Public Act 102-0150
 
SB0517 EnrolledLRB102 15918 NHT 21287 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
14-17 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/14-17 new)
    Sec. 14-17. High-Cost Special Education Funding
Commission.
    (a) The High-Cost Special Education Funding Commission is
created for the purpose of making recommendations to the
Governor and the General Assembly for an alternative funding
structure in this State for high-cost special education
students that is aligned to the principles of the
evidence-based funding formula in Section 18-8.15 in which
school districts furthest away from adequacy receive the
greatest amount of funding.
    (b) The Commission shall consist of all of the following
members:
        (1) One representative appointed by the Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, who shall serve as
    co-chairperson.
        (2) One representative appointed by the Minority
    Leader of the House of Representatives.
        (3) One senator appointed by the President of the
    Senate, who shall serve as co-chairperson.
        (4) One senator appointed by the Minority Leader of
    the Senate.
        (5) The State Superintendent of Education or a
    designee.
        (6) The Director of the Governor's Office of
    Management and Budget or a designee.
        (7) The Chairperson of the Advisory Council on the
    Education of Children with Disabilities or a designee.
    Additionally, within 60 days after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the State
Superintendent of Education shall appoint all of the following
individuals to the Commission:
        (A) One representative of a statewide association that
    represents private special education schools.
        (B) One representative of a statewide association that
    represents special education cooperatives.
        (C) One educator from a special education cooperative,
    recommended by a statewide association that represents
    teachers.
        (D) One educator from a special education cooperative
    that is not a member district of a special education
    cooperative, recommended by a different statewide
    association that represents teachers.
        (E) One educator or administrator from a nonpublic
    special education school.
        (F) One representative of a statewide association that
    represents school administrators.
        (G) One representative of a statewide association that
    represents school business officials.
        (H) One representative of a statewide association that
    represents private special education schools in rural
    school districts.
        (I) One representative from a residential program.
    Members appointed to the Commission must reflect the
racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State.
    (c) Members of the Commission shall serve without
compensation, but may be reimbursed for their reasonable and
necessary expenses from funds appropriated to the State Board
of Education for that purpose.
    (d) The State Board of Education shall provide
administrative support to the Commission.
    (e) To ensure that high-quality services are provided to
ensure equitable outcomes for high-cost special education
students, the Commission shall do all the following:
        (1) Review the current system of funding high-cost
    special education students in this State.
        (2) Review the needs of high-cost special education
    students in this State and the associated costs to ensure
    high-quality services are provided to these students.
        (3) Review how other states fund high-cost special
    education students.
        (4) If available, review other proposals and best
    practices for funding high-cost special education
    students.
    (f) On or before November 30, 2021, the Commission shall
report its recommendations to the Governor and the General
Assembly.
    (g) This Section is repealed on December 31, 2022.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.