96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB1404


 
Introduced 2/11/2009, by Sen. Kwame Raoul
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













20 ILCS 1305/1-35 new











    Amends the Department of Human Services Act.  Provides that the Department shall cooperate with the Department of Corrections, community-based organizations, and social service providers to make information available to children of incarcerated parents. Provides that the Department of Human Services must make information for families and children of incarcerated parents available on its website and through its existing toll-free telephone numbers.  Provides that the Department of Corrections shall provide inmates with a sealed envelope containing information about programs for families and children of incarcerated parents so that the inmate may send the materials to the guardian of his or her children.  Provides that postage shall be paid by the inmate, but the Department of Corrections shall pay the postage if the inmate is indigent.  Effective immediately.
















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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











SB1404

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    AN ACT concerning State government.

 
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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 Department of Human Services Act is amended  
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by adding Section 1-35 as follows:
 
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    (20 ILCS 1305/1-35  new)
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    Sec. 1-35. Families of incarcerated parents.  The 
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Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of 
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Corrections shall work cooperatively with community 
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organizations and service providers to identify local 
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providers of services and to develop informational materials 
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for families and children of incarcerated parents.
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    The Department of Human Services shall develop 
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informational materials for families and children of 
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incarcerated parents.  The materials shall be designed to inform 
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children and families of incarcerated parents about the social 
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services that are available to them, including visitation 
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programs, family counseling, mentoring, school-based programs, 
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and other programs identified by community organizations that 
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work with families of prisoners.  The materials shall be 
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designed to reduce stigma and to provide support for children 
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of incarcerated parents.  The materials shall (i) provide 
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telephone and Internet contacts for the children's caregivers 
 


 






SB1404
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with further information and (ii) assist the children's 
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caregivers in locating and accessing services for the children.  
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The Department shall make this information available through 
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its website and through its existing toll-free telephone 
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numbers. 
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    The Department of Corrections shall provide the materials 
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to inmates during orientation. The Department of Corrections 
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shall provide one sealed envelope containing the public 
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information to the inmate so that the inmate may address it to 
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the inmate's children's caregiver. The Department of 
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Corrections shall mail that envelope to the address provided by 
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the inmate.  The cost of postage will be charged to the inmate's 
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trust account.  If the inmate is indigent, the Department of 
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Corrections shall pay the postage fees for mailing the 
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informational material to the inmate's children's caregiver.  
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The informational materials shall also be made available within 
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the Department of Corrections' facility visiting rooms and 
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waiting areas. 
 

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