102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB0662
 
Introduced 2/24/2021, by Sen. Ann Gillespie
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
110 ILCS 947/65.110 new

     Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates the School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications from eligible social workers who are employed by a public elementary or secondary school in this State to encourage a grant recipient to use the financial assistance for the repayment of educational loans. Sets forth eligibility and other requirements. Effective July 1, 2022.
  


LRB102 13536 CMG 18883 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
SB0662LRB102 13536 CMG 18883 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning education. 
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is 
5amended  by adding Section 65.110 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)
7    Sec. 65.110. School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment 
8Program.
9    (a) To encourage Illinois students to work, and to 
10continue to work, as a school social worker in public school 
11districts in this State, the Commission shall, each year, 
12receive and consider applications for loan repayment 
13assistance under this Section. This program shall be known as 
14the School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. The 
15Commission shall administer the program and shall adopt all 
16necessary and proper rules to effectively implement the 
17program.
18    (b) Beginning July 1, 2022, subject to a separate 
19appropriation made for such purposes, the Commission shall 
20award a grant, up to a maximum of $6,500, to each qualified 
21applicant. The Commission may encourage the recipient of a 
22grant under this Section to use the grant award for repayment 
23of the recipient's educational loan.
 
 
SB0662- 2 -LRB102 13536 CMG 18883 b

1    (c) A person is a qualified applicant under this Section 
2if he or she meets all of the following qualifications:
3        (1) The person is a United States citizen or eligible 
4    noncitizen.
5        (2) The person is a resident of this State.
6        (3) The person is a borrower with an outstanding 
7    balance due on an educational loan related to obtaining a 
8    degree in social work.
9        (4) The person has been employed as a school social 
10    worker by a public elementary school or secondary school 
11    in this State for at least 12 consecutive months.
12        (5) The person is currently employed as a school 
13    social worker by a public elementary school or secondary 
14    school in this State.
15    (d) An applicant shall submit an application, in a form 
16determined by the Commission, for grant assistance under this 
17Section to the Commission. An applicant is required to submit, 
18with the application, supporting documentation as the 
19Commission may deem necessary.
20    (e) The Commission shall give priority to an applicant who 
21is a member of an underrepresented community in the school 
22social work field in Illinois. 
 
 
23    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
242022.