Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch
Filed: 4/15/2016
 
 

 

 

 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4996




2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 4996, AS AMENDED, by 
3replacing everything after the enacting clause with the 
4following:


 
 
5    "Section 5. The School Code is amended  by adding Sections 
610-20.58 and 34-18.50 as follows:
 
7    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.58 new)
8    Sec. 10-20.58. DCFS liaison.
9    (a) Each school board may appoint at least one employee to 
10act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of 
11records of students in the legal custody of the Department of 
12Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing 
13schools.  The school board may appoint any employee of the 
14school district who is licensed under Article 21B of this Code 
15to act as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of the 
16following criteria must be prioritized for appointment:
 
 
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1        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student 
2    populations or students in foster care.
3        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record 
4    transfers, existing community services, and student 
5    support services.
6        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
7        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience 
8    with student counseling.
9        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare 
10    policies.
11        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
12    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build 
13capacity and infrastructure within their school district to 
14support students in the legal custody of the Department of 
15Children and Family Services.  Liaison responsibilities may 
16include the following:
17        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students 
18    in foster care;
19        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring 
20    mechanisms;
21        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the 
22    Department of Children and Family Services receive all 
23    school nutrition and meal programs available;
24        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school, 
25    record transfers, and credit recovery;
26        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and 
 
 
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1    State laws and policies in place that support children 
2    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and 
3    Family Services;
4        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
5        (7) providing foster care-related information and 
6    training to the school district;
7        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family 
8    Services to help students maintain their school placement, 
9    if appropriate;
10        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that 
11    students are on track to graduate;
12        (10) encouraging a successful transition into 
13    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
14        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular 
15    activities; and
16        (12) knowing what support is available within the 
17    school district and community for students in the legal 
18    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
19    (c) A school district is encouraged to designate a liaison 
20by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
21    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code 
22acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties 
23of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations. 
 
24    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.50 new)
25    Sec. 34-18.50. DCFS liaison.
 
 
09900HB4996ham002- 4 -LRB099 18316 MLM 47685 a

1    (a) The board may appoint at least one employee to act as a 
2liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of 
3students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and 
4Family Services when enrolling in or changing schools.  The 
5board may appoint any employee of the school district who is 
6licensed under Article 21B of this Code to act as a liaison; 
7however, employees who meet any of the following criteria must 
8be prioritized for appointment:
9        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student 
10    populations or students in foster care.
11        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record 
12    transfers, existing community services, and student 
13    support services.
14        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
15        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience 
16    with student counseling.
17        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare 
18    policies.
19        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
20    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build 
21capacity and infrastructure within the school district to 
22support students in the legal custody of the Department of 
23Children and Family Services.  Liaison responsibilities may 
24include the following:
25        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students 
26    in foster care;
 
 
09900HB4996ham002- 5 -LRB099 18316 MLM 47685 a

1        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring 
2    mechanisms;
3        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the 
4    Department of Children and Family Services receive all 
5    school nutrition and meal programs available;
6        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school, 
7    record transfers, and credit recovery;
8        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and 
9    State laws and policies in place that support children 
10    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and 
11    Family Services;
12        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
13        (7) providing foster care-related information and 
14    training to the school district;
15        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family 
16    Services to help students maintain their school placement, 
17    if appropriate;
18        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that 
19    students are on track to graduate;
20        (10) encouraging a successful transition into 
21    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
22        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular 
23    activities; and
24        (12) knowing what support is available within the 
25    school district and community for students in the legal 
26    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
 
 
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1    (c) The school district is encouraged to designate a 
2liaison by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
3    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code 
4acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties 
5of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations. 
 
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
7becoming law.".