105 ILCS 5/ School Code.

(105 ILCS 5/14-11.02) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-11.02)

Sec. 14-11.02. Notwithstanding any other Sections of this Article, the State Board of Education shall develop and operate or contract for the operation of a service center for persons who are deaf-blind. For the purpose of this Section, persons with deaf-blindness are persons who have both auditory and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental, educational, vocational and rehabilitation problems that such persons cannot be properly accommodated in special education or vocational rehabilitation programs solely for persons with both hearing and visual disabilities.

To be eligible for deaf-blind services, a person must have (i) a visual impairment and an auditory impairment, or (ii) a condition in which there is a progressive loss of hearing or vision or both that results in concomitant vision and hearing impairments and that adversely affects educational performance as determined by the multidisciplinary conference. For purposes of this paragraph and Section:

(A) A visual impairment is defined to mean one or more of the following: (i) corrected visual acuity poorer than 20/70 in the better eye; (ii) restricted visual field of 20 degrees or less in the better eye; (iii) cortical blindness; (iv) does not appear to respond to visual stimulation, which adversely affects educational performance as determined by the multidisciplinary conference.

(B) An auditory impairment is defined to mean one or more of the following: (i) a sensorineural or ongoing or chronic conductive hearing loss with aided sensitivity of 30dB HL or poorer; (ii) functional auditory behavior that is significantly discrepant from the person's present cognitive and/or developmental levels, which adversely affects educational performance as determined by the multidisciplinary conference.

The State Board of Education is empowered to establish, maintain and operate or contract for the operation of a permanent state-wide service center known as the Philip J. Rock Center and School. The School serves eligible children between the ages of 3 and 21; the Center serves eligible persons of all ages. Services provided by the Center include, but are not limited to:

(1) Identifying and case management of persons who are auditorily and visually impaired;

(2) Providing families with appropriate counseling;

(3) Referring persons who are deaf-blind to appropriate agencies for medical and diagnostic services;

(4) Referring persons who are deaf-blind to appropriate agencies for educational, training and care services;

(5) Developing and expanding services throughout the State to persons who are deaf-blind. This will include ancillary services, such as transportation so that the individuals can take advantage of the expanded services;

(6) Maintaining a residential-educational training facility in the Chicago metropolitan area located in an area accessible to public transportation;

(7) Receiving, dispensing, and monitoring State and Federal funds to the School and Center designated for services to persons who are deaf-blind;

(8) Coordinating services to persons who are deaf-blind through all appropriate agencies, including the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Human Services;

(9) Entering into contracts with other agencies to provide services to persons who are deaf-blind;

(10) Operating on a no-reject basis. Any individual referred to the Center for service and diagnosed as deaf-blind, as defined in this Act, shall qualify for available services;

(11) Serving as the referral clearinghouse for all persons who are deaf-blind, age 21 and older; and

(12) Providing transition services for students of Philip J. Rock School who are deaf-blind and between the ages of 14 1/2 and 21.

The Advisory Board for Services for Persons who are Deaf-Blind shall provide advice to the State Superintendent of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly on all matters pertaining to policy concerning persons who are deaf-blind, including the implementation of legislation enacted on their behalf.

Regarding the maintenance, operation and education functions of the Philip J. Rock Center and School, the Advisory Board shall also make recommendations pertaining to but not limited to the following matters:

(1) Existing and proposed programs of all State agencies that provide services for persons who are deaf-blind;

(2) The State program and financial plan for deaf-blind services and the system of priorities to be developed by the State Board of Education;

(3) Standards for services in facilities serving persons who are deaf-blind;

(4) Standards and rates for State payments for any services purchased for persons who are deaf-blind;

(5) Services and research activities in the field of deaf-blindness, including evaluation of services; and

(6) Planning for personnel/preparation, both preservice and inservice.

The Advisory Board shall consist of 3 persons appointed by the Governor; 2 persons appointed by the State Superintendent of Education; 4 persons appointed by the Secretary of Human Services; and 2 persons appointed by the Director of Children and Family Services. The 3 appointments of the Governor shall consist of a senior citizen 60 years of age or older, a consumer who is deaf-blind, and a parent of a person who is deaf-blind; provided that if any gubernatorial appointee serving on the Advisory Board on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 is not either a senior citizen 60 years of age or older or a consumer who is deaf-blind or a parent of a person who is deaf-blind, then whenever that appointee's term of office expires or a vacancy in that appointee's office sooner occurs, the Governor shall make the appointment to fill that office or vacancy in a manner that will result, at the earliest possible time, in the Governor's appointments to the Advisory Board being comprised of one senior citizen 60 years of age or older, one consumer who is deaf-blind, and one parent of a person who is deaf-blind. One person designated by each agency other than the Department of Human Services may be an employee of that agency. Two persons appointed by the Secretary of Human Services may be employees of the Department of Human Services. The appointments of each appointing authority other than the Governor shall include at least one parent of an individual who is deaf-blind or a person who is deaf-blind.

Vacancies in terms shall be filled by the original appointing authority. After the original terms, all terms shall be for 3 years.

Except for those members of the Advisory Board who are compensated for State service on a full-time basis, members shall be reimbursed for all actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Each member who is not compensated for State service on a full-time basis shall be compensated at a rate of $50 per day which he spends on Advisory Board duties. The Advisory Board shall meet at least 4 times per year and not more than 12 times per year.

The Advisory Board shall provide for its own organization.

Six members of the Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum. The affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the Advisory Board shall be necessary for any action taken by the Advisory Board.

(Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-397, eff. 8-20-95; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

(105 ILCS 5/14-11.03) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-11.03)

Sec. 14-11.03. Illinois Service Resource Center. The State Board of Education shall maintain, subject to appropriations for such purpose, the Service Resource Center for children and adolescents through the age of 21 who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder. For the purpose of this Section, "children and adolescents who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder" have an auditory impairment that is serious enough to warrant an array of special services and special education programs in order to assist both educationally and socially and the behavior is seriously disruptive and unacceptable to peers, educational staff, and persons in the community, or presents a danger to self or others.

The State Board shall operate or contract for the operation of the Illinois Service Resource Center for children and adolescents through the age of 21 who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder. The Illinois Service Resource Center shall function as the initial point of contact for students, parents, and professionals. All existing and future services shall be coordinated through the Center.

The Illinois Service Resource Center shall:

(a) Develop and maintain a directory of public and private resources, including crisis intervention.

(b) Establish and maintain a Statewide identification and tracking system.

(c) Develop, obtain, and assure the consistency of screening instruments.

(d) Perform case coordination, referral, and consultation services.

(e) Provide technical assistance and training for existing programs and providers.

(f) Track the allocation and expenditure of State and federal funds.

(g) Monitor, evaluate, and assess Statewide resources, identification of services gaps, and the development and delivery of services.

(h) Identify by geographical areas the need for establishing evaluation and crisis intervention services and establish a pilot in downstate Illinois. The Service Resource Center shall provide for the coordination of services for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder throughout the State and shall pilot a service delivery model to identify the capacity and need for comprehensive evaluation, crisis management, stabilization, referral, transition, family intervention, and follow-up services.

(i) Integrate the recommendations of the Interagency Board for Children who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and have an Emotional or Behavioral Disorder regarding policies affecting children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder.

(j) Provide limited direct services as required.

The Center, if established, shall operate on a no-reject basis. Any child or adolescent diagnosed as deaf or hard-of-hearing and having an emotional or behavioral disorder under this Act who is referred to the Center for services shall qualify for services of the Center. The requirement of the no-reject basis shall be paramount in negotiating contracts and in supporting other agency services.

(Source: P.A. 88-663, eff. 9-16-94; 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)

(105 ILCS 5/14-12.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-12.01)

Sec. 14-12.01. Account of expenditures - Cost report - Reimbursement. Each school board shall keep an accurate, detailed and separate account of all monies paid out by it for the maintenance of each of the types of facilities, classes and schools authorized by this Article for the instruction and care of pupils attending them and for the cost of their transportation, and shall annually report thereon indicating the cost of each such elementary or high school pupil for the school year ending June 30.

Applications for preapproval for reimbursement for costs of special education must be first submitted through the office of the regional superintendent of schools to the State Superintendent of Education on or before 30 days after a special class or service is started. Applications shall set forth a plan for special education established and maintained in accordance with this Article. Such applications shall be limited to the cost of construction and maintenance of special education facilities designed and utilized to house instructional programs, diagnostic services, other special education services for children with disabilities and reimbursement as provided in Section 14-13.01. Such application shall not include the cost of construction or maintenance of any administrative facility separated from special education facilities designed and utilized to house instructional programs, diagnostic services, and other special education services for children with disabilities. Reimbursement claims for special education shall be made as follows:

Each district shall file its claim computed in accordance with rules prescribed by the State Board of Education for approval on forms prescribed by the State Superintendent of Education. Data used as a basis of reimbursement claims shall be for the school year ended on June 30 preceding. Each school district shall transmit to the State Superintendent of Education its claims on or before August 15. The State Superintendent of Education before approving any such claims shall determine their accuracy and whether they are based upon services and facilities provided under approved programs. Upon approval, vouchers for the amounts due the respective districts shall be prepared and submitted during each fiscal year as follows: the first 3 vouchers shall be prepared by the State Superintendent of Education and transmitted to the Comptroller on the 30th day of September, December and March, respectively, and the final voucher, no later than June 20. If, after preparation and transmittal of the September 30 vouchers, any claim has been redetermined by the State Superintendent of Education, subsequent vouchers shall be adjusted in amount to compensate for any overpayment or underpayment previously made. If the money appropriated by the General Assembly for such purpose for any year is insufficient, it shall be apportioned on the basis of the claims approved.

Claims received at the State Board of Education after August 15 shall not be honored.

(Source: P.A. 94-1100, eff. 2-2-07.)