Bill Text: IL HB5208 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act. Provides that a noncitizen graduate student who does not possess a valid visa or status as a lawful permanent resident is eligible for State financial aid and benefits.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-30 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Rita Mayfield [HB5208 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HB5208-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 HB5208 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 986/15
Amends the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act. Provides that a noncitizen graduate student who does not possess a valid visa or status as a lawful permanent resident is eligible for State financial aid and benefits.
LRB102 25360 CMG 34640 b
A BILL FOR
HB5208 LRB102 25360 CMG 34640 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Retention of Illinois Students and Equity
Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:
(110 ILCS 986/15)
Sec. 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, a noncitizen
graduate student who does not possess a valid visa or status as
a lawful permanent resident, 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
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,

HB5208 - 2 - LRB102 25360 CMG 34640 b
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.
(Source: P.A. 101-21, eff. 1-1-20.)