Illinois has massive financial problems, but it’s good to know they are prioritizing things so well.
The Chicago Sun Times reports:
Transgender and undocumented students now able to access state college aidA loophole preventing undocumented and some transgender students from seeking financial aid in Illinois officially closed this week — and state officials say “several dozen” people have already moved to take advantage of the change.The new law providing a state mechanism for undocumented and transgender students to apply for Illinois financial aid took effect Jan. 1, but Monday was the first day the program was up and running.Previously, undocumented and some transgender students could not apply for state financial aid due to a technicality that prevented them from using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program…The new law, dubbed the Retention of Illinois Students and Equity Act, faced some opposition when it passed the General Assembly last year.The state House vote was 66-47, and the state Senate 35-15…Transgender people who are required to register with the Selective Service System, but decide not to, are not eligible for Federal Student Aid. Under federal law, men between the ages of 18 and 26 years old are required to register for Selective Service, a system that keeps a list of eligible men in case the federal government revives the military draft.Under Selective Service regulations, women are exempt from registration. So are those who identify as male, but were born female. People who identify as female, but were born male, are still required to register. In order to receive federal aid, college students who fall under the selective service requirements must sign up.
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