HB4773 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 17679 NHT 43753 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB4773

Introduced , by Rep. Elizabeth Coulson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/14-13.01

from Ch. 122, par. 14-13.01

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Increases the special education reimbursement amount to school districts for teachers, professional workers, directors, and school psychologists (from $9,000 to $11,000) and non-certified employees (from $3,500 to $4,900) for the 2007-2008 school year and thereafter. Effective July 1, 2008.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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 14-13.01 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/14-13.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-13.01)

Sec. 14-13.01. Reimbursement payable by State; Amounts. Reimbursement for furnishing special educational facilities in a recognized school to the type of children defined in Section 14-1.02 shall be paid to the school districts in accordance with Section 14-12.01 for each school year ending June 30 by the State Comptroller out of any money in the treasury appropriated for such purposes on the presentation of vouchers by the State Board of Education.

The reimbursement shall be limited to funds expended for construction and maintenance of special education facilities designed and utilized to house instructional programs, diagnostic services, other special education services for children with disabilities and reimbursement as provided in Section 14-13.01. There shall be no reimbursement for construction and maintenance of any administrative facility separated from special education facilities designed and utilized to house instructional programs, diagnostic services and other special education services for children with disabilities.

(a) For children who have not been identified as eligible for special education and for eligible children with physical disabilities, including all eligible children whose placement has been determined under Section 14-8.02 in hospital or home instruction, 1/2 of the teacher's salary but not more than $1,000 annually per child or $8,000 per teacher for the 1985-1986 school year through the 2005-2006 school year, and $1,000 per child or $9,000 per teacher for the 2006-2007 school year, and $1,000 per child or $11,000 per teacher for the 2007-2008 school year and for each school year thereafter, whichever is less. Children to be included in any reimbursement under this paragraph must regularly receive a minimum of one hour of instruction each school day, or in lieu thereof of a minimum of 5 hours of instruction in each school week in order to qualify for full reimbursement under this Section. If the attending physician for such a child has certified that the child should not receive as many as 5 hours of instruction in a school week, however, reimbursement under this paragraph on account of that child shall be computed proportionate to the actual hours of instruction per week for that child divided by 5.

(b) For children described in Section 14-1.02, 4/5 of the cost of transportation for each such child, whom the State Superintendent of Education determined in advance requires special transportation service in order to take advantage of special educational facilities. Transportation costs shall be determined in the same fashion as provided in Section 29-5. For purposes of this subsection (b), the dates for processing claims specified in Section 29-5 shall apply.

(c) For each professional worker excluding those included in subparagraphs (a), (d), (e), and (f) of this Section, the annual sum of $8,000 for the 1985-1986 school year through the 2005-2006 school year, and $9,000 for the 2006-2007 school year, and $11,000 for the 2007-2008 school year and for each school year thereafter.

(d) For one full time qualified director of the special education program of each school district which maintains a fully approved program of special education the annual sum of $8,000 for the 1985-1986 school year through the 2005-2006 school year, and $9,000 for the 2006-2007 school year, and $11,000 for the 2007-2008 school year and for each school year thereafter. Districts participating in a joint agreement special education program shall not receive such reimbursement if reimbursement is made for a director of the joint agreement program.

(e) For each school psychologist as defined in Section 14-1.09 the annual sum of $8,000 for the 1985-1986 school year through the 2005-2006 school year, and $9,000 for the 2006-2007 school year, and $11,000 for the 2007-2008 school year and for each school year thereafter.

(f) For each qualified teacher working in a fully approved program for children of preschool age who are deaf or hard-of-hearing the annual sum of $8,000 for the 1985-1986 school year through the 2005-2006 school year, and $9,000 for the 2006-2007 school year, and $11,000 for the 2007-2008 school year and for each school year thereafter.

(g) For readers, working with blind or partially seeing children 1/2 of their salary but not more than $400 annually per child. Readers may be employed to assist such children and shall not be required to be certified but prior to employment shall meet standards set up by the State Board of Education.

(h) For necessary non-certified employees working in any class or program for children defined in this Article, 1/2 of the salary paid or $2,800 annually per employee through the 2005-2006 school year, and $3,500 per employee for the 2006-2007 school year, and $4,900 per employee for the 2007-2008 school year and for each school year thereafter, whichever is less.

The State Board of Education shall set standards and prescribe rules for determining the allocation of reimbursement under this section on less than a full time basis and for less than a school year.

When any school district eligible for reimbursement under this Section operates a school or program approved by the State Superintendent of Education for a number of days in excess of the adopted school calendar but not to exceed 235 school days, such reimbursement shall be increased by 1/180 of the amount or rate paid hereunder for each day such school is operated in excess of 180 days per calendar year.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any school district receiving a payment under this Section or under Section 14-7.02, 14-7.02b, or 29-5 of this Code may classify all or a portion of the funds that it receives in a particular fiscal year or from general State aid pursuant to Section 18-8.05 of this Code as funds received in connection with any funding program for which it is entitled to receive funds from the State in that fiscal year (including, without limitation, any funding program referenced in this Section), regardless of the source or timing of the receipt. The district may not classify more funds as funds received in connection with the funding program than the district is entitled to receive in that fiscal year for that program. Any classification by a district must be made by a resolution of its board of education. The resolution must identify the amount of any payments or general State aid to be classified under this paragraph and must specify the funding program to which the funds are to be treated as received in connection therewith. This resolution is controlling as to the classification of funds referenced therein. A certified copy of the resolution must be sent to the State Superintendent of Education. The resolution shall still take effect even though a copy of the resolution has not been sent to the State Superintendent of Education in a timely manner. No classification under this paragraph by a district shall affect the total amount or timing of money the district is entitled to receive under this Code. No classification under this paragraph by a district shall in any way relieve the district from or affect any requirements that otherwise would apply with respect to that funding program, including any accounting of funds by source, reporting expenditures by original source and purpose, reporting requirements, or requirements of providing services.

(Source: P.A. 95-415, eff. 8-24-07; 95-707, eff. 1-11-08.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2008.