IL HB0279

Each General Assembly member may nominate 6 persons annually from their district: 4 for one-year scholarships and 2 for four-year scholarships at any State university designated by the member.

Nominees must be school-age and otherwise eligible; graduates of accredited schools are admitted on equal conditions, while non-graduates must pass an examination administered by the regional superintendent.

Members may delegate nomination authority to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission or request its recommendations, with written criteria provided to the Commission.

Scholarships exempt holders from payment of tuition and matriculation, graduation, activity, term, and incidental fees, but not from book rental, laboratory, supply, union building, hospital, or medical insurance fees.

General Assembly members who fraudulently award scholarships must personally reimburse universities for waived tuition or become ineligible for reelection; nominees providing false information on required waiver documents must reimburse the full tuition amount.