SB2387 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 12828 KTG 18170 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2387

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Laura Fine

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall prescribe and supervise such courses of vocational training and provide such other services as may be necessary for the vocational rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities. Requires the Department to cooperate with State and local school authorities and other recognized agencies engaged in vocational rehabilitation services; and to cooperate with the Illinois State Board of Education and other specified entities regarding the education (rather than care and education) of children with one or more disabilities. Requires the Department to submit an annual report to the Governor on the programs, activities, and funding dedicated to vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and other community services and supports. Requires the Statewide Independent Living Council (Council) to develop a State Plan for Independent Living. Removes a provision that gives the Council the authority to appoint jointly with the vocational rehabilitation administrator a peer review committee to consider and make recommendations for grants to eligible centers for independent living. Makes changes to provisions concerning grants awards to eligible centers for independent living; periodic reviews conducted on those centers for independent living; and other matters. Repeals provisions regarding community services for persons with visual disabilities at the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education. Amends the Disabilities Services Act of 2003. Repeals provisions regarding the operation of a Rapid Reintegration Pilot Program by the Department of Human Services.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act is amended by changing Sections 1b, 3, 5, 5a, 9, 12a, and 13a as follows:

(20 ILCS 2405/1b) (from Ch. 23, par. 3432)

Sec. 1b. Definitions. As used in For the purpose of this Act: , the term

"Person person with one or more disabilities" means a any person who, by reason of a physical or mental impairment, is or may be expected to require assistance to achieve be totally or partially incapacitated for independent living or competitive integrated employment.

"Vocational rehabilitation" gainful employment; the term "rehabilitation" or "habilitation" means those vocational or other appropriate services that which increase the opportunities for competitive integrated employment.

"Independent living" independent functioning or gainful employment; the term "comprehensive rehabilitation" means those services necessary and appropriate to support community living and independence.

"Director" for increasing the potential for independent living or gainful employment as applicable; the term "vocational rehabilitation administrator" means the head of the designated State unit within the Department responsible for administration of rehabilitation and independent living services provided for in this Act, including but not limited to the administration of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. ; the term

"Department" means the Department of Human Services. ; and the term

"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Human Services.

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97; 90-453, eff. 8-16-97.)

(20 ILCS 2405/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 3434)

Sec. 3. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the powers and duties enumerated herein:

(a) To cooperate co-operate with the federal government in the administration of the provisions of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by , of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and of the federal Social Security Act to the extent and in the manner provided in these Acts.

(b) To prescribe and supervise such courses of vocational training and provide such other services as may be necessary for the vocational habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities, including the administrative activities under subsection (e) of this Section; , and to cooperate co-operate with State and local school authorities and other recognized agencies engaged in vocational habilitation, rehabilitation and comprehensive rehabilitation services; and to cooperate with the Department of Children and Family Services, the Illinois State Board of Education, and others regarding the care and education of children with one or more disabilities.

(c) (Blank).

(d) To report in writing, to the Governor, annually on or before the first day of December, and at such other times and in such manner and upon such subjects as the Governor may require. The annual report shall contain (1) information on the programs and activities dedicated to vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and other community services and supports administered by the Director; (2) information on the development of vocational rehabilitation services, independent living services, and supporting services administered by the Director in the State; and (3) information detailing a statement of the existing condition of comprehensive rehabilitation services, habilitation and rehabilitation in the State; (2) a statement of suggestions and recommendations with reference to the development of comprehensive rehabilitation services, habilitation and rehabilitation in the State; and (3) an itemized statement of the amounts of money received from federal, State, and other sources, and of the objects and purposes to which the respective items of these several amounts have been devoted.

(e) (Blank).

(f) To establish a program of services to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of persons in need of long term care and who meet the criteria for blindness or disability as defined by the Social Security Act, thereby enabling them to remain in their own homes. Such preventive services include any or all of the following:

(1) personal assistant services;

(2) homemaker services;

(3) home-delivered meals;

(4) adult day care services;

(5) respite care;

(6) home modification or assistive equipment;

(7) home health services;

(8) electronic home response;

(9) brain injury behavioral/cognitive services;

(10) brain injury habilitation;

(11) brain injury pre-vocational services; or

(12) brain injury supported employment.

The Department shall establish eligibility standards for such services taking into consideration the unique economic and social needs of the population for whom they are to be provided. Such eligibility standards may be based on the recipient's ability to pay for services; provided, however, that any portion of a person's income that is equal to or less than the "protected income" level shall not be considered by the Department in determining eligibility. The "protected income" level shall be determined by the Department, shall never be less than the federal poverty standard, and shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor. The standards must provide that a person may not have more than $10,000 in assets to be eligible for the services, and the Department may increase or decrease the asset limitation by rule. The Department may not decrease the asset level below $10,000.

The services shall be provided, as established by the Department by rule, to eligible persons to prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization, to the extent that the cost of the services, together with the other personal maintenance expenses of the persons, are reasonably related to the standards established for care in a group facility appropriate to their condition. These non-institutional services, pilot projects or experimental facilities may be provided as part of or in addition to those authorized by federal law or those funded and administered by the Illinois Department on Aging. The Department shall set rates and fees for services in a fair and equitable manner. Services identical to those offered by the Department on Aging shall be paid at the same rate.

Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, personal assistants shall be paid at a rate negotiated between the State and an exclusive representative of personal assistants under a collective bargaining agreement. In no case shall the Department pay personal assistants an hourly wage that is less than the federal minimum wage. Within 30 days after July 6, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 100-23), the hourly wage paid to personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers shall be increased by $0.48 per hour.

Solely for the purposes of coverage under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, personal assistants providing services under the Department's Home Services Program shall be considered to be public employees and the State of Illinois shall be considered to be their employer as of July 16, 2003 (the effective date of Public Act 93-204), but not before. Solely for the purposes of coverage under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers and who also provide services under the Department's Home Services Program shall be considered to be public employees, no matter whether the State provides such services through direct fee-for-service arrangements, with the assistance of a managed care organization or other intermediary, or otherwise, and the State of Illinois shall be considered to be the employer of those persons as of January 29, 2013 (the effective date of Public Act 97-1158), but not before except as otherwise provided under this subsection (f). The State shall engage in collective bargaining with an exclusive representative of home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program concerning their terms and conditions of employment that are within the State's control. Nothing in this paragraph shall be understood to limit the right of the persons receiving services defined in this Section to hire and fire home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program or to supervise them within the limitations set by the Home Services Program. The State shall not be considered to be the employer of home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program for any purposes not specifically provided in Public Act 93-204 or Public Act 97-1158, including but not limited to, purposes of vicarious liability in tort and purposes of statutory retirement or health insurance benefits. Home care and home health workers who function as personal assistants and individual maintenance home health workers and who also provide services under the Department's Home Services Program shall not be covered by the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971.

The Department shall execute, relative to nursing home prescreening, as authorized by Section 4.03 of the Illinois Act on the Aging, written inter-agency agreements with the Department on Aging and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to effect the intake procedures and eligibility criteria for those persons who may need long term care. On and after July 1, 1996, all nursing home prescreenings for individuals 18 through 59 years of age shall be conducted by the Department, or a designee of the Department.

The Department is authorized to establish a system of recipient cost-sharing for services provided under this Section. The cost-sharing shall be based upon the recipient's ability to pay for services, but in no case shall the recipient's share exceed the actual cost of the services provided. Protected income shall not be considered by the Department in its determination of the recipient's ability to pay a share of the cost of services. The level of cost-sharing shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the "protected income" level. The Department shall deduct from the recipient's share of the cost of services any money expended by the recipient for disability-related expenses.

To the extent permitted under the federal Social Security Act, the Department, or the Department's authorized representative, may recover the amount of moneys expended for services provided to or in behalf of a person under this Section by a claim against the person's estate or against the estate of the person's surviving spouse, but no recovery may be had until after the death of the surviving spouse, if any, and then only at such time when there is no surviving child who is under age 21 or blind or who has a permanent and total disability. This paragraph, however, shall not bar recovery, at the death of the person, of moneys for services provided to the person or in behalf of the person under this Section to which the person was not entitled; provided that such recovery shall not be enforced against any real estate while it is occupied as a homestead by the surviving spouse or other dependent, if no claims by other creditors have been filed against the estate, or, if such claims have been filed, they remain dormant for failure of prosecution or failure of the claimant to compel administration of the estate for the purpose of payment. This paragraph shall not bar recovery from the estate of a spouse, under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act and Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, who precedes a person receiving services under this Section in death. All moneys for services paid to or in behalf of the person under this Section shall be claimed for recovery from the deceased spouse's estate. "Homestead", as used in this paragraph, means the dwelling house and contiguous real estate occupied by a surviving spouse or relative, as defined by the rules and regulations of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, regardless of the value of the property.

The Department shall submit an annual report on programs and services provided under this Section. The report shall be filed with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before March 30 each year.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(g) To establish such subdivisions of the Department as shall be desirable and assign to the various subdivisions the responsibilities and duties placed upon the Department by law.

(h) To cooperate and enter into any necessary agreements with the Department of Employment Security for the provision of job placement and job referral services to clients of the Department, including job service registration of such clients with Illinois Employment Security offices and making job listings maintained by the Department of Employment Security available to such clients.

(i) To possess all powers reasonable and necessary for the exercise and administration of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Department which are provided for by law.

(j) (Blank).

(k) (Blank).

(l) To establish, operate, and maintain a Statewide Housing Clearinghouse of information on available government subsidized housing accessible to persons with disabilities and available privately owned housing accessible to persons with disabilities. The information shall include, but not be limited to, the location, rental requirements, access features and proximity to public transportation of available housing. The Clearinghouse shall consist of at least a computerized database for the storage and retrieval of information and a separate or shared toll free telephone number for use by those seeking information from the Clearinghouse. Department offices and personnel throughout the State shall also assist in the operation of the Statewide Housing Clearinghouse. Cooperation with local, State, and federal housing managers shall be sought and extended in order to frequently and promptly update the Clearinghouse's information.

(m) To assure that the names and case records of persons who received or are receiving services from the Department, including persons receiving vocational rehabilitation, home services, or other services, and those attending one of the Department's schools or other supervised facility shall be confidential and not be open to the general public. Those case records and reports or the information contained in those records and reports shall be disclosed by the Director only to proper law enforcement officials, individuals authorized by a court, the General Assembly or any committee or commission of the General Assembly, and other persons and for reasons as the Director designates by rule. Disclosure by the Director may be only in accordance with other applicable law.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 100-23, eff. 7-6-17; 100-477, eff. 9-8-17; 100-587, eff. 6-4-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)

(20 ILCS 2405/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 3436)

Sec. 5. The Department is authorized to receive such gifts or donations, either from public or private sources, as may be offered unconditionally or under such conditions related to the comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services, independent living services, and other community services and supports administered by the Director for habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities, as in the judgment of the Department are proper and consistent with the provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-91, eff. 7-1-05.)

(20 ILCS 2405/5a) (from Ch. 23, par. 3437)

Sec. 5a. The State of Illinois does hereby (1) accept the provisions and benefits of the act of Congress entitled the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act heretofore and hereafter amended, (2) designate the State Treasurer as custodian of all moneys received by the State from appropriations made by the Congress of the United States for comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services and related services for persons habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities, to be kept in a fund to be known as the Vocational Rehabilitation Fund, and authorize the State treasurer to make disbursements therefrom upon the order of the Department, and (3) empower and direct the Department to cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

(Source: P.A. 88-500.)

(20 ILCS 2405/9) (from Ch. 23, par. 3440)

Sec. 9. Whenever, in the course of its vocational rehabilitation program, rehabilitation and habilitation program, the Department has provided tools, equipment, initial stock or other supplies to a person with one or more disabilities to establish a business enterprise as a self-employed person, other than a business enterprise under the supervision and management of a non-profit agency, the Department may, in its discretion, convey title to such tools, equipment, initial stock or other supplies at any time after the expiration of 6 months after such items are provided to that person.

(Source: P.A. 86-607.)

(20 ILCS 2405/12a) (from Ch. 23, par. 3443a)

Sec. 12a. Centers for independent living.

(a) Purpose. Recognizing that persons with significant disabilities deserve a high quality of life within their communities regardless of their disabilities, the Department, working with the Statewide Independent Living Council, shall develop a State Plan for Independent Living for approval by the Department and subsequent submission to the Administrator based on federally prescribed timeframes. plan for submission on an annual basis to the Commissioner. The Department shall adopt rules for implementing the State Plan for Independent Living plan in accordance with the federal Act, including rules adopted under the federal Act governing the award of grants.

(b) Definitions. As used in this Section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

"Administrator" means the Administrator of the Administration for Community Living in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

"Federal Act" means the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

"Center for independent living" means a consumer controlled, community based, cross-disability, non-residential, private non-profit agency that is designated and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities and provides an array of independent living services.

"Consumer controlled" means that the center for independent living vests power and authority in individuals with disabilities and that at least 51% of the directors of the center are persons with one or more disabilities as defined by this Act.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration in the United States Department of Education.

"Council" means the Statewide Independent Living Council appointed under subsection (d).

"Federal Act" means the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

"Individual with a disability" means any individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.

"Individual with a significant disability" means an individual with a significant physical or mental impairment, whose ability to function independently in the family or community or whose ability to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment is substantially limited and for whom the delivery of independent living services will improve the ability to function, continue functioning, or move toward functioning independently in the family or community or to continue in employment.

"State Plan for Independent Living plan" means the materials submitted by the Statewide Independent Living Council, after receiving the approval of the Department, to the Administrator based on federally prescribed timeframes Department to the Commissioner on an annual basis that contain the State's proposal for:

(1) The provision of statewide independent living services.

(2) The development and support of a statewide network of centers for independent living.

(3) Working relationships between (i) programs providing independent living services and independent living centers and (ii) the vocational rehabilitation program administered by the Department under the federal Act and other programs providing services for individuals with disabilities.

(c) Authority. The unit of the Department headed by the Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator shall be designated the State unit under Title VII of the federal Act and shall have the following responsibilities:

(1) To receive, account for, and disburse funds received by the State under the federal Act based on the State Plan for Independent Living plan.

(2) To provide administrative support services to centers for independent living programs.

(3) To keep records, and take such actions with respect to those records, as the Administrator Commissioner finds to be necessary with respect to the programs.

(4) To submit additional information or provide assurances the Administrator Commissioner may require with respect to the programs.

The vocational rehabilitation administrator and the Chairperson of the Council is are responsible for jointly developing and signing the State Plan for Independent Living plan required by Section 704 of the federal Act. The Director, or his or her designee, is responsible for approving the State Plan for Independent Living prior to its submission to the Administrator. The State Plan for Independent Living plan shall conform to the requirements of Section 704 of the federal Act.

(d) Statewide Independent Living Council.

The Governor shall appoint a Statewide Independent Living Council, comprised of 18 members, which shall be established as an entity separate and distinct from the Department. The composition of the Council shall include the following:

(1) At least one director of a center for independent living chosen by the directors of centers for independent living within the State.

(2) A representative from the unit of the Department of Human Services responsible for the administration of the vocational rehabilitation program and a representative from another unit in the Department of Human Services that provides services for individuals with disabilities and a representative each from the Department on Aging, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services, all as ex officio, nonvoting ex-officio, non-voting members who shall not be counted in the 18 members appointed by the Governor.

In addition, the Council may include the following:

(A) One or more representatives of centers for independent living.

(B) One or more parents or guardians of individuals with disabilities.

(C) One or more advocates for individuals with disabilities.

(D) One or more representatives of private business.

(E) One or more representatives of organizations that provide services for individuals with disabilities.

(F) Other appropriate individuals.

After soliciting recommendations from organizations representing a broad range of individuals with disabilities and organizations interested in individuals with disabilities, the Governor shall appoint members of the Council for terms beginning July 1, 1993. The Council shall be composed of members (i) who provide statewide representation; (ii) who represent a broad range of individuals with disabilities from diverse backgrounds; (iii) who are knowledgeable about centers for independent living and independent living services; and (iv) a majority of whom are persons who are individuals with disabilities and are not employed by any State agency or center for independent living.

The council shall elect a chairperson from among its voting membership.

Each member of the Council shall serve for terms of 3 years, except that (i) a member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of that term and (ii) terms of the members initially appointed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 shall be as follows: 6 of the initial members shall be appointed for terms of one year, 6 shall be appointed for terms of 2 years, and 6 shall be appointed for terms of 3 years. No member of the council may serve more than 2 consecutive full terms.

Appointments to fill vacancies in unexpired terms and new terms shall be filled by the Governor or by the Council if the Governor delegates that power to the Council by executive order. The vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the powers and duties of the Council. The Council shall have the duties enumerated in subsections (c), (d), and (e) of Section 705 of the federal Act.

Members shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, including expenses for travel, child care, and personal assistance services, and a member who is not employed or who must forfeit wages from other employment shall be paid reasonable compensation for each day the member is engaged in performing the duties of the Council. The reimbursement or compensation shall be paid from moneys made available to the Department under Part B of Title VII of the federal Act.

In addition to the powers and duties granted to advisory boards by Section 5-505 of the Departments of State Government Law (20 ILCS 5/5-505), the Council shall have the authority to appoint jointly with the vocational rehabilitation administrator a peer review committee to consider and make recommendations for grants to eligible centers for independent living.

(e) Grants to centers for independent living. Each center for independent living that receives assistance from the Department under this Section shall comply with the standards and provide and comply with the assurances that are set forth in the State plan and consistent with Section 725 of the federal Act. Each center for independent living receiving financial assistance from the Department shall provide satisfactory assurances at the time and in the manner the Director, or his or her designee, requires. Centers for independent living receiving financial assistance from the Department shall comply with grant making provisions outlined in State and federal law, and with the requirements of their respective grant contracts. vocational rehabilitation administrator requires.

Beginning October 1, 1994, the Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator may award grants to any eligible center for independent living that is receiving funds under Title VII of the federal Act, unless the Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator makes a finding that the center for independent living fails to comply with the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725 of the federal Act.

If there is no center for independent living serving a region of the State or the region is underserved, and the State receives a federal increase in its allotment sufficient to support one or more additional centers for independent living in the State, the Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator may award a grant under this subsection to one or more eligible agencies, consistent with the provisions of the State plan setting forth the design of the State for establishing a statewide network for centers for independent living.

In selecting from among eligible agencies in awarding a grant under this subsection for a new center for independent living, the Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator and the chairperson of (or other individual designated by) the Council acting on behalf of and at the direction of the Council shall jointly appoint a peer review committee that shall rank applications in accordance with the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725 of the federal Act and criteria jointly established by the Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator and the chairperson or designated individual. The peer review committee shall consider the ability of the applicant to operate a center for independent living and shall recommend an applicant to receive a grant under this subsection based on the following:

(1) Evidence of the need for a center for independent living, consistent with the State plan.

(2) Any past performance of the applicant in providing services comparable to independent living services.

(3) The applicant's plan for complying with, or demonstrated success in complying with, the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725 of the federal Act.

(4) The quality of key personnel of the applicant and the involvement of individuals with significant disabilities by the applicant.

(5) The budgets and cost effectiveness of the applicant.

(6) The evaluation plan of the applicant.

(7) The ability of the applicant to carry out the plan.

The Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator shall award the grant on the basis of the recommendation of the peer review committee if the actions of the committee are consistent with federal and State law.

(f) Evaluation and review. The Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator shall periodically review each center for independent living that receives funds from the Department under Title VII of the federal Act, or moneys appropriated from the General Revenue Fund, to determine whether the center is in compliance with the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725 of the federal Act, other applicable State and federal laws, and the provisions of the grant contract. If the Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator determines that any center receiving those federal or State funds is not in compliance with the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725, the Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator shall immediately notify the center that it is out of compliance. The Director, or his or her designee, shall recommend to the Secretary, or his or her designee, that all funding to that center be terminated vocational rehabilitation administrator shall terminate all funds to that center 90 days after the date of notification or, in the case of a center that requests an appeal, the date of any final decision, unless the center submits a plan to achieve compliance within 90 days and that plan is approved by the Director, or his or her designee, vocational rehabilitation administrator or (if on appeal) by the Secretary, or his or her designee Commissioner.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00; 91-540, eff. 8-13-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

(20 ILCS 2405/13a) (from Ch. 23, par. 3444a)

Sec. 13a. (a) The Department shall be responsible for coordinating the establishment of local Transition Planning Committees. Members of the committees shall consist of representatives from special education; vocational and regular education; post-secondary education; parents of youth with disabilities; persons with disabilities; local business or industry; the Department of Human Services; public and private adult service providers; case coordination; and other consumer, school, and adult services as appropriate. The Committee shall elect a chair and shall meet at least quarterly. Each Transition Planning Committee shall:

(1) identify current transition services, programs, and funding sources provided within the community for secondary and post-secondary aged youth with disabilities and their families as well as the development of strategies to address unmet needs;

(2) facilitate the development of transition interagency teams to address present and future transition needs of individual students on their individual education plans;

(3) develop a mission statement that emphasizes the goals of integration and participation in all aspects of community life for persons with disabilities;

(4) provide for the exchange of information such as appropriate data, effectiveness studies, special projects, exemplary programs, and creative funding of programs;

(5) develop consumer in-service and awareness training programs in the local community; and

(6) assist in staff training for individual transition planning and student transition needs assessment.

(b) Each Transition Planning Committee shall select a chair from among its members who shall serve for a term of one year. Each committee shall meet at least quarterly, or at such other times at the call of the chair.

(c) (Blank). Each Transition Planning Committee shall annually prepare and submit to the Interagency Coordinating Council a report which assesses the level of currently available services in the community as well as the level of unmet needs of secondary students with disabilities, makes recommendations to address unmet needs, and summarizes the steps taken to address unmet needs based on the recommendations made in previous reports.

(d) The name and affiliation of each local Transition Planning Committee member and the annual report required under subsection (c) of this Section shall be filed with the administrative office of each school district served by the local Transition Planning Committee, be made available to the public upon request, and be sent to each member of the General Assembly whose district encompasses the area served by the Transition Planning Committee.

(Source: P.A. 92-452, eff. 8-21-01.)

(20 ILCS 2405/12 rep.)

Section 10. The Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act is amended by repealing Section 12.

(20 ILCS 2407/Art. 4 rep.)

Section 15. The Disabilities Services Act of 2003 is amended by repealing Article 4.