Illinois HB 2806: STEM OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP

Bill Text

Full Text of HB2806 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Illinois General Assembly

 ILGA.GOV 

 HB2806 - 104th General Assembly 

Rep. Tony M. McCombie

Filed: 3/31/2025

10400HB2806ham002LRB104 08165 LNS 24522 a

1AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2806 

2 AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2806 by replacing 

3everything after the enacting clause with the following:

4 "Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 

5Section 5.1030 as follows:

6 (30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new)

7 Sec. 5.1030. The STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program 

8Fund.

9 Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is 

10amended by adding Section 65.122 as follows:

11 (110 ILCS 947/65.122 new)

12 Sec. 65.122. STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program. 

13 (a) The STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program established 

14under this Section shall support the development of a highly 

10400HB2806ham002- 2 -LRB104 08165 LNS 24522 a

1skilled workforce by expanding opportunities for individuals 

2pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and 

3mathematics with a focus on increasing merit-based 

4opportunities for women in these fields.

5 (b) The Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall 

6establish, implement, and administer a STEM Opportunity 

7Scholarship Program, using funds appropriated from the STEM 

8Opportunity Scholarship Program Fund or another source 

9designated by the General Assembly, for the purpose of 

10offering scholarships to students pursuing degrees in the 

11fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at 

12public universities in this State.

13 (c) The Commission shall, on an annual basis, receive and 

14consider applications for scholarship assistance under the 

15Program. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under the 

16Program if the Commission finds that the applicant meets all 

17of the following criteria:

18 (1) The applicant is a resident of this State.

19 (2) The applicant is enrolled in a public university 

20 in this State on at least a part-time basis.

21 (d) When selecting scholarship recipients from amounts 

22available for eligible applicants, the Commission shall give 

23first preference to previous recipients of a scholarship under 

24the Program, as long as the recipient continues to meet the 

25eligibility requirements set forth in subsection (c) and 

26maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the 

10400HB2806ham002- 3 -LRB104 08165 LNS 24522 a

1public university at which the recipient is enrolled. In 

2considering new recipients, the Commission shall prioritize 

3funding for students with financial need, female applicants, 

4and applicants who meet other criteria as determined by the 

5Commission.

6 (e) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by 

7the Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in 

8any given fiscal year, when added to other financial 

9assistance awarded to that individual for that year, may not 

10exceed the cost of attendance at the public university at 

11which the individual is enrolled. If the amount of financial 

12assistance to be awarded to a qualified student exceeds the 

13cost of attendance at the public university at which the 

14student is enrolled, the scholarship awarded under this 

15Section shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount by 

16which the combined financial assistance available to the 

17student exceeds the cost of attendance.

18 (f) The STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program Fund is 

19created as a special fund in the State treasury. All money in 

20the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the 

21Commission for the purposes of this Section.

22 (g) Funding for the Program is subject to appropriation. 

23Additional contributions from private entities, philanthropic 

24organizations, or federal grants may supplement the Program.

25 (h) The Commission shall make all necessary and proper 

26rules not inconsistent with this Section for its effective 

10400HB2806ham002- 4 -LRB104 08165 LNS 24522 a

1implementation.".