103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1086
 
Introduced , by Rep. Mary E. Flowers
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:



110 ILCS 947/65.120 new

 Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides for the issuance of grants to essential workers and the dependents of essential workers, subject to appropriation. Defines "essential worker" as an individual whose employment duties provide a service that is typically deemed vital to public health and safety and economic and national security and essential to continue critical infrastructure operations. Sets forth provisions concerning application and qualifications for a grant, the amount of a grant and its use, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2023.



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A BILL FOR
 


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1 AN ACT concerning education.


2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3represented in the General Assembly:



4 Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is 
5amended by adding Section 65.120 as follows:

6 (110 ILCS 947/65.120 new)
7 Sec. 65.120. Grants for essential workers.
8 (a)In this Section:
9 "Dependent" means a spouse, natural child, legally adopted 
10child, or child in the legal custody of an essential worker.
11 "Essential worker" means an individual whose employment 
12duties provide a service that is typically deemed vital to 
13public health and safety and economic and national security 
14and essential to continue critical infrastructure operations. 
15"Essential worker" includes, but is not limited to, a medical 
16or healthcare worker; child care or school personnel; an 
17in-home support provider; a telecommunications, information 
18technology systems, defense, food or agriculture, 
19transportation or logistics, energy, or water or wastewater 
20worker, or law enforcement personnel.
21 "Satisfactory academic progress" means the qualified 
22applicant's maintenance of minimum standards of academic 
23performance, consistent with requirements for maintaining 
 
 
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1federal financial aid eligibility, as determined by the 
2institution of higher learning.
3 (b) Subject to a separate appropriation for this purpose, 
4the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider 
5applications for grant assistance under this Section. Both an 
6essential worker and all dependents of the essential worker 
7qualify to receive a grant issued by the Commission in 
8accordance with this Section. Provided that the recipient is 
9maintaining satisfactory academic progress, the funds from the 
10grant may be used to pay up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of 
11full payment of tuition and mandatory fees at any public 
12university or public community college located in this State 
13for either full or part-time study. This benefit may be used 
14for undergraduate or graduate study.
15 In addition, a qualified applicant who has not yet 
16received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency 
17certificate and completes a high school equivalency 
18preparation course through an Illinois Community College 
19Board-approved provider may use grant funds to pay costs 
20associated with obtaining a high school equivalency 
21certificate, including payment of the cost of the high school 
22equivalency test and up to one retest on each test module, and 
23any additional fees that may be required in order to obtain an 
24Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate or an official 
25transcript of test scores after successful completion of the 
26high school equivalency test.
 
 
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1 (c) An applicant for a grant under this Section need not 
2demonstrate financial need to qualify for the benefits.
3 (d) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to 
4implement and administer this Section. 


5 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
62023.