Bill Text: IL SB3703 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish a nursing student stipend program to reimburse eligible applicants for the pre-licensure nursing program cost incurred during the previous academic year from a baccalaureate degree nursing program. Sets forth provisions concerning application for a stipend, the amount of the stipend, the pre-licensure nursing program cost, the distribution of funds, information on the stipend program, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Failed) 2025-01-07 - Session Sine Die [SB3703 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB3703-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB3703 Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Paul Faraci SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 947/65.125 new
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish a nursing student stipend program to reimburse eligible applicants for the pre-licensure nursing program cost incurred during the previous academic year from a baccalaureate degree nursing program. Sets forth provisions concerning application for a stipend, the amount of the stipend, the pre-licensure nursing program cost, the distribution of funds, information on the stipend program, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.
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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 65.125 as follows:
(110 ILCS 947/65.125 new)
Sec. 65.125. Nursing student stipend program.
(a) In this Section:
"Baccalaureate degree nursing program" means a
pre-licensure nursing program or an accelerated nursing
program that is offered by an institution of higher learning
and leads to a baccalaureate degree of science in nursing.
"Eligible applicant" means a person who:
(1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
eligible noncitizen of the United States;
(2) was enrolled in a baccalaureate degree nursing
program during the previous academic year;
(3) maintained satisfactory academic progress during
the previous academic year; and
(4) applies for a nursing student stipend under this
Section within the application period established by the
Commission.
"Pre-licensure nursing program cost" means the fees for

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all of the following: a criminal background check and drug
screening, a physical examination, required immunizations, a
uniform and any other required clothing, a stethoscope, blood
pressure equipment, scissors, a hemostat, a nursing student
identification badge, cardiopulmonary resuscitation
certification, the National Council of State Boards of
Nursing's NCLEX application, a criminal background check for
the NCLEX, applications, or licenses or any other costs
required to complete a clinical program in a baccalaureate
degree nursing program, as determined by the Commission. The
Commission may adopt rules regarding which products are
included under this definition.
"Program" means the nursing student stipend program
established under this Section.
(b) Subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026
academic year, the Commission shall establish a nursing
student stipend program to reimburse eligible applicants for
the pre-licensure nursing program cost incurred during the
previous academic year from a baccalaureate degree nursing
program. The Commission shall, on an annual basis, receive and
consider applications for nursing student stipends under the
program and provide a nursing student stipend to each eligible
applicant in the following amounts:
(1) An eligible applicant who was a part-time student
during the previous academic year shall receive a stipend
in the amount of 5% of the pre-licensure nursing program

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cost for the previous academic year and an additional $50
to assist with travel expenses incurred to and from
clinical components during the previous academic year.
(2) An eligible applicant who was a full-time student
during the previous academic year shall receive a stipend
in the amount of 7.5% of the pre-licensure nursing program
cost for the previous academic year and an additional $100
to assist with travel expenses incurred to and from
clinical components during the previous academic year.
(3) An eligible applicant who, during the previous
academic year, completed a baccalaureate degree nursing
program in one year or less after initially enrolling in
the nursing program shall receive a stipend in the amount
of 15% of the pre-licensure nursing program cost for the
previous academic year and an additional $200 to assist
with travel expenses incurred to and from clinical
components during the previous academic year.
(c) On an annual basis, as determined by the Commission,
an institution of higher learning shall report the
pre-licensure nursing program cost of the baccalaureate degree
nursing program for the previous academic year. The Commission
shall determine, based on the reported pre-licensure nursing
program cost, how much an eligible applicant shall receive
under the program.
(d) An application for a nursing student stipend under the
program shall be made to the Commission on forms that the

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Commission shall provide to an eligible applicant. The form of
application and the information required shall be determined
by the Commission, and the Commission shall require an
eligible applicant to submit with the application any
supporting documents or recommendations that the Commission
deems necessary.
(e) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, the
payment method for the nursing student stipend under this
Section shall be determined by the Commission. Any nursing
student stipend funds distributed in accordance with the
program shall be given to the recipient of the nursing student
stipend.
(f) An eligible applicant applying as a part-time student
may apply for and receive a nursing student stipend under the
program for up to 6 semesters or 12 quarters. An eligible
applicant applying as a full-time student may apply for and
receive a nursing student stipend under the program for up to 4
semesters or 8 quarters.
(g) An institution of higher learning with a baccalaureate
degree in nursing program shall provide information on the
institution of higher learning's Internet website that informs
both current and prospective pre-licensure nursing students
about the program.
(h) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to
implement and administer this Section.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,

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