Bill Text: IL HB5475 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award a nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each qualified applicant in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the eligible institution at which the recipient is enrolled, with specified limits. Provides that scholarship recipients shall also receive a stipend, the amount which shall not exceed $10,000, to cover other costs of attendance, including but not limited to, reasonable living expenses. Sets forth provisions concerning eligibility, scholarship terms, the total amount of assistance, application for the program, repayment, compliance with State and Federal laws, a report, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-19 - House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB5475 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB5475-Introduced.html

---

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5475 Introduced , by Rep. Camille Y. Lilly SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 947/65.125 new
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award a nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each qualified applicant in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the eligible institution at which the recipient is enrolled, with specified limits. Provides that scholarship recipients shall also receive a stipend, the amount which shall not exceed $10,000, to cover other costs of attendance, including but not limited to, reasonable living expenses. Sets forth provisions concerning eligibility, scholarship terms, the total amount of assistance, application for the program, repayment, compliance with State and Federal laws, a report, and rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2025.
LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b
A BILL FOR
HB5475 LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this amendatory Act of
the 103rd General Assembly is to address healthcare needs
within the Department of Corrections by providing nursing
scholarship assistance to eligible students in the State,
subject to appropriation, and shall require a public service
commitment agreement to work within the Department of
Corrections for a specified duration. The Program shall be
administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and
with the guidance and assistance of the Department.
Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
amended by adding Section 65.125 as follows:
(110 ILCS 947/65.125 new)
Sec. 65.125. Nursing in correctional facilities
scholarship program.
(a) In this Section:
"Eligible institution" means a public community college, a
private junior college, a hospital-based diploma in nursing
program, or a public or private college or university with a
pre-licensure nursing education program located in this State

HB5475 - 2 - LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b
that has received approval by the Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation for an associate degree in nursing
program, an associate degree in applied sciences in nursing
program, a hospital-based diploma in nursing program, a
baccalaureate degree in nursing program, a graduate degree in
nursing program, or a certificate in a practical nursing
program approved by the Board of Higher Education or any
successor agency with similar authority. An eligible
institution must maintain compliance with all applicable State
and federal laws. An eligible institution is not necessarily
eligible for other programs administered by the Commission and
is not required to meet the definition of institution of
higher learning, qualified institution, or institution as
defined in Section 10 of this Act. The Commission may
establish by rule additional requirements for an eligible
institution.
"Department" means the Department of Corrections.
(b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award a
nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each
qualified applicant in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition
and fees of the eligible institution at which the recipient is
enrolled, up to the current maximum amount of tuition and fees
charged to students enrolled in an eligible institution,
except that a recipient enrolled in a non-public institution
may not receive an award of more than the current maximum
amount of tuition and fees charged to students enrolled in an

HB5475 - 3 - LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b
eligible institution at a public university. Scholarship
recipients shall also receive a stipend, the amount which
shall not exceed $10,000, to cover other costs of attendance,
including, but not limited to, reasonable living expenses.
Stipend amounts for recipients enrolled on less than a
full-time basis shall be prorated by credit hour.
(c) The Commission shall, on an annual basis, receive and
consider applications for scholarship assistance under the
program. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under the
program if the Commission finds that the applicant meets the
following criteria:
(1) Is a resident of Illinois.
(2) Is enrolled in an eligible institution in the
State on at least a part-time basis.
(3) Expressed a commitment to work as a nurse in the
Department of Corrections for a minimum of 3 years.
Scholarship recipients shall be selected from among
eligible applicants based on a combination of academic
excellence and financial need, as determined by the
commission. Preference may be given to previous recipients of
a scholarship under the program, provided that the recipient
continues to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in
this Section and maintains satisfactory academic progress as
determined by the institution of higher education at which the
recipient is enrolled.
(d) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for an

HB5475 - 4 - LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b
academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
the program must sign a public service commitment agreement
pledging that, within the one-year period following the
termination of the academic program for which the recipient
was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall:
(1) begin working as a nurse in the Department for a
period of not less than 3 years; and
(2) upon request of the Commission and subject to
confirmation with the Department, provide the Commission
with evidence that the recipient is fulfilling or has
fulfilled the terms of the public service agreement
required under this subsection (d).
(e) A recipient may receive scholarship assistance under
the program for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of
full-time enrollment.
(f) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
the Commission under the program to an individual in any given
fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded
to that individual for that year, may not exceed the cost of
attendance at the eligible institution at which the student is
enrolled.
(g) All applications for a scholarship under the program
shall be made to the Commission in a form and manner prescribed
by the Commission. An applicant shall also submit any
supporting documents deemed necessary by the Commission at the
time of application.

HB5475 - 5 - LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b
(h) All scholarship funds distributed under the program
shall be paid to the eligible institution on behalf of the
scholarship recipient.
(i) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
Section fails to fulfill the service agreement required under
the program, the Commission shall require the recipient to
repay the amount of the scholarship or scholarships received,
prorated according to the fraction of the service agreement
not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
applicable, reasonable collection fees. Payments received by
the Commission under this Section shall be remitted to the
State Comptroller for deposit into the General Revenue Fund,
except that that portion of a recipient's repayment that
equals the amount in expenses that the Commission has
reasonably incurred in attempting collection from that
recipient shall be remitted to the State Comptroller for
deposit into the ISAC Accounts Receivable Fund.
(j) A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the Commission
under the program shall not be in violation of the agreement
entered into pursuant to this Article if the recipient is (i)
serving as a member of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of
the United States, (ii) a person with a temporary total
disability, as established by a sworn affidavit of a qualified
physician, (iii) taking additional courses, on at least a
half-time basis, related to nursing, or (iv) extenuating and
specific circumstances in which the recipient is unable to

HB5475 - 6 - LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b
achieve full-time employment as a nurse with the Department
and is able to provide evidence of that fact, subject to review
by the Commission. Any extension of the period during which
the service requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to
limitations of duration established by the Commission and with
the guidance and assistance of the Department.
(k) The Commission and the Department shall ensure
compliance with all applicable State and federal laws. This
Section does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender,
religion, sex, color, national origin, ancestry, or any other
protected class or characteristics.
(l) In providing guidance and assistance to the
Commission, the Department may collaborate with accredited
State nursing schools to facilitate the scholarship program.
Eligible institutions are encouraged to support and promote
the program among their nursing students.
(m) The Department, in consultation with the Commission,
shall provide an annual report on the program's effectiveness,
including the number of recipients, their service periods, and
any challenges faced.
(n) The funding for the program shall be subject to
appropriation. Additional contributions from private entities,
philanthropic organizations, or federal grants may supplement
the scholarship.
(o) The Commission shall administer the grant program
established by this Section and shall make all necessary and

HB5475 - 7 - LRB103 38479 RJT 68615 b
proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for its
effective implementation with the guidance and assistance of
the Department.