Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas

Filed: 3/21/2023

 

 


 

 


 
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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 database by students with
26    intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities

 

 

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1    and their parents or guardians Prioritization of Urgency
2    of Need for Services may be underutilized by children and
3    their parents or guardians due to lack of awareness or
4    lack of information.
5    (B) The purpose of this Section is to ensure that each
6student who has an individualized education program and the
7student's parents or guardian are informed about the PUNS
8database, where to register for the PUNS database, and who
9they can contact for information about the PUNS database and
10the PUNS database registration process. This Section is not
11intended to change the PUNS database registration process
12established by the Department of Human Services or to impose
13any responsibility on the State Board of Education or a school
14district to register students for the PUNS database.
15    (b) The State Board of Education shall may work in
16collaboration with the Department of Human Services and with
17school districts to ensure that inform all students with
18intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities and
19their parents or guardians are informed about the PUNS
20Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database, as
21described in subsections (c), (d) and (e) of this Section.
22    As used in this Section "PUNS" means the Prioritization of
23Urgency of Need for Services database or PUNS database
24developed and maintained by the Department of Human Services
25pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of Human Services
26Act.

 

 

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1    (c) The Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
2Services and State Board of Education shall develop and
3implement an online, computer-based training program for at
4least one designated employee in every public school in this
5State to educate the designated employee or employees him or
6her about the PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for
7Services database and steps required to register students for
8the PUNS database, including the documentation and information
9the parents or guardian will need for the registration
10process. to be taken to ensure children and adolescents are
11enrolled. The training shall include instruction on
12identifying and contacting for at least one designated
13employee in every public school in contacting the appropriate
14developmental disabilities Independent Service Coordination
15agency ("ISC") to register students for the PUNS database.
16enroll children and adolescents in the database. The training
17of the designated employee or employees shall also include
18information about organizations and programs available in this
19State that offer assistance to families in understanding the
20PUNS database and navigating the PUNS database registration
21process. Each school district shall post on its public website
22and include in its student handbook the names of the
23designated trained employee or employees in each school within
24the school district. At least one designated employee in every
25public school shall ensure the opportunity to enroll in the
26Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database is

 

 

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1discussed during annual individualized education program (IEP)
2meetings for all children and adolescents believed to have a
3developmental disability.
4    (c-5) During the student's annual individualized education
5program (IEP) review meeting, if the student is believed to
6have an intellectual disability or a developmental disability,
7the student's IEP team shall determine the student's PUNS
8database registration status based upon information provided
9by the student's parents or guardian or by the student. If it
10is determined that the student is not registered for the PUNS
11database or if it is unclear whether the student is registered
12for the PUNS database, the parents or guardian and the student
13shall be referred to a designated employee of the public
14school who has completed the training described in subsection
15(c). The designated employee may, but need not be, a member of
16the student's IEP team. The designated trained employee shall
17provide the student's parents or guardian and the student with
18the name, location and contact information of the appropriate
19ISC to contact in order to register the student for the PUNS
20database. The designated trained employee shall also identify
21for the parents or guardian and student the information and
22documentation they will need to complete the PUNS database
23registration process with the ISC, and shall also provide
24information to the parents or guardian and student about
25organizations and programs available in this State that offer
26information to families about the PUNS database and the PUNS

 

 

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1database registration process.
2    (d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
3Department of Human Services, through school districts, shall
4provide to parents and guardians of each student with an IEP
5students a copy of the latest version of the Department of
6Human Services's guide titled "Understanding PUNS: A Guide to
7Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services" each year at
8the annual review meeting for the student's individualized
9education program, including the consideration required in
10subsection (e) of this Section.
11    (e) (Blank). The Department of Human Services shall
12consider the length of time spent on the Prioritization of
13Urgency of Need for Services waiting list, in addition to
14other factors considered, when selecting individuals on the
15list for services.
16(Source: P.A. 102-57, eff. 7-9-21.)".