Rod Blagojevich

Governor

August 18, 2003

To the Honorable Members of the

Illinois Senate

93^rd General Assembly

Senate Bill 191 extends reimbursement for special education services to school districts for children who were DCFS wards, have been adopted, and are still receiving services from DCFS.  This is creating a new category of eligibility for full reimbursement of special education costs and is expected to cost the State tens of millions of dollars.  Given the fiscal constraints of the State, we cannot justify providing additional reimbursement to school districts outside of the nearly $145 million increase already approved for FY 04.

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(b) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby veto and return Senate Bill 191, entitled “AN ACT in relation to schools.”

Sincerely,

Rod R. Blagojevich

Governor