HB1932 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 09448 LNS 19508 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1932

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/65.135 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award a nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each qualified applicant. Provides that, prior to receiving scholarship assistance for an academic year, each recipient of a scholarship must sign an agreement pledging that, within the one-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall begin working as a nurse within the Department of Corrections for a period of not less than 3 years. Sets forth provisions concerning the scholarship amount, applicant eligibility, the selection of recipients, applications, the distribution of funds, the fulfillment of the agreement, funding, and rulemaking. Provides that the Department of Corrections, in consultation with the Commission, shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly on effectiveness, including the number of recipients, their service periods, and any challenges faced. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly is to address health care needs within the Department of Corrections by providing nursing scholarship assistance to eligible students in this State, subject to appropriation, and require a public service commitment agreement to work within the Department of Corrections for a specified duration. The Program shall be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission with the guidance and assistance of the Department.

Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.135 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.135 new)

Sec. 65.135. Nursing in correctional facilities scholarships.

(a) In this Section:

"Department" means the Department of Corrections.

"Eligible institution" means a public community college, a private junior college, a hospital-based diploma in nursing program, or a public or private college or university with a pre-licensure nursing education program located in this State that has received approval from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing program, an associate degree in applied sciences in nursing program, a hospital-based diploma in nursing program, a baccalaureate degree in nursing program, a graduate degree in nursing program, or a certificate in a practical nursing program approved by the Board of Higher Education or any successor agency with similar authority. An eligible institution must maintain compliance with all applicable State and federal laws. An eligible institution is not necessarily eligible for other programs administered by the Commission and is not required to meet the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", or "institution" under Section 10 of this Act. The Commission may establish by rule additional requirements for an eligible institution.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award a nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each qualified applicant. To determine the maximum annual scholarship amount available to a recipient enrolled full time, the Commission shall consider tuition and fee charges and projected living expenses at community colleges and universities statewide under the following criteria:

(1) To determine the maximum scholarship amount for a recipient pursuing a certificate in practical nursing at an eligible institution, a hospital-based diploma in nursing, or an associate degree or diploma in nursing from an community college, the Commission shall add the weighted tuition and fees charged by community colleges in this State to the uniform living allowance reported in the weighted Monetary Award Program budget.

(2) To determine the maximum scholarship amount for a recipient pursuing an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree in nursing at a private 2-year college or a public or private 4-year eligible institution in this State, the Commission shall add the weighted tuition and fees charged by institutions of higher learning to the uniform living allowance reported in the weighted Monetary Award Program budget.

The total amount of 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, may 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 scholarship awarded under this Section 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.

(c) The Commission shall, on an annual basis, receive and 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 meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Is a resident of this State.

(2) Is enrolled in an eligible institution on at least a part-time basis.

(3) Expresses a commitment to work as a nurse within the Department for a minimum of 3 years.

(4) Is not receiving financial assistance during the same academic year through a scholarship program under the Nursing Education Scholarship Law.

When selecting scholarship recipients from among eligible applicants, the Commission shall give preference first to previous recipients of a scholarship under this Section, provided that a recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in this Section and maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution of higher education at which the recipient is enrolled. In considering new recipients, the Commission shall prioritize funding for students with financial need, as determined by the Commission.

(d) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for an academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section must sign an agreement pledging that, within the one-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall:

(1) begin working as a nurse within the Department for a period of not less than 3 years; and

(2) upon request of the Commission and subject to confirmation with the Department, provide the Commission with evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the agreement required under this subsection (d).

(e) A recipient may receive scholarship assistance under this Section for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment.

(f) All applications for a scholarship under this Section shall be made to the Commission in a form and manner prescribed by the Commission. An applicant shall also submit any supporting documents deemed necessary by the Commission at the time of application.

(g) All scholarship funds distributed under this Section shall be paid to the eligible institution on behalf of the scholarship recipient.

(h) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the agreement required under this Section, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarship or scholarships received, prorated according to the fraction of the agreement not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees. Payments received by the Commission under this Section shall be remitted to the State Comptroller for deposit into the General Revenue Fund.

(i) A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the Commission under this Section is not in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant to this Section if the recipient (i) is serving as a member of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States, (ii) has a temporary total disability, as established by a sworn affidavit of a qualified physician, (iii) is taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, related to nursing, or (iv) has extenuating and specific circumstances in which the recipient is unable to achieve full-time employment as a nurse within the Department and is able to provide evidence of that fact, subject to review by the Commission. Any extension of the period during which the agreement must be fulfilled is subject to limitations of duration established by the Commission, with the guidance and assistance of the Department.

(j) In providing guidance and assistance to the Commission, the Department may collaborate with accredited State nursing schools to facilitate this Section. Eligible institutions are encouraged to support and promote this Section among their nursing students.

(k) The Department, in consultation with the Commission, shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly on this Section's effectiveness, including the number of recipients, their service periods, and any challenges faced.

(l) The funding for scholarships under this Section is subject to appropriation. Additional contributions from private entities, philanthropic organizations, or federal grants may supplement the scholarships.

(m) The Commission shall administer this Section and shall make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for this Sections's effective implementation, with the guidance and assistance of the Department.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026.