Bill Status of HB 2816   99th General Assembly


Short Description:  DCFS-ABANDONED NEWBORNS

House Sponsors
Rep. Patricia R. Bellock

Last Action  View All Actions

DateChamber Action
  1/10/2017HouseSession Sine Die

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
325 ILCS 2/20
325 ILCS 2/35
325 ILCS 2/50
325 ILCS 2/60

Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Provides that if a parent relinquishes a newborn infant to a hospital, the hospital shall file a foundling record to constitute the birth certificate for the relinquished newborn infant; and that to protect the parent's anonymity, the foundling record shall not contain any identifying information about the relinquishing parent. Provides that if the parent of a newborn infant or any other person returns to reclaim the infant after relinquishing the infant to a fire station, emergency medical facility, or police station, the fire station, emergency medical facility, or police station must inform the parent or person that he or she must contact the Department of Children and Family Services' State-wide, toll-free telephone number for information on the relinquished infant. Shortens the length of time the Department of Children and Family Services or a child-placing agency must initiate certain proceedings, including proceedings to terminate the parental rights of the relinquished newborn infant's known or unknown parents, to no sooner than 30 days (rather than no sooner than 60 days). Provides that no court order terminating the parental rights of the relinquished newborn infant's known or unknown parents shall be entered sooner than 60 days after the date of the initial relinquishment of the infant to the hospital, police station, fire station, or emergency medical facility. Makes other changes.

House Committee Amendment No. 1
Adds reference to:
325 ILCS 2/10
325 ILCS 2/21 new
325 ILCS 2/65

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Provides that a hospital shall be deemed to have temporary protective custody of a relinquished newborn infant, "including infants not born in a hospital birth that have been brought to a hospital after relinquishment at a fire station, police station, or emergency medical facility", until the infant is discharged to the custody of a child-placing agency or the Department of Children and Family Services (rather than a hospital shall be deemed to have temporary protective custody of a relinquished newborn infant until the infant is discharged to the custody of a child-placing agency or the Department of Children and Family Services). Requires the hospital to file a foundling record pursuant to the Vital Records Act during this time of temporary protective custody. Provides that "hospital birth" means (i) any birth that occurs after a mother has entered a hospital or emergency medical facility during active labor or any later phase of labor or (ii) any planned caesarean section occurring in a hospital or emergency medical facility. In the definition of "relinquish", provides that "relinquish" shall not mean any attempt by the mother to leave the hospital after having a hospital birth including the mother's act of leaving that newborn infant at the hospital (i) without expressing an intent to return for the infant or (ii) stating that she will not return for the infant; and that in the case of a hospital birth, the procedures for a hospital birth shall be followed. Adds police stations to the list of entities that must (a) accept and provide all necessary emergency services and care to a relinquished newborn infant; (b) treat and provide care for the infant; and (c) arrange for the transportation of the infant to the nearest hospital as soon as transportation can be arranged. Provides that if a parent of a newborn infant or any other person returns to reclaim the infant after relinquishing the infant to a hospital, fire station, police station, or emergency medical facility, the hospital, fire station, police station, or emergency medical facility must provide the parent or person with the toll-free telephone number established by the Department for the sole purpose of receiving calls on relinquished infants and for providing the parent or person relinquishing the infant with the name of the hospital or licensed child placing agency to which the infant has been taken. Requires the Department to adopt rules necessary to create the toll-free telephone number within 120 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the hospital, fire station, police station, or emergency medical facility to also provide the parent or person contact information for the licensed child placing agency and the hospital which has custody of the infant, if known. Contains a provision on procedures for a hospital birth. Makes changes to provisions concerning information for the relinquishing person; court orders terminating the parental rights of the relinquished newborn infant's known or unknown parents; placement alternatives for newborn infants; and information collected by the Department regarding the relinquishment of newborn infants and placement of children. Defines terms.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/20/2015HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Patricia R. Bellock
  2/20/2015HouseFirst Reading
  2/20/2015HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  3/2/2015HouseAssigned to Adoption Reform
  3/23/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz
  3/23/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
  3/24/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Adoption Reform
  3/26/2015HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Adoption Reform; by Voice Vote
  3/26/2015HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Adoption Reform; 005-000-000
  3/26/2015HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
  4/22/2015HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
  4/22/2015HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
  4/24/2015HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
  1/10/2017HouseSession Sine Die

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