Bill Text: IL HB0143 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the Illinois DREAM Fund. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to provide that moneys from the checkoff may be received by the Fund. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-08 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB0143 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB0143-Introduced.html

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99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 HB0143 Introduced , by Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
35 ILCS 5/507DDD new
110 ILCS 947/67
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the Illinois DREAM Fund. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to provide that moneys from the checkoff may be received by the Fund. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning revenue.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by adding
Section 507DDD as follows:
(35 ILCS 5/507DDD new)
Sec. 507DDD. Illinois DREAM Fund checkoff. For taxable
years ending on or after December 31, 2015, the Department
shall print on its standard individual income tax form a
provision indicating that if the taxpayer wishes to contribute
to the Illinois DREAM Fund created under Section 67 of the
Higher Education Student Assistance Act, as authorized by this
amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, he or she may do
so by stating the amount of the contribution (not less than $1)
on the return, and that the contribution will reduce the
taxpayer's refund or increase the amount of payment to
accompany the return. Failure to remit any amount of increased
payment shall reduce the contribution accordingly. This
Section shall not apply to any amended return.
Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
amended by changing Section 67 as follows:

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(110 ILCS 947/67)
Sec. 67. Illinois DREAM Fund Commission.
(a) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall
establish an Illinois DREAM Fund Commission. The Governor shall
appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, members to
the Illinois DREAM Fund Commission, which shall be comprised of
9 members representing the geographic and ethnic diversity of
this State, including students, college and university
administrators and faculty, and other individuals committed to
advancing the educational opportunities of the children of
immigrants.
(b) The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission is charged with all
of the following responsibilities:
(1) Administering this Section and raising funds for
the Illinois DREAM Fund.
(2) Establishing a not-for-profit entity charged with
raising funds for the administration of this Section, any
educational or training programs the Commission is tasked
with administering, and funding scholarships to students
who are the children of immigrants to the United States.
(3) Publicizing the availability of scholarships from
the Illinois DREAM Fund.
(4) Selecting the recipients of scholarships funded
through the Illinois DREAM Fund.
(5) Researching issues pertaining to the availability
of assistance with the costs of higher education for the

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children of immigrants and other issues regarding access
for and the performance of the children of immigrants
within higher education.
(6) Overseeing implementation of the other provisions
of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.
(7) Establishing and administering training programs
for high school counselors and counselors, admissions
officers, and financial aid officers of public
institutions of higher education. The training programs
shall instruct participants on the educational
opportunities available to college-bound students who are
the children of immigrants, including, but not limited to,
in-state tuition and scholarship programs. The Illinois
DREAM Fund Commission may also establish a public awareness
campaign regarding educational opportunities available to
college bound students who are the children of immigrants.
The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission shall establish, by
rule, procedures for accepting and evaluating applications for
scholarships from the children of immigrants and issuing
scholarships to selected student applicants.
(c) To receive a scholarship under this Section, a student
must meet all of the following qualifications:
(1) Have resided with his or her parents or guardian
while attending a public or private high school in this
State.
(2) Have graduated from a public or private high school

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or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this
State.
(3) Have attended school in this State for at least 3
years as of the date he or she graduated from high school
or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.
(4) Have at least one parent who immigrated to the
United States.
(d) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall
establish an Illinois DREAM Fund to provide scholarships under
this Section. The Illinois DREAM Fund shall be funded entirely
from private contributions and from moneys received from the
tax checkoff established under Section 506DDD of the Illinois
Income Tax Act.
(Source: P.A. 97-233, eff. 8-1-11.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.