| ||||
| Public Act 103-0031 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
AN ACT concerning education.
| ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
| ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
| ||||
Section 5. The Human Services Professional Loan Repayment | ||||
Program Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, 25, and 30 | ||||
as follows: | ||||
(110 ILCS 997/10)
| ||||
Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:
| ||||
"Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance | ||||
Commission.
| ||||
"Professional" means an individual employed by a human | ||||
services agency that contracts with, receives funding from, or | ||||
is grant-funded by a State agency for the purposes of | ||||
providing direct or indirect services that ensure that | ||||
individuals have the essential elements to build and maintain | ||||
physical, emotional, and economic well-being at every phase of | ||||
life. | ||||
"Program" means the Human Services Professional Loan | ||||
Repayment Program.
| ||||
"Qualified program" means a program that offers an | ||||
associate, bachelor's, or master's degree from an accredited | ||||
college or university.
| ||||
"State agency" means the Department of Human Services, the | ||||
Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of | ||
Juvenile Justice, the Department on Aging, and the Department | ||
of Public Health.
| ||
(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.) | ||
(110 ILCS 997/15)
| ||
Sec. 15. Establishment of the Program.
The Human Services | ||
Professional Loan Repayment Program is created and shall be | ||
administered by the Commission. Subject to appropriation, the | ||
Program shall provide loan repayment assistance to eligible | ||
professionals practicing in a community-based, human services | ||
agency that contracts with, receives funding from, or is | ||
grant-funded by a State agency.
| ||
(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.) | ||
(110 ILCS 997/25)
| ||
Sec. 25. Award; maximum loan time; maximum amount. The | ||
Commission shall award a grant to each eligible applicants and | ||
may grant preference to applicants based on need or income | ||
levels applicant for a cumulative maximum of 4 years. The | ||
recipient of a grant awarded by the Commission under this Act | ||
must use the grant award for payments toward the recipient's | ||
educational loans from a qualified program. The amount of the | ||
grant shall not exceed: (i) $25,000 per year for a master's | ||
degree or higher; (ii) $15,000 per year for a bachelor's | ||
degree; (iii) $3,000 per year for a professional with an | ||
associate degree; and (iv) up to a $5,000 per year add-on if | ||
independently licensed as a licensed clinical social worker, a | ||
licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed | ||
practitioner of the healing arts, a licensed marriage and | ||
family therapist, a board-certified behavior analyst, or a | ||
registered behavior technician.
| ||
(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.) | ||
(110 ILCS 997/30)
| ||
Sec. 30. Eligibility; work requirement.
| ||
(a) To be eligible to receive a grant under the Human | ||
Services Professional Loan Repayment Program, the Commission | ||
must find that the eligible professional satisfies all of the | ||
following:
| ||
(1) The applicant is a resident of the State of | ||
Illinois.
| ||
(2) The applicant has been a full-time employee worked | ||
for at least 24 consecutive months as a full-time employee | ||
as a human services professional, and the in a | ||
community-based human services agency that currently has | ||
or did have a contract with, receives funding from, or is | ||
grant-funded by a State agency for the purpose of | ||
providing to provide human services during the duration of | ||
applicant's 24 consecutive month tenure.
| ||
(3) The applicant is a borrower with an outstanding | ||
balance due on an educational loan.
| ||
(4) The applicant has not defaulted on an educational | ||
loan.
| ||
(5) The applicant must remain a full-time employee as | ||
a human services professional in the same community-based | ||
human services agency for at least 12 months after | ||
receiving this grant.
| ||
(b) The Commission may grant preference to a previous | ||
recipient of a grant under the Program, provided that the | ||
recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements under | ||
this Section.
| ||
(c) The Commission may grant preference to applications | ||
based on need or income levels. | ||
(Source: P.A. 102-1089, eff. 1-1-23.)
| ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, | ||
2023.
| ||