AN ACT to establish a program to support educational programs, to provide
scholarships to students in those programs, and to award grants for nuclear
safety research through the Department of Nuclear Safety.
Section 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Nuclear Safety
Education Assistance Act."
Section 2. The purpose of this Act is to establish a program in the
Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety to help assure the continued availability
of knowledge and expertise regarding radiation safety matters by supporting
educational programs and research related to nuclear safety, including radiation
protection and nuclear engineering, in Illinois public institutions of higher
education, and by supporting participation in these programs by qualified
students.
Section 3. Definitions. (a) "Approved Program of Research" means an
investigation approved by and conducted within or under the control of a public
institution of higher education, as determined by the Director according to the
provisions of this Act.
(b) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety.
(c) "Director" means the Director of Nuclear Safety or his authorized
representative.
(d) "Eligible Program of Study" means a formal course of study leading to
a Baccalaureate or higher degree of a public institution of higher education, as
determined by the Director in accordance with this Act.
(e) "Eligible Student" means a person who: (1) is an Illinois resident at
the time of application for assistance under the program established under this
Act, and (2) is presently enrolled in an eligible program of study as determined
by the Director according to the provisions of this Act, or who, in applying for
assistance under this Act demonstrates both intent and ability to enroll in such
a program.
(f) "Public Institution of Higher Education" means an Illinois public
institution of higher education as defined in "An Act creating a Board of Higher
Education, defining its powers and duties, making an appropriation therefor, and
repealing an Act herein named."
Section 4. For the purposes of this Act, the Department shall have the
following powers and duties:
(a) to adopt procedures for applying for and awarding grants and
scholarships under this Act,
(b) to award grants and scholarships to eligible students,
(c) to award grants to support establishment, maintenance, or conduct of
approved programs of study or research,
(d) to make available the resources of the Department, including
facilities, equipment, information, and expertise, upon an express determination
that such availability will assist the Department in the conduct of its business,
(e) to establish a program of temporary or part-time employment with the
Department for eligible students,
(f) to secure and disperse gifts of money or property from any person,
State agency, or Federal agency, and
(g) to cooperate with public institutions of higher education and users of
radioactive materials to promote training and education in nuclear safety,
including radiation protection and nuclear engineering.
Section 5. The Director shall develop and publish criteria for determining
approved programs of research and eligible programs of study for the purposes of
this Act. These criteria shall include, but need not be limited to, provisions
for considering:
(a) the scope and nature of subjects of study within the program,
(b) the relevance of such subjects to the statutory duties of the
Department and to nuclear safety issues, and
(c) the relevance of the program to issues of nuclear safety or specific
concern to the People of Illinois.
Section 6. The Director shall develop and publish criteria for awarding
grants and scholarships under this Act. These criteria shall include, but need
not be limited to, provisions for considering:
(a) the academic qualifications of the applicant,
(b) the degree to which the applicant's program of study or research meets
the requirements of Section 4 of this Act,
(c) financial need of the applicant, and
(d) the likelihood of successful and timely completion of the program of
study or research.
In awarding grants and scholarships under this Act, the Director shall give
preference to qualified applicants who reside in a county where a regional
facility for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste is located.
Section 7. In awarding a grant or scholarship under this Act, the
Department may require as a condition of such award that the recipient agree to
accept an offer of employment with the Department, the operator of a regional
facility for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste in Illinois, or a public
utility owning or operating a nuclear power plant in Illinois, and to be so
employed one year for each year that he or she is a grant or scholarship
recipient.
Section 8. Grant or scholarship recipients who fail to fulfill any or all
of an obligation imposed pursuant to Section 7 of this Act shall pay to the
Department a sum equal to the amount of the scholarship or grant awarded subject
to the obligation, reduced in proportion to the amount of the obligation
fulfilled by the recipient. A grant or scholarship recipient who is not offered
employment by the Department, the operator of a regional facility for the
disposal of low-level radioactive waste in Illinois, or a public utility owning
or operating a nuclear power plant in Illinois shall be under no obligation to
repay the Department.
Section 9. The Director shall announce the availability of any grants or
scholarships under this Act by mailing notice to the Board of Higher Education.
The notice will describe the nature of the grant or scholarship, the amount,
duration and numbers available, the qualifications required of applicants, the
procedures by which application may be made, the criteria which will be
considered in making any awards and any conditions on such awards.
Section 10. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the
Department to award any grant, scholarship, or other assistance or to make an
offer of employment to any person.
Section 11. Payments pursuant to grants and scholarships awarded under this
Act shall not exceed $50,000 per fiscal year.
