Full Text of SR0542

SR0542 LRB104 16711 ECR 30116 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Service animals play a vital role in ensuring that individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions can fully participate in everyday life and live with autonomy, dignity, and independence; and

WHEREAS, Service animals provide essential support to people with a wide range of disabilities and health conditions, including but not limited to mobility impairments, sensory disabilities, seizure disorders, diabetes, mental health conditions, and other chronic medical conditions; and

WHEREAS, Students with disabilities across the State of Illinois rely on service animals to safely and fully participate in educational activities, school programs, transportation, and extracurricular opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Service animals are individually trained to perform specific tasks that directly support a student's access to education, including alerting to medical conditions, guiding students with visual impairments, assisting with stability and mobility, interrupting or preventing harmful episodes, retrieving items, providing safety monitoring, and enabling greater independence; and

WHEREAS, The daily presence of service animals can significantly reduce barriers faced by students with disabilities, increase their comfort and confidence in school environments, promote academic engagement, and support social, emotional, and developmental well-being; and

WHEREAS, Federal and state disability rights laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Illinois Human Rights Act, protect the rights of students who use service animals and require schools to ensure equal access to all programs and services; and

WHEREAS, Schools, including public, private, and charter educational institutions, have an obligation to provide equal access to students with disabilities who use service animals and to avoid discriminatory practices or barriers that impede educational participation; and

WHEREAS, Increased public awareness and consistent implementation of service-animal policies help create inclusive learning environments in which students with disabilities can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and affirm the profound importance of service animals in supporting the safety, health, independence, and academic success of students with disabilities across Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all Illinois school districts to continue fostering respect for individuals who use service animals and to promote awareness of the rights and responsibilities established under federal and state law; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge state agencies, including the Illinois State Board of Education, to review existing policies, administrative rules, oversight practices, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that all Illinois schools fully comply with disability rights laws governing service-animal access, including appropriate staff training, consistent implementation, and timely resolution of barriers or complaints.