103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3512
 
Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Adam M. Niemerg
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 





20 ILCS 505/5e
20 ILCS 520/1-30

     Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In provisions concerning the Advocacy Office for Children and Families, requires the Advocacy Office to designate for each foster child an employee with legal knowledge of the foster process to guide foster parents throughout the foster process and keep them informed of their rights and responsibilities. Amends the Foster Parent Law. Creates a private right of action under specified provisions of the Act concerning foster parent rights.
  


LRB103 30191 KTG 56619 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
HB3512LRB103 30191 KTG 56619 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning State government.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended  
5by changing Section 5e as follows:
 



6    (20 ILCS 505/5e)



7    Sec. 5e. Advocacy Office for Children and Families. 
8    (a) The
Department of Children and Family Services shall 
9establish and maintain
an Advocacy Office for Children and 
10Families that shall, in addition to
other duties assigned by 
11the Director, receive and respond to complaints
that may be 
12filed by children, parents, caretakers, and relatives of 
13children
receiving child welfare services from the Department 
14of Children and
Family Services or its agents.  The Department 
15shall promulgate policies
and procedures for filing, 
16processing, investigating, and resolving the
complaints.  The 
17Department shall make a final report to the complainant
of its 
18findings.  If a final report is not completed, the Department 
19shall
report on its disposition every 30 days.
20    (b) If a youth in care, current foster parent or 
21caregiver, or caseworker requests the information, the 
22Advocacy Office shall make available the name, electronic mail 
23address, and telephone number for each youth's court-appointed 
 
 
HB3512- 2 -LRB103 30191 KTG 56619 b

1guardian ad litem and, if applicable, the guardian ad litem's 
2supervisor.  
3    (c) The Advocacy Office shall include
a statewide 
4toll-free telephone number and an electronic mail address that 
5may be used to file complaints,
 to obtain information about 
6the delivery of child welfare services by the
Department or 
7its agents, and to obtain the contact information for the 
8guardian ad litem.  This telephone number and electronic mail 
9address shall be included in all
appropriate notices and 
10handbooks regarding services available through
the Department.

11    (d) The Department shall provide a flyer to all youth 
12entering care describing the responsibilities of the Advocacy 
13Office listed in this Section, the toll-free telephone number 
14and electronic mailing address for the Advocacy Office, and a 
15description of the role of a guardian ad litem. The Department 
16shall also provide this flyer to youth at every administrative 
17case review. 
18    (e) The Advocacy Office shall designate for each foster 
19child an employee with legal knowledge of the foster process 
20to guide foster parents throughout the foster process and keep 
21them informed of their rights and responsibilities. 
22(Source: P.A. 102-208, eff. 7-30-21.)

 
23    Section 10. The Foster Parent Law is amended  by changing 
24Section 1-30 as follows:
 



 
 
HB3512- 3 -LRB103 30191 KTG 56619 b

1    (20 ILCS 520/1-30)



2    Sec. 1-30. No private right of action or claim. Nothing in 
3this Law shall
be construed to create a private right of action 
4or claim on the part of any
individual or child welfare agency, 
5except for paragraphs (6), (7.5), (10), and (11) of Section 
61-15 of this Act.

7(Source: P.A. 89-19, eff. 6-3-95.)