Bill Text: IL HB2691 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Makes changes to the legislative findings. Provides that a student who is an Illinois resident and who is not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall be eligible for State financial aid and benefits. Provides that, to ensure equity, success, and the retention of Illinois residents, a student who is an Illinois resident may not be subject to any caps on grant assistance available under the Monetary Award Program other than those required by State law. Provides that the eligibility requirements for any student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State shall be interpreted to promote the broadest eligibility for students who are Illinois residents in accordance with State law or policy. Makes other changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 45-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-21 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0021 [HB2691 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB2691-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB2691 Introduced , by Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act. Provides for legislative findings and a definition. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a student attending an institution of higher learning in this State who is deemed an Illinois resident for tuition purposes and is not otherwise eligible to receive federal financial aid shall be eligible to apply or receive consideration for State financial aid, including any student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State, a State agency, or any public institution of higher learning, including, but not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, free room and board, tuition waivers, or other financial or in-kind assistance.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act.
Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly makes all of the
following findings:
(1) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring that
all students who are residents of this State have
meaningful and equitable access to higher education
opportunities notwithstanding the student's race, color,
gender or gender identity, age, ancestry, marital status,
military status, religion, pregnancy, national origin,
disability status, sexual orientation, order of protection
status, as defined under Section 1-103 of the Illinois
Human Rights Act, or immigration status.
(2) The State of Illinois is committed to retaining
Illinois students who wish to attend institutions of higher
learning in this State by addressing financial barriers for
those students.
Section 10. Definition. In this Act, "Illinois resident"
includes any person who is deemed an Illinois resident for

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tuition purposes under State law.
Section 15. Equitable eligibility for financial aid.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, a student attending an institution of higher learning
in this State who is an Illinois resident and is not otherwise
eligible to receive federal financial aid for students is
eligible to apply or receive consideration for State financial
aid for students, including any student aid or benefit funded
or administered by the State, a State agency, or any public
institution of higher learning, including, but not limited to,
scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, free room and board,
tuition waivers, or other financial or in-kind assistance.
(b) The General Assembly finds and declares that this
Section is a State law within the meaning of subsection (d) of
Section 1621 of Title 8 of the United States Code.
Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.