Bill Text: IL HJR0101 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Directs the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to create a working group on financial aid policies and procedures.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-23 - Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HJR0101 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HJR0101-Introduced.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has an interest in ensuring
that students who are eligible for federal, state, or
institutional aid are receiving that aid to help them attain a
degree or credential; and
WHEREAS, The award of student financial aid from federal,
state, and institutional sources is subject to federal and
state laws and regulations as well as institutional policies
and procedures; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Student Assistance Commission
conducts compliance reviews of financial aid offices
participating in ISAC-administered financial aid programs; the
agency also offers training for financial aid administrators;
and
WHEREAS, Institutions must act within federal and state
regulations but may also adopt different approaches to
complying with federal and state mandates; and
WHEREAS, Compliance with those mandates is meant to ensure
the appropriate delivery of assistance while remaining within
the scope and responsibilities of the institution; and

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WHEREAS, Federal programs sometimes include constraints,
such as a suspension of federal student aid eligibility for
students convicted of drug crimes that occurred while receiving
federal student aid, that exceed the constraints on state
programs and should not be applied to state programs;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Student Assistance
Commission is directed to create a working group on financial
aid policies and procedures, whose purpose is the following:
(1) To advise ISAC on the development of model policies
and procedures for financial aid, including but not limited
to verification and professional judgment, the purpose of
which is to provide additional guidance for Illinois
institutions on how best to serve Illinois students from a
variety of backgrounds and situations, while complying
with state and federal requirements for the delivery of
state and federal financial aid; and
(2) To identify and eliminate procedural barriers at
the state and institutional levels that may result in
students not receiving aid for which they may otherwise be
eligible; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the working group shall consist of the

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following, convened by the Executive Director of the Illinois
Student Assistance Commission or his designee, with staff
support from the Commission:
(1) The president of a statewide professional
organization of student financial aid administrators, or
that person's designee;
(2) Additional financial aid administrators
representing the diversity of Illinois postsecondary
institutions; and
(3) The president of a statewide organization of
professionals involved in college admission counseling, or
that person's designee; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commission, at the discretion of the
executive director, may include additional experts on college
access, federal student aid, disparities in higher education,
immigration law, tax law, or any other topics relevant to the
tasks outlined above, and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commission shall use its best efforts in
assuring that the working group is representative of the
geographic, racial, and ethnic diversity of this state, and be
it further
RESOLVED, That working group members shall serve without
compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses from

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appropriations made to the Commission and available for this
purpose.