All Roll Calls
Yes: 180 • No: 0
IllinoisSB3224104th General Assembly (2025–2026)Senate
ILLINOIS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
Sponsored By: Doris Turner (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Amends the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act. Changes the name of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired to the Illinois School for the Blind. Makes conforming changes to the Personnel Code, the School Code, the School Safety Drill Act, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, and the MRSA Prevention, Control, and Reporting Act.
assignmentseducationhuman services
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Free care in State disability institutions
If you are an Illinois resident placed in a Department institution, you get supervision, housing, board, tuition, and treatment free of charge. Residents of other states pay costs the Department sets. Out‑of‑state residents cannot displace Illinois residents. The Department may accept donations to cover board, tuition, and treatment.
Access and notice for deaf and blind schools
The Department of Human Services runs residential schools for children with visual or hearing disabilities who cannot use local schools. Admission requires a diagnosis and evaluation under Department rules. The Department sets a yearly deadline to enroll students who meet primary eligibility. After that date, it may enroll other students for day or residential programs at a parent’s request if resources allow. School districts must tell parents in writing about these State schools, their services, admissions rules, contacts, and similar local options.
Braille instruction for functionally blind students
Students found functionally blind under State Board criteria are presumed to need Braille to make progress. Each such student is entitled to Braille instruction if physically and cognitively able to use it. Assessments must document Braille strengths and weaknesses, and the IEP must name the right learning medium or media.
Faster special education evaluations and parent rights
When you ask in writing for an independent educational evaluation, the school finishes it within 60 school days, unless it starts a due process hearing or there are reasonable grounds for more time. You get a copy of the team summary and are told about your right to an independent evaluation; if a hearing or court finds the district’s evaluation was inappropriate, the district reimburses your cost. The State Board gives families and districts a list of suggested evaluators; clinical psychologists on the list cannot be paid more than a school psychologist for the same service. If you disagree with the report, the school cannot change your child’s placement; your child stays in the regular classroom. Schools must use non‑discriminatory tests that reflect language and culture for English learners. At IEP meetings, parents get written notice that assistive technology must be considered, with a toll‑free number and website; teams must also include needed emergency accommodations. Parents and independent evaluators get reasonable access to observe and test the child, with notice, scheduling, safety, and privacy rules.
Grants for digital school crisis maps
The State Board of Education may give grants, subject to funding, so public school entities get digital crisis response maps and share them with first responders. Maps must meet technical standards: work with the school’s security software without extra purchases, be printable, be checked by an on‑site walk‑through, face true north, include current imagery, labels for rooms, hazards and equipment, and a gridded x/y coordinate overlay. Crisis mapping data is kept confidential and is not available under the Freedom of Information Act.
Security and MRSA rules at State schools
The Department may appoint a police and security force. Members are peace officers with arrest powers but can use those powers only in counties with more than 500,000 people to protect Department property or when asked by law enforcement; they cannot serve civil process. Residential schools for the deaf and blind are added to the State’s MRSA prevention and reporting law.
Targeted civil-service exemptions for some jobs
Select State jobs are removed from certain civil‑service rules. Exemptions cover private secretaries and one confidential assistant per agency; heads and chaplains of State institutions and member/inmate workers; some high‑level policy jobs; workers paid under prevailing wage; beauticians and trade instructors; certain licensed professionals (such as some attorneys, engineers, physicians, teachers at the Deaf/Blind schools, and most registered nurses); out‑of‑state positions; and staff attorneys who report to Workers’ Compensation Commissioners. Exemptions cannot conflict with federal rules for agencies that receive federal funds or are fully federally funded.
Who leads and hires at State schools
The Governor appoints, with Senate approval, the Superintendents of the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Blind Visually Impaired; they serve four‑year, full‑time terms. The Deaf School Superintendent must be fluent in American Sign Language and meet degree, license, and experience requirements; the Blind School Superintendent must meet similar credentials. Superintendents hire certified or licensed educational and professional staff, subject to the Personnel Code and union agreements. The Department also centralizes hiring and removal of superintendents and other staff at its institutions, except where the law gives that role to the Governor for these two schools. Staff who meet the law’s criteria at these schools are counted as professional employees.
Restitution rules for damage in institutions
If a resident causes loss or damage, the Department uses set rules to decide if the resident must pay restitution. The rules also consider whether the resident or the resident’s parents can afford to pay.
Background checks for school hires, with privacy
Applicants for jobs at the Illinois School for the Blind Visually Impaired, the Illinois School for the Deaf, and the listed rehabilitation centers must sign a Department of Children and Family Services form that allows a Central Register check for child abuse findings before hiring. The Department keeps the Register results confidential; they are not public under the Freedom of Information Act, are shared only as allowed by law, and only inside the Department as needed to evaluate the application.
Student fees and funds at State schools
Parents of students at the State deaf and blind schools can be asked to pay specific fees, like registration, books, up to two activity fees, driver’s education, graduation, yearbook, and trips; exceptions are available if a parent cannot pay. The Department can charge districts for student transportation and collect activity fees and commissary profits, keeping these receipts in local funds for student and staff support; resident money earns interest for a needy student fund and unclaimed funds after two years may be used for resident comfort. Local accounts cannot hold more than $20,000 each; a Student Compensation Account is capped at $20,000 to pay students for work; a Student Activity Travel Account is capped at $200,000 for travel, meals, and lodging. The Department also runs the Therkelsen/Hansen College Loan Fund with rules on eligibility, awards, interest use, and repayment.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Doris Turner
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Amy Briel
Democratic • House
Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
Democratic • House
Ann M. Williams
Democratic • House
Anna Moeller
Democratic • House
Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer
Republican • House
Diane Blair-Sherlock
Democratic • House
Jason R. Bunting
Republican • House
Javier L. Cervantes
Democratic • Senate
Jil Tracy
Republican • Senate
Katie Stuart
Democratic • House
Kelly M. Cassidy
Democratic • House
Kyle Moore
Republican • House
Lindsey LaPointe
Democratic • House
Maurice A. West, II
Democratic • House
Michelle Mussman
Democratic • House
Nicole La Ha
Republican • House
Nicolle Grasse
Democratic • House
Norine K. Hammond
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/21/2026
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed
Yes: 108 • No: 0
House vote • 5/6/2026
Do Pass / Short Debate Human Services Committee;
Yes: 12 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/26/2026
Third Reading - Passed;
Yes: 47 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/18/2026
Do Pass Education;
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0716
7/31/2026SenateEffective Date January 1, 2027
7/31/2026SenateGovernor Approved
7/31/2026SenateSent to the Governor
6/18/2026SenateAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jason R. Bunting
5/21/2026HousePassed Both Houses
5/21/2026SenateThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 108-000-000
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicole La Ha
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kyle Moore
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Briel
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond
5/21/2026HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer
5/21/2026HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/19/2026HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
5/19/2026HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
5/6/2026HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Human Services Committee; 012-000-000
5/6/2026House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
Introduced
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