Bill Text: IL SB2039 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database, makes changes to the findings, and changes references from "Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services" to "PUNS". Provides that the State Board of Education shall work in consultation with the Department of Human Services and with school districts to ensure that all students with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities and their parents or guardians are informed about the PUNS database (instead of the State Board of Education may work with school districts to inform all students with developmental disabilities and their parents or guardians about the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database). Makes changes regarding the computer-based training program. Provides that during the student's annual individualized education program ("IEP") review meeting, if the student has an intellectual disability or a developmental disability, the student's IEP team shall determine the student's PUNS database registration status based upon information provided by the student's parents or guardian or by the student. Sets forth related requirements. Removes a provision requiring the Department of Human Services to consider the length of time spent on the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services waiting list, in addition to other factors considered, when selecting individuals on the list for services. Makes other changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-08-04 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0504 [SB2039 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2039-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 103-0504
SB2039 Enrolled LRB103 27611 RJT 53987 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
2-3.163 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.163)
Sec. 2-3.163. PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for
Services database information for students and parents or
guardians.
(a) The General Assembly makes all of the following
findings:
(1) Pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of
Human Services Act, the The Department of Human Services
maintains a statewide database known as the PUNS database
Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services that
records information about individuals with intellectual
disabilities or developmental disabilities who are
potentially in need of services.
(2) The Department of Human Services uses the data on
PUNS Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services to
select individuals for services as funding becomes
available, to develop proposals and materials for
budgeting, and to plan for future needs.

(3) The PUNS database Prioritization of Urgency of
Need for Services is available for children and adults
with intellectual disabilities or a developmental
disabilities disability who have an unmet service needs
need anticipated in the next 5 years. The PUNS database is
also available for children with intellectual disabilities
or developmental disabilities with unmet service needs.
(4) Registration to be included on the PUNS database
Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services is the
first step toward receiving getting developmental
disabilities services in this State. A child or an adult
who is If individuals are not on the PUNS database will not
be Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services waiting
list, they are not in queue for State developmental
disabilities services.
(5) Lack of awareness and information about the PUNS
database results in underutilization or delays in
registration for the PUNS database by students with
intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities
and their parents or guardians Prioritization of Urgency
of Need for Services may be underutilized by children and
their parents or guardians due to lack of awareness or
lack of information.
(a-5) The purpose of this Section is to ensure that each
student with an intellectual disability or a developmental
disability who has an individualized education program ("IEP")

and the student's parents or guardian are informed about the
PUNS database, where to register for the PUNS database, and
whom they can contact for information about the PUNS database
and the PUNS database registration process. This Section is
not intended to change the PUNS database registration process
established by the Department of Human Services or to impose
any responsibility on the State Board of Education or a school
district to register students for the PUNS database.
(a-10) As used in this Section, "PUNS" means the
Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database or
PUNS database developed and maintained by the Department of
Human Services pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of
Human Services Act.
(b) The State Board of Education may work in consultation
with the Department of Human Services and with school
districts to ensure that inform all students with intellectual
disabilities or developmental disabilities and their parents
or guardians are informed about the PUNS Prioritization of
Urgency of Need for Services database, as described in
subsections (c), (c-5), and (d) of this Section.
(c) The Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human
Services, in consultation with the and State Board of
Education, shall develop and implement an online,
computer-based training program for at least one designated
employee in every public school in this State to educate the
designated employee or employees him or her about the PUNS

Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database and
steps required to register students for the PUNS database,
including the documentation and information parents or
guardians will need for the registration process to be taken
to ensure children and adolescents are enrolled. The training
shall include instruction on identifying and contacting for at
least one designated employee in every public school in
contacting the appropriate developmental disabilities
Independent Service Coordination agency ("ISC") to register
students for the PUNS database enroll children and adolescents
in the database. The training of the designated employee or
employees shall also include information about organizations
and programs available in this State that offer assistance to
families in understanding the PUNS database and navigating the
PUNS database registration process. Each school district shall
post on its public website and include in its student handbook
the names of the designated trained employee or employees in
each school within the school district. At least one
designated employee in every public school shall ensure the
opportunity to enroll in the Prioritization of Urgency of Need
for Services database is discussed during annual
individualized education program (IEP) meetings for all
children and adolescents believed to have a developmental
disability.
(c-5) During the student's annual IEP review meeting, if
the student has an intellectual disability or a developmental

disability, the student's IEP team shall determine the
student's PUNS database registration status based upon
information provided by the student's parents or guardian or
by the student. If it is determined that the student is not
registered for the PUNS database or if it is unclear whether
the student is registered for the PUNS database, the parents
or guardian and the student shall be referred to a designated
employee of the public school who has completed the training
described in subsection (c). The designated trained employee
shall provide the student's parents or guardian and the
student with the name, location, and contact information of
the appropriate ISC to contact in order to register the
student for the PUNS database. The designated trained employee
shall also identify for the parents or guardian and the
student the information and documentation they will need to
complete the PUNS database registration process with the ISC,
and shall also provide information to the parents or guardian
and the student about organizations and programs available in
this State that offer information to families about the PUNS
database and the PUNS database registration process.
(d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
Department of Human Services, through school districts, shall
provide to the parents and guardians of each student with an
IEP students a copy of the latest version of the Department of
Human Services's guide titled "Understanding PUNS: A Guide to
Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services" each year at

the annual review meeting for the student's individualized
education program, including the consideration required in
subsection (e) of this Section.
(e) (Blank). The Department of Human Services shall
consider the length of time spent on the Prioritization of
Urgency of Need for Services waiting list, in addition to
other factors considered, when selecting individuals on the
list for services.
(Source: P.A. 102-57, eff. 7-9-21.)