Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas

Filed: 3/3/2023

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2039

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2039 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
5Section 2-3.163 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.163)
7    Sec. 2-3.163. PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for
8Services database information for students and parents or
9guardians.
10    (a) The General Assembly makes all of the following
11findings:
12        (1) Pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of
13    Human Services Act, the The Department of Human Services
14    maintains a statewide database known as the PUNS
15    Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services that
16    records information about individuals with intellectual

 

 

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1    disabilities or developmental disabilities who are
2    potentially in need of services.
3        (2) The Department of Human Services uses the data on
4    PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services to
5    select individuals for services as funding becomes
6    available, to develop proposals and materials for
7    budgeting, and to plan for future needs.
8        (3) The PUNS database Prioritization of Urgency of
9    Need for Services is available for children and adults
10    with intellectual disabilities or a developmental
11    disabilities disability who have an unmet service needs
12    need anticipated in the next 5 years. The PUNS database is
13    also available for children with intellectual disabilities
14    or developmental disabilities with unmet service needs.
15        (4) Registration to be included on the PUNS database
16    Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services is the
17    first step toward receiving getting developmental
18    disabilities services in this State. A child or an adult
19    who is If individuals are not on the PUNS database, will
20    not be Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services
21    waiting list, they are not in queue for State
22    developmental disabilities services.
23        (5) Lack of awareness and information about the PUNS
24    database results in underutilization or delays in
25    registration for the PUNS by students with intellectual
26    disabilities or developmental disabilities and their

 

 

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1    parents or guardians Prioritization of Urgency of Need for
2    Services may be underutilized by children and their
3    parents or guardians due to lack of awareness or lack of
4    information.
5    (b) The State Board of Education shall may work in
6collaboration with the Department of Human Services and with
7school districts to ensure that inform all students with
8intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities and
9their parents or guardians are informed about the PUNS
10Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database, as
11described in subsections (c), (d) and (e) of this Section.
12    As used in this Section "PUNS" means the Prioritization of
13Urgency of Need for Services database developed and maintained
14by the Department of Human Services.
15    (c) The Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
16Services and State Board of Education shall develop and
17implement an online, computer-based training program for at
18least one designated employee in every public school in this
19State to educate the designated employee or employees him or
20her about the PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for
21Services database and steps required to register students for
22the PUNS, including the documentation and information the
23parents or guardian will need for the registration process. to
24be taken to ensure children and adolescents are enrolled. The
25training shall include instruction on identifying and
26contacting for at least one designated employee in every

 

 

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1public school in contacting the appropriate developmental
2disabilities Independent Service Coordination agency ("ISC")
3to register students for the PUNS. enroll children and
4adolescents in the database. The training of the designated
5employee or employees shall also include information about
6organizations and programs available in this State that offer
7assistance to families in understanding the PUNS and
8navigating the PUNS registration process. Each school district
9shall post on its public website and include in its student
10handbook the names of the designated trained employee or
11employees in each school within the school district. At least
12one designated employee in every public school shall ensure
13the opportunity to enroll in the Prioritization of Urgency of
14Need for Services database is discussed during annual
15individualized education program (IEP) meetings for all
16children and adolescents believed to have a developmental
17disability.
18    (c-5) At least one of the designated trained employees in
19the public school shall ensure that each student's PUNS
20registration status is discussed during the student's annual
21individualized education program (IEP) review meeting if the
22student is believed to have an intellectual disability or a
23developmental disability. The annual review IEP conference
24report shall indicate whether the student is registered for
25the PUNS based upon information provided by the student,
26parent or guardian. If it is determined that the student may

 

 

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1not be registered for the PUNS, one of the designated trained
2employees in the public school shall provide the student's
3parent or guardian the name, location and contact information
4of the appropriate ISC to contact in order to register the
5student for the PUNS and the documentation and information the
6parents or guardian will need to complete the registration
7process with the ISC. A trained designated employee of the
8public school shall also provide the parents or guardian with
9information about organizations or programs available in this
10State that offer assistance to families to understand and the
11PUNS database and navigate the PUNS registration process.
12    (d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
13Department of Human Services, through school districts, shall
14provide to parents and guardians of each student with an IEP
15students a copy of the latest version of the Department of
16Human Services's guide titled "Understanding PUNS: A Guide to
17Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services" each year at
18the annual review meeting for the student's individualized
19education program, including the consideration required in
20subsection (e) of this Section.
21    (e) (Blank). The Department of Human Services shall
22consider the length of time spent on the Prioritization of
23Urgency of Need for Services waiting list, in addition to
24other factors considered, when selecting individuals on the
25list for services.
26(Source: P.A. 102-57, eff. 7-9-21.)".