SR0990 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0990 LRB102 27261 LAW 39021 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Every child deserves a safe and stable place to call home; and

WHEREAS, Many children across the state experience abuse or neglect from their homes; and

WHEREAS, The protection of children from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, exploitation, and neglect is at the core of the duties and fundamental responsibilities of the State; and

WHEREAS, Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) and Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASAs) are essential to providing formal, comprehensive, integrated, and multifaceted approaches to cases of child abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, It is important that each CAC and CASA receive the funding they need to properly respond to cases of child abuse and neglect; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Task Force on Children Advocacy Centers and Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children Funding is created to ensure that each CAC and CASA facility receives adequate funding to respond to the number and severity of child abuse and neglect cases in their respective jurisdictions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be comprised of the following 14 members, who shall serve without compensation:

(1) One member of the Illinois Senate appointed by the Senate President;

(2) One member of the Illinois Senate appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(3) The Illinois Attorney General or his or her designee;

(4) The Executive Director of the Illinois Office of Management and Budget or his or her designee;

(5) The Director of the Department of Children and Family Services or his or her designee;

(6) The Executive Director of The Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois or his or her designee;

(7) The Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates or his or her designee;

(8) The Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority or his or her designee;

(9) The Executive Director of an urban, accredited Children's Advocacy Center, appointed by the Senate President;

(10) The Executive Director of a suburban, accredited Children's Advocacy Center, appointed by the Senate President;

(11) The Executive Director of a rural, accredited Children's Advocacy Center, appointed by the Senate President;

(12) The Executive Director of an urban county Court Appointed Special Advocates Center, appointed by the Senate President;

(13) The Executive Director of a suburban county Court Appointed Special Advocates Center, appointed by the Senate President; and

(14) The Executive Director of a rural county Court Appointed Special Advocates Center, appointed by Illinois Senate President; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Senate President shall designate a chair and vice-chair from among the Task Force members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Children and Family Services shall provide administrative support for the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet over the course of 2022 at the discretion of the chair and shall submit a final report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2022, which shall include a fair funding formula for CACs and CASAs throughout the state; and be it further

RESOLVED, That upon the filing of its final report, the Task Force is dissolved; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Senate President, the Senate Minority Leader, the Executive Director of the Illinois Office of Management and Budget, the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services, and the Illinois Attorney General.