SB3942 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18091 RLC 31530 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3942

Introduced 2/6/2026, by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

705 ILCS 405/5-745
705 ILCS 405/5-750

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that required notification by the court under the Act does not prevent the Department of Juvenile Justice from exercising its release authority under the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, if a youth is released to aftercare supervision prior to the date set by the court for reporting, the Department shall ensure that a report is given to the court that complies with the requirements of the Act. Provides that the Department shall also make reasonable efforts to facilitate the youth's appearance in court, if required. Provides that, if the court sets a court date after a youth's anticipated release from a Department facility, this does not prevent the Department from exercising its release authority under the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that if a youth is released to aftercare supervision prior to the date set by the court for the youth's return, the Department shall make reasonable efforts to facilitate the youth's appearance in court.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning courts.

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

Section 5. The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 is amended by changing Sections 5-745 and 5-750 as follows:

(705 ILCS 405/5-745)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-107)

Sec. 5-745. Court review.

(1) The court may require any legal custodian or guardian of the person appointed under this Act, including the Department of Juvenile Justice for youth committed under Section 5-750 of this Act, to report periodically to the court or may cite the legal custodian or guardian into court and require the legal custodian or guardian, or the legal custodian's or guardian's agency, to make a full and accurate report of the doings of the legal custodian, guardian, or agency on behalf of the minor, including efforts to secure post-release placement of the youth after release from the Department's facilities. The legal custodian or guardian, within 10 days after the citation, shall make the report, either in writing verified by affidavit or orally under oath in open court, or otherwise as the court directs. Upon the hearing of the report, the court may remove the legal custodian or guardian and appoint another in the legal custodian's or guardian's stead or restore the minor to the custody of the minor's parents or former guardian or legal custodian.

(2) If the Department of Children and Family Services is appointed legal custodian or guardian of a minor under Section 5-740 of this Act, the Department of Children and Family Services shall file updated case plans with the court every 6 months. Every agency which has guardianship of a child shall file a supplemental petition for court review, or review by an administrative body appointed or approved by the court and further order within 18 months of the sentencing order and each 18 months thereafter. The petition shall state facts relative to the child's present condition of physical, mental, and emotional health as well as facts relative to the minor's present custodial or foster care. The petition shall be set for hearing and the clerk shall mail 10 days' days notice of the hearing by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person or agency having the physical custody of the child, the minor and other interested parties unless a written waiver of notice is filed with the petition.

If the minor is in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, pursuant to an order entered under this Article, the court shall conduct permanency hearings as set out in subsections (1), (1.5), (1.6), (2), (2.3), (2.4), (2.5), and (3) of Section 2-28 of Article II of this Act.

Rights of wards of the court under this Act are enforceable against any public agency by complaints for relief by mandamus filed in any proceedings brought under this Act.

(3) The minor or any person interested in the minor may apply to the court for a change in custody of the minor and the appointment of a new custodian or guardian of the person or for the restoration of the minor to the custody of the minor's parents or former guardian or custodian. In the event that the minor has attained 18 years of age and the guardian or custodian petitions the court for an order terminating the minor's guardianship or custody, guardianship or legal custody shall terminate automatically 30 days after the receipt of the petition unless the court orders otherwise. No legal custodian or guardian of the person may be removed without the legal custodian's or guardian's consent until given notice and an opportunity to be heard by the court.

(4) If the minor is committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice under Section 5-750 of this Act, the Department shall notify the court in writing of the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) a critical incident involving a youth committed to the Department; as used in this paragraph (a), "critical incident" means any incident that involves a serious risk to the life, health, or well-being of the youth and includes, but is not limited to, an accident or suicide attempt resulting in serious bodily harm or hospitalization, psychiatric hospitalization, alleged or suspected abuse, or escape or attempted escape from custody, filed within 10 days of the occurrence;

(b) a youth who has been released by the Prisoner Review Board but remains in a Department facility solely because the youth does not have an approved aftercare release host site, filed within 10 days of the occurrence;

(c) a youth, except a youth who has been adjudicated a habitual or violent juvenile offender under Section 5-815 or 5-820 of this Act or committed for first degree murder, who has been held in a Department facility for over one consecutive year; or

(d) if a report has been filed under paragraph (c) of this subsection, a supplemental report shall be filed every 6 months thereafter. The notification required by this subsection (4) shall contain a brief description of the incident or situation and a summary of the youth's current physical, mental, and emotional health and the actions the Department took in response to the incident or to identify an aftercare release host site, as applicable. Upon receipt of the notification, the court may require the Department to make a full report under subsection (1) of this Section.

(5) With respect to any report required to be filed with the court under this Section, the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson shall provide a copy to the minor's court appointed guardian ad litem, if the Department has received written notice of the appointment, and to the minor's attorney, if the Department has received written notice of representation from the attorney. If the Department has a record that a guardian has been appointed for the minor and a record of the last known address of the minor's court appointed guardian, the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson shall send a notice to the guardian that the report is available and will be provided by the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson upon request. If the Department has no record regarding the appointment of a guardian for the minor, and the Department's records include the last known addresses of the minor's parents, the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson shall send a notice to the parents that the report is available and will be provided by the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson upon request.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-1061, eff. 2-5-25; 104-66, eff. 1-1-26; revised 11-21-25.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-107)

Sec. 5-745. Court review.

(1) The court may require any legal custodian or guardian of the person appointed under this Act, including the Department of Juvenile Justice for youth committed under Section 5-750 of this Act, to report periodically to the court or may cite the legal custodian or guardian into court and require the legal custodian or guardian, or the legal custodian's or guardian's agency, to make a full and accurate report of the doings of the legal custodian, guardian, or agency on behalf of the minor, including efforts to secure post-release placement of the youth after release from the Department's facilities. The legal custodian or guardian, within 10 days after the citation, shall make the report, either in writing verified by affidavit or orally under oath in open court, or otherwise as the court directs. Upon the hearing of the report, the court may remove the legal custodian or guardian and appoint another in the legal custodian's or guardian's stead or restore the minor to the custody of the minor's parents or former guardian or legal custodian.

(2) If the Department of Children and Family Services is appointed legal custodian or guardian of a minor under Section 5-740 of this Act, the Department of Children and Family Services shall file updated case plans with the court every 6 months. Every agency which has guardianship of a child shall file a supplemental petition for court review, or review by an administrative body appointed or approved by the court and further order within 18 months of the sentencing order and each 18 months thereafter. The petition shall state facts relative to the child's present condition of physical, mental, and emotional health as well as facts relative to the minor's present custodial or foster care. The petition shall be set for hearing and the clerk shall mail 10 days' days notice of the hearing by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person or agency having the physical custody of the child, the minor and other interested parties unless a written waiver of notice is filed with the petition.

If the minor is in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, pursuant to an order entered under this Article, the court shall conduct permanency hearings as set out in subsections (1), (1.5), (1.6), (2), (2.3), (2.4), (2.5), and (3) of Section 2-28 of Article II of this Act and Successful Transition to Adulthood Review hearings as set out in Section 2-28.2 of Article II of this Act.

Rights of wards of the court under this Act are enforceable against any public agency by complaints for relief by mandamus filed in any proceedings brought under this Act.

(3) The minor or any person interested in the minor may apply to the court for a change in custody of the minor and the appointment of a new custodian or guardian of the person or for the restoration of the minor to the custody of the minor's parents or former guardian or custodian. In the event that the minor has attained 18 years of age and the guardian or custodian petitions the court for an order terminating the minor's guardianship or custody, guardianship or legal custody shall terminate automatically 30 days after the receipt of the petition unless the court orders otherwise. No legal custodian or guardian of the person may be removed without the legal custodian's or guardian's consent until given notice and an opportunity to be heard by the court.

(4) If the minor is committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice under Section 5-750 of this Act, the Department shall notify the court in writing of the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) a critical incident involving a youth committed to the Department; as used in this paragraph (a), "critical incident" means any incident that involves a serious risk to the life, health, or well-being of the youth and includes, but is not limited to, an accident or suicide attempt resulting in serious bodily harm or hospitalization, psychiatric hospitalization, alleged or suspected abuse, or escape or attempted escape from custody, filed within 10 days of the occurrence;

(b) a youth who has been released by the Prisoner Review Board but remains in a Department facility solely because the youth does not have an approved aftercare release host site, filed within 10 days of the occurrence;

(c) a youth, except a youth who has been adjudicated a habitual or violent juvenile offender under Section 5-815 or 5-820 of this Act or committed for first degree murder, who has been held in a Department facility for over one consecutive year; or

(d) if a report has been filed under paragraph (c) of this subsection, a supplemental report shall be filed every 6 months thereafter.

The notification required by this subsection (4) shall contain a brief description of the incident or situation and a summary of the youth's current physical, mental, and emotional health and the actions the Department took in response to the incident or to identify an aftercare release host site, as applicable. Upon receipt of the notification, the court may require the Department to make a full report under subsection (1) of this Section. Required notification by the court under this Act does not prevent the Department from exercising its release authority under Section 3-2.5-20 of the Unified Code of Corrections. If a youth is released to aftercare supervision prior to the date set by the court for reporting, the Department shall ensure that a report is given to the court that complies with the requirements of this Act. The Department shall also make reasonable efforts to facilitate the youth's appearance in court, if required.

(5) With respect to any report required to be filed with the court under this Section, the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson shall provide a copy to the minor's court appointed guardian ad litem, if the Department has received written notice of the appointment, and to the minor's attorney, if the Department has received written notice of representation from the attorney. If the Department has a record that a guardian has been appointed for the minor and a record of the last known address of the minor's court appointed guardian, the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson shall send a notice to the guardian that the report is available and will be provided by the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson upon request. If the Department has no record regarding the appointment of a guardian for the minor, and the Department's records include the last known addresses of the minor's parents, the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson shall send a notice to the parents that the report is available and will be provided by the Independent Juvenile Ombudsperson upon request.

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-1061, eff. 2-5-25; 104-66, eff. 1-1-26; 104-107, eff. 7-1-26; revised 11-21-25.)

(705 ILCS 405/5-750)

Sec. 5-750. Commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this Section, when any delinquent has been adjudged a ward of the court under this Act, the court may commit the minor to the Department of Juvenile Justice, if it finds that (a) the minor's parents, guardian or legal custodian are unfit or are unable, for some reason other than financial circumstances alone, to care for, protect, train or discipline the minor, or are unwilling to do so, and the best interests of the minor and the public will not be served by placement under Section 5-740, or it is necessary to ensure the protection of the public from the consequences of criminal activity of the delinquent; and (b) commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice is the least restrictive alternative based on evidence that efforts were made to locate less restrictive alternatives to secure confinement and the reasons why efforts were unsuccessful in locating a less restrictive alternative to secure confinement. Before the court commits a minor to the Department of Juvenile Justice, it shall make a finding that secure confinement is necessary, following a review of the following individualized factors:

(A) Age of the minor.

(B) Criminal background of the minor.

(C) Review of results of any assessments of the minor, including child centered assessments such as the CANS.

(D) Educational background of the minor, indicating whether the minor has ever been assessed for a learning disability, and if so what services were provided as well as any disciplinary incidents at school.

(E) Physical, mental and emotional health of the minor, indicating whether the minor has ever been diagnosed with a health issue and if so what services were provided and whether the minor was compliant with services.

(F) Community based services that have been provided to the minor, and whether the minor was compliant with the services, and the reason the services were unsuccessful.

(G) Services within the Department of Juvenile Justice that will meet the individualized needs of the minor.

(1.5) Before the court commits a minor to the Department of Juvenile Justice, the court must find reasonable efforts have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for the minor to be removed from the home, or reasonable efforts cannot, at this time, for good cause, prevent or eliminate the need for removal, and removal from home is in the best interests of the minor, the minor's family, and the public.

(2) When a minor of the age of at least 13 years is adjudged delinquent for the offense of first degree murder, the court shall declare the minor a ward of the court and order the minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice until the minor's 21st birthday, without the possibility of aftercare release, furlough, or non-emergency authorized absence for a period of 5 years from the date the minor was committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, except that the time that a minor spent in custody for the instant offense before being committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be considered as time credited towards that 5 year period. Upon release from a Department facility, a minor adjudged delinquent for first degree murder shall be placed on aftercare release until the age of 21, unless sooner discharged from aftercare release or custodianship is otherwise terminated in accordance with this Act or as otherwise provided for by law. Nothing in this subsection (2) shall preclude the State's Attorney from seeking to prosecute a minor as an adult as an alternative to proceeding under this Act.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (2), the commitment of a delinquent to the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be for an indeterminate term which shall automatically terminate upon the delinquent attaining the age of 21 years or upon completion of that period for which an adult could be committed for the same act, whichever occurs sooner, unless the delinquent is sooner discharged from aftercare release or custodianship is otherwise terminated in accordance with this Act or as otherwise provided for by law.

(3.5) Every delinquent minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice under this Act shall be eligible for aftercare release without regard to the length of time the minor has been confined or whether the minor has served any minimum term imposed. Aftercare release shall be administered by the Department of Juvenile Justice, under the direction of the Director. If the court sets a court date after a youth's anticipated release from a Department facility, this does not prevent the Department from exercising its release authority under Section 3-2.5-20 of the Unified Code of Corrections. If a youth is released to aftercare supervision prior to the date set by the court for the youth's return, the Department shall make reasonable efforts to facilitate the youth's appearance in court. Unless sooner discharged, the Department of Juvenile Justice shall discharge a minor from aftercare release upon completion of the following aftercare release terms:

(a) One and a half years from the date a minor is released from a Department facility, if the minor was committed for a Class X felony;

(b) One year from the date a minor is released from a Department facility, if the minor was committed for a Class 1 or 2 felony; and

(c) Six months from the date a minor is released from a Department facility, if the minor was committed for a Class 3 felony or lesser offense.

(4) When the court commits a minor to the Department of Juvenile Justice, it shall order the minor conveyed forthwith to the appropriate reception station or other place designated by the Department of Juvenile Justice, and shall appoint the Director of Juvenile Justice legal custodian of the minor. The clerk of the court shall issue to the Director of Juvenile Justice a certified copy of the order, which constitutes proof of the Director's authority. No other process need issue to warrant the keeping of the minor.

(5) If a minor is committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, the clerk of the court shall forward to the Department:

(a) the sentencing order and copies of committing petition;

(b) all reports;

(c) the court's statement of the basis for ordering the disposition;

(d) any sex offender evaluations;

(e) any risk assessment or substance abuse treatment eligibility screening and assessment of the minor by an agent designated by the State to provide assessment services for the courts;

(f) the number of days, if any, which the minor has been in custody and for which the minor is entitled to credit against the sentence, which information shall be provided to the clerk by the sheriff;

(g) any medical or mental health records or summaries of the minor;

(h) the municipality where the arrest of the minor occurred, the commission of the offense occurred, and the minor resided at the time of commission;

(h-5) a report detailing the minor's criminal history in a manner and form prescribed by the Department of Juvenile Justice;

(i) all additional matters which the court directs the clerk to transmit; and

(j) all police reports for sex offenses as defined by the Sex Offender Management Board Act.

(6) Whenever the Department of Juvenile Justice lawfully discharges from its custody and control a minor committed to it, the Director of Juvenile Justice shall petition the court for an order terminating the minor's custodianship. The custodianship shall terminate automatically 30 days after receipt of the petition unless the court orders otherwise.

(7) If, while on aftercare release, a minor committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice who resides in this State is charged under the criminal laws of this State, the criminal laws of any other state, or federal law with an offense that could result in a sentence of imprisonment within the Department of Corrections, the penal system of any state, or the federal Bureau of Prisons, the commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice and all rights and duties created by that commitment are automatically suspended pending final disposition of the criminal charge. If the minor is found guilty of the criminal charge and sentenced to a term of imprisonment in the penitentiary system of the Department of Corrections, the penal system of any state, or the federal Bureau of Prisons, the commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be automatically terminated. If the criminal charge is dismissed, the minor is found not guilty, or the minor completes a criminal sentence other than imprisonment within the Department of Corrections, the penal system of any state, or the federal Bureau of Prisons, the previously imposed commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice and the full aftercare release term shall be automatically reinstated unless custodianship is sooner terminated. Nothing in this subsection (7) shall preclude the court from ordering another sentence under Section 5-710 of this Act or from terminating the Department's custodianship while the commitment to the Department is suspended.

(Source: P.A. 102-350, eff. 8-13-21; 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)

Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.