Text File

NUCLEAR SAFETY EDUCATION ASSISTANCE ACT

(ch. 144, par. 2501 et seq.)

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.