HB4242 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16754 KTG 30162 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4242

Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Regan Deering

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

325 ILCS 5/7.12

from Ch. 23, par. 2057.12

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. In a provision requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to provide specified persons with written notification of its final determination of an abuse or neglect report, requires such written notification to the alleged perpetrator to include a detailed list of all steps of the appeal process and a detailed checklist of what must be submitted for an appeal. Requires the Department to also send to the alleged perpetrator, parents, and personal or legal guardian of the alleged child victim, either electronically or by regular U.S. mail, a copy of all information in the case obtained by the Department during its investigation that is not otherwise prohibited from disclosure under State or federal law.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning children.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act is amended by changing Section 7.12 as follows:

(325 ILCS 5/7.12) (from Ch. 23, par. 2057.12)

Sec. 7.12. The Child Protective Service Unit shall determine, within 60 days, whether the report is "indicated" or "unfounded" and report it forthwith to the central register; where it is not possible to initiate or complete an investigation within 60 days the report may be deemed "undetermined" provided every effort has been made to undertake a complete investigation. The Department may extend the period in which such determinations must be made in individual cases for additional periods of up to 30 days each for good cause shown. The Department shall by rule establish what shall constitute good cause.

In those cases in which the Child Protective Service Unit has made a final determination that a report is "indicated" or "unfounded", the Department shall provide written notification of the final determination to the subjects of the report and to the alleged perpetrator, parents, personal guardian or legal guardian of the alleged child victim, and other persons required to receive notice by regular U.S. mail. The written notification to the alleged perpetrator shall include a detailed list of all steps of the appeal process and a detailed checklist of what must be submitted for an appeal. Concurrent with the written notification, the Department shall also send to the alleged perpetrator, parents, and personal or legal guardian of the alleged child victim, either electronically or by regular U.S. mail, a copy of all information in the case obtained by the Department during its investigation that is not otherwise prohibited from disclosure under State or federal law. Subject to appropriation, written notification of the final determination shall be sent to a perpetrator indicated for child abuse or child neglect, or both, by both regular and certified mail.

(Source: P.A. 96-385, eff. 1-1-10.)