101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4979

 

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Katie Stuart and Barbara Hernandez

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/14-7.02  from Ch. 122, par. 14-7.02
105 ILCS 5/14-7.05

    Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that prior to the placement of a child in an out-of-state special education residential facility, the school district, Illinois placing agency, or court must offer to the child or the child's parent or guardian the option to place the child in a special education residential facility located within this State that provides treatment and services comparable to those provided by the out-of-state facility. Requires the school district, Illinois placing agency, or court to review annually the placement of a child in an out-of-state special education residential facility and to offer placement in a comparable facility located within this State. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4979LRB101 17461 CMG 66871 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
514-7.02 and 14-7.05 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.02)  (from Ch. 122, par. 14-7.02)
7    Sec. 14-7.02. Children attending private schools, public
8out-of-state schools, public school residential facilities or
9private special education facilities. The General Assembly
10recognizes that non-public schools or special education
11facilities provide an important service in the educational
12system in Illinois.
13    If because of his or her disability the special education
14program of a district is unable to meet the needs of a child
15and the child attends a non-public school or special education
16facility, a public out-of-state school or a special education
17facility owned and operated by a county government unit that
18provides special educational services required by the child and
19is in compliance with the appropriate rules and regulations of
20the State Superintendent of Education, the school district in
21which the child is a resident shall pay the actual cost of
22tuition for special education and related services provided
23during the regular school term and during the summer school

 

 

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1term if the child's educational needs so require, excluding
2room, board and transportation costs charged the child by that
3non-public school or special education facility, public
4out-of-state school or county special education facility, or
5$4,500 per year, whichever is less, and shall provide him any
6necessary transportation. "Nonpublic special education
7facility" shall include a residential facility, within or
8without the State of Illinois, which provides special education
9and related services to meet the needs of the child by
10utilizing private schools or public schools, whether located on
11the site or off the site of the residential facility.
12    Prior to the placement of a child in an out-of-state
13special education residential facility, the school district
14must offer to the child or the child's parent or guardian the
15option to place the child in a special education residential
16facility located within this State that provides treatment and
17services comparable to those provided by the out-of-state
18special education residential facility. The school district
19must review annually the placement of a child in an
20out-of-state special education residential facility. As a part
21of the review, the school district must offer to the child or
22the child's parent or guardian the option to place the child in
23a comparable special education residential facility located
24within this State.
25    The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and
26regulations for determining when placement in a private special

 

 

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1education facility is appropriate. Such rules and regulations
2shall take into account the various types of services needed by
3a child and the availability of such services to the particular
4child in the public school. In developing these rules and
5regulations the State Board of Education shall consult with the
6Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities and
7hold public hearings to secure recommendations from parents,
8school personnel, and others concerned about this matter.
9    The State Board of Education shall also promulgate rules
10and regulations for transportation to and from a residential
11school. Transportation to and from home to a residential school
12more than once each school term shall be subject to prior
13approval by the State Superintendent in accordance with the
14rules and regulations of the State Board.
15    A school district making tuition payments pursuant to this
16Section is eligible for reimbursement from the State for the
17amount of such payments actually made in excess of the district
18per capita tuition charge for students not receiving special
19education services. Such reimbursement shall be approved in
20accordance with Section 14-12.01 and each district shall file
21its claims, computed in accordance with rules prescribed by the
22State Board of Education, on forms prescribed by the State
23Superintendent of Education. Data used as a basis of
24reimbursement claims shall be for the preceding regular school
25term and summer school term. Each school district shall
26transmit its claims to the State Board of Education on or

 

 

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1before August 15. The State Board of Education, before
2approving any such claims, shall determine their accuracy and
3whether they are based upon services and facilities provided
4under approved programs. Upon approval the State Board shall
5cause vouchers to be prepared showing the amount due for
6payment of reimbursement claims to school districts, for
7transmittal to the State Comptroller on the 30th day of
8September, December, and March, respectively, and the final
9voucher, no later than June 20. If the money appropriated by
10the General Assembly for such purpose for any year is
11insufficient, it shall be apportioned on the basis of the
12claims approved.
13    No child shall be placed in a special education program
14pursuant to this Section if the tuition cost for special
15education and related services increases more than 10 percent
16over the tuition cost for the previous school year or exceeds
17$4,500 per year unless such costs have been approved by the
18Illinois Purchased Care Review Board. The Illinois Purchased
19Care Review Board shall consist of the following persons, or
20their designees: the Directors of Children and Family Services,
21Public Health, Public Aid, and the Governor's Office of
22Management and Budget; the Secretary of Human Services; the
23State Superintendent of Education; and such other persons as
24the Governor may designate. The Review Board shall also consist
25of one non-voting member who is an administrator of a private,
26nonpublic, special education school. The Review Board shall

 

 

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1establish rules and regulations for its determination of
2allowable costs and payments made by local school districts for
3special education, room and board, and other related services
4provided by non-public schools or special education facilities
5and shall establish uniform standards and criteria which it
6shall follow. The Review Board shall approve the usual and
7customary rate or rates of a special education program that (i)
8is offered by an out-of-state, non-public provider of
9integrated autism specific educational and autism specific
10residential services, (ii) offers 2 or more levels of
11residential care, including at least one locked facility, and
12(iii) serves 12 or fewer Illinois students.
13    In determining rates based on allowable costs, the Review
14Board shall consider any wage increases awarded by the General
15Assembly to front line personnel defined as direct support
16persons, aides, front-line supervisors, qualified intellectual
17disabilities professionals, nurses, and non-administrative
18support staff working in service settings in community-based
19settings within the State and adjust customary rates or rates
20of a special education program to be equitable to the wage
21increase awarded to similar staff positions in a community
22residential setting. Any wage increase awarded by the General
23Assembly to front line personnel defined as direct support
24persons, aides, front-line supervisors, qualified intellectual
25disabilities professionals, nurses, and non-administrative
26support staff working in community-based settings within the

 

 

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1State, including the $0.75 per hour increase contained in
2Public Act 100-23 and the $0.50 per hour increase included in
3Public Act 100-23, shall also be a basis for any facility
4covered by this Section to appeal its rate before the Review
5Board under the process defined in Title 89, Part 900, Section
6340 of the Illinois Administrative Code. Illinois
7Administrative Code Title 89, Part 900, Section 342 shall be
8updated to recognize wage increases awarded to community-based
9settings to be a basis for appeal. However, any wage increase
10that is captured upon appeal from a previous year shall not be
11counted by the Review Board as revenue for the purpose of
12calculating a facility's future rate.
13    Any definition used by the Review Board in administrative
14rule or policy to define "related organizations" shall include
15any and all exceptions contained in federal law or regulation
16as it pertains to the federal definition of "related
17organizations".
18    The Review Board shall establish uniform definitions and
19criteria for accounting separately by special education, room
20and board and other related services costs. The Board shall
21also establish guidelines for the coordination of services and
22financial assistance provided by all State agencies to assure
23that no otherwise qualified child with a disability receiving
24services under Article 14 shall be excluded from participation
25in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination
26under any program or activity provided by any State agency.

 

 

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1    The Review Board shall review the costs for special
2education and related services provided by non-public schools
3or special education facilities and shall approve or disapprove
4such facilities in accordance with the rules and regulations
5established by it with respect to allowable costs.
6    The State Board of Education shall provide administrative
7and staff support for the Review Board as deemed reasonable by
8the State Superintendent of Education. This support shall not
9include travel expenses or other compensation for any Review
10Board member other than the State Superintendent of Education.
11    The Review Board shall seek the advice of the Advisory
12Council on Education of Children with Disabilities on the rules
13and regulations to be promulgated by it relative to providing
14special education services.
15    If a child has been placed in a program in which the actual
16per pupil costs of tuition for special education and related
17services based on program enrollment, excluding room, board and
18transportation costs, exceed $4,500 and such costs have been
19approved by the Review Board, the district shall pay such total
20costs which exceed $4,500. A district making such tuition
21payments in excess of $4,500 pursuant to this Section shall be
22responsible for an amount in excess of $4,500 equal to the
23district per capita tuition charge and shall be eligible for
24reimbursement from the State for the amount of such payments
25actually made in excess of the districts per capita tuition
26charge for students not receiving special education services.

 

 

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1    If a child has been placed in an approved individual
2program and the tuition costs including room and board costs
3have been approved by the Review Board, then such room and
4board costs shall be paid by the appropriate State agency
5subject to the provisions of Section 14-8.01 of this Act. Room
6and board costs not provided by a State agency other than the
7State Board of Education shall be provided by the State Board
8of Education on a current basis. In no event, however, shall
9the State's liability for funding of these tuition costs begin
10until after the legal obligations of third party payors have
11been subtracted from such costs. If the money appropriated by
12the General Assembly for such purpose for any year is
13insufficient, it shall be apportioned on the basis of the
14claims approved. Each district shall submit estimated claims to
15the State Superintendent of Education. Upon approval of such
16claims, the State Superintendent of Education shall direct the
17State Comptroller to make payments on a monthly basis. The
18frequency for submitting estimated claims and the method of
19determining payment shall be prescribed in rules and
20regulations adopted by the State Board of Education. Such
21current state reimbursement shall be reduced by an amount equal
22to the proceeds which the child or child's parents are eligible
23to receive under any public or private insurance or assistance
24program. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as
25relieving an insurer or similar third party from an otherwise
26valid obligation to provide or to pay for services provided to

 

 

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1a child with a disability.
2    If it otherwise qualifies, a school district is eligible
3for the transportation reimbursement under Section 14-13.01
4and for the reimbursement of tuition payments under this
5Section whether the non-public school or special education
6facility, public out-of-state school or county special
7education facility, attended by a child who resides in that
8district and requires special educational services, is within
9or outside of the State of Illinois. However, a district is not
10eligible to claim transportation reimbursement under this
11Section unless the district certifies to the State
12Superintendent of Education that the district is unable to
13provide special educational services required by the child for
14the current school year.
15    Nothing in this Section authorizes the reimbursement of a
16school district for the amount paid for tuition of a child
17attending a non-public school or special education facility,
18public out-of-state school or county special education
19facility unless the school district certifies to the State
20Superintendent of Education that the special education program
21of that district is unable to meet the needs of that child
22because of his disability and the State Superintendent of
23Education finds that the school district is in substantial
24compliance with Section 14-4.01. However, if a child is
25unilaterally placed by a State agency or any court in a
26non-public school or special education facility, public

 

 

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1out-of-state school, or county special education facility, a
2school district shall not be required to certify to the State
3Superintendent of Education, for the purpose of tuition
4reimbursement, that the special education program of that
5district is unable to meet the needs of a child because of his
6or her disability.
7    Any educational or related services provided, pursuant to
8this Section in a non-public school or special education
9facility or a special education facility owned and operated by
10a county government unit shall be at no cost to the parent or
11guardian of the child. However, current law and practices
12relative to contributions by parents or guardians for costs
13other than educational or related services are not affected by
14this amendatory Act of 1978.
15    Reimbursement for children attending public school
16residential facilities shall be made in accordance with the
17provisions of this Section.
18    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any school
19district receiving a payment under this Section or under
20Section 14-7.02b, 14-13.01, or 29-5 of this Code may classify
21all or a portion of the funds that it receives in a particular
22fiscal year or from general State aid pursuant to Section
2318-8.05 of this Code as funds received in connection with any
24funding program for which it is entitled to receive funds from
25the State in that fiscal year (including, without limitation,
26any funding program referenced in this Section), regardless of

 

 

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1the source or timing of the receipt. The district may not
2classify more funds as funds received in connection with the
3funding program than the district is entitled to receive in
4that fiscal year for that program. Any classification by a
5district must be made by a resolution of its board of
6education. The resolution must identify the amount of any
7payments or general State aid to be classified under this
8paragraph and must specify the funding program to which the
9funds are to be treated as received in connection therewith.
10This resolution is controlling as to the classification of
11funds referenced therein. A certified copy of the resolution
12must be sent to the State Superintendent of Education. The
13resolution shall still take effect even though a copy of the
14resolution has not been sent to the State Superintendent of
15Education in a timely manner. No classification under this
16paragraph by a district shall affect the total amount or timing
17of money the district is entitled to receive under this Code.
18No classification under this paragraph by a district shall in
19any way relieve the district from or affect any requirements
20that otherwise would apply with respect to that funding
21program, including any accounting of funds by source, reporting
22expenditures by original source and purpose, reporting
23requirements, or requirements of providing services.
24(Source: P.A. 100-587, eff. 6-4-18; 101-10, eff. 6-5-19.)
 
25    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.05)

 

 

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1    Sec. 14-7.05. Placement in residential facility; payment
2of educational costs. For any student with a disability in a
3residential facility placement made or paid for by an Illinois
4public State agency or made by any court in this State, the
5school district of residence as determined pursuant to this
6Article is responsible for the costs of educating the child and
7shall be reimbursed for those costs in accordance with this
8Code. Subject to this Section and relevant State appropriation,
9the resident district's financial responsibility and
10reimbursement must be calculated in accordance with the
11provisions of Section 14-7.02 of this Code. In those instances
12in which a district receives a block grant pursuant to Article
131D of this Code, the district's financial responsibility is
14limited to the actual educational costs of the placement, which
15must be paid by the district from its block grant
16appropriation. Resident district financial responsibility and
17reimbursement applies for both residential facilities that are
18approved by the State Board of Education and non-approved
19facilities, subject to the requirements of this Section. The
20Illinois placing agency or court remains responsible for
21funding the residential portion of the placement and for
22notifying the resident district prior to the placement, except
23in emergency situations. The residential facility in which the
24student is placed shall notify the resident district of the
25student's enrollment as soon as practicable after the
26placement. Failure of the placing agency or court to notify the

 

 

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1resident district prior to the placement does not absolve the
2resident district of financial responsibility for the
3educational costs of the placement; however, the resident
4district shall not become financially responsible unless and
5until it receives written notice of the placement by either the
6placing agency, court, or residential facility. The placing
7agency or parent shall request an individualized education
8program (IEP) meeting from the resident district if the
9placement would entail additional educational services beyond
10the student's current IEP. The district of residence shall
11retain control of the IEP process, and any changes to the IEP
12must be done in compliance with the federal Individuals with
13Disabilities Education Act.
14    Prior to the placement of a child in an out-of-state
15special education residential facility, the placing agency or
16court must offer to the child or the child's parent or guardian
17the option to place the child in a special education
18residential facility located within this State that provides
19treatment and services comparable to those provided by the
20out-of-state special education residential facility. The
21placing agency or court must review annually the placement of a
22child in an out-of-state special education residential
23facility. As a part of the review, the placing agency or court
24must offer to the child or the child's parent or guardian the
25option to place the child in a comparable special education
26residential facility located within this State.

 

 

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1    Payments shall be made by the resident district to the
2entity providing the educational services, whether the entity
3is the residential facility or the school district wherein the
4facility is located, no less than once per quarter unless
5otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties.
6    A residential facility providing educational services
7within the facility, but not approved by the State Board of
8Education, is required to demonstrate proof to the State Board
9of (i) appropriate certification of teachers for the student
10population, (ii) age-appropriate curriculum, (iii) enrollment
11and attendance data, and (iv) the ability to implement the
12child's IEP. A school district is under no obligation to pay
13such a residential facility unless and until such proof is
14provided to the State Board's satisfaction.
15    When a dispute arises over the determination of the
16district of residence under this Section, any person or entity,
17including without limitation a school district or residential
18facility, may make a written request for a residency decision
19to the State Superintendent of Education, who, upon review of
20materials submitted and any other items of information he or
21she may request for submission, shall issue his or her decision
22in writing. The decision of the State Superintendent of
23Education is final.
24(Source: P.A. 95-844, eff. 8-15-08; 95-938, eff. 8-29-08.)
 
25    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
26becoming law.