HB5327 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 17269 HLH 52363 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB5327

Introduced , by Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

35 ILCS 5/507DDD new
110 ILCS 947/67

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a tax checkoff for the Illinois DREAM Fund. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to provide that moneys from the checkoff may be received by the Fund. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning revenue.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by adding Section 507DDD as follows:

(35 ILCS 5/507DDD new)

Sec. 507DDD. Illinois DREAM Fund checkoff. For taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2014, the Department shall print on its standard individual income tax form a provision indicating that if the taxpayer wishes to contribute to the Illinois DREAM Fund created under Section 67 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act, as authorized by this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, he or she may do so by stating the amount of the contribution (not less than $1) on the return, and that the contribution will reduce the taxpayer's refund or increase the amount of payment to accompany the return. Failure to remit any amount of increased payment shall reduce the contribution accordingly. This Section shall not apply to any amended return.

Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by changing Section 67 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/67)

Sec. 67. Illinois DREAM Fund Commission.

(a) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish an Illinois DREAM Fund Commission. The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, members to the Illinois DREAM Fund Commission, which shall be comprised of 9 members representing the geographic and ethnic diversity of this State, including students, college and university administrators and faculty, and other individuals committed to advancing the educational opportunities of the children of immigrants.

(b) The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission is charged with all of the following responsibilities:

(1) Administering this Section and raising funds for the Illinois DREAM Fund.

(2) Establishing a not-for-profit entity charged with raising funds for the administration of this Section, any educational or training programs the Commission is tasked with administering, and funding scholarships to students who are the children of immigrants to the United States.

(3) Publicizing the availability of scholarships from the Illinois DREAM Fund.

(4) Selecting the recipients of scholarships funded through the Illinois DREAM Fund.

(5) Researching issues pertaining to the availability of assistance with the costs of higher education for the children of immigrants and other issues regarding access for and the performance of the children of immigrants within higher education.

(6) Overseeing implementation of the other provisions of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.

(7) Establishing and administering training programs for high school counselors and counselors, admissions officers, and financial aid officers of public institutions of higher education. The training programs shall instruct participants on the educational opportunities available to college-bound students who are the children of immigrants, including, but not limited to, in-state tuition and scholarship programs. The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission may also establish a public awareness campaign regarding educational opportunities available to college bound students who are the children of immigrants.

The Illinois DREAM Fund Commission shall establish, by rule, procedures for accepting and evaluating applications for scholarships from the children of immigrants and issuing scholarships to selected student applicants.

(c) To receive a scholarship under this Section, a student must meet all of the following qualifications:

(1) Have resided with his or her parents or guardian while attending a public or private high school in this State.

(2) Have graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State.

(3) Have attended school in this State for at least 3 years as of the date he or she graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.

(4) Have at least one parent who immigrated to the United States.

(d) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish an Illinois DREAM Fund to provide scholarships under this Section. The Illinois DREAM Fund shall be funded entirely from private contributions and from moneys received from the tax checkoff established under Section 506DDD of the Illinois Income Tax Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-233, eff. 8-1-11.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.