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

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-Enrolled.html

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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 educational
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 ensuring that
students who may not have had the same educational
opportunities are not penalized as they seek to achieve
higher education.
(3) The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring the
success and retention of African American students by
safeguarding equitable access to educational funding and

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eliminating systemic barriers.
(4) Lifting any caps on the Monetary Award Program,
other than those required by State law, will have a
positive impact on the retention and equity of African
American students and other students of color who are
disproportionately impacted by the lack of access to
resources in completing their postsecondary education.
(5) 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
tuition purposes under State law.
Section 15. Equitable eligibility for financial aid and
benefits.
(a) 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 as described
in subsection (b).
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the

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contrary, a student who is an Illinois resident (i) is eligible
to apply or receive consideration for any student aid or
benefit funded or administered by the State, any State agency,
or any public institution of higher learning, including, but
not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, room
and board assistance, tuition waivers, or other financial or
in-kind assistance and (ii) to ensure equity, success, and the
retention of Illinois residents, may not be subject to any caps
on grant assistance available under the Monetary Award Program
other than those required by State law.
(c) The eligibility requirements under this Section 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.
(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as modifying
any eligibility requirements regarding academic standing or
personal or household income for any State financial aid
program.
(e) 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.