Public Act 097-0664
 
SB0274 EnrolledLRB097 04074 RLJ 44113 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act is
amended by changing Section 10a as follows:
 
    (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. As part of the admission process to
either school, the Department shall complete a financial
analysis on each student attending the Illinois School for the
Deaf or the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired and shall
ask parents or guardians to participate, if applicable, in the
cost of identified services or activities that are not
education related.
    (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.
Completion of financial analysis. Prior to admission, and
annually thereafter, a financial analysis shall be completed on
each student attending the Illinois School for the Deaf or the
Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. If at any time there
is reason to believe there is a change in the student's
financial situation that will affect their financial
participation, a new financial analysis shall be completed.
        (1) In completing the student's financial analysis,
    the income of the student's family shall be used. Proof of
    income must be provided and retained for each parent or
    guardian.
        (2) Any funds that have been established on behalf of
    the student for completion of their primary or secondary
    education shall be considered when completing the
    financial analysis.
        (3) Falsification of information used to complete the
    financial analysis may result in the Department taking
    action to recoup monies previously expended by the
    Department in providing services to the student.
    (c) (Blank). Financial Participation. Utilizing a sliding
scale based on income standards developed by rule by the
Department with input from the superintendent of each school,
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) Room and board for residential students.
        (4) Meals for day students.
        (5) Athletic or extracurricular activities (students
    participating in multiple activities will not be required
    to pay for more than 2 activities).
        (6) Driver's education (if applicable).
        (7) Graduation.
        (8) Yearbook (optional).
        (9) Activities (field trips or other leisure
    activities).
        (10) Other activities or services identified by the
    Department.
    Students, parents, or guardians who are receiving Medicaid
or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) shall not be
required to financially participate in the fees established in
this subsection (c).
    Exceptions may be granted to parents or guardians who are
unable to meet the financial participation obligations due to
extenuating circumstances. Requests for exceptions must be
made in writing and must be submitted to the superintendent for
initial recommendation with a final determination by the
Director of the Division of Rehabilitation Services.
    Any fees collected under this subsection (c) shall be held
locally by the school and used exclusively for the purpose for
which the fee was assessed.
(Source: P.A. 97-74, eff. 6-30-11.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.