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SB1331 - 104th General Assembly
SCHOLARSHIP ACCESSIBILITY ACT
Senate Sponsors
Sen. Robert Peters - Kimberly A. Lightford, Rachel Ventura, Sara Feigenholtz and Willie Preston
House Sponsors
(Rep. Kam Buckner - Michael Crawford - Carol Ammons, Sue Scherer, Maura Hirschauer, Dagmara Avelar, Maurice A. West, II, Anna Moeller, Kimberly Du Buclet, Yolonda Morris, Aarón M. Ortíz, Marcus C. Evans, Jr. and Hoan Huynh)
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act
Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Scholarship Accessibility Act. Establishes the Illinois Scholarship Database, to be developed, implemented, and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, as a utility to improve Illinois students' access to higher education scholarships, as well as to improve their knowledge of scholarships. Provides that to inform students and their parents on what scholarships are and how they are attained and maintained: (1) beginning in the 7th grade, a public school shall inform students of the Database and shall require them to create an account with the Database; (2) the account shall be created jointly by the student and the parent; and (3) both the student and the parent shall have access to the account and the ability to manage activity on the account. Provides that the Database shall allow the student to have and the student is required to complete a profile that: (1) presents a portfolio of the student and who the student is and the student's current year of enrollment; and (2) lists any criminal charge that requires the student to be a part of a registry for a crime the student has committed, unless the student is legally protected under law or court order or another exigent circumstance. Requires the Database to include and display a comprehensive list of scholarships. Allows students 18 or older to be able to create an account with and have access to the Database.
House Floor Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
New Act
Adds reference to:
110 ILCS 930/2from Ch. 144, par. 2302
110 ILCS 930/3from Ch. 144, par. 2303
110 ILCS 930/4from Ch. 144, par. 2304
110 ILCS 930/6from Ch. 144, par. 2306
110 ILCS 930/7from Ch. 144, par. 2307
110 ILCS 930/7.5 new
110 ILCS 930/8from Ch. 144, par. 2308
110 ILCS 930/8.5 new
110 ILCS 930/10from Ch. 144, par. 2310
110 ILCS 930/11from Ch. 144, par. 2311
110 ILCS 930/11.10 new
110 ILCS 930/11.15 new
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to name the chairperson of the Program Board. Requires the Program Board to name the vice chairperson of the Program Board and make any necessary subcommittee appointments. Provides that the members of the Program Board shall serve 2-year terms and shall continue to serve until a replacement or reappointment is determined. Adds additional responsibilities of the Program Board. Requires institutions of higher education to verify that student applicants meet the eligibility requirements for DFI grants. Adds eligibility requirements for an award under the Act. Sets forth responsibilities for DFI institutions and DFI representatives. Requires a student to apply directly to the qualified institution of higher education that he or she plans to attend. Provides that in determining the recipients of awards, the Program Board shall favor recipients who received awards in previous years and who maintain conditions of eligibility and have made satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, as long as no student receives assistance for more than 4 years. Adds an additional condition for acceptance of a DFI award. Provides that if the obligation of the award is not met, repayment of the funds awarded shall (rather than may) be required according to procedures developed by the Board of Higher Education (rather than the Program Board). Provides that all grants are subject to the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall first apply beginning with awards made for the 2025-2026 academic year. Repeals a provision concerning continuing participants. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act regarding the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program. Changes the name of the scholarship program to the Teachers of Illinois scholarship program. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to determine how to verify whether an applicant is a qualified student and to award teacher scholarships to qualified students who demonstrate that they satisfy requirements. Requires the annual teacher scholarship amount to be computed by the institution. Provides that each teacher scholarship awarded shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the total cost of attendance (rather than tuition and fees and room and board costs). Requires applicants to submit an application annually, as well as complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Adds additional factors for the Commission to consider when prioritizing the allocation of funds. Removes language providing that at least 35% of the funds appropriated for awarded scholarships in each fiscal year shall be reserved for qualified male minority applicants, with priority being given to qualified Black male applicants, and if the Commission does not receive enough applications from qualified male minorities, then the Commission may award a portion of the reserved funds to qualified female minority applicants. Requires each recipient of a teacher scholarship to sign and submit a teaching agreement or promissory note to the Commission. Provides that recipients of a teacher scholarship are also required to provide the Commission with evidence of compliance with program requirements. Provides that if a recipient of a teacher scholarship fails to fulfill the teaching obligation, the scholarship converts to a loan with a repayment period of 10 years. Requires the State Board of Education to furnish all appropriate data referenced within the definition of a qualified student on a timely basis to the Commission. Provides that institutions shall also submit eligibility information for qualified students in sufficient time for the Commission to make award announcements. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall first apply beginning with awards made for the 2025-2026 academic year. Amends the Transitions in Education Act to make a related change. Makes other changes, and adds a severability clause. Effective immediately.
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1/28/2025 | Senate | Filed with Secretary by Sen. Doris Turner |
| 1/28/2025 | Senate | First Reading |
| 1/28/2025 | Senate | Referred to Assignments |
| 2/04/2025 | Senate | Assigned to Higher Education |
| 2/19/2025 | Senate | Do Pass Higher Education; 013-000-000 |
| 2/19/2025 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 20, 2025 |
| 2/20/2025 | Senate | Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura |
| 3/05/2025 | Senate | Second Reading |
| 3/05/2025 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 6, 2025 |
| 3/19/2025 | Senate | Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz |
| 4/03/2025 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; 049-005-000 |
| 4/03/2025 | Senate | Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Willie Preston |
| 4/04/2025 | House | Arrived in House |
| 4/09/2025 | House | Chief House Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar |
| 4/09/2025 | House | First Reading |
| 4/09/2025 | House | Referred to Rules Committee |
| 4/17/2025 | House | Assigned to Higher Education Committee |
| 5/05/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Sue Scherer |
| 5/09/2025 | House | Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee |
| 5/29/2025 | House | Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Kam Buckner |
| 5/29/2025 | House | Assigned to Executive Committee |
| 5/29/2025 | House | Committee/Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2025 |
| 5/29/2025 | House | Motion Filed to Suspend Rule 21 Executive Committee; Rep. Bob Morgan |
| 5/29/2025 | House | Motion to Suspend Rule 21 - Prevailed 074-037-000 |
| 5/30/2025 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Executive Committee; 008-004-000 |
| 5/30/2025 | House | Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate |
| 5/30/2025 | Senate | Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Robert Peters |
| 5/30/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Kam Buckner |
| 5/30/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee |
| 5/30/2025 | House | Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 5/30/2025 | House | Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford |
| 5/31/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 005-000-000 |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford |
| 5/31/2025 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 077-037-000 |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. |
| 5/31/2025 | House | Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 31, 2025 |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Robert Peters |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Executive |
| 5/31/2025 | Senate | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Executive; 009-004-000 |
| 7/02/2025 | Senate | Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments |