House Sponsors: HOWARD-DAVIS,MONIQUE-FLOWERS-CROTTY-STROGER, SHARP AND HARRIS. Senate Sponsors: HENDON Short description: DCFS-DISCRIMINATORY PLACEMENTS Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Applies the Department's review and appeal process, including a hearing, to certain relatives of children receiving child welfare services. Requires consideration of a child's needs, if any, relating to his or her cultural, ethnic, or racial background when the child is placed outside the home and requires the Department to develop a plan for identifying those children and their placement needs. Makes the statewide foster parent phone number available to any person wishing to report problems concerning a child's welfare services. Effective immediately. BALANCED BUDGET NOTE (Bureau of the Budget) Since HB 4336 is not a supplemental appropriation bill, the Balanced Budget Note Act is inapplicable. STATE DEBT NOTE (Economic and Fiscal Commission) HB 4336 would not change the amount of authorization for any type of State-issued or State-supported bond, and, therefore, would not affect the level of State indebtedness. JUDICIAL NOTE (Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts) The bill would not increase the number of judges needed in the State. FISCAL NOTE (Dept. of Children and Family Services) In addition to extra staff to hear appeals, the cost of this legislation is anticipated to involve substantial penalties under the federal Multi Ethnic Placement Act, totaling $6,476,000 in the first year it is effective, $9,714,000 the second year, and $16,190,000 per year in the third and each subsequent year. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 505/5 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 505/5d new Removes the bill's application of the Department's review and appeal process to certain relatives. Requires the Department to create an advocacy office to receive and resolve complaints about a child's services. Provides that when a child must be placed outside his or her home and cannot be returned immediately to parents or guardian, an assessment of the child's special needs must be conducted and race, color, or national origin may be considered in the placement only if that has been assessed as advancing the child's best interests. FISCAL NOTE, H-AM 1 (Dept. of Children and Family Services) The expansion of the foster parent toll-free telephone num- ber to any person would have minimal, if any, impact, as that telephone number is available to all persons now and calls alleging employee or contract provider misconduct, misfeasance, or malfeasance are already accepted. STATE DEBT NOTE, H-AM 1 (Economic and Fiscal Commission) This legislation would not affect the bonding authorization of the State, and, therefore, has no direct impact on the level of State indebtedness. BALANCED BUDGET NOTE, H-AM 1 (Bureau of the Budget) Same as previous Balanced Budget Note. JUDICIAL NOTE, H-AM 1 (Administrative Office of Ill. Courts) The bill would neither decrease nor increase the number of judges needed in the State. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 01-01-09 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 1 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status