HB3075eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3075 Engrossed LRB098 02922 RPM 41013 b

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Child Vision and Hearing Test Act is amended by adding Section 5.5 as follows:

(410 ILCS 205/5.5 new)

Sec. 5.5. Auditory-visual integration assessment pilot program. In addition to the program of hearing screening services and the program of vision screening services established by the Department under this Act, the Department, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall establish an auditory-visual integration assessment pilot program in selected school districts in the northern region of the State, to be determined by the State Board of Education. The pilot program shall do the following:

(1) Require each pupil in the selected school districts in those grade levels where visual screening is required to undergo a base-level auditory-visual integration screening, which shall be a pass-or-fail spatial localization test.

(2) Require a more detailed evaluation of students who fail the base-level auditory-visual integration screening. This level of assessment shall include quantitative and qualitative measurements of both auditory-visual integration function and spatial navigation ability and shall result in specific recommendations for interventions that may be needed.

(3) Provide a training program for qualified individuals on how to conduct in-school base-level auditory-visual integration screenings.

(4) Provide a training program for occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, optometrists, and community health clinic professionals throughout the State to perform detailed evaluations.

(5) Provide training for optometrists throughout the State to prescribe appropriate interventions.

The Department and the State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.