105 ILCS 5/2-3.163

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.163)

Sec. 2-3.163. PUNS 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 Department of Human Services maintains a statewide database known as the PUNS database 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 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 is available for adults with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities who have unmet service needs 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 is the first step toward receiving developmental disabilities services in this State. A child or an adult who is not on the PUNS database will not be 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.

(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 all students with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities and their parents or guardians are informed about the PUNS database, as described in subsections (c), (c-5), and (d) of this Section.

(c) The Department of Human Services, in consultation with the 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 about the PUNS 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. The training shall include instruction on identifying and contacting the appropriate developmental disabilities Independent Service Coordination agency ("ISC") to register students for the PUNS 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.

(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 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.

(e) (Blank).

(f) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall expand its selection of individuals from the PUNS database to include individuals who receive services through the Children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities - Support Waiver.

(Source: P.A. 102-57, eff. 7-9-21; 103-504, eff. 1-1-24; 103-546, eff. 8-11-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)