Bill Text: IL HB4256 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates State Seal of Biliteracy grants. Provides that a student qualifies for a State Seal of Biliteracy grant if he or she: (i) is a graduate of a public or nonpublic high school; (ii) is a recipient of the State Seal of Biliteracy; (iii) is enrolled or is accepted for enrollment at a public university or nonpublic college or university in undergraduate studies in teacher education or in an approved educator preparation program; and (iv) intends to obtain an educator license. Sets forth additional provisions of the grant. Authorizes the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to administer the grant program. Effective July 1, 2020.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-18 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez [HB4256 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB4256-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB4256 Introduced , by Rep. Aaron M. Ortiz SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 947/65.110 new
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates State Seal of Biliteracy grants. Provides that a student qualifies for a State Seal of Biliteracy grant if he or she: (i) is a graduate of a public or nonpublic high school; (ii) is a recipient of the State Seal of Biliteracy; (iii) is enrolled or is accepted for enrollment at a public university or nonpublic college or university in undergraduate studies in teacher education or in an approved educator preparation program; and (iv) intends to obtain an educator license. Sets forth additional provisions of the grant. Authorizes the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to administer the grant program. Effective July 1, 2020.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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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 65.110 as follows:
(110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)
Sec. 65.110. State Seal of Biliteracy grants.
(a) The Commission shall, each year, receive and consider
applications for grant assistance under this Section. An
applicant is eligible to receive a grant under this Section if
the Commission determines that the applicant:
(1) is a graduate of a public or nonpublic high school
located in this State;
(2) is a recipient of the State Seal of Biliteracy
under Section 2-3.159 of the School Code;
(3) is enrolled or is accepted for enrollment at a
public university or nonpublic college or university
located in this State in undergraduate studies in teacher
education or in an educator preparation program approved by
the State Board of Education; and
(4) intends to obtain an educator license under Article
21B of the School Code.
(b) An applicant who is determined by the Commission to be

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eligible for a grant under this Section shall receive, subject
to appropriation, a renewable grant of $5,000 to be applied to
tuition and mandatory fees and paid directly to the college or
university at which the applicant is enrolled. A grant awarded
under this Section may be renewed for a total of up to 4 years
of enrollment provided that the recipient maintains
eligibility for the grant and satisfactory academic progress at
the college or university at which the recipient is enrolled.
(c) Grants under this Section, subject to appropriation,
may be awarded to no more than 200 first-time recipients per
year, and no more than 800 grants total may be utilized at any
one time.
(d) If a recipient of a grant under this Section fails to
obtain an educator license under Article 21B of the School
Code, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the
amount of all grants received. The Commission shall set forth
conditions when repayment of the amount received by a recipient
may be waived or partially waived.
(e) The Commission shall make all necessary and proper
rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective
implementation.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
2020.