HIGHER ED-EXONERATED PERSONS Senate SponsorsSen. Dan Kotowski-Kimberly A. Lightford-David Koehler-Jacqueline Y. Collins-Emil Jones, III, Linda Holmes and Donne E. Trotter House Sponsors(Rep. La Shawn K. Ford-Mary E. Flowers-Jehan Gordon-Booth-Emanuel Chris Welch, Elgie R. Sims, Jr., Kenneth Dunkin, Kelly M. Cassidy, Litesa E. Wallace, Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr., Esther Golar and Camille Y. Lilly) 7/30/2015SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0199 115 ILCS 5/3from Ch. 48, par. 1703Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning employee rights.Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes reference to:115 ILCS 5/3Adds reference to:110 ILCS 947/62 newReplaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides for the issuance of grants to exonerated persons, subject to appropriation. Provides that recipients of grants issued by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission need not be Illinois residents at the time of enrollment in order to be eligible for a grant. Provides that recipients are entitled to either payment for the course of study needed for them to obtain a high school equivalency certificate or 8 semesters or 12 quarters of full payment of tuition and mandatory fees, provided that the recipients are maintaining satisfactory academic progress. Allows the funds from the grant to be used for obtaining a high school equivalency certificate or pursuing undergraduate or graduate study. Provides that benefits shall be administered by and paid out of funds available to the Commission and shall accrue to the bona fide applicant for a grant without the requirement of demonstrating financial need to qualify for the benefits.Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by Senate Amendment No. 2 with the following changes: defines "exonerated person" as an individual who has received a pardon from the Governor of the State of Illinois (rather than the Governor) stating that such a pardon is issued on the grounds of innocence of the crime for which he or she was imprisoned or an individual who has received a certificate of innocence from a circuit court. Defines "satisfactory academic progress" as the qualified applicant's maintenance of minimum standards of academic performance, consistent with requirements for maintaining federal financial aid eligibility (rather than the qualified applicant's maintenance of minimum grade levels), as determined by the institution of higher learning. Removes a provision providing that recipients need not be Illinois residents at the time of enrollment in order to be eligible for a grant. Provides for the payment of tuition and fees only at a public university or community college. Makes changes to provide that an exonerated person who has not yet received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate and completes a high school equivalency preparation course through an Illinois Community College Board-approved provider may use grant funds to pay costs associated with obtaining a high school equivalency certificate, including payment of the cost of the high school equivalency test and up to one retest on each test module, and any additional fees that may be required in order to obtain an Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate or an official transcript of test scores after successful completion of the high school equivalency test. Removes a provision requiring funds for the grant to be paid out of funds available to the Commission. 1/28/2015SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. John J. Cullerton 1/28/2015SenateFirst Reading 1/28/2015SenateReferred to Assignments 3/18/2015SenateAssigned to Executive 3/26/2015SenateDo Pass Executive; 016-000-000 3/26/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 14, 2015 4/8/2015SenateChief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Dan Kotowski 4/13/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Dan Kotowski 4/13/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 4/15/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Dan Kotowski 4/15/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments 4/16/2015SenateSecond Reading 4/16/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 21, 2015 4/16/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8(b-1), this amendment will remain in the Committee on Assignments. 4/21/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Higher Education 4/22/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Higher Education; 008-002-000 4/24/2015SenateRule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 15, 2015 5/4/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Dan Kotowski 5/4/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments 5/5/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Assignments Refers to Higher Education 5/6/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommend Do Adopt Higher Education; 008-001-000 5/7/2015SenateRecalled to Second Reading 5/7/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted; Kotowski 5/7/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted; Kotowski 5/7/2015SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading 5/7/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford 5/7/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler 5/7/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins 5/7/2015SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III 5/7/2015SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes 5/7/2015SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Donne E. Trotter 5/7/2015SenateThird Reading - Passed; 035-018-001 5/7/2015SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) 5/7/2015HouseArrived in House 5/8/2015HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. La Shawn K. Ford 5/8/2015HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers 5/12/2015HouseFirst Reading 5/12/2015HouseReferred to Rules Committee 5/13/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 22, 2015 5/13/2015HouseAssigned to Higher Education Committee 5/19/2015HouseDo Pass / Standard Debate Higher Education Committee; 009-007-000 5/19/2015HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Standard Debate 5/20/2015HouseSecond Reading - Standard Debate 5/20/2015HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Standard Debate 5/22/2015HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2015 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch 5/25/2015HouseThird Reading - Standard Debate - Passed 067-039-001 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Elgie R. Sims, Jr. 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kenneth Dunkin 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Litesa E. Wallace 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr. 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Esther Golar 5/25/2015HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly 5/25/2015SenatePassed Both Houses 6/23/2015SenateSent to the Governor 7/30/2015SenateGovernor Approved 7/30/2015SenateEffective Date January 1, 2016 7/30/2015SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0199