IL HB4914

Amends Section 9 of the University of Illinois Act to add two additional periods of military service qualifying children for honorary scholarships: the siege of Beirut (June 14, 1982 - February 26, 1984) and the Grenada Conflict (October 25, 1983 - December 15, 1983).

Allows counties to award scholarships designated for periods with no qualified applicants to children of veterans from other listed periods of hostilities, potentially resulting in multiple scholarships for the same period.

Each county remains entitled to one annual honorary scholarship at the University of Illinois for children of armed forces veterans who served during specified periods including the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and post-1990 service qualifying for Southwest Asia Service Medal, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Preference for scholarships is given to children of deceased or disabled veterans, with recipients selected based on academic proficiency and moral character, and must be at least 15 years old.

Effective date: July 1, 2014.