103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3813

 

Introduced 2/20/2024, by Sen. Doris Turner

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
325 ILCS 5/7.5a new

    Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provide that if a caseworker of the Department of Children and Family Services, including an intact family specialist or placement specialist, believes that a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult of a child has made a credible threat of violence against the caseworker during a prior home visit, the caseworker may (i) request that local law enforcement officers accompany the caseworker on any subsequent home visits for that child or (ii) request that the Department reassign the child's case to another caseworker. Requires law enforcement officers to, upon request, make all reasonable efforts to assist the caseworker in receiving law enforcement assistance from any other police jurisdiction that is outside the accompanying officers' primary jurisdiction.


LRB103 39575 KTG 69830 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3813LRB103 39575 KTG 69830 b

1    AN ACT concerning children.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act is
5amended by adding Section 7.5a as follows:
 
6    (325 ILCS 5/7.5a new)
7    Sec. 7.5a. Caseworker protections. If a caseworker of the
8Department, including an intact family specialist or placement
9specialist, believes that a parent, guardian, or other
10responsible adult of a child has made a credible threat of
11violence against the caseworker during a prior home visit, the
12caseworker may (i) request that local law enforcement officers
13accompany the caseworker on any subsequent home visits for
14that child or (ii) request that the Department reassign the
15child's case to another caseworker. Law enforcement officers
16shall, upon request, make all reasonable efforts to assist the
17caseworker in receiving law enforcement assistance from any
18other police jurisdiction that is outside the accompanying
19officers' primary jurisdiction. As used in this Section,
20"credible threat of violence" means a statement or course of
21conduct that causes a reasonable person to fear for the
22person's safety or for the safety of others.