SB2279 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 04109 NHT 14149 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB2279

Introduced 2/20/2009, by Sen. Kirk W. Dillard

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Early Graduation Tuition Waiver Act. Provides that if a student graduates from grades 9 through 12 at a secondary school in this State that is recognized by the State Board of Education in less than 4 school years, then he or she is entitled to receive a tuition waiver to a public university in this State, with the length of the tuition waiver being equal to the difference between 8 semesters and the actual number of semesters the student was enrolled in grades 9 through 12. Provides that each year, the State Board shall receive and consider applications for these tuition waivers and award these tuition waivers to eligible applicants. Effective July 1, 2009.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Early Graduation Tuition Waiver Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Public university" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, or Western Illinois University.

"State Board" means the State Board of Education.

Section 10. Eligibility for tuition waiver. Each year, the State Board shall receive and consider applications for tuition waivers under this Act and award tuition waivers to eligible applicants. If a student graduates from grades 9 through 12 at a secondary school in this State that is recognized by the State Board in less than 4 school years, then he or she is entitled to receive a tuition waiver to a public university. However, the holder of a tuition waiver under this Act is subject to all examinations, rules, and requirements of the public university in which he or she is or will be enrolled, except as otherwise directed in this Act.

Section 15. Length of tuition waiver. The length of a tuition waiver awarded under this Act shall equal the difference between 8 semesters and the actual number of semesters the student was enrolled in grades 9 through 12.

Section 20. Exemption from tuition and fees. A tuition waiver awarded under this Act shall exempt the holder from the payment of tuition and any matriculation, graduation, activity, term, and incidental fees, except any portion of a multipurpose fee that is used for a purpose for which exemption is not granted under this Section. Exemption shall not be granted from any other fees, including book rental, service, laboratory, supply, union building, hospital, and medical insurance fees and any fees established for the operation and maintenance of buildings, the income of which is pledged to the payment of interest and principal on bonds issued by the board of trustees of the public university.

Any student who has been or will be awarded a tuition waiver under this Act must be reimbursed by the public university for any fees that he or she has paid and for which exemption is granted under this Section if application for such reimbursement is made within 2 months following the school term for which the fees were paid.

Section 25. Other scholarships. This Act does not prohibit a public university from granting other scholarships to cover expenses not covered by the tuition waiver awarded under this Act.

Section 90. Rules. The State Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2009.