notices and information described in this Section.
23 (b) If, in the course of any academic period, any
24 student enrolled in any approved institution pursuant to a
25 scholarship granted under this Article shall for any reason
26 cease to be a student in good standing, the institution shall
27 promptly give written notice to the Department concerning
28 such change of status and the reason therefor.
29 (c) A student to whom a renewal scholarship has been
30 awarded may either re-enroll in the institution which he or
31 she attended during the preceding year, or enroll in any
32 other approved institution; and in either event, the
33 institution accepting the student for such enrollment or
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1 re-enrollment shall notify the Department of such acceptance.
2 (Source: P.A. 86-1467.)
3 (110 ILCS 975/10 rep.)
4 Section 10. The Nursing Education Scholarship Law is
5 amended by repealing Section 10.
6 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect
7 January 1, 2002.
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