20 ILCS 2405/ Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act.

(20 ILCS 2405/0.01) (from Ch. 23, par. 3429)

Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-1324.)

(20 ILCS 2405/1) (from Ch. 23, par. 3430)

Sec. 1. It is the purpose of this Act to provide for rehabilitation, habilitation and other services to persons with one or more disabilities, their families and the community.

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

(20 ILCS 2405/1b) (from Ch. 23, par. 3432)

Sec. 1b. For the purpose of this Act, the term "person with one or more disabilities" means any person who, by reason of a physical or mental impairment, is or may be expected to be totally or partially incapacitated for independent living or gainful employment; the term "rehabilitation" or "habilitation" means those vocational or other appropriate services which increase the opportunities for independent functioning or gainful employment; the term "comprehensive rehabilitation" means those services necessary and appropriate for increasing the potential for independent living or gainful employment as applicable; the term "vocational rehabilitation administrator" means the head of the designated State unit within the Department responsible for administration of rehabilitation services provided for in this Act, including but not limited to the administration of the federal Rehabilitation Act; the term "Department" means the Department of Human Services; and the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Human Services.

(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97; 90-453, eff. 8-16-97.)

(20 ILCS 2405/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 3434)

(Text of Section from P.A. 97-732)

Sec. 3. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the powers and duties enumerated herein:

(a) To co-operate with the federal government in the administration of the provisions of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and of the federal Social Security Act to the extent and in the manner provided in these Acts.

(b) To prescribe and supervise such courses of vocational training and provide such other services as may be necessary for the habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities, including the administrative activities under subsection (e) of this Section, and to co-operate with State and local school authorities and other recognized agencies engaged in habilitation, rehabilitation and comprehensive rehabilitation services; and to cooperate with the Department of Children and Family Services regarding the care and education of children with one or more disabilities.

(c) (Blank).

(d) To report in writing, to the Governor, annually on or before the first day of December, and at such other times and in such manner and upon such subjects as the Governor may require. The annual report shall contain (1) a statement of the existing condition of comprehensive rehabilitation services, habilitation and rehabilitation in the State; (2) a statement of suggestions and recommendations with reference to the development of comprehensive rehabilitation services, habilitation and rehabilitation in the State; and (3) an itemized statement of the amounts of money received from federal, State and other sources, and of the objects and purposes to which the respective items of these several amounts have been devoted.

(e) (Blank).

(f) To establish a program of services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or persons in need of long term care who are established as blind or disabled as defined by the Social Security Act, thereby enabling them to remain in their own homes or other living arrangements. Such preventive services may include, but are not limited to, any or all of the following:

(1) home health services;

(2) home nursing services;

(3) homemaker services;

(4) chore and housekeeping services;

(5) day care services;

(6) home-delivered meals;

(7) education in self-care;

(8) personal care services;

(9) adult day health services;

(10) habilitation services;

(11) respite care; or

(12) other nonmedical social services that may enable the person to become self-supporting.

The Department shall establish eligibility standards for such services taking into consideration the unique economic and social needs of the population for whom they are to be provided. Such eligibility standards may be based on the recipient's ability to pay for services; provided, however, that any portion of a person's income that is equal to or less than the "protected income" level shall not be considered by the Department in determining eligibility. The "protected income" level shall be determined by the Department, shall never be less than the federal poverty standard, and shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor. The standards must provide that a person may have not more than $10,000 in assets to be eligible for the services, and the Department may increase the asset limitation by rule. Additionally, in determining the amount and nature of services for which a person may qualify, consideration shall not be given to the value of cash, property or other assets held in the name of the person's spouse pursuant to a written agreement dividing marital property into equal but separate shares or pursuant to a transfer of the person's interest in a home to his spouse, provided that the spouse's share of the marital property is not made available to the person seeking such services.

The services shall be provided to eligible persons to prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization, to the extent that the cost of the services, together with the other personal maintenance expenses of the persons, are reasonably related to the standards established for care in a group facility appropriate to their condition. These non-institutional services, pilot projects or experimental facilities may be provided as part of or in addition to those authorized by federal law or those funded and administered by the Illinois Department on Aging. The Department shall set rates and fees for services in a fair and equitable manner. Services identical to those offered by the Department on Aging shall be paid at the same rate.

Personal care attendants shall be paid:

(i) A $5 per hour minimum rate beginning July 1, 1995.

(ii) A $5.30 per hour minimum rate beginning July 1, 1997.

(iii) A $5.40 per hour minimum rate beginning July 1, 1998.

Solely for the purposes of coverage under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act (5 ILCS 315/), personal care attendants and personal assistants providing services under the Department's Home Services Program shall be considered to be public employees and the State of Illinois shall be considered to be their employer as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, but not before. The State shall engage in collective bargaining with an exclusive representative of personal care attendants and personal assistants working under the Home Services Program concerning their terms and conditions of employment that are within the State's control. Nothing in this paragraph shall be understood to limit the right of the persons receiving services defined in this Section to hire and fire personal care attendants and personal assistants or supervise them within the limitations set by the Home Services Program. The State shall not be considered to be the employer of personal care attendants and personal assistants for any purposes not specifically provided in this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, including but not limited to, purposes of vicarious liability in tort and purposes of statutory retirement or health insurance benefits. Personal care attendants and personal assistants shall not be covered by the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 (5 ILCS 375/).

The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, as authorized by Section 4.03 of the Illinois Act on the Aging, written inter-agency agreements with the Department on Aging and the Department of Public Aid (now Department of Healthcare and Family Services), to effect the following: (i) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving non-institutional services; and (ii) the establishment and development of non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped. On and after July 1, 1996, all nursing home prescreenings for individuals 18 through 59 years of age shall be conducted by the Department.

The Department is authorized to establish a system of recipient cost-sharing for services provided under this Section. The cost-sharing shall be based upon the recipient's ability to pay for services, but in no case shall the recipient's share exceed the actual cost of the services provided. Protected income shall not be considered by the Department in its determination of the recipient's ability to pay a share of the cost of services. The level of cost-sharing shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the "protected income" level. The Department shall deduct from the recipient's share of the cost of services any money expended by the recipient for disability-related expenses.

The Department, or the Department's authorized representative, shall recover the amount of moneys expended for services provided to or in behalf of a person under this Section by a claim against the person's estate or against the estate of the person's surviving spouse, but no recovery may be had until after the death of the surviving spouse, if any, and then only at such time when there is no surviving child who is under age 21, blind, or permanently and totally disabled. This paragraph, however, shall not bar recovery, at the death of the person, of moneys for services provided to the person or in behalf of the person under this Section to which the person was not entitled; provided that such recovery shall not be enforced against any real estate while it is occupied as a homestead by the surviving spouse or other dependent, if no claims by other creditors have been filed against the estate, or, if such claims have been filed, they remain dormant for failure of prosecution or failure of the claimant to compel administration of the estate for the purpose of payment. This paragraph shall not bar recovery from the estate of a spouse, under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act and Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, who precedes a person receiving services under this Section in death. All moneys for services paid to or in behalf of the person under this Section shall be claimed for recovery from the deceased spouse's estate. "Homestead", as used in this paragraph, means the dwelling house and contiguous real estate occupied by a surviving spouse or relative, as defined by the rules and regulations of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, regardless of the value of the property.

The Department and the Department on Aging shall cooperate in the development and submission of an annual report on programs and services provided under this Section. Such joint report shall be filed with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before March 30 each year.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report with the Speaker, the Minority Leader and the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the President, the Minority Leader and the Secretary of the Senate and the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(g) To establish such subdivisions of the Department as shall be desirable and assign to the various subdivisions the responsibilities and duties placed upon the Department by law.

(h) To cooperate and enter into any necessary agreements with the Department of Employment Security for the provision of job placement and job referral services to clients of the Department, including job service registration of such clients with Illinois Employment Security offices and making job listings maintained by the Department of Employment Security available to such clients.

(i) To possess all powers reasonable and necessary for the exercise and administration of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Department which are provided for by law.

(j) To establish a procedure whereby new providers of personal care attendant services shall submit vouchers to the State for payment two times during their first month of employment and one time per month thereafter. In no case shall the Department pay personal care attendants an hourly wage that is less than the federal minimum wage.

(k) To provide adequate notice to providers of chore and housekeeping services informing them that they are entitled to an interest payment on bills which are not promptly paid pursuant to Section 3 of the State Prompt Payment Act.

(l) To establish, operate and maintain a Statewide Housing Clearinghouse of information on available, government subsidized housing accessible to disabled persons and available privately owned housing accessible to disabled persons. The information shall include but not be limited to the location, rental requirements, access features and proximity to public transportation of available housing. The Clearinghouse shall consist of at least a computerized database for the storage and retrieval of information and a separate or shared toll free telephone number for use by those seeking information from the Clearinghouse. Department offices and personnel throughout the State shall also assist in the operation of the Statewide Housing Clearinghouse. Cooperation with local, State and federal housing managers shall be sought and extended in order to frequently and promptly update the Clearinghouse's information.

(m) To assure that the names and case records of persons who received or are receiving services from the Department, including persons receiving vocational rehabilitation, home services, or other services, and those attending one of the Department's schools or other supervised facility shall be confidential and not be open to the general public. Those case records and reports or the information contained in those records and reports shall be disclosed by the Director only to proper law enforcement officials, individuals authorized by a court, the General Assembly or any committee or commission of the General Assembly, and other persons and for reasons as the Director designates by rule. Disclosure by the Director may be only in accordance with other applicable law.

(Source: P.A. 97-732, eff. 6-30-12.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 97-1019)

Sec. 3. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the powers and duties enumerated herein:

(a) To co-operate with the federal government in the administration of the provisions of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and of the federal Social Security Act to the extent and in the manner provided in these Acts.

(b) To prescribe and supervise such courses of vocational training and provide such other services as may be necessary for the habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities, including the administrative activities under subsection (e) of this Section, and to co-operate with State and local school authorities and other recognized agencies engaged in habilitation, rehabilitation and comprehensive rehabilitation services; and to cooperate with the Department of Children and Family Services regarding the care and education of children with one or more disabilities.

(c) (Blank).

(d) To report in writing, to the Governor, annually on or before the first day of December, and at such other times and in such manner and upon such subjects as the Governor may require. The annual report shall contain (1) a statement of the existing condition of comprehensive rehabilitation services, habilitation and rehabilitation in the State; (2) a statement of suggestions and recommendations with reference to the development of comprehensive rehabilitation services, habilitation and rehabilitation in the State; and (3) an itemized statement of the amounts of money received from federal, State and other sources, and of the objects and purposes to which the respective items of these several amounts have been devoted.

(e) (Blank).

(f) To establish a program of services to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of persons in need of long term care and who meet the criteria for blindness or disability as defined by the Social Security Act, thereby enabling them to remain in their own homes. Such preventive services include any or all of the following:

(1) personal assistant services;

(2) homemaker services;

(3) home-delivered meals;

(4) adult day care services;

(5) respite care;

(6) home modification or assistive equipment;

(7) home health services;

(8) electronic home response;

(9) brain injury behavioral/cognitive services;

(10) brain injury habilitation;

(11) brain injury pre-vocational services; or

(12) brain injury supported employment.

The Department shall establish eligibility standards for such services taking into consideration the unique economic and social needs of the population for whom they are to be provided. Such eligibility standards may be based on the recipient's ability to pay for services; provided, however, that any portion of a person's income that is equal to or less than the "protected income" level shall not be considered by the Department in determining eligibility. The "protected income" level shall be determined by the Department, shall never be less than the federal poverty standard, and shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor. The standards must provide that a person may not have more than $10,000 in assets to be eligible for the services, and the Department may increase or decrease the asset limitation by rule. The Department may not decrease the asset level below $10,000.

The services shall be provided, as established by the Department by rule, to eligible persons to prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization, to the extent that the cost of the services, together with the other personal maintenance expenses of the persons, are reasonably related to the standards established for care in a group facility appropriate to their condition. These non-institutional services, pilot projects or experimental facilities may be provided as part of or in addition to those authorized by federal law or those funded and administered by the Illinois Department on Aging.

Personal assistants shall be paid at a rate negotiated between the State and an exclusive representative of personal assistants under a collective bargaining agreement. In no case shall the Department pay personal assistants an hourly wage that is less than the federal minimum wage.

Solely for the purposes of coverage under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act (5 ILCS 315/), personal assistants providing services under the Department's Home Services Program shall be considered to be public employees and the State of Illinois shall be considered to be their employer as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, but not before. The State shall engage in collective bargaining with an exclusive representative of personal assistants working under the Home Services Program concerning their terms and conditions of employment that are within the State's control. Nothing in this paragraph shall be understood to limit the right of the persons receiving services defined in this Section to hire and fire personal assistants or supervise them within the limitations set by the Home Services Program. The State shall not be considered to be the employer of personal assistants for any purposes not specifically provided in this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, including but not limited to, purposes of vicarious liability in tort and purposes of statutory retirement or health insurance benefits. Personal assistants shall not be covered by the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 (5 ILCS 375/).

The Department shall execute, relative to nursing home prescreening, as authorized by Section 4.03 of the Illinois Act on the Aging, written inter-agency agreements with the Department on Aging and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to effect the intake procedures and eligibility criteria for those persons who may need long term care. On and after July 1, 1996, all nursing home prescreenings for individuals 18 through 59 years of age shall be conducted by the Department, or a designee of the Department.

The Department is authorized to establish a system of recipient cost-sharing for services provided under this Section. The cost-sharing shall be based upon the recipient's ability to pay for services, but in no case shall the recipient's share exceed the actual cost of the services provided. Protected income shall not be considered by the Department in its determination of the recipient's ability to pay a share of the cost of services. The level of cost-sharing shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the "protected income" level. The Department shall deduct from the recipient's share of the cost of services any money expended by the recipient for disability-related expenses.

To the extent permitted under the federal Social Security Act, the Department, or the Department's authorized representative, may recover the amount of moneys expended for services provided to or in behalf of a person under this Section by a claim against the person's estate or against the estate of the person's surviving spouse, but no recovery may be had until after the death of the surviving spouse, if any, and then only at such time when there is no surviving child who is under age 21, blind, or permanently and totally disabled. This paragraph, however, shall not bar recovery, at the death of the person, of moneys for services provided to the person or in behalf of the person under this Section to which the person was not entitled; provided that such recovery shall not be enforced against any real estate while it is occupied as a homestead by the surviving spouse or other dependent, if no claims by other creditors have been filed against the estate, or, if such claims have been filed, they remain dormant for failure of prosecution or failure of the claimant to compel administration of the estate for the purpose of payment. This paragraph shall not bar recovery from the estate of a spouse, under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act and Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, who precedes a person receiving services under this Section in death. All moneys for services paid to or in behalf of the person under this Section shall be claimed for recovery from the deceased spouse's estate. "Homestead", as used in this paragraph, means the dwelling house and contiguous real estate occupied by a surviving spouse or relative, as defined by the rules and regulations of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, regardless of the value of the property.

The Department shall submit an annual report on programs and services provided under this Section. The report shall be filed with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before March 30 each year.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report with the Speaker, the Minority Leader and the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the President, the Minority Leader and the Secretary of the Senate and the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(g) To establish such subdivisions of the Department as shall be desirable and assign to the various subdivisions the responsibilities and duties placed upon the Department by law.

(h) To cooperate and enter into any necessary agreements with the Department of Employment Security for the provision of job placement and job referral services to clients of the Department, including job service registration of such clients with Illinois Employment Security offices and making job listings maintained by the Department of Employment Security available to such clients.

(i) To possess all powers reasonable and necessary for the exercise and administration of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Department which are provided for by law.

(j) (Blank).

(k) (Blank).

(l) To establish, operate and maintain a Statewide Housing Clearinghouse of information on available, government subsidized housing accessible to disabled persons and available privately owned housing accessible to disabled persons. The information shall include but not be limited to the location, rental requirements, access features and proximity to public transportation of available housing. The Clearinghouse shall consist of at least a computerized database for the storage and retrieval of information and a separate or shared toll free telephone number for use by those seeking information from the Clearinghouse. Department offices and personnel throughout the State shall also assist in the operation of the Statewide Housing Clearinghouse. Cooperation with local, State and federal housing managers shall be sought and extended in order to frequently and promptly update the Clearinghouse's information.

(m) To assure that the names and case records of persons who received or are receiving services from the Department, including persons receiving vocational rehabilitation, home services, or other services, and those attending one of the Department's schools or other supervised facility shall be confidential and not be open to the general public. Those case records and reports or the information contained in those records and reports shall be disclosed by the Director only to proper law enforcement officials, individuals authorized by a court, the General Assembly or any committee or commission of the General Assembly, and other persons and for reasons as the Director designates by rule. Disclosure by the Director may be only in accordance with other applicable law.

(Source: P.A. 97-1019, eff. 8-17-12.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 97-1158)

Sec. 3. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the powers and duties enumerated herein:

(a) To co-operate with the federal government in the administration of the provisions of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and of the federal Social Security Act to the extent and in the manner provided in these Acts.

(b) To prescribe and supervise such courses of vocational training and provide such other services as may be necessary for the habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities, including the administrative activities under subsection (e) of this Section, and to co-operate with State and local school authorities and other recognized agencies engaged in habilitation, rehabilitation and comprehensive rehabilitation services; and to cooperate with the Department of Children and Family Services regarding the care and education of children with one or more disabilities.

(c) (Blank).

(d) To report in writing, to the Governor, annually on or before the first day of December, and at such other times and in such manner and upon such subjects as the Governor may require. The annual report shall contain (1) a statement of the existing condition of comprehensive rehabilitation services, habilitation and rehabilitation in the State; (2) a statement of suggestions and recommendations with reference to the development of comprehensive rehabilitation services, habilitation and rehabilitation in the State; and (3) an itemized statement of the amounts of money received from federal, State and other sources, and of the objects and purposes to which the respective items of these several amounts have been devoted.

(e) (Blank).

(f) To establish a program of services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or persons in need of long term care who are established as blind or disabled as defined by the Social Security Act, thereby enabling them to remain in their own homes or other living arrangements. Such preventive services may include, but are not limited to, any or all of the following:

(1) home health services;

(2) home nursing services;

(3) homemaker services;

(4) chore and housekeeping services;

(5) day care services;

(6) home-delivered meals;

(7) education in self-care;

(8) personal care services;

(9) adult day health services;

(10) habilitation services;

(11) respite care; or

(12) other nonmedical social services that may enable the person to become self-supporting.

The Department shall establish eligibility standards for such services taking into consideration the unique economic and social needs of the population for whom they are to be provided. Such eligibility standards may be based on the recipient's ability to pay for services; provided, however, that any portion of a person's income that is equal to or less than the "protected income" level shall not be considered by the Department in determining eligibility. The "protected income" level shall be determined by the Department, shall never be less than the federal poverty standard, and shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor. The standards must provide that a person may have not more than $10,000 in assets to be eligible for the services, and the Department may increase the asset limitation by rule. Additionally, in determining the amount and nature of services for which a person may qualify, consideration shall not be given to the value of cash, property or other assets held in the name of the person's spouse pursuant to a written agreement dividing marital property into equal but separate shares or pursuant to a transfer of the person's interest in a home to his spouse, provided that the spouse's share of the marital property is not made available to the person seeking such services.

The services shall be provided to eligible persons to prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization, to the extent that the cost of the services, together with the other personal maintenance expenses of the persons, are reasonably related to the standards established for care in a group facility appropriate to their condition. These non-institutional services, pilot projects or experimental facilities may be provided as part of or in addition to those authorized by federal law or those funded and administered by the Illinois Department on Aging.

Personal care attendants shall be paid:

(i) A $5 per hour minimum rate beginning July 1, 1995.

(ii) A $5.30 per hour minimum rate beginning July 1, 1997.

(iii) A $5.40 per hour minimum rate beginning July 1, 1998.

Solely for the purposes of coverage under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act (5 ILCS 315/), personal care attendants and personal assistants providing services under the Department's Home Services Program shall be considered to be public employees, and the State of Illinois shall be considered to be their employer as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, but not before. Solely for the purposes of coverage under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, home care and home health workers who function as personal care attendants, personal assistants, and individual maintenance home health workers and who also provide services under the Department's Home Services Program shall be considered to be public employees, no matter whether the State provides such services through direct fee-for-service arrangements, with the assistance of a managed care organization or other intermediary, or otherwise, and the State of Illinois shall be considered to be the employer of those persons as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, but not before except as otherwise provided under this subsection (f). The State shall engage in collective bargaining with an exclusive representative of home care and home health workers who function as personal care attendants, personal assistants, and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program concerning their terms and conditions of employment that are within the State's control. Nothing in this paragraph shall be understood to limit the right of the persons receiving services defined in this Section to hire and fire home care and home health workers who function as personal care attendants, personal assistants, and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program or to supervise them within the limitations set by the Home Services Program. The State shall not be considered to be the employer of home care and home health workers who function as personal care attendants, personal assistants, and individual maintenance home health workers working under the Home Services Program for any purposes not specifically provided in Public Act 93-204 or this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, including but not limited to, purposes of vicarious liability in tort and purposes of statutory retirement or health insurance benefits. Home care and home health workers who function as personal care attendants, personal assistants, and individual maintenance home health workers and who also provide services under the Department's Home Services Program shall not be covered by the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 (5 ILCS 375/).

The Department shall execute, relative to the nursing home prescreening project, as authorized by Section 4.03 of the Illinois Act on the Aging, written inter-agency agreements with the Department on Aging and the Department of Public Aid (now Department of Healthcare and Family Services), to effect the following: (i) intake procedures and common eligibility criteria for those persons who are receiving non-institutional services; and (ii) the establishment and development of non-institutional services in areas of the State where they are not currently available or are undeveloped. On and after July 1, 1996, all nursing home prescreenings for individuals 18 through 59 years of age shall be conducted by the Department.

The Department is authorized to establish a system of recipient cost-sharing for services provided under this Section. The cost-sharing shall be based upon the recipient's ability to pay for services, but in no case shall the recipient's share exceed the actual cost of the services provided. Protected income shall not be considered by the Department in its determination of the recipient's ability to pay a share of the cost of services. The level of cost-sharing shall be adjusted each year to reflect changes in the "protected income" level. The Department shall deduct from the recipient's share of the cost of services any money expended by the recipient for disability-related expenses.

The Department, or the Department's authorized representative, shall recover the amount of moneys expended for services provided to or in behalf of a person under this Section by a claim against the person's estate or against the estate of the person's surviving spouse, but no recovery may be had until after the death of the surviving spouse, if any, and then only at such time when there is no surviving child who is under age 21, blind, or permanently and totally disabled. This paragraph, however, shall not bar recovery, at the death of the person, of moneys for services provided to the person or in behalf of the person under this Section to which the person was not entitled; provided that such recovery shall not be enforced against any real estate while it is occupied as a homestead by the surviving spouse or other dependent, if no claims by other creditors have been filed against the estate, or, if such claims have been filed, they remain dormant for failure of prosecution or failure of the claimant to compel administration of the estate for the purpose of payment. This paragraph shall not bar recovery from the estate of a spouse, under Sections 1915 and 1924 of the Social Security Act and Section 5-4 of the Illinois Public Aid Code, who precedes a person receiving services under this Section in death. All moneys for services paid to or in behalf of the person under this Section shall be claimed for recovery from the deceased spouse's estate. "Homestead", as used in this paragraph, means the dwelling house and contiguous real estate occupied by a surviving spouse or relative, as defined by the rules and regulations of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, regardless of the value of the property.

The Department and the Department on Aging shall cooperate in the development and submission of an annual report on programs and services provided under this Section. Such joint report shall be filed with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before March 30 each year.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report with the Speaker, the Minority Leader and the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the President, the Minority Leader and the Secretary of the Senate and the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(g) To establish such subdivisions of the Department as shall be desirable and assign to the various subdivisions the responsibilities and duties placed upon the Department by law.

(h) To cooperate and enter into any necessary agreements with the Department of Employment Security for the provision of job placement and job referral services to clients of the Department, including job service registration of such clients with Illinois Employment Security offices and making job listings maintained by the Department of Employment Security available to such clients.

(i) To possess all powers reasonable and necessary for the exercise and administration of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Department which are provided for by law.

(j) To establish a procedure whereby new providers of personal care attendant services shall submit vouchers to the State for payment two times during their first month of employment and one time per month thereafter. In no case shall the Department pay personal care attendants an hourly wage that is less than the federal minimum wage.

(k) To provide adequate notice to providers of chore and housekeeping services informing them that they are entitled to an interest payment on bills which are not promptly paid pursuant to Section 3 of the State Prompt Payment Act.

(l) To establish, operate and maintain a Statewide Housing Clearinghouse of information on available, government subsidized housing accessible to disabled persons and available privately owned housing accessible to disabled persons. The information shall include but not be limited to the location, rental requirements, access features and proximity to public transportation of available housing. The Clearinghouse shall consist of at least a computerized database for the storage and retrieval of information and a separate or shared toll free telephone number for use by those seeking information from the Clearinghouse. Department offices and personnel throughout the State shall also assist in the operation of the Statewide Housing Clearinghouse. Cooperation with local, State and federal housing managers shall be sought and extended in order to frequently and promptly update the Clearinghouse's information.

(m) To assure that the names and case records of persons who received or are receiving services from the Department, including persons receiving vocational rehabilitation, home services, or other services, and those attending one of the Department's schools or other supervised facility shall be confidential and not be open to the general public. Those case records and reports or the information contained in those records and reports shall be disclosed by the Director only to proper law enforcement officials, individuals authorized by a court, the General Assembly or any committee or commission of the General Assembly, and other persons and for reasons as the Director designates by rule. Disclosure by the Director may be only in accordance with other applicable law.

(Source: P.A. 97-1158, eff. 1-29-13.)

(20 ILCS 2405/3a) (from Ch. 23, par. 3434a)

Sec. 3a. The provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act are hereby expressly adopted and shall apply to all administrative rules and procedures of the Department under this Act, except that Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act relating to procedures for rule-making does not apply to the adoption of any rule required by federal law in connection with which the Department is precluded by law from exercising any discretion.

(Source: P.A. 88-45.)

(20 ILCS 2405/3b) (from Ch. 23, par. 3434b)

Sec. 3b. No otherwise qualified child with one or more disabilities receiving special education and related services under Article 14 of The School Code shall be excluded from the participation in or be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 86-607.)

(20 ILCS 2405/3c) (from Ch. 23, par. 3434c)

Sec. 3c. The Department shall enter into contracts with public or private agencies for the establishment and continued support of resource, training and counseling centers for families with children with special needs. These centers shall be known as Lekoteks.

(Source: P.A. 85-604.)

(20 ILCS 2405/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 3436)

Sec. 5. The Department is authorized to receive such gifts or donations, either from public or private sources, as may be offered unconditionally or under such conditions related to the comprehensive rehabilitation services, habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities, as in the judgment of the Department are proper and consistent with the provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-91, eff. 7-1-05.)

(20 ILCS 2405/5a) (from Ch. 23, par. 3437)

Sec. 5a. The State of Illinois does hereby (1) accept the provisions and benefits of the act of Congress entitled the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as heretofore and hereafter amended, (2) designate the State Treasurer as custodian of all moneys received by the State from appropriations made by the Congress of the United States for comprehensive rehabilitation services and habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with one or more disabilities, to be kept in a fund to be known as the Vocational Rehabilitation Fund, and authorize the State treasurer to make disbursements therefrom upon the order of the Department, and (3) empower and direct the Department to cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

(Source: P.A. 88-500.)

(20 ILCS 2405/6) (from Ch. 23, par. 3438)

Sec. 6. (Repealed).

(Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-500, eff. 7-1-94.)

(20 ILCS 2405/8) (from Ch. 23, par. 3439)

Sec. 8. (Repealed).

(Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-500, eff. 7-1-94.)

(20 ILCS 2405/9) (from Ch. 23, par. 3440)

Sec. 9. Whenever, in the course of its rehabilitation and habilitation program, the Department has provided tools, equipment, initial stock or other supplies to a person with one or more disabilities to establish a business enterprise as a self-employed person, other than a business enterprise under the supervision and management of a non-profit agency, the Department may, in its discretion, convey title to such tools, equipment, initial stock or other supplies at any time after the expiration of 6 months after such items are provided to that person.

(Source: P.A. 86-607.)

(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.

(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.

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

(20 ILCS 2405/10a)

Sec. 10a. Financial Participation of Students Attending the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.

(a) General. The Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired are required to provide eligible students with disabilities with a free and appropriate public education as required by Article 14 of the Illinois School Code.

(b) Financial Participation. The Department shall promulgate rules concerning fees for activities or services at the schools with input from (i) the superintendent of each school and (ii) Directors of Special Education from selected Local Education Agencies who place students at the schools. Parents or guardians of students attending the Illinois School for the Deaf or the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired may be asked to financially participate in the following fees for services or activities provided at the schools:

(1) Registration.

(2) Books, labs, and supplies (fees may vary depending on the classes in which a student participates).

(3) Athletic or extracurricular activities (students participating in multiple activities will not be required to pay for more than 2 activities).

(4) Driver's education (if applicable).

(5) Graduation.

(6) Yearbook (optional).

(7) Activities (trips or leisure activities not associated with classroom curriculum).

(8) Other activities or services identified by the Department, pursuant to rule.

Exceptions may be granted to parents or guardians who are unable to meet the financial participation obligations. The Department shall promulgate rules concerning requests for exception to the financial participation at the schools.

Any fees collected for activities or services identified in (1) through (8) under this subsection (b) shall be held locally by the school and used exclusively for the purpose for which the fee was assessed. A separate locally held fund shall be established by the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired for this purpose.

(c) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 97-74, eff. 6-30-11; 97-664, eff. 1-13-12.)

(20 ILCS 2405/11) (from Ch. 23, par. 3442)

Sec. 11. Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education. The Department shall operate and maintain the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education for the care and education of educable children with one or more physical disabilities and provide in connection therewith nursing and medical care and academic, occupational, and related training to such children.

Any Illinois resident under the age of 21 years who is educable but has such a severe physical disability as a result of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, or other cause that he is unable to take advantage of the system of free education in the State of Illinois, may be admitted to the Center or be entitled to services and facilities provided hereunder. Children shall be admitted to the Center or be eligible for such services and facilities only after diagnosis according to procedures approved for this purpose. The Department may avail itself of the services of other public or private agencies in determining any child's eligibility for admission to, or discharge from, the Center.

The Department may call upon other agencies of the State for such services as they are equipped to render in the care of children with one or more physical disabilities, and such agencies are instructed to render those services which are consistent with their legal and administrative responsibilities.

(Source: P.A. 88-172.)

(20 ILCS 2405/12) (from Ch. 23, par. 3443)

Sec. 12. Services for the visually impaired. The Department shall provide community services for persons with visual disabilities at the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education to promote the general welfare and rehabilitation of persons with major visual disabilities and provide such related services as will promote independent living, lessen the limitations of their disability, teach them vocational and other skills, and assist in making them self-supporting and responsible citizens of their communities. The community services program shall provide such instruction and intensive rehabilitation training service individually or in groups as is deemed necessary and practicable for each individual case, using the best appliances, skills, and specialist services known. The Center shall carry out these purposes by providing appropriate training in a residential center for persons with visual disabilities who are found to be qualified for such training.

In order to facilitate the training and rehabilitation of persons with major visual disabilities in industrial work processes and provide necessary services, the Center and the community services program shall have authority to seek and negotiate contracts with agencies, individuals, firms, manufacturers or corporations for the repair of machines or equipment for persons with visual disabilities and for separating, sorting, packaging, tying, wrapping, or otherwise putting together small objects. The rates charged for such work shall be reasonable and adequate, and comparable to those paid other persons for similar services, except as the projects are used for training and rehabilitation of persons with visual disabilities who may not be compensated during the period of training.

All money which has been or may be paid to, or is received as payment for such work shall be deposited in an approved bank or savings and loan association in a special account known as the Industrial Project Fund. All deposits and expenditures of the Industrial Project Fund shall be made under the direction of the Department and in accordance with its rules and regulations. Expenditures shall be limited to salaries and wages paid to the persons with visual disabilities performing the work and for necessary supplies, expenses and equipment required to facilitate and operate such training and employment, and for the benefit, special comfort, pleasure, amusement and rehabilitation of all persons with visual disabilities receiving services from the Department.

No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established under Section 6 of the Public Funds Investment Act.

(Source: P.A. 88-172.)

(20 ILCS 2405/12a) (from Ch. 23, par. 3443a)

Sec. 12a. Centers for independent living.

(a) Purpose. Recognizing that persons with significant disabilities deserve a high quality of life within their communities regardless of their disabilities, the Department, working with the Statewide Independent Living Council, shall develop a State plan for submission on an annual basis to the Commissioner. The Department shall adopt rules for implementing the State plan in accordance with the federal Act, including rules adopted under the federal Act governing the award of grants.

(b) Definitions. As used in this Section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

"Federal Act" means the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

"Center for independent living" means a consumer controlled, community based, cross-disability, non-residential, private non-profit agency that is designated and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities and provides an array of independent living services.

"Consumer controlled" means that the center for independent living vests power and authority in individuals with disabilities and that at least 51% of the directors of the center are persons with one or more disabilities as defined by this Act.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration in the United States Department of Education.

"Council" means the Statewide Independent Living Council appointed under subsection (d).

"Individual with a disability" means any individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.

"Individual with a significant disability" means an individual with a significant physical or mental impairment, whose ability to function independently in the family or community or whose ability to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment is substantially limited and for whom the delivery of independent living services will improve the ability to function, continue functioning, or move toward functioning independently in the family or community or to continue in employment.

"State plan" means the materials submitted by the Department to the Commissioner on an annual basis that contain the State's proposal for:

(1) The provision of statewide independent living services.

(2) The development and support of a statewide network of centers for independent living.

(3) Working relationships between (i) programs providing independent living services and independent living centers and (ii) the vocational rehabilitation program administered by the Department under the federal Act and other programs providing services for individuals with disabilities.

(c) Authority. The unit of the Department headed by the vocational rehabilitation administrator shall be designated the State unit under Title VII of the federal Act and shall have the following responsibilities:

(1) To receive, account for, and disburse funds received by the State under the federal Act based on the State plan.

(2) To provide administrative support services to centers for independent living programs.

(3) To keep records, and take such actions with respect to those records, as the Commissioner finds to be necessary with respect to the programs.

(4) To submit additional information or provide assurances the Commissioner may require with respect to the programs.

The vocational rehabilitation administrator and the Chairperson of the Council are responsible for jointly developing and signing the State plan required by Section 704 of the federal Act. The State plan shall conform to the requirements of Section 704 of the federal Act.

(d) Statewide Independent Living Council.

The Governor shall appoint a Statewide Independent Living Council, comprised of 18 members, which shall be established as an entity separate and distinct from the Department. The composition of the Council shall include the following:

(1) At least one director of a center for independent living chosen by the directors of centers for independent living within the State.

(2) A representative from the unit of the Department of Human Services responsible for the administration of the vocational rehabilitation program and a representative from another unit in the Department of Human Services that provides services for individuals with disabilities and a representative each from the Department on Aging, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services, all as ex-officio, non-voting members who shall not be counted in the 18 members appointed by the Governor.

In addition, the Council may include the following:

(A) One or more representatives of centers for independent living.

(B) One or more parents or guardians of individuals with disabilities.

(C) One or more advocates for individuals with disabilities.

(D) One or more representatives of private business.

(E) One or more representatives of organizations that provide services for individuals with disabilities.

(F) Other appropriate individuals.

After soliciting recommendations from organizations representing a broad range of individuals with disabilities and organizations interested in individuals with disabilities, the Governor shall appoint members of the Council for terms beginning July 1, 1993. The Council shall be composed of members (i) who provide statewide representation; (ii) who represent a broad range of individuals with disabilities from diverse backgrounds; (iii) who are knowledgeable about centers for independent living and independent living services; and (iv) a majority of whom are persons who are individuals with disabilities and are not employed by any State agency or center for independent living.

The council shall elect a chairperson from among its voting membership.

Each member of the Council shall serve for terms of 3 years, except that (i) a member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of that term and (ii) terms of the members initially appointed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 shall be as follows: 6 of the initial members shall be appointed for terms of one year, 6 shall be appointed for terms of 2 years, and 6 shall be appointed for terms of 3 years. No member of the council may serve more than 2 consecutive full terms.

Appointments to fill vacancies in unexpired terms and new terms shall be filled by the Governor or by the Council if the Governor delegates that power to the Council by executive order. The vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the powers and duties of the Council. The Council shall have the duties enumerated in subsections (c), (d), and (e) of Section 705 of the federal Act.

Members shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, including expenses for travel, child care, and personal assistance services, and a member who is not employed or who must forfeit wages from other employment shall be paid reasonable compensation for each day the member is engaged in performing the duties of the Council. The reimbursement or compensation shall be paid from moneys made available to the Department under Part B of Title VII of the federal Act.

In addition to the powers and duties granted to advisory boards by Section 5-505 of the Departments of State Government Law (20 ILCS 5/5-505), the Council shall have the authority to appoint jointly with the vocational rehabilitation administrator a peer review committee to consider and make recommendations for grants to eligible centers for independent living.

(e) Grants to centers for independent living. Each center for independent living that receives assistance from the Department under this Section shall comply with the standards and provide and comply with the assurances that are set forth in the State plan and consistent with Section 725 of the federal Act. Each center for independent living receiving financial assistance from the Department shall provide satisfactory assurances at the time and in the manner the vocational rehabilitation administrator requires.

Beginning October 1, 1994, the vocational rehabilitation administrator may award grants to any eligible center for independent living that is receiving funds under Title VII of the federal Act, unless the vocational rehabilitation administrator makes a finding that the center for independent living fails to comply with the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725 of the federal Act.

If there is no center for independent living serving a region of the State or the region is underserved, and the State receives a federal increase in its allotment sufficient to support one or more additional centers for independent living in the State, the vocational rehabilitation administrator may award a grant under this subsection to one or more eligible agencies, consistent with the provisions of the State plan setting forth the design of the State for establishing a statewide network for centers for independent living.

In selecting from among eligible agencies in awarding a grant under this subsection for a new center for independent living, the vocational rehabilitation administrator and the chairperson of (or other individual designated by) the Council acting on behalf of and at the direction of the Council shall jointly appoint a peer review committee that shall rank applications in accordance with the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725 of the federal Act and criteria jointly established by the vocational rehabilitation administrator and the chairperson or designated individual. The peer review committee shall consider the ability of the applicant to operate a center for independent living and shall recommend an applicant to receive a grant under this subsection based on the following:

(1) Evidence of the need for a center for independent living, consistent with the State plan.

(2) Any past performance of the applicant in providing services comparable to independent living services.

(3) The applicant's plan for complying with, or demonstrated success in complying with, the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725 of the federal Act.

(4) The quality of key personnel of the applicant and the involvement of individuals with significant disabilities by the applicant.

(5) The budgets and cost effectiveness of the applicant.

(6) The evaluation plan of the applicant.

(7) The ability of the applicant to carry out the plan.

The vocational rehabilitation administrator shall award the grant on the basis of the recommendation of the peer review committee if the actions of the committee are consistent with federal and State law.

(f) Evaluation and review. The vocational rehabilitation administrator shall periodically review each center for independent living that receives funds from the Department under Title VII of the federal Act, or moneys appropriated from the General Revenue Fund, to determine whether the center is in compliance with the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725 of the federal Act. If the vocational rehabilitation administrator determines that any center receiving those federal or State funds is not in compliance with the standards and assurances set forth in Section 725, the vocational rehabilitation administrator shall immediately notify the center that it is out of compliance. The vocational rehabilitation administrator shall terminate all funds to that center 90 days after the date of notification or, in the case of a center that requests an appeal, the date of any final decision, unless the center submits a plan to achieve compliance within 90 days and that plan is approved by the vocational rehabilitation administrator or (if on appeal) by the Commissioner.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00; 91-540, eff. 8-13-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

(20 ILCS 2405/13) (from Ch. 23, par. 3444)

Sec. 13. The Department shall have all powers reasonable and necessary for the administration of institutions for persons with one or more disabilities under subsection (f) of Section 3 of this Act, including, but not limited to, the authority to do the following:

(a) Appoint and remove the superintendents of the institutions operated by the Department, except for those superintendents whose appointment and removal is provided for under Section 10 of this Act; obtain all other employees subject to the provisions of the Personnel Code, except for educational and professional employees of the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired 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, and all other employees of the Schools who are obtained by the superintendents as provided under Section 10 of this Act, subject to the provisions of the Personnel Code and any applicable collective bargaining agreement; and conduct staff training programs for the development and improvement of services.

(b) Provide supervision, housing accommodations, board or the payment of boarding costs, tuition, and treatment free of charge, except as otherwise specified in this Act, for residents of this State who are cared for in any institution, or for persons receiving services under any program under the jurisdiction of the Department. Residents of other states may be admitted upon payment of the costs of board, tuition, and treatment as determined by the Department; provided, that no resident of another state shall be received or retained to the exclusion of any resident of this State. The Department shall accept any donation for the board, tuition, and treatment of any person receiving service or care.

(c) Cooperate with the State Board of Education and the Department of Children and Family Services in a program to provide for the placement, supervision, and foster care of children with handicaps who must leave their home community in order to attend schools offering programs in special education.

(d) Assess and collect (i) student activity fees and (ii) charges to school districts for transportation of students required under the School Code and provided by the Department. The Department shall direct the expenditure of all money that has been or may be received by any officer of the several State institutions under the direction and supervision of the Department as profit on sales from commissary stores, student activity fees, or charges for student transportation. The money shall be deposited into a locally held fund and expended under the direction of the Department for the special comfort, pleasure, and amusement of residents and employees and the transportation of residents, provided that amounts expended for comfort, pleasure, and amusement of employees shall not exceed the amount of profits derived from sales made to employees by the commissaries, as determined by the Department.

Funds deposited with State institutions under the direction and supervision of the Department by or for residents of those State institutions shall be deposited into interest-bearing accounts, and money received as interest and income on those funds shall be deposited into a "needy student fund" to be held and administered by the institution. Money in the "needy student fund" shall be expended for the special comfort, pleasure, and amusement of the residents of the particular institution where the money is paid or received.

Any money belonging to residents separated by death, discharge, or unauthorized absence from institutions described under this Section, in custody of officers of the institutions, may, if unclaimed by the resident or the legal representatives of the resident for a period of 2 years, be expended at the direction of the Department for the purposes and in the manner specified in this subsection (d). Articles of personal property, with the exception of clothing left in the custody of those officers, shall, if unclaimed for the period of 2 years, be sold and the money disposed of in the same manner.

Clothing left at the institution by residents at the time of separation may be used as determined by the institution if unclaimed by the resident or legal representatives of the resident within 30 days after notification.

(e) Keep, for each institution under the jurisdiction of the Department, a register of the number of officers, employees, and residents present each day in the year, in a form that will permit a calculation of the average number present each month.

(f) (Blank).

(g) (Blank).

(h) (Blank).

(i) Accept and hold in behalf of the State, if for the public interest, a grant, gift, or legacy of money or property to the State of Illinois, to the Department, or to any institution or program of the Department made in trust for the maintenance or support of a resident of an institution of the Department, or for any other legitimate purpose connected with any such institution or program. The Department shall cause each gift, grant, or legacy to be kept as a distinct fund, and shall invest the gift, grant, or legacy in the manner provided by the laws of this State as those laws now exist or shall hereafter be enacted relating to securities in which the deposits in savings banks may be invested. The Department may, however, in its discretion, deposit in a proper trust company or savings bank, during the continuance of the trust, any fund so left in trust for the life of a person and shall adopt rules and regulations governing the deposit, transfer, or withdrawal of the fund. The Department shall, on the expiration of any trust as provided in any instrument creating the trust, dispose of the fund thereby created in the manner provided in the instrument. The Department shall include in its required reports a statement showing what funds are so held by it and the condition of the funds. Monies found on residents at the time of their admission, or accruing to them during their period of institutional care, and monies deposited with the superintendents by relatives, guardians, or friends of residents for the special comfort and pleasure of a resident, shall remain in the possession of the superintendents, who shall act as trustees for disbursement to, in behalf of, or for the benefit of the resident. All types of retirement and pension benefits from private and public sources may be paid directly to the superintendent of the institution where the person is a resident, for deposit to the resident's trust fund account.

(j) Appoint, subject to the Personnel Code, persons to be members of a police and security force. Members of the police and security force shall be peace officers and as such have all powers possessed by policemen in cities and sheriffs, including the power to make arrests on view or warrants of violations of State statutes or city or county ordinances. These powers may, however, be exercised only in counties of more than 500,000 population when required for the protection of Department properties, interests, and personnel, or specifically requested by appropriate State or local law enforcement officials. Members of the police and security force may not serve and execute civil processes.

(k) Maintain, and deposit receipts from the sale of tickets to athletic, musical, and other events, fees for participation in school sponsored tournaments and events, and revenue from student activities relating to charges for art and woodworking projects, charges for automobile repairs, and other revenue generated from student projects into, locally held accounts not to exceed $20,000 per account for the purposes of (i) providing immediate payment to officials, judges, and athletic referees for their services rendered and for other related expenses at school sponsored contests, tournaments, or events, (ii) providing payment for expenses related to student revenue producing activities such as art and woodworking projects, automotive repair work, and other student activities or projects that generate revenue and incur expenses, and (iii) providing students who are enrolled in an independent living program with cash so that they may fulfill course objectives by purchasing commodities and other required supplies.

(l) Advance moneys from its appropriations to be maintained in locally held accounts at the schools to establish (i) a "Student Compensation Account" to pay students for work performed under the student work program, and (ii) a "Student Activity Travel Account" to pay transportation, meals, and lodging costs of students, coaches, and activity sponsors while traveling off campus for sporting events, lessons, and other activities directly associated with the representation of the school. Funds in the "Student Compensation Account" shall not exceed $20,000, and funds in the "Student Activity Travel Account" shall not exceed $200,000.

(l-5) Establish a locally held account (referred to as the Account) to hold, maintain and administer the Therkelsen/Hansen College Loan Fund (referred to as the Fund). All cash represented by the Fund shall be transferred from the State Treasury to the Account. The Department shall promulgate rules regarding the maintenance and use of the Fund and all interest earned thereon; the eligibility of potential borrowers from the Fund; and the awarding and repayment of loans from the Fund; and other rules as applicable regarding the Fund. The administration of the Fund and the promulgation of rules regarding the Fund shall be consistent with the will of Petrea Therkelsen, which establishes the Fund.

(m) Promulgate rules of conduct applicable to the residents of institutions for persons with one or more disabilities. The rules shall include specific standards to be used by the Department to determine (i) whether financial restitution shall be required in the event of losses or damages resulting from a resident's action and (ii) the ability of the resident and the resident's parents to pay restitution.

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

(20 ILCS 2405/13a) (from Ch. 23, par. 3444a)

Sec. 13a. (a) The Department shall be responsible for coordinating the establishment of local Transition Planning Committees. Members of the committees shall consist of representatives from special education; vocational and regular education; post-secondary education; parents of youth with disabilities; persons with disabilities; local business or industry; the Department of Human Services; public and private adult service providers; case coordination; and other consumer, school, and adult services as appropriate. The Committee shall elect a chair and shall meet at least quarterly. Each Transition Planning Committee shall:

(1) identify current transition services, programs, and funding sources provided within the community for secondary and post-secondary aged youth with disabilities and their families as well as the development of strategies to address unmet needs;

(2) facilitate the development of transition interagency teams to address present and future transition needs of individual students on their individual education plans;

(3) develop a mission statement that emphasizes the goals of integration and participation in all aspects of community life for persons with disabilities;

(4) provide for the exchange of information such as appropriate data, effectiveness studies, special projects, exemplary programs, and creative funding of programs;

(5) develop consumer in-service and awareness training programs in the local community; and

(6) assist in staff training for individual transition planning and student transition needs assessment.

(b) Each Transition Planning Committee shall select a chair from among its members who shall serve for a term of one year. Each committee shall meet at least quarterly, or at such other times at the call of the chair.

(c) Each Transition Planning Committee shall annually prepare and submit to the Interagency Coordinating Council a report which assesses the level of currently available services in the community as well as the level of unmet needs of secondary students with disabilities, makes recommendations to address unmet needs, and summarizes the steps taken to address unmet needs based on the recommendations made in previous reports.

(d) The name and affiliation of each local Transition Planning Committee member and the annual report required under subsection (c) of this Section shall be filed with the administrative office of each school district served by the local Transition Planning Committee, be made available to the public upon request, and be sent to each member of the General Assembly whose district encompasses the area served by the Transition Planning Committee.

(Source: P.A. 92-452, eff. 8-21-01.)

(20 ILCS 2405/14) (from Ch. 23, par. 3445)

Sec. 14. The Department shall publish, and make available to the public upon request, an annual updated list of services available from all State agencies to persons with one or more disabilities in this State.

(Source: P.A. 86-607.)

(20 ILCS 2405/15) (from Ch. 23, par. 3446)

Sec. 15. (Repealed).

(Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-500, eff. 7-1-94.)

(20 ILCS 2405/16) (from Ch. 23, par. 3447)

Sec. 16. (Repealed).

(Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-500, eff. 7-1-94.)

(20 ILCS 2405/17) (from Ch. 23, par. 3448)

Sec. 17. Child Abuse and Neglect Reports.

(a) All applicants for employment at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, the Illinois School for the Deaf, and the Illinois Center for the Rehabilitation and Education shall as a condition of employment authorize, in writing on a form prescribed by the Department of Children and Family Services, an investigation of the Central Register, as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, to ascertain if the applicant has been determined to be a perpetrator in an indicated report of child abuse or neglect.

(b) The information concerning a prospective employee obtained by the Department shall be confidential and exempt from public inspection and copying, as provided under Section 7 of The Freedom of Information Act, and the information shall not be transmitted outside the Department, except as provided in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and shall not be transmitted to anyone within the Department except as needed for the purposes of evaluation of an application for employment.

(Source: P.A. 88-172.)