Bill Text: IL HB4048 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish the Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist police officers who have left law enforcement with repayment of student loans and in order to help place officers into areas of the State who are the most under-staffed and in need of additional officers. Sets forth qualifications for applicants. Provides that each award under the Program shall be equal to $6,000 per year (i) for up to 5 years or (ii) until the applicant's student loans are paid off, whichever is sooner. Provides that an applicant has one year from the date that the first student loan assistance payment is received to begin work in a shortage area. Provides that applicants currently working in shortage areas are eligible for the Program, but those who left law enforcement due to reasons other than retirement or a permanent disability shall be given priority for the Program. Provides for rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2024.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 7-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-05 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha [HB4048 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB4048-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB4048 Introduced , by Rep. David Friess - Patrick Windhorst SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 947/65.120 new
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish the Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist police officers who have left law enforcement with repayment of student loans and in order to help place officers into areas of the State who are the most under-staffed and in need of additional officers. Sets forth qualifications for applicants. Provides that each award under the Program shall be equal to $6,000 per year (i) for up to 5 years or (ii) until the applicant's student loans are paid off, whichever is sooner. Provides that an applicant has one year from the date that the first student loan assistance payment is received to begin work in a shortage area. Provides that applicants currently working in shortage areas are eligible for the Program, but those who left law enforcement due to reasons other than retirement or a permanent disability shall be given priority for the Program. Provides for rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2024.
LRB103 31797 RJT 60397 b
A BILL FOR
HB4048 LRB103 31797 RJT 60397 b
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 adding Section 65.120 as follows:
(110 ILCS 947/65.120 new)
Sec. 65.120. Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment
Assistance Program.
(a) In order to encourage those who are qualified to be
police officers, but who have left law enforcement for other
work, to return to the force, the Commission shall establish
the Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance
Program to assist those individuals with repayment of student
loans and in order to help place officers into areas of the
State who are the most under-staffed and in need of additional
officers.
(b) Subject to appropriation, for the 2024-2025 academic
year and each academic year thereafter, the Illinois Student
Assistance Commission shall receive and consider applications
for the Program. Eligible applicants are those who:
(1) have received or plan to receive a diploma in a
field that is related to law enforcement from a public
institution of higher learning;

HB4048 - 2 - LRB103 31797 RJT 60397 b
(2) have completed or plan to complete any
certifications necessary to become a police officer;
(3) owe a balance on student loans;
(4) are currently not in default on any student loan
or do not owe a refund or repayment on any State or federal
grant or scholarship; and
(5) work or commit to work as a police officer in an
area experiencing a police officer shortage, as determined
by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board,
in the State.
(c) Each award under the Program shall be equal to $6,000
per year (i) for up to 5 years or (ii) until the applicant's
student loans are paid off, whichever is sooner.
(d) An applicant has one year from the date that the first
student loan assistance payment under this Section is received
to begin work in a shortage area.
(e) Applicants currently working in shortage areas are
eligible for the Program, but those who left law enforcement
due to reasons other than retirement or a permanent disability
shall be given priority for the Program.
(f) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to
implement this Section.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2024.