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| Public Act 097-0664 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning State government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
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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.
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(Source: P.A. 97-74, eff. 6-30-11.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law. | ||