2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 110 - HIGHER EDUCATION › 110 ILCS 970/ - Nurses in Advancement Law.

(110 ILCS 970/1-1) (from Ch. 144, par. 2781-1)
Sec. 1-1. 
		Short title. 
		This Article may be cited as the Nurses in Advancement Law.
(Source: P.A. 87-633.)
(110 ILCS 970/1-5) (from Ch. 144, par. 2781-5)
Sec. 1-5. 
		Purpose. 
		Adequate health care in this State is contingent
upon a large pool of nurses and physicians from which to choose.
Research has shown that there is an identifiable shortage of nurses
and physicians in this State.  Nurses are recognized as
experienced caregivers, familiar with many of the same procedures and
practices that are carried out by physicians.  Many nurses who
display an aptitude or desire to further advance their career in the
profession of nursing or into the field of medicine
by becoming physicians are unable to do so because of inadequate
financial resources.  It is therefore public policy
of the State of Illinois to encourage the establishment of
private organizations, foundations, groups, partnerships, corporations or
committees organized to provide assistance through grants or loans to
nurses and to work with educational institutions to further these goals
in order to encourage people in the nursing field to advance into nursing
specialties or to pursue advancement in the nursing profession or careers
in medicine by making financial assistance available to them.
(Source: P.A. 87-633.)
(110 ILCS 970/1-10) (from Ch. 144, par. 2781-10)
Sec. 1-10. 
		Definitions. 
		In this Act:
"Nurse" means any nursing professional who has achieved a bachelor's
degree from an accredited institution.
(Source: P.A. 87-633.)
(110 ILCS 970/1-15) (from Ch. 144, par. 2781-15)
Sec. 1-15. 
		Eligibility. 
		Nurses who have worked for a period of 5
years or more, who are residents of this State, who show immediate
financial need, and who have been accepted in medical school,
or advanced training in the nursing profession may be eligible for money
accumulated by the fund.
(Source: P.A. 87-633.)
(110 ILCS 970/1-20) (from Ch. 144, par. 2781-20)
Sec. 1-20. Scholarship requirements. It shall be lawful for any
organization to condition any loan or grant upon the recipient's executing
an agreement to commit not more than 5 years of his or her professional
career to the goals specifically outlined within the agreement including a
requirement that recipient practice nursing or medicine in specifically
designated practice and geographic areas.
Any agreement executed by an organization and any recipient of loan or grant
assistance shall contain a provision for liquidated damages to be paid for
any breach of any provision of the agreement, or any commitment
contained therein, together with attorney's fees and costs for the enforcement
thereof.  Any such covenant shall be valid and enforceable in the courts of
this State as liquidated damages and shall not be considered a penalty,
provided that the provision for liquidated damages does not exceed $2,500 for
each year remaining for the performance of the agreement.
This Section shall not be construed as pertaining to or limiting any
liquidated damages resulting from scholarships awarded under the Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Act.
(Source: P.A. 101-118, eff. 7-22-19; 102-888, eff. 5-17-22.)