98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB5668

 

Introduced , by Rep. Esther Golar

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/22-80 new

    Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education and each school board to (1) ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in mainstream physical education programs and try out for and, if selected, participate in mainstream athletic programs; (2) ensure the provision of all reasonable accommodations necessary to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate, to the fullest extent possible, in mainstream physical education and mainstream athletic programs; and (3) ensure that adapted, allied, or unified physical education and athletic programs are available. Sets forth exceptions to these requirements. Contains provisions concerning a school board's duty; policies, procedures, and opportunities; compliance, technical assistance, and rulemaking.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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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 adding Section
522-80 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/22-80 new)
7    Sec. 22-80. Fitness and athletic equity for students with
8disabilities.
9    (a) In this Section:
10    "Adapted program" means a program that is developed for a
11student with a disability.
12    "Allied program" or "unified program" means a program that
13is specifically designed to combine groups of students with and
14without disabilities together in physical activity.
15    "Mainstream athletic program" means an intramural or
16interscholastic athletic activity that is developed and
17offered to students in accordance with criteria established by
18the State Board of Education.
19    "Mainstream physical education program" means a physical
20education program that is developed and offered to students in
21accordance with criteria established by the State Board of
22Education.
23    "Student with a disability" means a student who meets the

 

 

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1definition of a handicapped person under 45 CFR 84.3(j).
2    (b) A school board must be in compliance with the
3provisions of this Section as expeditiously as possible, but no
4later than 3 years after the effective date of this amendatory
5Act of the 98th General Assembly.
6    (c) Subject to subsection (d) of this Section, the State
7Board of Education and each school board shall:
8        (1) ensure that students with disabilities have an
9    equal opportunity to:
10            (A) participate in mainstream physical education
11        programs; and
12            (B) try out for and, if selected, participate in
13        mainstream athletic programs;
14        (2) ensure the provision of all reasonable
15    accommodations necessary to provide students with
16    disabilities an equal opportunity to participate, to the
17    fullest extent possible, in mainstream physical education
18    and mainstream athletic programs; and
19        (3) ensure that adapted, allied, or unified physical
20    education and athletic programs are available.
21    (d) An exception to the requirements under subsection (c)
22of this Section may be made when the inclusion of a student:
23        (1) presents an objective safety risk to the student or
24    to others, based on an individualized assessment of the
25    student; or
26        (2) fundamentally alters the nature of the school's

 

 

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1    mainstream physical education or mainstream athletic
2    program.
3    (e) The provision of adapted, allied, or unified programs
4for students with disabilities does not mitigate the duty of a
5school board to provide an individual student with a disability
6an equal opportunity to be fully included in mainstream
7physical education and mainstream athletic programs.
8    (f) A school board shall:
9        (1) develop policies and procedures to promote and
10    protect the inclusion of students with disabilities into
11    mainstream physical education and mainstream athletic
12    programs; and
13        (2) provide the opportunity for students with
14    disabilities to participate in extracurricular or
15    interscholastic competition, as demonstrated by:
16            (A) equivalent opportunities for participation in
17        extracurricular or interscholastic athletic programs;
18        or
19            (B) evidence indicating that the interests and
20        abilities of students with disabilities have been
21        fully and effectively accommodated by the school
22        board's implemented programs.
23    The State Board of Education shall adopt a model policy to
24assist a school board with the implementation of this Section.
25    (g) The State Board of Education shall monitor the
26compliance of school boards with the provisions of this

 

 

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1Section. The State Board of Education may investigate and take
2corrective action in response to complaints from parents,
3guardians, or legal representatives of students with
4disabilities who allege a violation of the provisions of this
5Section.
6    (h) On or before May 15 of each year, each school board
7shall submit to the State Board of Education a report of the
8school system's compliance with the provisions of this Section.
9The first annual report completed by a school board shall
10include:
11        (1) the number of students with disabilities that
12    participate in the school system's mainstream physical
13    education or mainstream athletic programs; and
14        (2) a description of plans by the school board to
15    affirmatively engage students with disabilities in
16    mainstream physical education or mainstream athletic
17    programs.
18Subsequent reports submitted by a school board shall be
19consistent with rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
20    On or before May 1 of each year, the State Board of
21Education shall submit to the General Assembly a report of
22compliance with the provisions of this Section.
23    (i) The State Board of Education shall provide technical
24assistance to school boards concerning the provisions of this
25Section.
26    (j) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules as

 

 

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1necessary to implement this Section.