HB5696 Summary

• Prohibits Illinois state universities from offering tuition waivers, grants, scholarships, or other higher education benefits to employees' or contractors' children, spouses, and family members in any contracts or collective bargaining agreements entered into, amended, or renewed after the effective date.

• Applies to all eight state universities: University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.

• Allows family members of employees to independently apply for and receive tuition assistance through merit-based or need-based programs, provided there is no conflict of interest and no preference is given based on their family relationship to university staff.

• Preserves existing contractual rights and tuition benefits that employees and their family members already possess before the bill's effective date.

• Repeals existing provisions permitting children of employees with 7 or more years of service at state universities to receive 50% tuition waivers.