Rep. Bos Bill Supporting Students with Developmental Disabilities Signed into Law

LAKE ZURICH - Yesterday, Governor Pritzker signed bipartisan legislation filed by State Representative Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) to support students. House Bill 3359 ensures students with developmental disabilities attending public universities or community colleges will be able to have their personal support workers at their sides during classes.

"I'm honored I was able to serve as the lead sponsor for this bipartisan legislation and see it signed into law by the Governor," said Bos. "When I became aware of the situation involving a constituent in my district, I was frankly shocked. The fact that not one, but two, public community colleges had prevented a student with developmental disabilities from having his support worker with him in class didn't make sense. Yesterday, we made sure this won't happen again in Illinois and ensure all students will have access to the support they may need to be successful in the classroom."

As Bos referenced, a student in the 51st House District had been denied the ability to have his support worker with him in class in pursuit of coursework in photography. To correct this problem, HB 3359 provides that if a student has a support worker, the governing board of the public university or community college district must permit the support worker to attend class with the student but is not responsible for providing or paying for the support worker. It further provides that if the support worker's attendance in class is solely to provide personal support services to the student, the governing board may not charge the support worker tuition and fees for such attendance.

HB 3359 received unanimous support in both the Illinois House and Senate, where the legislation was carried by Illinois Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods), on its way to being signed into law by the Governor. For more information about the legislation, visit RepBos.com.