Public Act 104-0164
 
HB0460 EnrolledLRB104 04328 LNS 14353 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 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 or , any State 
agency, offered by a unit of local government, or administered 
by any public institution of higher learning, including, but 
not limited to, scholarships, grants, awards, 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 
or offered by a unit of local government 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.)