IL HB5671

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to define "dependent college student" as a traditional student relying on family financial support and "independent college student" as a non-traditional student not relying on family support, including orphans, those 24 or older, married students, military members, or those supporting a child.

Adds new eligibility requirement beginning in the 2013-2014 academic year requiring freshman dependent college students to have achieved at least an ACT score of 15 or a 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average to qualify for Monetary Award Program grants.

Sets maximum grant amounts at $5,468 for fiscal year 2009, $5,968 for fiscal year 2010, and $6,468 for fiscal year 2011 and thereafter, subject to appropriation and the smallest of three specified amounts.

Establishes a pilot program in 2013 to set aside $10,000,000 in grant funds specifically for independent college students who apply after the Monetary Award Program's suspension date, with Commission recommendation to General Assembly on whether to continue the program.

Moves the definition of "tuition and other necessary fees" from later in the section to the beginning definitions section for organizational clarity.