SCH CD-INTERPRETER-MEETINGS

Amends the School Code. Adds a provision that any parent who is deaf, or does not normally communicate using spoken English, who participates in a meeting with a representative of a local educational agency for the purposes of developing an individualized educational program, or attends a multidisciplinary conference, a 504 mediation session, or a due process hearing (instead of just a meeting with a representative of a local educational agency for the purposes of developing an individualized educational program) shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces references to a 504 mediation session with references to a 504 meeting and a mediation session for when a parent is entitled to the services of an interpreter. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/14-6.01 from Ch. 122, par. 14-6.01 105 ILCS 5/14-8.02a Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: In provisions concerning notification of services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, provides that the notice shall also state that any parent who is deaf or does not typically communicate using spoken English and who participates in a Section 504 meeting with a representative of a local educational agency shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter. Removes the amendatory language that provides that those who attend a 504 meeting, a mediation session, or a due process hearing shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter. Provides that at all stages of an impartial due process hearing or mediation, the hearing officer or mediator shall require that interpreters licensed pursuant to the Interpreter for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2007 be made available by the school district for persons who are deaf or qualified interpreters be made available by the school district for persons whose normally spoken language is other than English (rather than providing that at all stages of an impartial due process hearing, the hearing officer shall require that interpreters be made available by the school district for persons who are deaf or for persons whose normally spoken language is other than English). Effective immediately.