Section 500.22  Fee Waivers

a)         Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice:

1)         Search Fee Waivers.  The $10 search fee shall not be required for a birth record search from a person:

A)        Upon release on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge, or pardon from the Illinois Department of Corrections if the person presents a prescribed verification form completed by the Illinois Department of Corrections verifying the person's date of birth and social security number; or

B)        Placed on aftercare release under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, upon release on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge, or pardon from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice if the person presents a prescribed verification form completed by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice verifying the person's date of birth and social security number (Section 25(1) of the Act).

2)         Applicants are entitled to only one search fee waiver.

3)         If, upon search, the record requested is found, the State Registrar shall furnish the applicant one certification of such record, under the seal of such office (Section 25(1) of the Act).

4)         Certified Copy Requests. An additional fee for a certified copy of the record shall not be required from a person:

A)        Upon release on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge, or pardon from the Illinois Department of Corrections if the person presents a prescribed verification form completed by the Illinois Department of Corrections verifying the released person's date of birth and social security number; or

B)        Placed on aftercare release under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, upon release on parole, mandatory supervised release, final discharge, or pardon from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice if the person presents a prescribed verification form completed by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice verifying the person's date of birth and social security number; however, the person is entitled to only one certified copy fee waiver (Section 25(1) of the Act).

5)         The verification form may be used in lieu of an application. 

6)         An applicant shall present valid state government-issued identification.

b)         Homeless Fee Waiver:

1)         Applicable fees for a search for a birth record or a certified copy of a birth record shall be waived for all requests made by a homeless person whose status is verified (Section 25.3(b) of the Act).

2)         An individual's status as a homeless person shall be verified by a human services agency, legal services agency, or other similar agency that has knowledge of the individual's housing status, including, but not limited to:

A)        A homeless service agency receiving federal, state county, or municipal funding to provide those services or otherwise sanctioned by a local continuum of care;

B)        An attorney licensed to practice in the State;

C)        A public school homeless liaison or school social worker; or

D)        A human services provider funded by the State to serve homeless or runaway youth, individuals with mental illness, or individuals with addictions.

3)         A homeless person shall be provided no more than 4 birth records annually (Section 25.3(a) of the Act).

c)         Youth in Care Fee Waiver:

1)         The applicable fees for a search for a birth record or a certified copy of a birth record shall be waived for all requests made by:

A)        A youth in care, as defined by Section 4(d) of the Children and Family Services Act, whose status is verified.

B)        A person under the age of 27 who was a youth in care, as defined in Section 4d of the Children and Family Services Act, on or after his or her 18^th birthday and whose status is verified (Section 25.4(b) of the Act).

2)         An individual's youth status shall be verified by:

A)        A copy of the court order placing the youth in the guardianship or custody of the Department of Children and Family Services or terminating the Department of Children and Family Services' guardianship or custody of the youth; or

B)        by a human services agency, legal services agency or other similar agency that has knowledge of the individual's youth in care status, including, but not limited to:

i)          A child welfare agency, including the Department of Children and Family Services; or

ii)         The attorney or guardian ad litem who served as the youth in care's attorney or guardian ad litem during proceedings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (Section 25.4(a) of the Act.

3)         An applicant under this Section shall be provided no more than 4 birth records annually (Section 25.3(a) of the Act).

(Source:  Added at 46 Ill. Reg. 20036, effective November 30, 2022)