HB4570 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16809 KTG 30218 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4570

Introduced 1/30/2026, by Rep. Suzanne M. Ness

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 505/35.7

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Removes all references and provisions requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to develop Error Reduction Implementation Plans. Instead requires the Department to develop Strengthening Best Practices Plans, as necessary, informed by principles of safety science, for the purpose of reducing child fatalities and serious harm. Provides that these plans shall (i) be guided by patterns, findings, and recommendations, as identified in the DCFS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) death or serious injury investigations and Child Death Review Teams recommendations; and (ii) address the systemic and organizational conditions that contribute to child fatalities and serious harm. Requires the Inspector General to submit proposed Strengthening Best Practices Plans to the Department's Director for review. Requires the plans to include compliance provisions, which specify methods for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating recommendations. Requires the OIG, in collaboration with the Department, to implement training and reform protocols through incubating change in each region, Department office, or Child Welfare Contributing Agency, as required. Requires the OIG to develop and submit new Strengthening Best Practices Plans, as necessary, and to work with staff designated by the Department to deliver training curriculum in order to implement each Strengthening Best Practices Plan. Provides that the OIG shall include a review of the implementation and evaluation of the plans from the previous fiscal year, as necessary, in the OIG Annual Report provided to the General Assembly and Governor.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended by changing Section 35.7 as follows:

(20 ILCS 505/35.7)

Sec. 35.7. Strengthening Best Practices Error Reduction Implementations Plans; Inspector General.

(a) The Inspector General of the Department of Children and Family Services shall develop Strengthening Best Practices Error Reduction Implementation Plans, as necessary, informed by principles of safety science, for the purpose of reducing child fatalities and serious harm. These plans shall be guided by patterns, findings, and recommendations, to remedy patterns of errors or problematic practices that compromise or threaten the safety of children as identified in the DCFS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) death or serious injury investigations and Child Death Review Teams recommendations. The Strengthening Best Practices Plans shall address the systemic and organizational conditions that contribute to child fatalities and serious harm. The Error Reduction Implementation Plans shall include both training and on-site components. The Inspector General shall submit proposed Strengthening Best Practices Error Reduction Implementation Plans to the Director for review. The Director may approve the plans submitted, or approve plans amended by the Office of the Inspector General, taking into consideration policies and procedures that govern the function and performance of any affected frontline staff. The Director shall document the basis for disapproval of any submitted or amended plan. The Strengthening Best Practices Plans shall include compliance provisions, which specify methods for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating recommendations. The Department shall deploy Error Reduction Safety Teams to implement the Error Reduction Implementation Plans. The Error Reduction Safety Teams shall be composed of Quality Assurance and Division of Training staff to implement hands-on training and Error Reduction Implementation Plans. The teams shall work in the offices of the Department or of agencies, or both, as required by the Error Reduction Implementation Plans, and shall work to ensure that systems are in place to continue reform efforts after the departure of the teams. The Director shall develop a method to ensure consistent compliance with any Error Reduction Implementation Plans, the provisions of which shall be incorporated into the plan.

(b) (Blank). Quality Assurance shall prepare public reports annually detailing the following: the substance of any Error Reduction Implementation Plan approved; any deviations from the Error Reduction Plan; whether adequate staff was available to perform functions necessary to the Error Reduction Implementation Plan, including identification and reporting of any staff needs; other problems noted or barriers to implementing the Error Reduction Implementation Plan; and recommendations for additional training, amendments to rules and procedures, or other systemic reform identified by the teams. Quality Assurance shall work with affected frontline staff to implement provisions of the approved Error Reduction Implementation Plans related to staff function and performance.

(c) The OIG, in collaboration with the Department, Error Reduction Teams shall implement training and reform protocols through incubating change in each region, Department office, or Child Welfare Contributing Agency purchase of service office, as required. The teams shall administer hands-on assistance, supervision, and management while ensuring that the office, region, or agency develops the skills and systems necessary to incorporate changes on a permanent basis. For each Error Reduction Implementation Plan, the Team shall determine whether adequate staff is available to fulfill the Error Reduction Implementation Plan, provide case-by-case supervision to ensure that the plan is implemented, and ensure that management puts systems in place to enable the reforms to continue. Error Reduction Teams shall work with affected frontline staff to ensure that provisions of the approved Error Reduction Implementation Plans relating to staff functions and performance are achieved to effect necessary reforms.

(d) The OIG shall develop and submit new Strengthening Best Practices Error Reduction Implementation Plans as necessary. To implement each Strengthening Best Practices Error Reduction Implementation Plan, as approved by the Director, the OIG shall work with staff Quality Assurance members of the Error Reduction Teams designated by the Department to deliver the training curriculum. The teams shall be comprised of staff from Quality Assurance and Training. Training shall work with the OIG and with the child death review teams to develop a curriculum to address errors identified that compromise the safety of children. Following the training roll-out, the Teams shall work on-site in identified offices. The Teams shall review and supervise all work relevant to the Error Reduction Implementation Plan. Quality Assurance shall identify outcome measures and track compliance with the training curriculum. Each quarter, Quality Assurance shall prepare a report detailing compliance with the Error Reduction Implementation Plan and alert the Director to staffing needs or other needs to accomplish the goals of the Error Reduction Implementation Plan. The report shall be transmitted to the Director, the OIG, and all management staff involved in the Error Reduction Implementation Plan.

(e) The OIG shall include a review of the implementation and evaluation of the Strengthening Best Practices Plans from the previous fiscal year, as necessary, in the OIG Annual Report provided to the General Assembly and Governor in accordance with subsection (h) of Section 35.5. The Director shall review quarterly Quality Assurance reports and determine adherence to the Error Reduction Implementation Plan using criteria and standards developed by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)