Public Act 099-0781
 
HB4996 EnrolledLRB099 18316 NHT 42690 b


  
    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  



 
 
    Section 5. The School Code is amended  by adding Sections 
10-20.58 and 34-18.50 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.58 new)
    Sec. 10-20.58. DCFS liaison.
    (a) Each school board may appoint at least one employee to 
act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of 
records of students in the legal custody of the Department of 
Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing 
schools.  The school board may appoint any employee of the 
school district who is licensed under Article 21B of this Code 
to act as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of the 
following criteria must be prioritized for appointment:
        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student 
    populations or students in foster care.
        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record 
    transfers, existing community services, and student 
    support services.
        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience 
    with student counseling.
        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare 
    policies.
        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build 
capacity and infrastructure within their school district to 
support students in the legal custody of the Department of 
Children and Family Services.  Liaison responsibilities may 
include the following:
        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students 
    in foster care;
        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring 
    mechanisms;
        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the 
    Department of Children and Family Services receive all 
    school nutrition and meal programs available;
        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school, 
    record transfers, and credit recovery;
        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and 
    State laws and policies in place that support children 
    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and 
    Family Services;
        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
        (7) providing foster care-related information and 
    training to the school district;
        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family 
    Services to help students maintain their school placement, 
    if appropriate;
        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that 
    students are on track to graduate;
        (10) encouraging a successful transition into 
    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular 
    activities; and
        (12) knowing what support is available within the 
    school district and community for students in the legal 
    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
    (c) A school district is encouraged to designate a liaison 
by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code 
acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties 
of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations. 
 
    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.50 new)
    Sec. 34-18.50. DCFS liaison.
    (a) The board may appoint at least one employee to act as a 
liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of 
students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and 
Family Services when enrolling in or changing schools.  The 
board may appoint any employee of the school district who is 
licensed under Article 21B of this Code to act as a liaison; 
however, employees who meet any of the following criteria must 
be prioritized for appointment:
        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student 
    populations or students in foster care.
        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record 
    transfers, existing community services, and student 
    support services.
        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience 
    with student counseling.
        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare 
    policies.
        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build 
capacity and infrastructure within the school district to 
support students in the legal custody of the Department of 
Children and Family Services.  Liaison responsibilities may 
include the following:
        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students 
    in foster care;
        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring 
    mechanisms;
        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the 
    Department of Children and Family Services receive all 
    school nutrition and meal programs available;
        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school, 
    record transfers, and credit recovery;
        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and 
    State laws and policies in place that support children 
    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and 
    Family Services;
        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
        (7) providing foster care-related information and 
    training to the school district;
        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family 
    Services to help students maintain their school placement, 
    if appropriate;
        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that 
    students are on track to graduate;
        (10) encouraging a successful transition into 
    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular 
    activities; and
        (12) knowing what support is available within the 
    school district and community for students in the legal 
    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
    (c) The school district is encouraged to designate a 
liaison by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code 
acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties 
of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations. 
 
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.