IL SB2426

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to expand grant eligibility to include dependents (spouses, children) of exonerated persons, effective no later than the 2024-2025 academic year.

Exonerated persons and their designated dependents may use grant funds to cover up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters of full tuition and mandatory fees at Illinois public universities and community colleges for undergraduate or graduate study.

Grant recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress and need not demonstrate financial need or be Illinois residents at the time of enrollment.

Exonerated persons and dependents without a high school diploma may use grant funds to pay for high school equivalency preparation courses and testing through Illinois Community College Board-approved providers.

When funding is insufficient, the Commission may prioritize exonerated applicants over dependent applicants, and the combined benefits used by an exonerated person and their designated dependents cannot exceed the exonerated person's total eligible benefit amount.