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    AN ACT concerning education.

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



 
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    Section 1. Short title.   This Act may be cited as the 
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Community College Transfer Grant Program Act.
 
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    Section 5. Definitions.  As used in this Act:
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    "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance 
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Commission.
 
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    "Grant" means the amount of financial assistance awarded 
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under this Act.
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    "Institution of higher education" means a public or private 
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not-for-profit institution that is an "institution of higher 
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learning" as defined in the Higher Education Student Assistance 
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Act and that offers  baccalaureate degrees.
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    "Student" means an undergraduate student who is entitled to 
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in-state tuition charges.
 
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    Section 10. Community College Transfer Grant Program 
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created; adoption of rules.   There is created the Community 
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College Transfer Grant Program to provide financial assistance 
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to eligible students, subject to appropriation, for the costs 
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of attending a public or private institution of higher 
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education in this State.  Funds must be paid to institutions of 
 


 






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higher education on behalf of students who have been awarded 
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financial assistance pursuant to Section 15 of this Act. The 
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Commission shall adopt rules for the implementation of the 
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provisions of this Act and the disbursement of funds consistent 
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therewith and appropriate to the administration of the program.
 
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    Section 15. Eligibility criteria. 

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    (a)  Under the Community College Transfer Grant Program, 
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grants must be made on behalf of students who are residents of 
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this State and who meet all of the following qualifications:
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        (1)  Have received an associate's degree at a public 
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    community college located in this State.
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        (2)  Have enrolled in an institution of higher education 
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    located in this State by the fall semester following the 
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    award of the associate's degree.
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        (3)  Have applied for financial aid, including 
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    completing and submitting a free application for federal 
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    student aid.

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        (4)  Have financial need, defined as an Expected Family 
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    Contribution (EFC) of no more than $9,000 as calculated by 
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    the federal government using the family's financial 
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    information reported on the Free Application for Federal 
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    Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
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    Only students who maintained a cumulative grade point 
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average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent while 
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enrolled in an associate's degree program at a public community 
 


 






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college located in this State are eligible to receive a grant 
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under this Act.
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    (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 
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contrary, the Commission shall consider an applicant eligible 
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for a grant under this Section if the Commission finds that the 
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applicant is (i) a United States citizen or eligible 
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non-citizen and (ii) a resident of this State.
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    (c)  Eligibility for a grant under the Community College 
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Transfer Grant Program is limited to 2 academic years or 60 
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credit hours and must be used only for undergraduate collegiate 
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work.
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    To remain eligible for a grant under this program, a 
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student must continue to demonstrate financial need, as defined 
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in this Section, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 
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at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, and make 
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satisfactory academic progress towards a degree.
 
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    Section 20. Amount of award.  The amount of the grant under 
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this Act for an eligible student is subject to appropriation 
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and is fixed at $1,000 per year.  Students pursuing 
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undergraduate collegiate work in engineering, mathematics, 
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nursing, teaching, or science are eligible for an additional 
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$1,000 grant.
 
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    Section 25. State financial aid eligibility.  Tuition 
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assistance received by a student under the Community College 
 


 






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Transfer Grant Program must not be reduced by the receipt of 
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other financial aid from any source by the student. However, a 
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student may not receive a grant pursuant to this Act that, when 
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added to other financial aid received by that student, would 
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enable the student to receive total assistance in excess of the 
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estimated cost to the student of attending the institution in 
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which he or she is enrolled.
 

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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
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2010.