HB5699 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 17702 AJO 33066 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5699

Introduced 2/9/2010, by Rep. Shane Cultra

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

225 ILCS 10/2.08	from Ch. 23, par. 2212.08
750 ILCS 50/4.1	from Ch. 40, par. 1506

Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Includes religious institutions in the definition of "child welfare agency". Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or other religious institution that is an agency providing adoption services as defined in the Child Care Act of 1969 and that is licensed as a child welfare agency as defined in the Child Care Act of 1969 may adopt faith-based policies and practices relating to the placement of children for adoption that provide for the placement of a child with a prospective adoptive parent who holds the same religious beliefs as those held by that religious institution while maintaining the welfare of the child as the primary consideration in the placement.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning civil law.

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

Section 5. The Child Care Act of 1969 is amended by changing Section 2.08 as follows:

(225 ILCS 10/2.08) (from Ch. 23, par. 2212.08)

Sec. 2.08. "Child welfare agency" means a public or private child care facility, receiving any child or children for the purpose of placing or arranging for the placement or free care of the child or children in foster family homes, unlicensed pre-adoptive and adoptive homes, or other facilities for child care, apart from the custody of the child's or children's parents. The term "child welfare agency" includes all agencies established and maintained by a municipality or other political subdivision of the State of Illinois to protect, guard, train or care for children outside their own homes and all agencies, persons, groups of persons, associations, organizations, corporations, institutions, religious institutions, centers, or groups providing adoption services, but does not include any circuit court or duly appointed juvenile probation officer or youth counselor of the court who receives and places children under an order of the court.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)

Section 10. The Adoption Act is amended by changing Section 4.1 as follows:

(750 ILCS 50/4.1) (from Ch. 40, par. 1506)

Sec. 4.1. Except for children placed with relatives by the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 7 of the Children and Family Services Act, placements under this Act shall comply with the Child Care Act of 1969 and the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Placements of children born outside the United States or a territory thereof shall comply with rules promulgated by the United States Department of Immigration and Naturalization.

Rules promulgated by the Department of Children and Family Services shall include but not be limited to the following:

(a) Any agency providing adoption services as defined in Section 2.24 of the Child Care Act of 1969 in this State:

(i) Shall be licensed in this State as a child welfare agency as defined in Section 2.08 of the Child Care Act of 1969; or

(ii) Shall be licensed as a child placement agency in a state which is a party to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and shall be approved by the Department to place children into Illinois in accordance with subsection (a-5) of this Section; or

(iii) Shall be licensed as a child placement agency in a country other than the United States or, if located in such a country but not so licensed, shall provide information such as a license or court document which authorizes that agency to place children for adoption and to establish that such agency has legal authority to place children for adoption; or

(iv) Shall be a child placement agency which is so licensed in a non-compact state and shall be approved by the Department to place children into Illinois in accordance with subsection (a-5) of this Section, if such agency first files with the Department of Children and Family Services a bond with surety in the amount of $5,000 for each such child to ensure that such child shall not become a public charge upon this State. Such bond shall remain in effect until a judgment for adoption is entered with respect to such child pursuant to this Act. The Department of Children and Family Services may accept, in lieu of such bond, a written agreement with such agency which provides that such agency shall be liable for all costs associated with the placement of such child in the event a judgment of adoption is not entered, upon such terms and conditions as the Department deems appropriate.

(a-3) Notwithstanding other provisions of this Act, a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or other religious institution that is an agency providing adoption services as defined in Section 2.24 of the Child Care Act of 1969 and that is licensed as a child welfare agency as defined in Section 2.08 of the Child Care Act of 1969 may adopt faith-based policies and practices relating to the placement of children for adoption which provide for the placement of a child with a prospective adoptive parent who holds the same religious beliefs as those held by that religious institution, while maintaining the welfare of the child as the primary consideration in the placement.

The rules shall also provide that any agency that places children for adoption in this State may not, in any policy or practice relating to the placement of children for adoption, discriminate against any child or prospective adoptive parent on the basis of race.

(a-5) Out-of-state private placing agencies that seek to place children into Illinois for the purpose of foster care or adoption shall provide all of the following to the Department:

(i) A copy of the agency's current license or other form of authorization from the approving authority in the agency's state. If no such license or authorization is issued, the agency must provide a reference statement from the approving authority stating the agency is authorized to place children in foster care or adoption or both in its jurisdiction.

(ii) A description of the program, including home studies, placements, and supervisions that the child placing agency conducts within its geographical area, and, if applicable, adoptive placements and the finalization of adoptions. The child placing agency must accept continued responsibility for placement planning and replacement if the placement fails.

(iii) Notification to the Department of any significant child placing agency changes after approval.

(iv) Any other information the Department may require.

If the adoption is finalized prior to bringing or sending the child to Illinois, Department approval of the out-of-state child placing agency involved is not required under this Section, nor is compliance with the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

(b) As an alternative to requiring the bond provided for in paragraph (a)(iv) of this Section, the Department of Children and Family Services may require the filing of such a bond by the individual or individuals seeking to adopt such a child through placement of such child by a child placement agency located in a state which is not a party to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

(c) In the case of any foreign-born child brought to the United States for adoption in this State, the following preadoption requirements shall be met:

(1) Documentation that the child is legally free for adoption prior to entry into the United States shall be submitted.

(2) A medical report on the child, by authorized medical personnel in the country of the child's origin, shall be provided when such personnel are available.

(3) Verification that the adoptive family has been licensed as a foster family home pursuant to the Child Care Act of 1969, as now or hereafter amended, shall be provided.

(4) A valid home study conducted by a licensed child welfare agency that complies with guidelines established by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service at 8 CFR 204.4(d)(2)(i), as now or hereafter amended, shall be submitted. A home study is considered valid if it contains:

(i) A factual evaluation of the financial, physical, mental and moral capabilities of the prospective parent or parents to rear and educate the child properly.

(ii) A detailed description of the living accommodations where the prospective parent or parents currently reside.

(iii) A detailed description of the living accommodations in the United States where the child will reside, if known.

(iv) A statement or attachment recommending the proposed adoption signed by an official of the child welfare agency which has conducted the home study.

(5) The placing agency located in a non-compact state or a family desiring to adopt through an authorized placement party in a non-compact state or a foreign country shall file with the Department of Children and Family Services a bond with surety in the amount of $5,000 as protection that a foreign-born child accepted for care or supervision not become a public charge upon the State of Illinois.

(6) In lieu of the $5,000 bond, the placement agency may sign a binding agreement with the Department of Children and Family Services to assume full liability for all placements should, for any reason, the adoption be disrupted or not be completed, including financial and planning responsibility until the child is either returned to the country of its origin or placed with a new adoptive family in the United States and that adoption is finalized.

(7) Compliance with the requirements of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, when applicable, shall be demonstrated.

(8) When a child is adopted in a foreign country and a final, complete and valid Order of Adoption is issued in that country, as determined by both the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Justice, this State shall not impose any additional preadoption requirements. The adoptive family, however, must comply with applicable requirements of the United States Department of Immigration and Naturalization as provided in 8 CFR 204.4 (d)(2)(ii), as now or hereafter amended.

(d) The Department of Children and Family Services shall maintain the office of Intercountry Adoption Coordinator, shall maintain and protect the rights of families and children participating in adoption of foreign born children, and shall develop ongoing programs of support and services to such families and children. The Intercountry Adoption Coordinator shall determine that all preadoption requirements have been met and report such information to the Department of Immigration and Naturalization.

(Source: P.A. 94-586, eff. 8-15-05.)