Public Act 102-0196
 
HB1710 EnrolledLRB102 12107 KTG 17444 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 Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
Act is amended by changing Section 10 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 2405/10)  (from Ch. 23, par. 3441)
    Sec. 10. Residential schools; visual and hearing
disabilities.
    (a) The Department of Human Services shall operate
residential schools for the education of children with visual
and hearing disabilities who are unable to take advantage of
the regular educational facilities provided in the community,
and shall provide in connection therewith such academic,
vocational, and related services as may be required. Children
shall be eligible for admission to these schools only after
proper diagnosis and evaluation, in accordance with procedures
prescribed by the Department.
    (a-5) The Superintendent of the Illinois School for the
Deaf shall be the chief executive officer of, and shall be
responsible for the day to day operations of, the School, and
shall obtain educational and professional employees who are
certified by the Illinois State Board of Education or licensed
by the appropriate agency or entity to which licensing
authority has been delegated, as well as all other employees
of the School, subject to the provisions of the Personnel Code
and any applicable collective bargaining agreement. The
Superintendent shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate. In the case of a vacancy
in the office of Superintendent during the recess of the
Senate, the Governor shall make a temporary appointment until
the next meeting of the Senate, when the Governor shall
nominate some person to fill the office, and any person so
nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office
during the remainder of the term and until his or her successor
is appointed and qualified. The Superintendent shall hold
office (i) for a term expiring on June 30 of 2015, and every 4
years thereafter and (ii) until the Superintendent's successor
is appointed and qualified. The Superintendent shall devote
his or her full time to the duties of the office, shall not
serve in any other capacity during his or her term of office,
and shall receive such compensation as the Governor shall
determine. The Superintendent shall have an administrative
certificate with a superintendent endorsement as provided for
under Section 21-7.1 of the School Code, and shall have a
degree in educational administration, together with at least
10 years of experience in either deaf or hard of hearing
education, the administration of deaf or hard of hearing
education, or a combination of the 2. Preference shall be
given to candidates with a degree in deaf education. The
Superintendent must be fluent in American Sign Language
degrees in both educational administration and deaf education,
together with at least 15 years of experience in either deaf
education, the administration of deaf education, or a
combination of the 2.
    (a-10) The Superintendent of the Illinois School for the
Visually Impaired shall be the chief executive officer of, and
shall be responsible for the day to day operations of, the
School, and shall obtain educational and professional
employees who are certified by the Illinois State Board of
Education or licensed by the appropriate agency or entity to
which licensing authority has been delegated, as well as all
other employees of the School, subject to the provisions of
the Personnel Code and any applicable collective bargaining
agreement. The Superintendent shall be appointed by the
Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. In
the case of a vacancy in the office of Superintendent during
the recess of the Senate, the Governor shall make a temporary
appointment until the next meeting of the Senate, when the
Governor shall nominate some person to fill the office, and
any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall
hold office during the remainder of the term and until his or
her successor is appointed and qualified. The Superintendent
shall hold office (i) for a term expiring on June 30 of 2015,
and every 4 years thereafter and (ii) until the
Superintendent's successor is appointed and qualified. The
Superintendent shall devote his or her full time to the duties
of the office, shall not serve in any other capacity during his
or her term of office, and shall receive such compensation as
the Governor shall determine. The Superintendent shall have an
administrative certificate with a superintendent endorsement
as provided for under Section 21-7.1 of the School Code, and
shall have a degree in educational administration, together
with at least 10 years of experience in either blind or
visually impaired education, the administration of blind or
visually impaired education, or a combination of the 2.
Preference shall be given to candidates with a degree in blind
or visually impaired education. degrees in both educational
administration and blind or visually impaired education,
together with at least 15 years of experience in either blind
or visually impaired education, the administration of blind or
visually impaired education, or a combination of the 2.
    (b) In administering the Illinois School for the Deaf, the
Department shall adopt an admission policy which permits day
or residential enrollment, when resources are sufficient, of
children with hearing disabilities who are able to take
advantage of the regular educational facilities provided in
the community and thus unqualified for admission under
subsection (a). In doing so, the Department shall establish an
annual deadline by which shall be completed the enrollment of
children qualified under subsection (a) for admission to the
Illinois School for the Deaf. After the deadline, the Illinois
School for the Deaf may enroll other children with hearing
disabilities at the request of their parents or guardians if
the Department determines there are sufficient resources to
meet their needs as well as the needs of children enrolled
before the deadline and children qualified under subsection
(a) who may be enrolled after the deadline on an emergency
basis. The Department shall adopt any rules and regulations
necessary for the implementation of this subsection.
    (c) In administering the Illinois School for the Visually
Impaired, the Department shall adopt an admission policy that
permits day or residential enrollment, when resources are
sufficient, of children with visual disabilities who are able
to take advantage of the regular educational facilities
provided in the community and thus unqualified for admission
under subsection (a). In doing so, the Department shall
establish an annual deadline by which the enrollment of
children qualified under subsection (a) for admission to the
Illinois School for the Visually Impaired shall be completed.
After the deadline, the Illinois School for the Visually
Impaired may enroll other children with visual disabilities at
the request of their parents or guardians if the Department
determines there are sufficient resources to meet their needs
as well as the needs of children enrolled before the deadline
and children qualified under subsection (a) who may be
enrolled after the deadline on an emergency basis. The
Department shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary for
the implementation of this subsection.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 7/30/2021