HR0165LRB102 16952 SSS 22369 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, On August 9, 2019, House Bill 1551 of the 101st
3General Assembly was signed into law as Public Act 101-237; it
4requires the Department of Children and Family Services to
5protect a child who is returned to the custody of a parent or
6guardian by: ensuring that the child is up to date on
7well-child visits; completing a home safety checklist; and
8promptly commencing aftercare services; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Public Act 101-237 also requires the Department
10to take specified actions to protect children when a mandated
11reporter makes a report of abuse or neglect under specified
12circumstances and requires the Auditor General to audit the
13Department's performance; and
 
14    WHEREAS, After being in the care of her foster mother
15Iisha Dean, two-year-old Ta'Naja Barnes was returned to the
16custody of her mother; Ta'Naja later died as a result of severe
17neglect by her mother and the mother's boyfriend, who were
18both convicted of murder; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Through the efforts of Iisha Dean and many
20others, the State now has a law designed to better protect a
21child who, after being in a loving foster home or staying with
22a loving family member, is returned to a parent who has had

 

 

HR0165- 2 -LRB102 16952 SSS 22369 r

1difficulties caring for the child; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
3HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4House Bill 1551 of the 101st General Assembly, Public Act
5101-237, is hereby named Ta'Naja's Law; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to Iisha Dean in recognition of her efforts to
8protect the children of our State.