SB2039sam001 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas

Filed: 3/3/2023

10300SB2039sam001 LRB103 27611 RJT 58156 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2039

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2039 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section Section 2-3.163 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.163)

Sec. 2-3.163. PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database information for students and parents or guardians.

(a) The General Assembly makes all of the following findings:

(1) Pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of Human Services Act, the The Department of Human Services maintains a statewide database known as the PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services that records information about individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities who are potentially in need of services.

(2) The Department of Human Services uses the data on PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services to select individuals for services as funding becomes available, to develop proposals and materials for budgeting, and to plan for future needs.

(3) The PUNS database Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services is available for children and adults with intellectual disabilities or a developmental disabilities disability who have an unmet service needs need anticipated in the next 5 years. The PUNS database is also available for children with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities with unmet service needs.

(4) Registration to be included on the PUNS database Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services is the first step toward receiving getting developmental disabilities services in this State. A child or an adult who is If individuals are not on the PUNS database, will not be Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services waiting list, they are not in queue for State developmental disabilities services.

(5) Lack of awareness and information about the PUNS database results in underutilization or delays in registration for the PUNS by students with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities and their parents or guardians Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services may be underutilized by children and their parents or guardians due to lack of awareness or lack of information.

(b) The State Board of Education shall may work in collaboration with the Department of Human Services and with school districts to ensure that inform all students with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities and their parents or guardians are informed about the PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database, as described in subsections (c), (d) and (e) of this Section.

As used in this Section "PUNS" means the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database developed and maintained by the Department of Human Services.

(c) The Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services and State Board of Education shall develop and implement an online, computer-based training program for at least one designated employee in every public school in this State to educate the designated employee or employees him or her about the PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database and steps required to register students for the PUNS, including the documentation and information the parents or guardian will need for the registration process. to be taken to ensure children and adolescents are enrolled. The training shall include instruction on identifying and contacting for at least one designated employee in every public school in contacting the appropriate developmental disabilities Independent Service Coordination agency ("ISC") to register students for the PUNS. enroll children and adolescents in the database. The training of the designated employee or employees shall also include information about organizations and programs available in this State that offer assistance to families in understanding the PUNS and navigating the PUNS registration process. Each school district shall post on its public website and include in its student handbook the names of the designated trained employee or employees in each school within the school district. At least one designated employee in every public school shall ensure the opportunity to enroll in the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database is discussed during annual individualized education program (IEP) meetings for all children and adolescents believed to have a developmental disability.

(c-5) At least one of the designated trained employees in the public school shall ensure that each student's PUNS registration status is discussed during the student's annual individualized education program (IEP) review meeting if the student is believed to have an intellectual disability or a developmental disability. The annual review IEP conference report shall indicate whether the student is registered for the PUNS based upon information provided by the student, parent or guardian. If it is determined that the student may not be registered for the PUNS, one of the designated trained employees in the public school shall provide the student's parent or guardian the name, location and contact information of the appropriate ISC to contact in order to register the student for the PUNS and the documentation and information the parents or guardian will need to complete the registration process with the ISC. A trained designated employee of the public school shall also provide the parents or guardian with information about organizations or programs available in this State that offer assistance to families to understand and the PUNS database and navigate the PUNS registration process.

(d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, through school districts, shall provide to parents and guardians of each student with an IEP students a copy of the latest version of the Department of Human Services's guide titled "Understanding PUNS: A Guide to Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services" each year at the annual review meeting for the student's individualized education program, including the consideration required in subsection (e) of this Section.

(e) (Blank). The Department of Human Services shall consider the length of time spent on the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services waiting list, in addition to other factors considered, when selecting individuals on the list for services.

(Source: P.A. 102-57, eff. 7-9-21.)".