102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3277

 

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Terra Costa Howard

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
705 ILCS 405/2-17.1

    Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Requires (rather than gives discretion to the court) to appoint a special advocate upon the filing of a petition to declare a minor an abused, neglected, or dependent minor and to adjudge the minor a ward of the court. Establishes qualifications of a court appointed special advocate. Provides that a court appointed special advocate shall: (1) conduct an independent assessment to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the case by monitoring compliance with the court order; (2) maintain regular and sufficient in-person contact with the minor; (3) submit written reports to the court regarding the minor's best interests; (4) advocate for timely court hearings to obtain permanency for the minor; (5) be notified of all administrative case reviews pertaining to the minor as defined by and work with the parties' attorneys, the guardian ad litem, and others assigned to the minor's case to protect the minor's health, safety and best interests and insure the proper delivery of child welfare services; (6) attend all court hearings and other proceedings to advocate for the minor's best interests; (7) monitor compliance with the case plan and all court orders; and (8) review all court related documents. Provides that upon presentation of an order of appointment, a court appointed special advocate shall have access to all records and information relevant to the minor's case. Provides that all records and information acquired, reviewed, or produced by a court appointed special advocate during the course of his or her appointment shall be deemed confidential and shall not be disclosed except as ordered by the court.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB3277LRB102 03958 RLC 13974 b

1    AN ACT concerning courts.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 is amended by
5changing Section 2-17.1 as follows:
 
6    (705 ILCS 405/2-17.1)
7    Sec. 2-17.1. Court appointed special advocate.
8    (1) The court shall may appoint a special advocate upon
9the filing of a petition under this Article or at any time
10during the pendency of a proceeding under this Article. Except
11in counties with a population over 3,000,000 or within the
12counties that do not have a court appointed special advocate
13program established, the court appointed special advocate may
14also serve as guardian ad litem by appointment of the court
15under Section 2-17 of this Act.
16    (l.1) In this Section, "court appointed special advocate"
17means a community volunteer who:
18        (A) is of the age of the majority;
19        (B) shall receive training with State and nationally
20    developed standards;
21        (C) has been screened and trained regarding child
22    abuse and neglect, child development, and juvenile court
23    proceedings according to the standards of the National

 

 

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1    Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association;
2        (D) is being actively supervised by a court appointed
3    special advocate program in good standing with the
4    Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates;
5    and
6        (E) has been sworn in by a judge of the circuit court
7    of the county in which he or she wishes to serve;
8        Court appointed special advocate programs shall
9promote policies, practices, and procedures that are
10culturally competent. In this Section, "cultural competency"
11means the capacity to function in more than one culture,
12requiring the ability to appreciate, understand, and interact
13with members of diverse populations within the local
14community.
15    (2) The court appointed special advocate shall:
16        (A) conduct an independent assessment to determine the
17    facts and circumstances surrounding the case by monitoring
18    compliance with the court order;
19        (B) maintain regular and sufficient in-person contact
20    with the minor;
21        (C) submit written reports to the court regarding the
22    minor's best interests;
23        (D) advocate for timely court hearings to obtain
24    permanency for the minor;
25        (E) be notified of all administrative case reviews
26    pertaining to the minor as defined by and work with the

 

 

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1    parties' attorneys, the guardian ad litem, and others
2    assigned to the minor's case to protect the minor's
3    health, safety and best interests and insure the proper
4    delivery of child welfare services;
5        (F) attend all court hearings and other proceedings to
6    advocate for the minor's best interests;
7        (G) monitor compliance with the case plan and all
8    court orders; and
9        (H) review all court related documents.
10        act as a monitor and shall be notified of all
11    administrative case reviews pertaining to the minor and
12    work with the parties' attorneys, the guardian ad litem,
13    and others assigned to the minor's case to protect the
14    minor's health, safety and best interests and insure the
15    proper delivery of child welfare services.
16    (2.1) The court shall may consider, at its discretion,
17testimony of the court appointed special advocate pertaining
18to the well-being of the minor child.
19    (2.2) Upon presentation of an order of appointment, a
20court appointed special advocate shall have access to all
21records and information relevant to the minor's case.
22    (2.3) All records and information acquired, reviewed, or
23produced by a court appointed special advocate during the
24course of his or her appointment shall be deemed confidential
25and shall not be disclosed except as ordered by the court.
26    (3) Court appointed special advocates shall serve as

 

 

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1volunteers without compensation and shall receive training
2consistent with nationally developed standards.
3    (4) No person convicted of a criminal offense as specified
4in Section 4.2 of the Child Care Act of 1969 and no person
5identified as a perpetrator of an act of child abuse or neglect
6as reflected in the Department of Children and Family Services
7State Central Register shall serve as a court appointed
8special advocate.
9    (5) All costs associated with the appointment and duties
10of the court appointed special advocate shall be paid by the
11court appointed special advocate or an organization of court
12appointed special advocates. In no event shall the court
13appointed special advocate be liable for any costs of services
14provided to the minor child.
15    (6) The court may remove the court appointed special
16advocate or the guardian ad litem from a case upon finding that
17the court appointed special advocate or the guardian ad litem
18has acted in a manner contrary to the minor's child's best
19interest or if the court otherwise deems continued service is
20unwanted or unnecessary.
21    (7) In any county in which a program of court appointed
22special advocates is in operation, the provisions of this
23Section shall apply unless the county board of that county, by
24resolution, determines that the county shall not be governed
25by this Section.
26    (8) Any court appointed special advocate acting in good

 

 

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1faith within the scope of his or her appointment shall have
2immunity from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise
3might result by reason of his or her actions, except in cases
4of willful and wanton misconduct. For the purpose of any civil
5or criminal proceedings, the good faith of any court appointed
6special advocate shall be presumed.
7(Source: P.A. 90-28, eff. 1-1-98; 90-608, eff. 6-30-98;
891-357, eff. 7-29-99.)