HB2787 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 10350 KTG 30577 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB2787

Introduced , by Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2405/10

from Ch. 23, par. 3441

Amends the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act. Provides that in consultation with the Department of Human Services, licensed physicians, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists shall notify a parent or guardian of a patient diagnosed with a hearing disability of the educational opportunities available for children with hearing disabilities at the Illinois School for the Deaf. Provides that in consultation with the Department of Human Services, licensed physicians and optometrists shall notify a parent or guardian of a patient diagnosed with a visual disability of the educational opportunities available for children with visual disabilities at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. Requires the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement this provision.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act is amended by changing Section 10 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2405/10) (from Ch. 23, par. 3441)

Sec. 10. Residential schools; visual and hearing handicaps.

(a) The Department of Human Services shall operate residential schools for the education of children with visual and hearing handicaps who are unable to take advantage of the regular educational facilities provided in the community, and shall provide in connection therewith such academic, vocational, and related services as may be required. Children shall be eligible for admission to these schools only after proper diagnosis and evaluation, in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Department.

(a-5) The Superintendent of the Illinois School for the Deaf shall be the chief executive officer of, and shall be responsible for the day to day operations of, the School, and shall obtain educational and professional employees who are certified by the Illinois State Board of Education or licensed by the appropriate agency or entity to which licensing authority has been delegated, as well as all other employees of the School, subject to the provisions of the Personnel Code and any applicable collective bargaining agreement. The Superintendent shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. In the case of a vacancy in the office of Superintendent during the recess of the Senate, the Governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate, when the Governor shall nominate some person to fill the office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. The Superintendent shall hold office (i) for a term expiring on June 30 of 2015, and every 4 years thereafter and (ii) until the Superintendent's successor is appointed and qualified. The Superintendent shall devote his or her full time to the duties of the office, shall not serve in any other capacity during his or her term of office, and shall receive such compensation as the Governor shall determine. The Superintendent shall have an administrative certificate with a superintendent endorsement as provided for under Section 21-7.1 of the School Code, and shall have degrees in both educational administration and deaf education, together with at least 15 years of experience in either deaf education, the administration of deaf education, or a combination of the 2.

(a-10) The Superintendent of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired shall be the chief executive officer of, and shall be responsible for the day to day operations of, the School, and shall obtain educational and professional employees who are certified by the Illinois State Board of Education or licensed by the appropriate agency or entity to which licensing authority has been delegated, as well as all other employees of the School, subject to the provisions of the Personnel Code and any applicable collective bargaining agreement. The Superintendent shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. In the case of a vacancy in the office of Superintendent during the recess of the Senate, the Governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate, when the Governor shall nominate some person to fill the office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. The Superintendent shall hold office (i) for a term expiring on June 30 of 2015, and every 4 years thereafter and (ii) until the Superintendent's successor is appointed and qualified. The Superintendent shall devote his or her full time to the duties of the office, shall not serve in any other capacity during his or her term of office, and shall receive such compensation as the Governor shall determine. The Superintendent shall have an administrative certificate with a superintendent endorsement as provided for under Section 21-7.1 of the School Code, and shall have degrees in both educational administration and blind or visually impaired education, together with at least 15 years of experience in either blind or visually impaired education, the administration of blind or visually impaired education, or a combination of the 2.

(b) In administering the Illinois School for the Deaf, the Department shall adopt an admission policy which permits day or residential enrollment, when resources are sufficient, of children with hearing handicaps who are able to take advantage of the regular educational facilities provided in the community and thus unqualified for admission under subsection (a). In doing so, the Department shall establish an annual deadline by which shall be completed the enrollment of children qualified under subsection (a) for admission to the Illinois School for the Deaf. After the deadline, the Illinois School for the Deaf may enroll other children with hearing handicaps at the request of their parents or guardians if the Department determines there are sufficient resources to meet their needs as well as the needs of children enrolled before the deadline and children qualified under subsection (a) who may be enrolled after the deadline on an emergency basis. The Department shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this subsection.

In consultation with the Department, physicians licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and speech-language pathologists and audiologists licensed under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act shall notify a parent or guardian of a patient diagnosed with a hearing disability of the educational opportunities available for children with hearing disabilities at the Illinois School for the Deaf. The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this provision.

(c) In administering the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, the Department shall adopt an admission policy that permits day or residential enrollment, when resources are sufficient, of children with visual handicaps who are able to take advantage of the regular educational facilities provided in the community and thus unqualified for admission under subsection (a). In doing so, the Department shall establish an annual deadline by which the enrollment of children qualified under subsection (a) for admission to the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired shall be completed. After the deadline, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired may enroll other children with visual handicaps at the request of their parents or guardians if the Department determines there are sufficient resources to meet their needs as well as the needs of children enrolled before the deadline and children qualified under subsection (a) who may be enrolled after the deadline on an emergency basis. The Department shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this subsection.

In consultation with the Department, physicians licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 and optometrists licensed under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 shall notify a parent or guardian of a patient diagnosed with a visual disability of the educational opportunities available for children with visual disabilities at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this provision.

(Source: P.A. 97-625, eff. 11-28-11.)