Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas

Filed: 3/24/2023

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2039

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2039, AS AMENDED,
3by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
4following:
 
5    "Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
62-3.163 as follows:
 
7    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.163)
8    Sec. 2-3.163. PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for
9Services database information for students and parents or
10guardians.
11    (a) The General Assembly makes all of the following
12findings:
13        (1) Pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of
14    Human Services Act, the The Department of Human Services
15    maintains a statewide database known as the PUNS database
16    Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services that

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1database and the PUNS database registration process.
2    (d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
3Department of Human Services, through school districts, shall
4provide to the parents and guardians of each student with an
5IEP students 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.)".