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SB 3224

ILLINOIS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

104th Regular Session Introduced by Diane Blair-Sherlock and 18 co-sponsors

Renames the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired to the Illinois School for the Blind and updates governance, funding, and regulatory provisions across multiple statutes.

Sent to the Governor
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Bill Summary · SB 3224

Summary of SB3224 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Purpose and intent

  • Rename the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired to the Illinois School for the Blind.
  • Implement conforming changes across multiple statutes and codes to reflect the new name and related administrative adjustments.
  • The bill touches the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act, the School Code, School Safety Drill Act, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, MRSA (METH?) Prevention, Control, and Reporting Act, and related Personnel Code provisions.

Key provisions and changes

  • Renaming and conforming edits

    • Change all references from “Illinois School for the Visually Impaired” to “Illinois School for the Blind.”
    • Make conforming changes in:
    • Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act
    • Personnel Code
    • School Code
    • School Safety Drill Act
    • Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act
    • MRSA Prevention, Control, and Reporting Act

  • Personnel Code (Section 4d) – partial exemptions

    • Maintains and adjusts exemptions from civil service jurisdiction for various state positions.
    • Notable emphasis on ensuring continuity of federal contributions and alignment with federally funded programs.
    • Addresses exemptions for private secretaries, confidential assistants, chaplains, and certain licensed professionals and special categories (e.g., attorneys, engineers, physicians, nurses, and educators) under specific conditions.
    • Includes exploration of exemptions for positions outside Illinois, staff attorneys for the Workers’ Compensation Commission, etc.
    • Purpose: preserve operational flexibility while balancing merit system requirements and federal-funding constraints.

  • Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act (Sections 10, 10a, 13, 17)

    • Administers residential schools for children with visual and hearing disabilities; still under the Department of Human Services.
    • The Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Blind Visually Impaired have defined superintendents and governance structures, with appointment by the Governor and Senate consent.
    • Reaffirms education-focused responsibilities, staffing prerequisites (certifications/licenses), and day-to-day school operations.
    • Admissions: allows day or residential enrollment based on resources; annual enrollment deadlines; emergency enrollments possible if resources permit.
    • Financial participation: authorizes the Department to set rules for fees related to activities, books, athletics, graduation, yearbooks, transportation, etc., with exceptions for hardship. Funds collected are to be held locally for specified purposes.
    • Broad powers: governing, budgeting, student placement, and coordination with other state education agencies; includes authority to accept gifts, manage trust funds, and regulate resident funds and student activities.

  • Section 10a – Financial participation at the two schools

    • Allows the schools to request financial participation from parents/guardians for selected activities and services (registration, books/supplies, athletics, driver’s education, graduation, yearbook, trips, etc.).
    • Establishes local funds for these purposes and provides for exceptions for families unable to meet obligations.
    • Funds may be used only for the specified programs and kept separate at each school.

  • Section 13 – Department powers and fiduciary/administrative authorities

    • Grants the Department broad authority to appoint and remove superintendents, supervise staff, manage funds, cooperate with other agencies, and handle various financial and programmatic duties for residents.
    • Enables handling of resident trusts, donations, and prohibitions on misallocation.
    • Includes provisions on police/security, student activity funds, and crisis-related funding mechanisms.

  • Section 17 – Child Abuse and Neglect Reports

    • Requires applicants for certain school-related positions to authorize background checks through DCFS Central Register to identify indicated child abuse/neglect histories.
    • Ensures confidentiality and limits distribution to necessary parties within the DCFS framework.

  • School Code – Section 14-8.02 (eligibility and placement for special education)

    • Retains detailed procedures for eligibility determination, case studies, multidisciplinary staff conferences, parent rights (including independent educational evaluations and due process), and timelines for IEP development.
    • Emphasizes language access, bilingual considerations, and appropriate bilingual education standards for English learners.
    • Requires annual reporting on non-English-speaking students receiving special education services.
    • Requires consideration of assistive technology in IEPs, and strict timelines for evaluations, IEP development, and placement decisions.
    • Reinforces notices to parents in their native language and provides guidance on notices, interpreter services, and parental access to schools during evaluations or meetings.

  • School Safety Drill Act – Section 50 (Crisis response mapping data grants)

    • Allows eligible entities (schools and related public education entities, including the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Blind Visually Impaired) to apply for grants to obtain crisis response mapping data.
    • Data must be compatible with existing security software, allow for printing, be verifiable via on-site walkthroughs, oriented to true north, overlaid on aerial imagery, labeled to match building structures, and include gridded coordinates.
    • Grants cover the costs of obtaining and updating crisis maps; data remains confidential.

  • Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act – Section 2 (Definitions)

    • Updates definitions to reflect the renamed Illinois School for the Blind Visually Impaired (and related entities) in the context of educational employers, employees, labor organizations, exclusive representatives, and related terms.
    • Clarifies professional, managerial, confidential, and other classifications as they pertain to school districts and state agencies providing educational services.

  • MRSA Prevention, Control, and Reporting Act – Section 5

    • Updates the definition of a “State residential facility” to encompass relevant state-operated residential facilities (including the Illinois School for the Blind Visually Impaired).

Affected entities and individuals

  • State agencies and departments involved in education, rehabilitation, human services, juvenile justice, and labor relations (e.g., Department of Human Services, Department of Juvenile Justice, State Board of Education, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board).
  • The Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Blind Visually Impaired (renamed under the bill) and the associated governance structures (superintendents, staff, and students).
  • Public school districts, charter schools, and other educational entities that may utilize crisis mapping data grants or participate in financial participation programs.
  • Parents/guardians of students attending the two specialized schools and other eligible students receiving services, particularly with respect to IEP processes, bilingual education, and assistive technology considerations.
  • Employees in various state departments and education-related employers subject to exemptions and labor relations provisions.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Appointments of school superintendents require Governor nomination with Senate consent, with specific term expectations.
  • Admissions policies for the two schools include annual enrollment deadlines and emergency admission provisions based on resources.
  • IEP timelines emphasize evaluation periods, parental rights to independent evaluations, and required bilingual and assistive-technology considerations; annual reporting on non-English-speaking students is mandated.
  • Crisis mapping data grants are contingent on appropriations; annual updates to data may be funded and reviewed.
  • Child abuse/neglect background checks become a condition of employment for certain positions, with confidentiality protections.

Overall, SB3224 primarily formalizes the renaming of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired to the Illinois School for the Blind, updates related administrative and governance provisions, and introduces related funding, transparency, and regulatory requirements across several state laws to support continued operation and integration with broader educational and rehabilitation systems.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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