Page 155

House Bill No. 5506

Public Act No. 22-118 155 of 739

than twelve credit hours in a semester. (b) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall (1) establish a debt-free community college program to make awards to qualifying students each semester, (2) adopt rules, procedures and forms necessary to implement the debt-free community college program, and (3) submit a report outlining such rules, procedures and forms, in accordance with the provisions of section 11- 4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education. (c) For the fall semester of 2020, and each semester thereafter, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall make awards to qualifying students within available appropriations. An award shall be available to a qualifying student for the first seventy-two credit hours earned by the qualifying student during the first [thirty-six] forty-eight months that such student is enrolled at a regional community-technical college, provided the qualifying student meets and continues to meet the requirements of this section. The board shall not use an award to supplant any financial aid, including, but not limited to, state or institutional aid, otherwise available to a qualifying student. (d) (1) Any qualifying student who takes an administratively approved medical or personal leave of absence from a regional community-technical college may continue to qualify for the debt-free community college program upon resuming his or her enrollment as a [full-time] student at a regional community-technical college, provided such student (A) continues to meet the requirements of this section upon reenrollment, and (B) the total amount of time of all approved leaves of absence does not exceed six months. (2) Any qualifying student who is a member of the armed forces called to active duty during any semester may continue to qualify for the debt-free community college program upon resuming his or her