96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5459


 
Introduced 2/5/2010, by Rep. Elizabeth Coulson
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		





 








325 ILCS 2/35










     Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Provides that the information packet given to a relinquishing parent in accordance with the Act shall not exceed 5 pages and shall include, in addition to other required information, a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the Safe Haven Law; a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the Illinois Adoption Registry; and a one-page brochure describing health information for the mother and how she can get medical care if she needs it. Requires the information packet to be designed in coordination between the Office of Vital Records and the Department of Children and Family Services. Requires the Office of Vital Records to continue to maintain and distribute the information packet, and to hold on file all foundling records of relinquished newborns.  Effective immediately.
  















LRB096 18646 KTG 34029 b

















FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 




  






HB5459

LRB096 18646 KTG 34029 b





  
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    AN ACT concerning children.
  
 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
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    Section 5. The Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act is 
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amended  by changing Section 35 as follows:
 
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    (325 ILCS 2/35)


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    Sec. 35. Information for relinquishing person.  
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    (a) A hospital, police
station, fire station,
or emergency

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medical facility that receives a newborn infant relinquished in 
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accordance with
this
Act must offer an information packet to 
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the relinquishing person and, if
possible, must clearly inform 
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the relinquishing person that his or her
acceptance of the

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information is completely voluntary, that registration with 
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the Illinois
Adoption Registry and Medical Information 
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Exchange is voluntary, that the
person will remain anonymous if 
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he or she completes a Denial of Information
Exchange, and that 
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the person has the option to provide medical information
only 
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and still remain anonymous.  The
information packet must include 
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all of
the following:


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        (1) All Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical 
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    Information Exchange
application forms, including the 
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    Medical Information
Exchange Questionnaire and
the web 
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    site address and toll-free phone number of the Registry.


 


 






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        (2) Written notice of the following:


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            (A) No sooner than 60 days following the date of 
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        the
initial relinquishment of the infant to a hospital, 
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        police station,
fire station, or emergency medical 
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        facility, the child-placing agency or the
Department 
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        will
commence proceedings for the termination of

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        parental rights and placement of the infant for

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        adoption.


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            (B) Failure of a parent of the
infant to contact 
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        the Department and
petition for the return of custody 
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        of the
infant before termination of parental rights

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        bars any future action asserting legal rights
with 
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        respect to the infant.


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        (3) A resource list of providers of counseling
services 
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    including grief counseling, pregnancy counseling, and

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    counseling regarding adoption and other available options 
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    for placement of the
infant.


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    Upon request, the Department of Public Health shall provide 
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the
application forms for the Illinois Adoption Registry and 
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Medical Information
Exchange to hospitals, police stations, 
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fire stations, and emergency
medical facilities.


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    (b) The information packet given to a relinquishing parent 
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in accordance with this Act shall not exceed 5 pages and shall 
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include, in addition to other information required under this 
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Act, the following:
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        (1) A one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes 
 


 






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    this Act.
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        (2) A one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes 
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    the Illinois Adoption Registry.
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        (3) A one-page brochure describing health information 
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    for the mother and how she can get medical care if she 
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    needs it.
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    The information packet shall be designed in coordination 
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between the Office of Vital Records and the Department of 
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Children and Family Services. The Office of Vital Records shall 
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continue to maintain and distribute the information packet.
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    (c) "Foundling records" shall be maintained through the 
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Office of Vital Records for all newborns relinquished under the 
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Act. 
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(Source: P.A. 92-408, eff. 8-17-01; 92-432, eff. 8-17-01; 
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93-820, eff. 7-27-04.)

  
 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
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becoming law.