Public Act 102-0057
 
HB0290 EnrolledLRB102 10791 CMG 16121 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. Prioritization of Urgency of Need for 
Services database.
    (a) The General Assembly makes all of the following 
findings:
        (1) The Department of Human Services maintains a 
    statewide database known as the Prioritization of Urgency 
    of Need for Services that records information about 
    individuals with developmental disabilities who are 
    potentially in need of services.
        (2) The Department of Human Services uses the data on 
    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) Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services is 
    available for children and adults with a developmental 
    disability who have an unmet service need anticipated in 
    the next 5 years.
        (4) Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services is 
    the first step toward getting developmental disabilities 
    services in this State. If individuals are not on the 
    Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services waiting 
    list, they are not in queue for State developmental 
    disabilities services.
        (5)  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.
    (b)  The State Board of Education may work with school 
districts to inform all students with developmental 
disabilities and their parents or guardians about the 
Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database. 
    (c)  Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human 
Services 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 him or her about the Prioritization of 
Urgency of Need for Services database and steps to be taken to 
ensure children and adolescents are enrolled.  The training 
shall include instruction for at least one designated employee 
in every public school in contacting the appropriate 
developmental disabilities Independent Service Coordination 
agency to enroll children and adolescents in the database. 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.
    (d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the 
Department of Human Services, through school districts, shall 
provide to inform parents and guardians of students a copy 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 through school 
districts about the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for 
Services waiting list, including the consideration required in 
subsection (e) of this Section.

    (e)  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. 99-144, eff. 1-1-16; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 
99-716, eff. 1-1-17.)
 
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law. 
  

Effective Date:  7/9/2021