Public Act 103-0504
 
SB2039 EnrolledLRB103 27611 RJT 53987 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 changing Section
2-3.163 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.163)
    Sec. 2-3.163. PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for
Services database information for students and parents or
guardians.
    (a) The General Assembly makes all of the following
findings:
        (1) Pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of
    Human Services Act, the The Department of Human Services
    maintains a statewide database known as the PUNS database
    Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services that
    records information about individuals with intellectual
    disabilities or developmental disabilities who are
    potentially in need of services.
        (2) The Department of Human Services uses the data on
    PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services to
    select individuals for services as funding becomes
    available, to develop proposals and materials for
    budgeting, and to plan for future needs.
        (3) The PUNS database Prioritization of Urgency of
    Need for Services is available for children and adults
    with intellectual disabilities or a developmental
    disabilities disability who have an unmet service needs
    need anticipated in the next 5 years. The PUNS database is
    also available for children with intellectual disabilities
    or developmental disabilities with unmet service needs.
        (4) Registration to be included on the PUNS database
    Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services is the
    first step toward receiving getting developmental
    disabilities services in this State. A child or an adult
    who is If individuals are not on the PUNS database will not
    be Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services waiting
    list, they are not in queue for State developmental
    disabilities services.
        (5) Lack of awareness and information about the PUNS
    database results in underutilization or delays in
    registration for the PUNS database by students with
    intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities
    and their parents or guardians Prioritization of Urgency
    of Need for Services may be underutilized by children and
    their parents or guardians due to lack of awareness or
    lack of information.
    (a-5) The purpose of this Section is to ensure that each
student with an intellectual disability or a developmental
disability who has an individualized education program ("IEP")
and the student's parents or guardian are informed about the
PUNS database, where to register for the PUNS database, and
whom they can contact for information about the PUNS database
and the PUNS database registration process. This Section is
not intended to change the PUNS database registration process
established by the Department of Human Services or to impose
any responsibility on the State Board of Education or a school
district to register students for the PUNS database.
    (a-10) As used in this Section, "PUNS" means the
Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database or
PUNS database developed and maintained by the Department of
Human Services pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of
Human Services Act.
    (b) The State Board of Education may work in consultation
with the Department of Human Services and with school
districts to ensure that inform all students with intellectual
disabilities or developmental disabilities and their parents
or guardians are informed about the PUNS Prioritization of
Urgency of Need for Services database, as described in
subsections (c), (c-5), and (d) of this Section.
    (c) The Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
Services, in consultation with the and State Board of
Education, shall develop and implement an online,
computer-based training program for at least one designated
employee in every public school in this State to educate the
designated employee or employees him or her about the PUNS
Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database and
steps required to register students for the PUNS database,
including the documentation and information parents or
guardians will need for the registration process to be taken
to ensure children and adolescents are enrolled. The training
shall include instruction on identifying and contacting for at
least one designated employee in every public school in
contacting the appropriate developmental disabilities
Independent Service Coordination agency ("ISC") to register
students for the PUNS database enroll children and adolescents
in the database. The training of the designated employee or
employees shall also include information about organizations
and programs available in this State that offer assistance to
families in understanding the PUNS database and navigating the
PUNS database registration process. Each school district shall
post on its public website and include in its student handbook
the names of the designated trained employee or employees in
each school within the school district. At least one
designated employee in every public school shall ensure the
opportunity to enroll in the Prioritization of Urgency of Need
for Services database is discussed during annual
individualized education program (IEP) meetings for all
children and adolescents believed to have a developmental
disability.
    (c-5) During the student's annual IEP review meeting, if
the student has an intellectual disability or a developmental
disability, the student's IEP team shall determine the
student's PUNS database registration status based upon
information provided by the student's parents or guardian or
by the student. If it is determined that the student is not
registered for the PUNS database or if it is unclear whether
the student is registered for the PUNS database, the parents
or guardian and the student shall be referred to a designated
employee of the public school who has completed the training
described in subsection (c). The designated trained employee
shall provide the student's parents or guardian and the
student with the name, location, and contact information of
the appropriate ISC to contact in order to register the
student for the PUNS database. The designated trained employee
shall also identify for the parents or guardian and the
student the information and documentation they will need to
complete the PUNS database registration process with the ISC,
and shall also provide information to the parents or guardian
and the student about organizations and programs available in
this State that offer information to families about the PUNS
database and the PUNS database registration process.
    (d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
Department of Human Services, through school districts, shall
provide to the parents and guardians of each student with an
IEP students a copy of the latest version of the Department of
Human Services's guide titled "Understanding PUNS: A Guide to
Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services" each year at
the annual review meeting for the student's individualized
education program, including the consideration required in
subsection (e) of this Section.
    (e) (Blank). The Department of Human Services shall
consider the length of time spent on the Prioritization of
Urgency of Need for Services waiting list, in addition to
other factors considered, when selecting individuals on the
list for services.
(Source: P.A. 102-57, eff. 7-9-21.)