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HB 2791

Illinois House•In House Committee

Summary

HB 2791, “ISAC-NO REPAYMENT OBLIGATION”, was introduced in the House on Feb 5, 2025 by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez (D). It was referred to Rules, and last saw action on Mar 21, 2025: Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee.

Record

Text

HB 2791 has no co-sponsors and has not gone to a roll call.

hb2791/introduced.txt
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Full Text of HB2791
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	HB2791 - 104th General Assembly
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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2791
Introduced 2/6/2025, by Rep. Edgar González, Jr.
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 947/20
110 ILCS 947/50
110 ILCS 947/52
110 ILCS 947/65.15
110 ILCS 947/65.70
110 ILCS 947/65.110
110 ILCS 947/65.120
110 ILCS 975/2	  from Ch. 144, par. 2752
110 ILCS 975/3	  from Ch. 144, par. 2753
110 ILCS 975/3.1
110 ILCS 975/4	  from Ch. 144, par. 2754
110 ILCS 975/6	  from Ch. 144, par. 2756
110 ILCS 975/6.5
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that on the effective date of the amendatory Act,any recipient of a scholarship, grant, or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan under a State program for which the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is responsible for collections shall be released from the remaining financial repayment obligations under that program. In provisions concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, special education teacher scholarships, the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program and in the Nursing Education Scholarship Law, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of a recipient to fulfill the recipient's obligations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
A BILL FOR
		HB2791		LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 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 changing Sections 20, 50, 52, 65.15, 65.70, 65.110,
and 65.120 as follows:
    (110 ILCS 947/20)
    Sec. 20. Functions of Commission.
    (a) The Commission, in accordance with this Act, shall
prepare and supervise the issuance of public information
concerning its provisions; prescribe the form and regulate the
submission of applications for assistance; provide for and
conduct, or cause to be conducted, all eligibility
determinations of applicants; award the appropriate financial
assistance; and, upon request by a member of the General
Assembly, nominate or evaluate and recommend for nomination
applicants for General Assembly scholarships in accordance
with criteria specified by the member under Section 30-9 of
the School Code.
    (b) The Commission is authorized to participate in any
programs for monetary assistance to students and to receive,
hold, and disburse all such funds made available by any agency
or organization for the purpose or purposes for which they are
		HB2791	- 2 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
made available. The Commission is authorized to administer a
program of grant assistance as authorized by the Baccalaureate
Savings Act. The Commission is authorized to participate in
any programs established to improve student financial aid
services or the proficiency of persons engaged in student
financial aid services and to receive, hold, and disburse all
funds made available by any agency or organization for the
purpose or purposes for which they are made available subject
to the appropriations of the General Assembly.
    (c) The Commission is authorized to deny a scholarship or
a grant to any person who has defaulted on a guaranteed student
loan and who is not maintaining a satisfactory repayment
record. If a person has a defaulted guaranteed student loan
but is otherwise eligible for assistance pursuant to Section
40, the Commission shall award one term of assistance during
which a satisfactory repayment record must be established. If
such a repayment record is not established, additional
assistance shall be denied until a satisfactory repayment
record is established.
    (d) The Commission is authorized to participate with
federal, state, county, local, and university law enforcement
agencies in cooperative efforts to detect and prosecute
incidents of fraud in student assistance programs.
    (e) The Administrative Review Law shall apply to and
govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final
administrative decisions of the Commission.
		HB2791	- 3 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    (f) The Commission is authorized to make all necessary and
proper rules, not inconsistent with this Act, for the
efficient exercise of the foregoing functions.
    (g) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the functions of
the Commission shall be exercised without regard to any
applicant's race, creed, sex, color, national origin, or
ancestry.
    (h) The Commission is authorized to establish systems and
programs to encourage employers to match employee
contributions to prepaid programs of college savings by making
donations to the Commission for prepaid programs of college
savings to make higher education affordable for all residents
of the State and to receive, hold, and disburse all such funds
made available through those programs for the purposes for
which they are authorized by rule or by law.
    (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 
contrary, on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 
104th General Assembly, any recipient of a scholarship, grant, 
or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan 
under a State program for which the Commission is responsible 
for collections shall be released from the remaining financial 
repayment obligations under that program. This includes 
financial repayment obligations under Section 50, 52, 65.15, 
65.70, 65.110, or 65.120, the Nursing Education Scholarship 
Law, or any other similarly structured State scholarship, 
grant, or waiver program for which the Commission is or may 
		HB2791	- 4 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
become responsible for collections.
    The release from financial repayment obligations under 
this subsection (i) applies only to financial repayment 
obligations resulting from a recipient's failure to complete 
any required employment obligation under the terms of the 
scholarship, grant, or waiver. The release does not apply to 
amounts owed to the Commission for other reasons, including, 
but not limited to, error, fraud, rescission of funds, or 
because a recipient ceased to be eligible for the amount 
initially awarded.
(Source: P.A. 96-198, eff. 8-10-09.)
    (110 ILCS 947/50)
    Sec. 50. Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
program.
    (a) As used in this Section:
        "Eligible applicant" means a minority student who has
    graduated from high school or has received a State of
    Illinois High School Diploma and has maintained a
    cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0
    scale, and who by reason thereof is entitled to apply for
    scholarships to be awarded under this Section.
        "Minority student" means a student who is any of the
    following:
            (1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person
        having origins in any of the original peoples of North
		HB2791	- 5 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
        and South America, including Central America, and who
        maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment).
            (2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the
        original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or
        the Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited
        to, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
        Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and
        Vietnam).
            (3) Black or African American (a person having
        origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa).
            (4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban,
        Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or
        other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race).
            (5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a
        person having origins in any of the original peoples
        of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).
        "Qualified bilingual minority applicant" means a
    qualified student who demonstrates proficiency in a
    language other than English by (i) receiving a State Seal
    of Biliteracy from the State Board of Education or (ii)
    receiving a passing score on an educator licensure target
    language proficiency test.
        "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a
    resident of this State and a citizen or permanent resident
    of the United States; (ii) who is a minority student, as
    defined in this Section; (iii) who, as an eligible
		HB2791	- 6 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    applicant, has made a timely application for a minority
    teaching scholarship under this Section; (iv) who is
    enrolled on at least a half-time basis at a qualified
    Illinois institution of higher learning; (v) who is
    enrolled in a course of study leading to teacher
    licensure, including alternative teacher licensure, or, if
    the student is already licensed to teach, in a course of
    study leading to an additional teaching endorsement or a
    master's degree in an academic field in which he or she is
    teaching or plans to teach or who has received one or more
    College and Career Pathway Endorsements pursuant to
    Section 80 of the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness
    Act and commits to enrolling in a course of study leading
    to teacher licensure, including alternative teacher
    licensure; (vi) who maintains a grade point average of no
    less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; and (vii) who continues to
    advance satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
    (b) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
minority students to pursue teaching careers at the preschool
or elementary or secondary school level and to address and
alleviate the teacher shortage crisis in this State described
under the provisions of the Transitions in Education Act, each
qualified student shall be awarded a minority teacher
scholarship to any qualified Illinois institution of higher
learning. However, preference may be given to qualified
applicants enrolled at or above the junior level.
		HB2791	- 7 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    (c) Each minority teacher scholarship awarded under this
Section shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and
fees and room and board costs of the qualified Illinois
institution of higher learning at which the recipient is
enrolled, up to an annual maximum of $5,000; except that in the
case of a recipient who does not reside on-campus at the
institution at which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the
scholarship shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee
expenses and a commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of
$5,000. However, if at least $2,850,000 is appropriated in a
given fiscal year for the Minority Teachers of Illinois
scholarship program, then, in each fiscal year thereafter,
each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be in an
amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room and
board costs of the qualified Illinois institution of higher
learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual
maximum of $7,500; except that in the case of a recipient who
does not reside on-campus at the institution at which he or she
is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient
to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to
an annual maximum of $7,500.
    (d) The total amount of minority teacher scholarship
assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an
individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other
financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year,
shall not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at
		HB2791	- 8 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
which the student is enrolled. If the amount of a minority
teacher scholarship to be awarded to a qualified student as
provided in subsection (c) of this Section exceeds the cost of
attendance at the institution at which the student is
enrolled, the minority teacher scholarship shall be reduced by
an amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
attendance.
    (e) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
qualified student can receive minority teacher scholarship
assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
    (f) In any academic year for which an eligible applicant
under this Section accepts financial assistance through the
Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program, as authorized by
Section 551 et seq. of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the
applicant shall not be eligible for scholarship assistance
awarded under this Section.
    (g) All applications for minority teacher scholarships to
be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission
on forms which the Commission shall provide for eligible
applicants. The form of applications and the information
required to be set forth therein shall be determined by the
Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible
applicants to submit with their applications such supporting
documents or recommendations as the Commission deems
necessary.
		HB2791	- 9 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    (h) Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes,
payment of any minority teacher scholarship awarded under this
Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship
funds distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be
paid to the institution and used only for payment of the
tuition and fee and room and board expenses incurred by the
student in connection with his or her attendance at a
qualified Illinois institution of higher learning. Any
minority teacher scholarship awarded under this Section shall
be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment. If a
qualified student withdraws from enrollment prior to
completion of the first semester or quarter for which the
minority teacher scholarship is applicable, the school shall
refund to the Commission the full amount of the minority
teacher scholarship.
    (i) The Commission shall administer the minority teacher
scholarship aid program established by this Section and shall
make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
Section for its effective implementation.
    (j) When an appropriation to the Commission for a given
fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
qualified students, the Commission shall allocate the
appropriation in accordance with this subsection. If funds are
insufficient to provide all qualified students with a
scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission
shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal
		HB2791	- 10 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
year to qualified students who submit a complete application
form on or before a date specified by the Commission based on
the following order of priority:
        (1) To students who received a scholarship under this
    Section in the prior academic year and who remain eligible
    for a minority teacher scholarship under this Section.
        (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (k), to
    students who demonstrate financial need, as determined by
    the Commission.
    (k) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subsection (j), at
least 35% of the funds appropriated for scholarships awarded
under this Section in each fiscal year shall be reserved for
qualified male minority applicants, with priority being given
to qualified Black male applicants beginning with fiscal year
2023. If the Commission does not receive enough applications
from qualified male minorities on or before January 1 of each
fiscal year to award 35% of the funds appropriated for these
scholarships to qualified male minority applicants, then the
Commission may award a portion of the reserved funds to
qualified female minority applicants in accordance with
subsection (j).
    Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at least $2,850,000
but less than $4,200,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal
year for scholarships awarded under this Section, then at
least 10% of the funds appropriated shall be reserved for
qualified bilingual minority applicants, with priority being
		HB2791	- 11 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
given to qualified bilingual minority applicants who are
enrolled in an educator preparation program with a
concentration in bilingual, bicultural education. Beginning
with fiscal year 2023, if at least $4,200,000 is appropriated
in a given fiscal year for the Minority Teachers of Illinois
scholarship program, then at least 30% of the funds
appropriated shall be reserved for qualified bilingual
minority applicants, with priority being given to qualified
bilingual minority applicants who are enrolled in an educator
preparation program with a concentration in bilingual,
bicultural education. Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at
least $2,850,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal year for
scholarships awarded under this Section but the Commission
does not receive enough applications from qualified bilingual
minority applicants on or before January 1 of that fiscal year
to award at least 10% of the funds appropriated to qualified
bilingual minority applicants, then the Commission may, in its
discretion, award a portion of the reserved funds to other
qualified students in accordance with subsection (j).
    (l) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
academic year, each recipient of a minority teacher
scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by
the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient
pledges that, within the one-year period following the
termination of the program for which the recipient was awarded
a minority teacher scholarship, the recipient (i) shall begin
		HB2791	- 12 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
teaching for a period of not less than one year for each year
of scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
Section; (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a
nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool,
elementary school, or secondary school at which no less than
30% of the enrolled students are minority students in the year
during which the recipient begins teaching at the school or
may instead, if the recipient received a scholarship as a
qualified bilingual minority applicant, fulfill this teaching
obligation in a program in transitional bilingual education
pursuant to Article 14C of the School Code or in a school in
which 20 or more English learner students in the same language
classification are enrolled; and (iii) shall, upon request by
the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that he
or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
agreement provided for in this subsection.
    (m) (Blank). [If a recipient of a minority teacher ]
[scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the ]
[teaching obligation set forth in subsection (l) of this ]
[Section, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay ]
[the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to ]
[the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, at a ]
[rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable ]
[collection fees. If a recipient who enters into repayment ]
[under this subsection (m) subsequently, within 5 years of ]
[entering repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the ]
		HB2791	- 13 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[description under subsection (l) of this Section, the ]
[Commission may reduce the amount owed by the recipient in ]
[proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed. ]
[The Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to ]
[its collection activities for repayment of scholarships under ]
[this Section. All repayments collected under this Section ]
[shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller for deposit into ]
[the State's General Revenue Fund.]
    (n) (Blank). [A recipient of minority teacher scholarship ]
[shall not be considered in violation of the agreement entered ]
[into pursuant to subsection (l) if the recipient (i) enrolls ]
[on a full time basis as a graduate student in a course of study ]
[related to the field of teaching at a qualified Illinois ]
[institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not in excess ]
[of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the United ]
[States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total disability ]
[for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as established by ]
[sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and ]
[unable to find full time employment as a teacher at an Illinois ]
[public, private, or parochial preschool or elementary or ]
[secondary school that satisfies the criteria set forth in ]
[subsection (l) of this Section and is able to provide evidence ]
[of that fact; (v) becomes a person with a permanent total ]
[disability as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified ]
[physician; (vi) is taking additional courses, on at least a ]
[half-time basis, needed to obtain licensure as a teacher in ]
		HB2791	- 14 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[Illinois; or (vii) is fulfilling teaching requirements ]
[associated with other programs administered by the Commission ]
[and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a ]
[period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation.]
    (o) (Blank). [Scholarship recipients under this Section who ]
[withdraw from a program of teacher education but remain ]
[enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in ]
[another academic discipline shall not be required to commence ]
[repayment of their Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship ]
[so long as they remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis ]
[or if they can document for the Commission special ]
[circumstances that warrant extension of repayment.]
    (p) If the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
program does not expend at least 90% of the amount
appropriated for the program in a given fiscal year for 3
consecutive fiscal years and the Commission does not receive
enough applications from the groups identified in subsection
(k) on or before January 1 in each of those fiscal years to
meet the percentage reserved for those groups under subsection
(k), then up to 3% of amount appropriated for the program for
each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated to increasing
awareness of the program and for the recruitment of Black male
applicants. The Commission shall make a recommendation to the
General Assembly by January 1 of the year immediately
following the end of that third fiscal year regarding whether
the amount allocated to increasing awareness and recruitment
		HB2791	- 15 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
should continue.
    (q) Each qualified Illinois institution of higher learning
that receives funds from the Minority Teachers of Illinois
scholarship program shall host an annual information session
at the institution about the program for teacher candidates of
color in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission.
Additionally, the institution shall ensure that each
scholarship recipient enrolled at the institution meets with
an academic advisor at least once per academic year to
facilitate on-time completion of the recipient's educator
preparation program.
    (r) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 101-654
will first take effect with awards made for the 2022-2023
academic year.
(Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
102-1100, eff. 1-1-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; revised 7-19-24.)
    (110 ILCS 947/52)
    Sec. 52. Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program; Golden
Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching.
    (a) In this Section, "Foundation" means the Golden Apple
Foundation for Excellence in Teaching, a registered 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit corporation.
    (a-2) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
students, especially minority students, to pursue teaching
careers, especially in teacher shortage disciplines (which
		HB2791	- 16 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
shall be defined to include early childhood education) or at
hard-to-staff schools (as defined by the Commission in
consultation with the State Board of Education), to provide
those students with the crucial mentoring, guidance, and
in-service support that will significantly increase the
likelihood that they will complete their full teaching
commitments and elect to continue teaching in targeted
disciplines and hard-to-staff schools, and to ensure that
students in this State will continue to have access to a pool
of highly qualified [highly-qualified] teachers, each qualified
student shall be awarded a Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois
Program scholarship to any Illinois institution of higher
learning. The Commission shall administer the Golden Apple
Scholars of Illinois Program, which shall be managed by the
Foundation pursuant to the terms of a grant agreement meeting
the requirements of Section 4 of the Illinois Grant Funds
Recovery Act.
    (a-3) For purposes of this Section, a qualified student
shall be a student who meets the following qualifications:
        (1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
    eligible noncitizen of the United States;
        (2) is a high school graduate or a person who has
    received a State of Illinois High School Diploma;
        (3) is enrolled or accepted, on at least a half-time
    basis, at an institution of higher learning;
        (4) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study
		HB2791	- 17 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    leading to initial certification or pursuing additional
    course work needed to gain State Board of Education
    approval to teach, including alternative teacher
    licensure; and
        (5) is a participant in programs managed by and is
    approved to receive a scholarship from the Foundation.
    (a-5) (Blank).
    (b) (Blank).
    (b-5) Funds designated for the Golden Apple Scholars of
Illinois Program shall be used by the Commission for the
payment of scholarship assistance under this Section or for
the award of grant funds, subject to the Illinois Grant Funds
Recovery Act, to the Foundation. Subject to appropriation,
awards of grant funds to the Foundation shall be made on an
annual basis and following an application for grant funds by
the Foundation.
    (b-10) Each year, the Foundation shall include in its
application to the Commission for grant funds an estimate of
the amount of scholarship assistance to be provided to
qualified students during the grant period. Any amount of
appropriated funds exceeding the estimated amount of
scholarship assistance may be awarded by the Commission to the
Foundation for management expenses expected to be incurred by
the Foundation in providing the mentoring, guidance, and
in-service supports that will increase the likelihood that
qualified students will complete their teaching commitments
		HB2791	- 18 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
and elect to continue teaching in hard-to-staff schools. If
the estimate of the amount of scholarship assistance described
in the Foundation's application is less than the actual amount
required for the award of scholarship assistance to qualified
students, the Foundation shall be responsible for using
awarded grant funds to ensure all qualified students receive
scholarship assistance under this Section.
    (b-15) All grant funds not expended or legally obligated
within the time specified in a grant agreement between the
Foundation and the Commission shall be returned to the
Commission within 45 days. Any funds legally obligated by the
end of a grant agreement shall be liquidated within 45 days or
otherwise returned to the Commission within 90 days after the
end of the grant agreement that resulted in the award of grant
funds.
    (c) Each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room
and board costs of the Illinois institution of higher learning
at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of
$5,000; except that, in the case of a recipient who does not
reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at
which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship
shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a
commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. All
scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this Section
shall be paid to the institution on behalf of recipients.
		HB2791	- 19 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
the Commission under this Section to an individual in any
given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the
cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at
which the student is enrolled. In any academic year for which a
qualified student under this Section accepts financial
assistance through any other teacher scholarship program
administered by the Commission, a qualified student shall not
be eligible for scholarship assistance awarded under this
Section.
    (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12
quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section.
Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3
quarters of enrollment each academic year.
    (f) All applications for scholarship assistance to be
awarded under this Section shall be made to the Foundation in a
form determined by the Foundation. Each year, the Foundation
shall notify the Commission of the individuals awarded
scholarship assistance under this Section. Each year, at least
30% of the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program
scholarships shall be awarded to students residing in counties
having a population of less than 500,000.
    (g) (Blank).
    (h) The Commission shall administer the payment of
scholarship assistance provided through the Golden Apple
		HB2791	- 20 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
Scholars of Illinois Program and shall make all necessary and
proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for the
effective implementation of this Section.
    (i) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
this Section shall be required by the Foundation to sign an
agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the
2-year period following the termination of the academic
program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
recipient: (i) shall begin teaching for a period of not less
than 5 years, (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a
nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool or
an Illinois public elementary or secondary school that
qualifies for teacher loan cancellation under Section
465(a)(2)(A) of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(A)) or other Illinois schools deemed
eligible for fulfilling the teaching commitment as designated
by the Foundation, and (iii) shall, upon request of the
Foundation, provide the Foundation with evidence that he or
she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
agreement provided for in this subsection. Upon request, the
Foundation shall provide evidence of teacher fulfillment to
the Commission.
    (j) (Blank). [If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under ]
[this Section fails to fulfill the teaching obligation set ]
[forth in subsection (i) of this Section, the Commission shall ]
		HB2791	- 21 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships ]
[received, prorated according to the fraction of the teaching ]
[obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if ]
[applicable, reasonable collection fees. If a recipient who ]
[enters into repayment under this subsection (j) subsequently, ]
[within 5 years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a ]
[school meeting the description under subsection (i) of this ]
[Section, the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the ]
[recipient in proportion to the amount of the teaching ]
[obligation completed. Reduction of the amount owed shall not ]
[be construed as reinstatement in the Golden Apple Scholars ]
[program. Reinstatement in the program shall be solely at the ]
[discretion of the Golden Apple Foundation on terms determined ]
[by the Foundation. Payments received by the Commission under ]
[this subsection (j) shall be remitted to the State Comptroller ]
[for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, except that that ]
[portion of a recipient's repayment that equals the amount in ]
[expenses that the Commission has reasonably incurred in ]
[attempting collection from that recipient shall be remitted to ]
[the State Comptroller for deposit into the ISAC Accounts ]
[Receivable Fund, a special fund in the State treasury.]
    (k) (Blank). [A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the ]
[Foundation under this Section shall not be considered to have ]
[failed to fulfill the teaching obligations of the agreement ]
[entered into pursuant to subsection (i) if the recipient (i) ]
[enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course ]
		HB2791	- 22 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[of study related to the field of teaching at an institution of ]
[higher learning; (ii) is serving as a member of the armed ]
[services of the United States; (iii) is a person with a ]
[temporary total disability, as established by sworn affidavit ]
[of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking and unable to find ]
[full-time employment as a teacher at a school that satisfies ]
[the criteria set forth in subsection (i) and is able to provide ]
[evidence of that fact; (v) is taking additional courses, on at ]
[least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a ]
[teacher in Illinois; (vi) is fulfilling teaching requirements ]
[associated with other programs administered by the Commission ]
[and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a ]
[period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation; ]
[or (vii) is participating in a program established under ]
[Executive Order 10924 of the President of the United States or ]
[the federal National Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. ]
[12501 et seq.). Any such extension of the period during which ]
[the teaching requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to ]
[limitations of duration as established by the Commission.]
    (l) (Blank). [A recipient who fails to fulfill the teaching ]
[obligations of the agreement entered into pursuant to ]
[subsection (i) of this Section shall repay the amount of ]
[scholarship assistance awarded to them under this Section ]
[within 10 years.]
    (m) Annually, at a time determined by the Commission in
consultation with the Foundation, the Foundation shall submit
		HB2791	- 23 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
a report to assist the Commission in monitoring the
Foundation's performance of grant activities. The report shall
describe the following:
        (1) the Foundation's anticipated expenditures for the
    next fiscal year;
        (2) the number of qualified students receiving
    scholarship assistance at each institution of higher
    learning where a qualified student was enrolled under this
    Section during the previous fiscal year;
        (3) the total monetary value of scholarship funds paid
    to each institution of higher learning at which a
    qualified student was enrolled during the previous fiscal
    year;
        (4) the number of scholarship recipients who completed
    a baccalaureate degree during the previous fiscal year;
        (5) the number of scholarship recipients who reported 
    that they had fulfilled their teaching obligation during
    the previous fiscal year;
        (6) the number of scholarship recipients who reported 
    that they had failed to fulfill their teaching obligation
    during the previous fiscal year;
        (7) (blank); [the number of scholarship recipients ]
    [granted an extension described in subsection (k) of this ]
    [Section during the previous fiscal year;]
        (8) (blank); [the number of scholarship recipients ]
    [required to repay scholarship assistance in accordance ]
		HB2791	- 24 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    [with subsection (j) of this Section during the previous ]
    [fiscal year;]
        (9) (blank); [the number of scholarship recipients who ]
    [successfully repaid scholarship assistance in full during ]
    [the previous fiscal year;]
        (10) (blank); [the number of scholarship recipients who ]
    [defaulted on their obligation to repay scholarship ]
    [assistance during the previous fiscal year;]
        (11) (blank); [the amount of scholarship assistance ]
    [subject to collection in accordance with subsection (j) of ]
    [this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year;]
        (12) (blank); and [the amount of collected funds to be ]
    [remitted to the Comptroller in accordance with subsection ]
    [(j) of this Section at the end of the previous fiscal year; ]
    [and]
        (13) other information that the Commission may
    reasonably request.
    (n) Nothing in this Section shall affect the rights of the
Commission to collect information on the completion of 
teaching obligations [moneys owed to it] by recipients of
scholarship assistance through the Illinois Future Teacher
Corps Program, repealed by Public Act 98-533.
    (o) The Auditor General shall prepare an annual audit of
the operations and finances of the Golden Apple Scholars of
Illinois Program. This audit shall be provided to the
Governor, General Assembly, and the Commission.
		HB2791	- 25 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    (p) The suspension of grant making authority found in
Section 4.2 of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act shall not
apply to grants made pursuant to this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22; 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23;
103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; revised
10-16-24.)
    (110 ILCS 947/65.15)
    Sec. 65.15. Special education teacher scholarships.
    (a) There shall be awarded annually 250 scholarships to
persons qualifying as members of any of the following groups:
        (1) Students who are otherwise qualified to receive a
    scholarship as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this
    Section and who make application to the Commission for
    such scholarship and agree to take courses that will
    prepare the student for the teaching of children described
    in Section 14-1 of the School Code.
        (2) Persons holding a valid certificate issued under
    the laws relating to the certification of teachers and who
    make application to the Commission for such scholarship
    and agree to take courses that will prepare them for the
    teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the
    School Code.
        (3) Persons who (A) have graduated high school; (B)
    have not been certified as a teacher; and (C) make
    application to the Commission for such scholarship and
		HB2791	- 26 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    agree to take courses that will prepare them for the
    teaching of children described in Section 14-1 of the
    School Code.
    Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be issued
pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Commission;
provided that no rule or regulation promulgated by the State
Board of Education prior to the effective date of this
amendatory Act of 1993 pursuant to the exercise of any right,
power, duty, responsibility or matter of pending business
transferred from the State Board of Education to the
Commission under this Section shall be affected thereby, and
all such rules and regulations shall become the rules and
regulations of the Commission until modified or changed by the
Commission in accordance with law.
    For the purposes of this Section scholarships awarded each
school year shall be deemed to be issued on July 1 of the year
prior to the start of the postsecondary school term and all
calculations for use of the scholarship shall be based on such
date. Each scholarship shall entitle its holder to exemption
from fees as provided in subsection (a) of Section 65.40 while
enrolled in a special education program of teacher education,
for a period of not more than 4 calendar years and shall be
available for use at any time during such period of study
except as provided in subsection (b) of Section 65.40.
    Scholarships issued to holders of a valid certificate
issued under the laws relating to the certification of
		HB2791	- 27 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
teachers as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection may
also entitle the holder thereof to a program of teacher
education that will prepare the student for the teaching of
children described in Section 14-1 of the School Code at the
graduate level.
    (b) The principal, or his or her designee, of an approved
high school shall certify to the Commission, for students who
are Illinois residents and are completing an application, that
the students ranked scholastically in the upper one-half of
their graduating class at the end of the sixth semester.
    (c) Each holder of a scholarship must furnish proof to the
Commission, in such form and at such intervals as the
Commission prescribes, of the holder's continued enrollment in
a teacher education program qualifying the holder for the
scholarship. Any holder of a scholarship who fails to register
in a special education program of teacher education at the
university within 10 days after the commencement of the term,
quarter or semester immediately following the receipt of the
scholarship or who, having registered, withdraws from the
university or transfers out of teacher education, shall
thereupon forfeit the right to use it and it may be granted to
the person having the next highest rank as shown on the list
held by the Commission. If the person having the next highest
rank, within 10 days after notification thereof by the
Commission, fails to register at any such university in a
special education program of teacher education, or who, having
		HB2791	- 28 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
registered, withdraws from the university or transfers out of
teacher education, the scholarship may then be granted to the
person shown on the list as having the rank next below such
person.
    (d) Any person accepting [who has accepted] a scholarship
under the preceding subsections of this Section must sign an 
agreement pledging (i) that, within one year after graduation
from or termination of enrollment in a teacher education
program, the recipient will begin teaching at a nonprofit
Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, [or]
elementary school, or secondary school for a period of at
least 2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation
or termination and (ii) that the recipient will provide the 
Commission, upon the Commission's request, with evidence that 
the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the 
teaching agreement provided for in this subsection. [, ]
[excluding, however, from the computation of that 5 year period ]
[(i) any time up to 3 years spent in the military service, ]
[whether such service occurs before or after the person ]
[graduates; (ii) any time that person is enrolled full-time in ]
[an academic program related to the field of teaching leading ]
[to a graduate or postgraduate degree; (iii) the time that ]
[person is a person with a temporary total disability for a ]
[period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by the ]
[sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) the time that ]
[person is seeking and unable to find full time employment as a ]
		HB2791	- 29 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[teacher at an Illinois public, private, or parochial school; ]
[(v) the time that person is taking additional courses, on at ]
[least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a ]
[teacher in Illinois; or (vi) the time that person is ]
[fulfilling teaching requirements associated with other ]
[programs administered by the Commission if he or she cannot ]
[concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a period of ]
[time equal to the length of the teaching obligation.]
    [A person who has accepted a scholarship under the ]
[preceding subsections of this Section and who has been unable ]
[to fulfill the teaching requirements of this Section may ]
[receive a deferment from the obligation of repayment under ]
[this subsection (d) under guidelines established by the ]
[Commission; provided that no guideline established for any ]
[such purpose by the State Board of Education prior to the ]
[effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 shall be ]
[affected by the transfer to the Commission of the ]
[responsibility for administering and implementing the ]
[provisions of this Section, and all guidelines so established ]
[shall become the guidelines of the Commission until modified ]
[or changed by the Commission.]
    [Any such person who fails to fulfill this teaching ]
[requirement shall pay to the Commission the amount of tuition ]
[waived by virtue of his or her acceptance of the scholarship, ]
[together with interest at 5% per year on that amount. However, ]
[this obligation to repay the amount of tuition waived plus ]
		HB2791	- 30 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[interest does not apply when the failure to fulfill the ]
[teaching requirement results from the death or adjudication as ]
[a person under legal disability of the person holding the ]
[scholarship, and no claim for repayment may be filed against ]
[the estate of such a decedent or person under legal ]
[disability. If a recipient who enters into repayment under ]
[this paragraph subsequently, within 5 years of entering ]
[repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the description ]
[under this subsection (d), the Commission may reduce the ]
[amount owed by the recipient in proportion to the amount of the ]
[teaching obligation completed. Payments received by the ]
[Commission under this subsection (d) shall be remitted to the ]
[State Treasurer for deposit in the General Revenue Fund. Each ]
[person receiving a scholarship shall be provided with a ]
[description of the provisions of this subsection (d) at the ]
[time he or she qualifies for the benefits of such a ]
[scholarship.]
    (e) (Blank). [This Section is basically the same as ]
[Sections 30-1, 30-2, 30-3, and 30-4a of the School Code, which ]
[are repealed by this amendatory Act of 1993, and shall be ]
[construed as a continuation of the teacher scholarship program ]
[established by that prior law, and not as a new or different ]
[teacher scholarship program. The State Board of Education ]
[shall transfer to the Commission, as the successor to the ]
[State Board of Education for all purposes of administering and ]
[implementing the provisions of this Section, all books, ]
		HB2791	- 31 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[accounts, records, papers, documents, contracts, agreements, ]
[and pending business in any way relating to the teacher ]
[scholarship program continued under this Section; and all ]
[scholarships at any time awarded under that program by, and ]
[all applications for any such scholarships at any time made ]
[to, the State Board of Education shall be unaffected by the ]
[transfer to the Commission of all responsibility for the ]
[administration and implementation of the teacher scholarship ]
[program continued under this Section. The State Board of ]
[Education shall furnish to the Commission such other ]
[information as the Commission may request to assist it in ]
[administering this Section.]
(Source: P.A. 103-448, eff. 8-4-23.)
    (110 ILCS 947/65.70)
    Sec. 65.70. Optometric Education Scholarship Program.
    (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the
provision of graduate education leading to a doctoral degree
in optometry for persons of this State who desire such an
education is important to the health and welfare of this State
and Nation and, consequently, is an important public purpose.
Many qualified potential optometrists are deterred by
financial considerations from pursuing their optometric
education with consequent irreparable loss to the State and
Nation of talents vital to health and welfare. A program of
scholarships for individuals who pledge to practice [, repayment ]
		HB2791	- 32 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[of which may be excused if the individual practices]
professional optometry in this State[,] will enable such
individuals to attend qualified public or private institutions
of their choice in the State.
    (b) Beginning with the 2003-2004 academic year, the
Commission shall, each year, consider applications for
scholarship assistance under this Section. An applicant is
eligible for a scholarship under this Section if the
Commission finds that the applicant is:
        (1) a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
        (2) a resident of Illinois; and
        (3) enrolled on a full-time basis in a public or
    private college of optometry located in this State that
    awards a doctorate degree in optometry and is approved by
    the Department of Professional Regulation.
    (c) Each year the Commission shall award 10 scholarships
under this Section among applicants qualified pursuant to
subsection (b). Two of these scholarships each shall be
awarded to eligible applicants enrolled in their first year,
second year, third year, and fourth year. The remaining 2
scholarships shall be awarded to any level of student. The
Commission shall receive funding for the scholarships through
appropriations from the Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary
Board Fund. If in any year the number of qualified applicants
exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded, the
Commission shall give priority in awarding scholarships to
		HB2791	- 33 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
students demonstrating exceptional merit and who are in
financial need. A scholarship shall be in the amount of $5,000
each year applicable to tuition and fees.
    (d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
the Commission under this Section to an individual in any
given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the
cost of attendance at the institution at which the student is
enrolled.
    (e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12
quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section.
    (f) Subject to a separate appropriation made for such
purposes, payment of any scholarship awarded under this
Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship
funds distributed in accordance with this Section shall be
paid to the institution on behalf of the recipients.
Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3
quarters of enrollment within an academic year.
    (g) The Commission shall administer the Optometric
Education Scholarship Program established by this Section and
shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent
with this Section for its effective implementation.
    (h) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an
agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the
		HB2791	- 34 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
one-year period following the termination of the academic
program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
recipient shall practice in this State as a licensed
optometrist under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987
for a period of not less than one year for each year of
scholarship assistance awarded under this Section. Each
recipient shall, upon request of the Commission, provide the
Commission with evidence that the recipient [he or she] is
fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the practice
agreement provided for in this subsection.
    (i) (Blank). [If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under ]
[this Section fails to fulfill the practice obligation set ]
[forth in subsection (h) of this Section, the Commission shall ]
[require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships ]
[received, prorated according to the fraction of the obligation ]
[not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if ]
[applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is ]
[authorized to establish rules relating to its collection ]
[activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.]
    (j) (Blank). [A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the ]
[Commission under this Section shall not be in violation of the ]
[agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (h) if the ]
[recipient (i) is serving as a member of the armed services of ]
[the United States; (ii) is enrolled in a residency program ]
[following graduation at an approved institution; (iii) is a ]
[person with a temporary total disability, as established by ]
		HB2791	- 35 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or (iii) cannot ]
[fulfill the employment obligation due to his or her death, ]
[disability, or incompetency, as established by sworn affidavit ]
[of a qualified physician. No claim for repayment may be filed ]
[against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent. Any ]
[extension of the period during which the employment ]
[requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to limitations ]
[of duration as established by the Commission.]
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
    (110 ILCS 947/65.110)
    Sec. 65.110. Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work
Professional Educator License scholarship.
    (a) Subject to appropriation, beginning with awards for
the 2022-2023 academic year, the Commission shall award
annually up to 250 Post-Master of Social Work School Social
Work Professional Educator License scholarships to a person
who:
        (1) holds a valid Illinois-licensed clinical social
    work license or social work license;
        (2) has obtained a master's degree in social work from
    an approved program;
        (3) is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
    and
        (4) submits an application to the Commission for such
    scholarship and agrees to take courses to obtain an
		HB2791	- 36 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement
    in School Social Work.
    (b) If an appropriation for this Section for a given
fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
qualified applicants, the Commission shall allocate the
appropriation in accordance with this subsection (b). If funds
are insufficient to provide all qualified applicants with a
scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission
shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal
year to qualified applicants who submit a complete application
on or before a date specified by the Commission, based on the
following order of priority:
        (1) firstly, to students who received a scholarship
    under this Section in the prior academic year and who
    remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section;
        (2) secondly, to new, qualified applicants who are
    members of a racial minority, as defined in subsection
    (c); and
        (3) finally, to other new, qualified applicants in
    accordance with this Section.
    (c) Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be
issued pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission. In
awarding scholarships, the Commission shall give priority to
those applicants who are members of a racial minority. Racial
minorities are underrepresented as school social workers in
elementary and secondary schools in this State, and the
		HB2791	- 37 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
General Assembly finds that it is in the interest of this State
to provide them with priority consideration for programs that
encourage their participation in this field and thereby foster
a profession that is more reflective of the diversity of
Illinois students and the parents they will serve. A more
reflective workforce in school social work allows improved
outcomes for students and a better utilization of services.
Therefore, the Commission shall give priority to those
applicants who are members of a racial minority. In this
subsection (c), "racial minority" means a person who is a
citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident of
the United States and who is:
        (1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black
    racial groups in Africa);
        (2) Hispanic (a person of Spanish or Portuguese
    culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America,
    or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race);
        (3) Asian American (a person having origins in any of
    the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
    Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); or
        (4) American Indian or Alaskan Native (a person having
    origins in any of the original peoples of North America).
    (d) Each scholarship shall be applied to the payment of
tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Illinois,
Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University,
Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University,
		HB2791	- 38 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University,
Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.
Each scholarship may be applied to pay tuition and mandatory
fees required to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator
License with an endorsement in School Social Work.
    (e) The Commission shall make tuition and fee payments
directly to the qualified institution of higher learning that
the applicant attends.
    (f) Any person accepting [who has accepted] a scholarship
under this Section must sign an agreement pledging (i) that,
within one year after graduation or termination of enrollment
in a Post-Master of Social Work Professional Education License
with an endorsement in School Social Work program, the 
recipient will begin working as a school social worker at a
public or nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary
school, or secondary school located in this State for at least
2 of the 5 years immediately following that graduation or
termination and (ii) that the recipient shall, upon request of 
the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that the 
recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the work 
agreement provided for in this subsection. [, excluding, ]
[however, from the computation of that 5-year period: (i) any ]
[time up to 3 years spent in the military service, whether such ]
[service occurs before or after the person graduates; (ii) the ]
[time that person is a person with a temporary total disability ]
[for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as established by ]
		HB2791	- 39 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; and (iii) the ]
[time that person is seeking and unable to find full-time ]
[employment as a school social worker at a State public or ]
[nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or ]
[secondary school.]
    (g) (Blank). [If a recipient of a scholarship under this ]
[Section fails to fulfill the work obligation set forth in ]
[subsection (f), the Commission shall require the recipient to ]
[repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated ]
[according to the fraction of the obligation not completed, at ]
[a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable ]
[collection fees. The Commission is authorized to establish ]
[rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of ]
[scholarships under this Section. All repayments collected ]
[under this Section shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller ]
[for deposit into this State's General Revenue Fund.]
    [A recipient of a scholarship under this Section is not ]
[considered to be in violation of the failure to fulfill the ]
[work obligation under subsection (f) if the recipient (i) ]
[enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course ]
[of study related to the field of social work at a qualified ]
[Illinois institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not ]
[in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the ]
[United States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total ]
[disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as ]
[established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; ]
		HB2791	- 40 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[(iv) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a ]
[school social worker at an Illinois public or nonpublic ]
[not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or secondary ]
[school that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (f) ]
[and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or (v) becomes a ]
[person with a permanent total disability, as established by ]
[the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician.]
(Source: P.A. 102-621, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
102-1030, eff. 5-27-22.)
    (110 ILCS 947/65.120)
    Sec. 65.120. iGROW Tech Scholarship Program.
    (a) As used in this Section:
    "Eligible applicant" means a student who has graduated
from high school or has received a State of Illinois High
School Diploma, who has maintained a cumulative grade point
average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, who is pursuing or
intends to pursue a qualifying degree in a qualified
institution, and who is entitled to apply for assistance under
this Section.
    "Full-time" means the number of credit hours the
Commission determines is full-time enrollment for a student
for purposes of the program created under this Section.
    "Minority student" has the same meaning as the term is
defined under Section 50 of the Higher Education Student
Assistance Act (110 ILCS 947).
		HB2791	- 41 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    "Program" means the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program created
under this Section.
    "Qualifying degree" means an associate or a bachelor's
degree granted by a qualified institution in the field of
computer information sciences; information technology;
information science; computer science; computer systems
networking and telecommunications; computer and information
systems security or information assurance, including
cybersecurity; or management information systems.
    "Qualifying job" means a job with an employer in this
State performing work that is directly related to the field of
study that qualified the candidate for assistance under this
Section.
    "Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a resident
of this State; (ii) who, as an eligible applicant, has made a
timely application for an iGROW tech scholarship under this
Section; (iii) who is enrolled on at least a half-time basis at
a qualified institution; (iv) who is enrolled in a course of
study in the field of computer and information sciences;
information technology; information science; computer science;
computer systems networking and telecommunications; computer
and information systems security or information assurance,
including cybersecurity; or management information systems;
(v) who maintains a grade point average of no less than a 2.5
on a 4.0 scale; and (vi) who continues to advance
satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
		HB2791	- 42 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    "Recipient" means an Illinois resident enrolled in a
qualified institution who receives an award under this
Section.
    (b) Subject to appropriation, and no sooner than the
2024-2025 academic year, there is established the Illinois
Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship
Program to recruit and train individuals to work in technology
jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high
wages by awarding scholarships.
    (c) Each iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
shall be determined by the Commission in an amount up to and
including the full costs of tuition and fees and room and board
of the qualified institution at which the recipient is
enrolled if the institution is public, or an equivalent rate
established by the Commission for private institutions. The
total amount of iGROW tech scholarship assistance awarded by
the Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in
any given fiscal year, when added to other financial
assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not
exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the
student is enrolled. If the amount of financial assistance to
be awarded to a qualified student exceeds the cost of
attendance at the institution at which the student is
enrolled, the iGROW tech scholarship shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
		HB2791	- 43 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
attendance.
    (d) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
qualified student can receive iGROW tech scholarship
assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
    (e) All applications for scholarships awarded under this
Section shall be made to the Commission on forms which the
Commission shall provide for eligible applicants. The form of
applications and the information required to be set forth
therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the
Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with
their applications such supporting documents or
recommendations as the Commission deems necessary.
    (f) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, payment of
any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds
distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be paid
to the qualified institution and used only for payment of the
tuition and fees assessed by the institution and the standard
housing and food allowance used for all undergraduate students
by the qualified student in connection with his or her
attendance at a qualified institution.
    Any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment
annually. The qualified institution can only request payment
for tuition and fees up to the amount of actual tuition and fee
expenses incurred.
		HB2791	- 44 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    If a student withdraws after the expiration of the tuition
refund or withdrawal adjustment period, the student may
receive payment for tuition and fees incurred up to the term
award. The housing and food allowance shall be prorated based
on the qualified institution's return of funds policy.
    (g) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
academic year, each recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship
awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission
to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that
the recipient (i) shall work in the State in a qualified job
for a period of not less than one year for each year of
scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
Section; however, in no event shall he or she agree to work in
the State in a qualified job for a period of less than 2 years;
and (ii) shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the
Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has
fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided for in this
subsection.
    [If a recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship awarded under ]
[this Section fails to fulfill the obligations set forth in ]
[this subsection, the Commission shall require the recipient to ]
[repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated ]
[according to the fraction of the employment obligation not ]
[completed, at a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if ]
[applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is ]
[authorized to establish rules relating to its collection ]
		HB2791	- 45 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section. ]
[All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded ]
[to the State Comptroller for deposit into the State's General ]
[Revenue Fund.]
    [A recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship shall not be ]
[considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant ]
[to this subsection if the recipient (I) enrolls on a full-time ]
[basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the ]
[technology degree for which he or she qualified for the iGROW ]
[tech scholarship at a qualified institution; (II) is serving, ]
[not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of ]
[the United States; (III) is a person with a temporary total ]
[disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as ]
[established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (IV) ]
[is seeking and unable to find full-time employment with a ]
[State employer that satisfies the criteria set forth in this ]
[subsection and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (V) ]
[becomes a person with a permanent total disability as ]
[established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or ]
[(VI) meets any other criteria that the Commission may deem ]
[necessary.]
    (h) (Blank.) [Scholarship recipients under this Section who ]
[withdraw from a program of computer science or other related ]
[major area of study provided under this Section but remain ]
[enrolled in school to continue their postsecondary studies in ]
[another academic discipline shall not be required to commence ]
		HB2791	- 46 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[repayment of their iGROW tech scholarship so long as they ]
[remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis or if they can ]
[document for the Commission special circumstances that warrant ]
[extension of repayment.]
    (i) If the Program does not expend at least 90% of the
amount appropriated for the Program in a given fiscal year for
3 consecutive fiscal years on or before January 1 in each of
those fiscal years, then up to 3% of amount appropriated for
the Program for each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated
to increasing awareness of the program.
    (j) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall
make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
Section for its effective implementation.
    (k) The Commission shall establish a methodology for
prioritizing applications from applicants who demonstrate a
financial need or hardship, applications from minority
students, and applications from applicants demonstrating
academic excellence. After the first academic year that the
Program operates, the Commission shall prioritize the
applications of those applicants who received a scholarship
under this Section during the prior academic year and who
remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section.
    (l) Each fiscal year, the Commission may use up to 5% of
money appropriated for the Program for administration.
    (m) Scholarships may be made under this Section through
the 2029-30 academic year.
		HB2791	- 47 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    (n) The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW)
Tech Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State
treasury. Moneys in the fund may come from both public
entities and institutional, organizational, or other private
entities. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to
appropriation, by the Commission to implement and administer
the Program pursuant to this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-519, eff. 1-1-24.)
    Section 10. The Nursing Education Scholarship Law is
amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 3.1, 4, 6, and 6.5 as
follows:
    (110 ILCS 975/2)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2752)
    Sec. 2. Legislative finding and declaration of policy.
    (a) The General Assembly finds and hereby declares that
the provision of a higher education leading to an associate
degree in nursing, an associate degree in applied sciences in
nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing, a baccalaureate
degree in nursing, a graduate degree in nursing, or a
certificate in practical nursing for persons of this State who
desire such an education is important to the health, welfare
and security of this State and Nation, and consequently is an
important public purpose. Many qualified and potential nurses
are deterred by financial considerations from pursuing their
nursing education, with consequent irreparable loss to the
		HB2791	- 48 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
State and Nation of talents vital to health, welfare and
security. A system of scholarships for individuals who plan to 
work in this State as [, repayment of which may be excused if the ]
[individual is employed as] a registered professional nurse or a
licensed practical nurse after obtaining an associate degree
in nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing,
hospital-based diploma in nursing, baccalaureate degree in
nursing, graduate degree in nursing, or certificate in
practical nursing[,] will enable such individuals to attend
approved institutions of their choice in the State, public or
private.
    (b) The General Assembly finds that there is a critical
shortage of nursing instructors in this State, and such a
shortage will only worsen the shortage of available nurses in
this State and jeopardize the quality of healthcare citizens
of this State have every right to enjoy. In order to provide
for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this
State, the General Assembly declares that there is a need for
an increase in skilled nurse educators in this State.
(Source: P.A. 96-805, eff. 10-30-09.)
    (110 ILCS 975/3)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2753)
    Sec. 3. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or
referred to, have the following meanings except where the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
    (1) "Board" means the Board of Higher Education created by
		HB2791	- 49 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
the Board of Higher Education Act.
    (2) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public
Health.
    (3) "Approved institution" means a public community
college, private junior college, hospital-based diploma in
nursing program, or public or private college or university
with a pre-licensure nursing education program located in this
State that has approval by the Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing
program, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing
program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
nursing program, or certificate in a practical nursing program
or a post-licensure nursing education program approved by the
Board of Higher Education or any successor agency with similar
authority.
    (4) "Baccalaureate degree in nursing program" means a
program offered by an approved institution and leading to a
bachelor of science degree in nursing.
    (5) "Enrollment" means the establishment and maintenance
of an individual's status as a student in an approved
institution, regardless of the terms used at the institution
to describe such status.
    (6) "Academic year" means the period of time from
September 1 of one year through August 31 of the next year or
as otherwise defined by the academic institution.
		HB2791	- 50 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    (7) "Associate degree in nursing program or hospital-based
diploma in nursing program" means a program offered by an
approved institution and leading to an associate degree in
nursing, associate degree in applied sciences in nursing, or
hospital-based diploma in nursing.
    (8) "Graduate degree in nursing program" means a program
offered by an approved institution and leading to a master of
science degree in nursing or a doctorate of philosophy or
doctorate of nursing degree in nursing.
    (9) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois
Department of Public Health.
    (10) "Accepted for admission" means a student has
completed the requirements for entry into an associate degree
in nursing program, associate degree in applied sciences in
nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program,
baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in
nursing program, or certificate in practical nursing program
at an approved institution, as documented by the institution.
    (11) "Fees" means those mandatory charges, in addition to
tuition, that all enrolled students must pay, including
required course or lab fees.
    (12) "Full-time student" means a student enrolled for at
least 12 hours per term or as otherwise determined by the
academic institution.
    (13) "Law" means the Nursing Education Scholarship Law.
    (14) "Nursing employment obligation" means employment in
		HB2791	- 51 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
this State as a registered professional nurse, licensed
practical nurse, or advanced practice registered nurse in
direct patient care for at least one year for each year of
scholarship assistance received through the Nursing Education
Scholarship Program.
    (15) "Part-time student" means a person who is enrolled
for at least one-third of the number of hours required per term
by a school for its full-time students.
    (16) "Practical nursing program" means a program offered
by an approved institution leading to a certificate in
practical nursing.
    (17) "Registered professional nurse" means a person who is
currently licensed as a registered professional nurse by the
Department of Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice
Act.
    (18) "Licensed practical nurse" means a person who is
currently licensed as a licensed practical nurse by the
Department of Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice
Act.
    (19) "School term" means an academic term, such as a
semester, quarter, trimester, or number of clock hours, as
defined by an approved institution.
    (20) "Student in good standing" means a student
maintaining a cumulative grade point average equivalent to at
least the academic grade of a "C".
    (21) (Blank). ["Total and permanent disability" means a ]
		HB2791	- 52 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[physical or mental impairment, disease, or loss of a permanent ]
[nature that prevents nursing employment with or without ]
[reasonable accommodation. Proof of disability shall be a ]
[declaration from the social security administration, Illinois ]
[Workers' Compensation Commission, Department of Defense, or an ]
[insurer authorized to transact business in Illinois who is ]
[providing disability insurance coverage to a contractor.]
    (22) "Tuition" means the established charges of an
institution of higher learning for instruction at that
institution.
    (23) "Nurse educator" means a person who is currently
licensed as a registered nurse by the Department of
Professional Regulation under the Nurse Practice Act, who has
a graduate degree in nursing, and who is employed by an
approved academic institution to educate registered nursing
students, licensed practical nursing students, and registered
nurses pursuing graduate degrees.
    (24) "Nurse educator employment obligation" means
employment in this State as a nurse educator for at least 2
years for each year of scholarship assistance received under
Section 6.5 of this Law.
    (25) "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance
Commission.
    Rulemaking authority to implement the provisions of this
Act is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance
with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure
		HB2791	- 53 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
whatever reason, is unauthorized.
(Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
    (110 ILCS 975/3.1)
    Sec. 3.1. Approved institutions. An approved institution
must maintain compliance with all applicable State and federal
laws. An [approved] institution approved to participate in the 
scholarship program under this Law is not necessarily eligible
for other programs administered by the Commission and is not, 
in order to participate in the program under this Law,
required to meet the definition of "institution of higher
learning", "qualified institution", or "institution" as
defined in Section 10 of the Higher Education Student
Assistance Act. The Commission may establish by rule
additional requirements for approved institutions.
(Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)
    (110 ILCS 975/4)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2754)
    Sec. 4. Functions of Department. The Department shall
prepare and supervise the issuance of public information about
the provisions of this Article, [;] prescribe the form and
regulate the submission of applications for scholarships, [;]
determine the eligibility of applicants, [;] award the
appropriate scholarships, and [;] prescribe [the contracts or ]
		HB2791	- 54 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[other] acknowledgments of scholarship which an applicant is
required to execute[; and determine whether all or any part of a ]
[recipient's scholarship needs to be monetarily repaid, or has ]
[been excused from repayment, and the extent of any repayment ]
[or excused repayment. The Department may require a recipient ]
[to reimburse the State for expenses, including but not limited ]
[to attorney's fees, incurred by the Department or other agent ]
[of the State for a successful legal action against the ]
[recipient for a breach of any provision of the scholarship ]
[contract]. The Department is authorized to make all necessary
and proper rules, not inconsistent with this Article, for the
efficient exercise of the foregoing functions.
(Source: P.A. 100-872, eff. 8-14-18.)
    (110 ILCS 975/6)  (from Ch. 144, par. 2756)
    Sec. 6. Nursing requirements for scholarship recipients.
In accepting a scholarship under Section 5, a recipient must 
pledge that (i) within [Within] 12 months after graduation from
an associate degree in nursing program, hospital-based diploma
in nursing program, baccalaureate degree in nursing program,
graduate degree in nursing program, or certificate in
practical nursing program, the [any] recipient will [who accepted ]
[a scholarship under Section 5 shall] begin meeting the required
nursing employment obligation and (ii) upon request by the 
Commission, the recipient will provide the Commission with 
evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the 
		HB2791	- 55 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
terms of the agreement provided for in this Section. [In order ]
[to defer his or her continuous employment obligation, a ]
[recipient must request the deferment in writing from the ]
[Department. A recipient shall notify program staff within 30 ]
[days if he or she spends up to 4 years in military service ]
[before or after graduation. A recipient shall notify program ]
[staff within 30 days if he or she is enrolled in an academic ]
[program leading to a graduate degree in nursing. If a ]
[recipient receives funding through the Nursing Education ]
[Scholarship Program for a higher degree, the nursing ]
[employment obligation shall be deferred until he or she is no ]
[longer enrolled or has graduated. The recipient must begin ]
[meeting the required nursing employment obligations no later ]
[than 6 months after the end of the deferments.]
    [Any person who fails to fulfill the nursing employment ]
[obligation shall pay to the Department an amount equal to the ]
[amount of scholarship funds received per year for each ]
[unfulfilled year of the nursing employment obligation, ]
[together with interest at 7% per year on the unpaid balance. ]
[Payment must begin within 6 months following the date of the ]
[occurrence initiating the repayment. All repayments must be ]
[completed within 6 years from the date of the occurrence ]
[initiating the repayment. However, this obligation may be ]
[deferred and re-evaluated every 6 months when the failure to ]
[fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from ]
[involuntarily leaving the profession due to a decrease in the ]
		HB2791	- 56 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[number of nurses employed in the State or when the failure to ]
[fulfill the nursing employment obligation results from total ]
[and permanent disability. The repayment obligation shall be ]
[excused if the failure to fulfill the nursing employment ]
[obligation results from the death or adjudication as ]
[incompetent of the person holding the scholarship. No claim ]
[for repayment may be filed against the estate of such a ]
[decedent or incompetent.]
    [Each person applying for such a scholarship shall be ]
[provided with a copy of this Section at the time of application ]
[for the benefits of such scholarship.]
(Source: P.A. 92-43, eff. 1-1-02; 93-879, eff. 1-1-05.)
    (110 ILCS 975/6.5)
    Sec. 6.5. Nurse educator scholarships.
    (a) Beginning with the fall term of the 2009-2010 academic
year, the Department shall provide scholarships to individuals
selected from among those applicants who qualify for
consideration by showing the following:
        (1) that he or she has been a resident of this State
    for at least one year prior to application and is a citizen
    or a lawful permanent resident of the United States;
        (2) that he or she is enrolled in or accepted for
    admission to a graduate degree in nursing program at an
    approved institution; and
        (3) that he or she agrees to meet the nurse educator
		HB2791	- 57 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    employment obligation.
    (b) If in any year the number of qualified applicants
exceeds the number of scholarships to be awarded under this
Section, the Department shall, in consultation with the
Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board, consider the
following factors in granting priority in awarding
scholarships:
        (1) Financial need, as shown on a standardized
    financial needs assessment form used by an approved
    institution, of students who will pursue their education
    on a full-time or close to full-time basis and who already
    have a diploma in nursing and are pursuing a higher
    degree.
        (2) A student's status as a registered nurse who is
    pursuing a graduate degree in nursing to pursue employment
    in an approved institution that educates licensed
    practical nurses and that educates registered nurses in
    undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.
        (3) A student's merit, as shown through his or her
    grade point average, class rank, experience as a nurse,
    including supervisory experience, experience as a nurse in
    the United States military, and other academic and
    extracurricular activities.
    (c) Unless otherwise indicated, scholarships under this
Section shall be awarded to recipients at approved
institutions for a period of up to 3 years.
		HB2791	- 58 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
    (d) In accepting a scholarship under this Section, a 
recipient must pledge that (i) within [Within] 12 months after
graduation from a graduate degree in nursing program for nurse
educators, the [any] recipient will [who accepted a scholarship ]
[under this Section shall] begin meeting the required nurse
educator employment obligation and (ii) the recipient will, 
upon request by the Commission, provide the Commission with 
evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the 
terms of the agreement provided for in this Section. [In order ]
[to defer his or her continuous employment obligation, a ]
[recipient must request the deferment in writing from the ]
[Department. A recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she ]
[notifies the Department, within 30 days after enlisting, that ]
[he or she is spending up to 4 years in military service. A ]
[recipient shall receive a deferment if he or she notifies the ]
[Department, within 30 days after enrolling, that he or she is ]
[enrolled in an academic program leading to a graduate degree ]
[in nursing. The recipient must begin meeting the required ]
[nurse educator employment obligation no later than 6 months ]
[after the end of the deferment or deferments.]
    [Any person who fails to fulfill the nurse educator ]
[employment obligation shall pay to the Department an amount ]
[equal to the amount of scholarship funds received per year for ]
[each unfulfilled year of the nurse educator employment ]
[obligation, together with interest at 7% per year on the ]
[unpaid balance. Payment must begin within 6 months following ]
		HB2791	- 59 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
[the date of the occurrence initiating the repayment. All ]
[repayments must be completed within 6 years from the date of ]
[the occurrence initiating the repayment. However, this ]
[repayment obligation may be deferred and re-evaluated every 6 ]
[months when the failure to fulfill the nurse educator ]
[employment obligation results from involuntarily leaving the ]
[profession due to a decrease in the number of nurses employed ]
[in this State or when the failure to fulfill the nurse educator ]
[employment obligation results from total and permanent ]
[disability. The repayment obligation shall be excused if the ]
[failure to fulfill the nurse educator employment obligation ]
[results from the death or adjudication as incompetent of the ]
[person holding the scholarship. No claim for repayment may be ]
[filed against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent.]
    [The Department may allow a nurse educator employment ]
[obligation fulfillment alternative if the nurse educator ]
[scholarship recipient is unsuccessful in finding work as a ]
[nurse educator. The Department shall maintain a database of ]
[all available nurse educator positions in this State.]
    (e) Each person applying for a scholarship under this
Section must be provided with a copy of this Section at the
time of application for the benefits of this scholarship.
    (f) Rulemaking authority to implement this Act is
conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all
provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and
all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on
		HB2791	- 60 -	LRB104 10549 LNS 20625 b
Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for
whatever reason, is unauthorized.
(Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22; 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22;
103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that on the effective date of the amendatory Act,any recipient of a scholarship, grant, or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan under a State program for which the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is responsible for collections shall be released from the remaining financial repayment obligations under that program. In provisions concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, special education teacher scholarships, the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program and in the Nursing Education Scholarship Law, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of a recipient to fulfill the recipient's obligations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Sponsors

Rep. Edgar Gonzalez (D) sponsors HB 2791 alone.

Edgar Gonzalez

Rep. · D–23 · Sponsor

Committees

HB 2791 went before 2 committees: Rules and Appropriations-Higher Education.

Rules
Rules
Referred to · Feb 6, 2025 · 5,290 Bills
Appropriations-Higher Education
Appropriations-Higher Education
Referred to · Mar 4, 2025

History

HB 2791 has taken 5 actions since Feb 5, 2025, the latest on Mar 21, 2025.

ChamberAction
Mar 21, 2025
House
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
Mar 4, 2025
House
Assigned to Appropriations-Higher Education Committee
Feb 6, 2025
House
First Reading
Feb 6, 2025
House
Referred to Rules Committee
Feb 5, 2025
House
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Edgar González, Jr.

Votes

HB 2791 has not gone to a roll call.

Source: ilga.gov · legiscan.com