SB1651 would amend Illinois law to expressly include Prader-Willi syndrome within the definition of “developmental disability” in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. It also amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act to treat Prader-Willi syndrome as a qualifying condition for “severe and multiple impairments,” which is one of the categories used to determine eligibility for certain home- and community-based services.
The bill further provides that people diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome would not have to undergo cognitive-functioning or IQ testing when those tests are used to decide whether they qualify as having severe and multiple impairments for developmental-disability services. In addition, it directs that references to “developmental disability” in rules, contracts, and other documents, and in statutory references to “development disability,” be construed to include Prader-Willi syndrome unless the context indicates otherwise.
Impact
The bill would change the statutory definitions in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code and the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act, and it would also create a broad interpretive rule in the Statute on Statutes so that Prader-Willi syndrome is read into many existing references to developmental disability across Illinois law and related documents. Practically, this could expand access to developmental-disability-related services and eligibility determinations for individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome, especially for home- and community-based services.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill as introduced, with no committee transcript, recorded votes, or later action provided. Based on the bill’s caption and structure, the measure appears to be a targeted disability-services expansion intended to recognize Prader-Willi syndrome within existing service frameworks. There is no documented opposition or support in the provided materials, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from debate or voting history.
Contention
The main policy issue embedded in the bill is whether Prader-Willi syndrome should be treated as a developmental disability for all relevant legal and service purposes, including eligibility for state-funded developmental-disability services. A second point of potential contention is the exemption from IQ or cognitive testing, which may be viewed as reducing barriers to services by supporters but as altering established eligibility standards by critics. No specific stakeholders or objections are identified in the provided record.
Enacts the "Prader-Willi syndrome residential stabilization and best-practice support act" in relation to providing services to individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome.
Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of a property other than a residence homestead that is the primary residence of an adult who has an intellectual or developmental disability and who must be related to the owner or trustee of the property within a certain degree by consanguinity.
Authorizes certified school psychologists to participate in the certification of certain persons as intellectually disabled or developmentally disabled; makes technical corrections to language.