RETENTION OF IL STUDENTS ACT

Creates the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act. Provides for legislative findings and a definition. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a student attending an institution of higher learning in this State who is deemed an Illinois resident for tuition purposes and is not otherwise eligible to receive federal financial aid shall be eligible to apply or receive consideration for State financial aid, including any student aid or benefit funded or administered by the State, a State agency, or any public institution of higher learning, including, but not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, stipends, free room and board, tuition waivers, or other financial or in-kind assistance. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. 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. Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (IL Student Assistance Commission) The scholarship and grant programs that ISAC administers are subject to appropriation. Thus, making more students eligible to apply for these programs (which HB 2691 does) will not automatically add to their cost. However, funding additional recipients would either require additional appropriations or shifting dollars from other low-income students who are currently eligible. Based on limited available data, including estimates provided by advocates for the bill of the number of undocumented Illinois students, approximately 3,500 students may become newly eligible for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) under HB 2691, as amended, adding about $9.0 million in annual demand for the program. Without additional funding, adding new recipients would require shifting dollars from other recipients. This projection incorporates estimates of the number of undocumented Illinois students, transgender students who may be required to register for Selective Service, and students who are currently ineligible for MAP because they have used the program to help pay for at least 75 credit hours but have not yet attained junior status. This estimate could be low for several reasons. Overall demand for funding could increase in future years as additional students apply. Also, ISAC does not have adequate information to estimate the potential increase in demand for smaller grant programs (which are also subject to appropriation) or any increases in demand for ISAC-administered programs attributable to students who receive in-state tuition rates because of their military or veteran status. State Mandates Fiscal Note, House Committee Amendment No. 1 (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate.