HIGHER ED-SOCIAL WORKER-GRANT

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates the School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications from eligible social workers who are employed by a public elementary or secondary school in this State to encourage a grant recipient to use the financial assistance for the repayment of educational loans. Sets forth eligibility and other requirements. Effective July 1, 2022. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall give priority to those applicants who are members of a racial minority (rather than to an applicant who is a member of an underrepresented community in the school social work field in Illinois); defines "racial minority". House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Adds provisions concerning the priority for the award of grants for years in which the amount of the appropriation allocated to the program is insufficient to provide grants to all qualified candidates. Sets forth the purpose for giving priority under the program to applicants who are members of a racial minority. Effective July 1, 2022.