summary
Introduced
02/07/2025
02/07/2025
In Committee
05/07/2025
05/07/2025
Crossed Over
04/08/2025
04/08/2025
Passed
08/15/2025
08/15/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
08/15/2025
08/15/2025
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, a school district shall provide informational materials about the Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program (rather than the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program) annually to the parent or guardian of a student who has a section 504 Plan under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, using the same distribution methods employed for other communications related to the student's section 504 Plan. Removes language providing that a school may transmit the informational material to a parent or guardian in the same manner as other documents and information related to an Individualized Education Program meeting are provided to the parent or guardian. Amends the Department of Early Childhood Act and the Early Intervention Services System Act. In provisions requiring individualized family service plans for children receiving early intervention services, provides that during the initial development of an individual family service plan and at each review meeting of the service plan, the regional intake offices shall provide the parent or guardian with informational materials about the Illinois (ABLE) account program. Requires the informational materials to include an overview of the Illinois ABLE account program, eligibility criteria, and other necessary enrollment information. Requires the Office of the State Treasurer to prepare and deliver the informational materials about the Illinois ABLE account for distribution to regional intake offices which shall subsequently disseminate the informational materials to parents and guardians in the same manner as they transmit other documents to families. Makes technical changes to the State Treasurer Act to change the name of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program to the Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program.
AI Summary
This bill updates provisions related to the Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program, which is a financial tool designed to help individuals with disabilities save money without losing eligibility for certain public benefits. The bill makes several key changes: it requires school districts beginning with the 2026-2027 school year to provide informational materials about the Illinois ABLE account program to parents or guardians of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 plans, and requires these materials to be posted on school district websites. Similarly, for early intervention services, the bill mandates that regional intake offices provide information about the ABLE account program during initial and review meetings of Individual Family Service Plans, ensuring that families of infants and toddlers with disabilities are informed about this financial resource. The bill also makes technical changes to standardize references to the program, changing "Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program" to "Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program" across various state statutes. The overall goal is to increase awareness and accessibility of the ABLE account program for families of individuals with disabilities, helping them plan for long-term financial needs while maintaining access to essential support services.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (6)
Paul Faraci (D)*,
Suzanne Ness (D)*,
Javier Cervantes (D),
Julie Morrison (D),
Mike Porfirio (D),
Sue Scherer (D),
Last Action
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0314 (on 08/15/2025)
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