Signed by Governor Pat Quinn

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Illinois DREAM Fund to provide privately-funded scholarships for children of immigrants.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Illinois DREAM Fund Commission with powers and responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 5):
• Raising funds for the Illinois DREAM Fund;
• Selecting recipients of scholarships from the fund; and
• Researching issues relating to the availability of assistance for higher education for the children of immigrants.

• Specifies that the Illinois DREAM Fund shall be funded entirely from private contributions (Sec. 5).

• Requires a student to meet the following criteria in order to receive a scholarship from the fund (Sec. 5):
• The student resided with his or her parent or guardian while attending a high school in the state;
• The student graduated from a high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in the state;
• The student attended school in the state for at least 3 years as of the date he or she graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma; and
• At least one of the student's parents has immigrated to the United States.

• Authorizes all individuals with valid social security numbers to participate in the College Savings Pool (Secs. 1 & 5).

• Requires every certified counselor who is employed in an Illinois public secondary school to inform students who are undocumented immigrants about opportunities for higher education as part of the counselor's continuing professional development requirements, whereas existing law did not include this requirement (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Illinois DREAM Fund to provide privately-funded scholarships for children of immigrants.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Illinois DREAM Fund Commission with powers and responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 5):
• Raising funds for the Illinois DREAM Fund;
• Selecting recipients of scholarships from the fund; and
• Researching issues relating to the availability of assistance for higher education for the children of immigrants.

• Specifies that the Illinois DREAM Fund shall be funded entirely from private contributions (Sec. 5).

• Requires a student to meet the following criteria in order to receive a scholarship from the fund (Sec. 5):
• The student resided with his or her parent or guardian while attending a high school in the state;
• The student graduated from a high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in the state;
• The student attended school in the state for at least 3 years as of the date he or she graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma; and
• At least one of the student's parents has immigrated to the United States.

• Authorizes all individuals with valid social security numbers to participate in the College Savings Pool (Secs. 1 & 5).

• Requires every certified counselor who is employed in an Illinois public secondary school to inform students who are undocumented immigrants about opportunities for higher education as part of the counselor's continuing professional development requirements, whereas existing law did not include this requirement (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text