Sen. Mattie Hunter

Filed: 3/13/2009

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 807

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 807 by replacing
3 everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4     "Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended
5 by changing Sections 5, 5a, and 9.9 as follows:
 
6     (20 ILCS 505/5)  (from Ch. 23, par. 5005)
7     Sec. 5. Direct child welfare services; Department of
8 Children and Family Services. To provide direct child welfare
9 services when not available through other public or private
10 child care or program facilities.
11     (a) For purposes of this Section:
12         (1) "Children" means persons found within the State who
13     are under the age of 18 years. The term also includes
14     persons under age 19 who:
15             (A) were committed to the Department pursuant to
16         the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of

 

 

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1         1987, as amended, prior to the age of 18 and who
2         continue under the jurisdiction of the court; or
3             (B) were accepted for care, service and training by
4         the Department prior to the age of 18 and whose best
5         interest in the discretion of the Department would be
6         served by continuing that care, service and training
7         because of severe emotional disturbances, physical
8         disability, social adjustment or any combination
9         thereof, or because of the need to complete an
10         educational or vocational training program.
11         (2) "Homeless youth" means persons found within the
12     State who are under the age of 19, are not in a safe and
13     stable living situation and cannot be reunited with their
14     families.
15         (3) "Child welfare services" means public social
16     services which are directed toward the accomplishment of
17     the following purposes:
18             (A) protecting and promoting the health, safety
19         and welfare of children, including homeless, dependent
20         or neglected children;
21             (B) remedying, or assisting in the solution of
22         problems which may result in, the neglect, abuse,
23         exploitation or delinquency of children;
24             (C) preventing the unnecessary separation of
25         children from their families by identifying family
26         problems, assisting families in resolving their

 

 

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1         problems, and preventing the breakup of the family
2         where the prevention of child removal is desirable and
3         possible when the child can be cared for at home
4         without endangering the child's health and safety;
5             (D) restoring to their families children who have
6         been removed, by the provision of services to the child
7         and the families when the child can be cared for at
8         home without endangering the child's health and
9         safety;
10             (E) placing children in suitable adoptive homes,
11         in cases where restoration to the biological family is
12         not safe, possible or appropriate;
13             (F) assuring safe and adequate care of children
14         away from their homes, in cases where the child cannot
15         be returned home or cannot be placed for adoption. At
16         the time of placement, the Department shall consider
17         concurrent planning, as described in subsection (l-1)
18         of this Section so that permanency may occur at the
19         earliest opportunity. Consideration should be given so
20         that if reunification fails or is delayed, the
21         placement made is the best available placement to
22         provide permanency for the child;
23             (G) (blank);
24             (H) (blank); and
25             (I) placing and maintaining children in facilities
26         that provide separate living quarters for children

 

 

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1         under the age of 18 and for children 18 years of age
2         and older, unless a child 18 years of age is in the
3         last year of high school education or vocational
4         training, in an approved individual or group treatment
5         program, in a licensed shelter facility, or secure
6         child care facility. The Department is not required to
7         place or maintain children:
8                 (i) who are in a foster home, or
9                 (ii) who are persons with a developmental
10             disability, as defined in the Mental Health and
11             Developmental Disabilities Code, or
12                 (iii) who are female children who are
13             pregnant, pregnant and parenting or parenting, or
14                 (iv) who are siblings, in facilities that
15             provide separate living quarters for children 18
16             years of age and older and for children under 18
17             years of age.
18     (b) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to authorize
19 the expenditure of public funds for the purpose of performing
20 abortions.
21     (c) The Department shall establish and maintain
22 tax-supported child welfare services and extend and seek to
23 improve voluntary services throughout the State, to the end
24 that services and care shall be available on an equal basis
25 throughout the State to children requiring such services.
26     (d) The Director may authorize advance disbursements for

 

 

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1 any new program initiative to any agency contracting with the
2 Department. As a prerequisite for an advance disbursement, the
3 contractor must post a surety bond in the amount of the advance
4 disbursement and have a purchase of service contract approved
5 by the Department. The Department may pay up to 2 months
6 operational expenses in advance. The amount of the advance
7 disbursement shall be prorated over the life of the contract or
8 the remaining months of the fiscal year, whichever is less, and
9 the installment amount shall then be deducted from future
10 bills. Advance disbursement authorizations for new initiatives
11 shall not be made to any agency after that agency has operated
12 during 2 consecutive fiscal years. The requirements of this
13 Section concerning advance disbursements shall not apply with
14 respect to the following: payments to local public agencies for
15 child day care services as authorized by Section 5a of this
16 Act; and youth service programs receiving grant funds under
17 Section 17a-4.
18     (e) (Blank).
19     (f) (Blank).
20     (g) The Department shall establish rules and regulations
21 concerning its operation of programs designed to meet the goals
22 of child safety and protection, family preservation, family
23 reunification, and adoption, including but not limited to:
24         (1) adoption;
25         (2) foster care;
26         (3) family counseling;

 

 

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1         (4) protective services;
2         (5) (blank);
3         (6) homemaker service;
4         (7) return of runaway children;
5         (8) (blank);
6         (9) placement under Section 5-7 of the Juvenile Court
7     Act or Section 2-27, 3-28, 4-25 or 5-740 of the Juvenile
8     Court Act of 1987 in accordance with the federal Adoption
9     Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980; and
10         (10) interstate services.
11     Rules and regulations established by the Department shall
12 include provisions for training Department staff and the staff
13 of Department grantees, through contracts with other agencies
14 or resources, in alcohol and drug abuse screening techniques
15 approved by the Department of Human Services, as a successor to
16 the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, for the
17 purpose of identifying children and adults who should be
18 referred to an alcohol and drug abuse treatment program for
19 professional evaluation.
20     (h) If the Department finds that there is no appropriate
21 program or facility within or available to the Department for a
22 ward and that no licensed private facility has an adequate and
23 appropriate program or none agrees to accept the ward, the
24 Department shall create an appropriate individualized,
25 program-oriented plan for such ward. The plan may be developed
26 within the Department or through purchase of services by the

 

 

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1 Department to the extent that it is within its statutory
2 authority to do.
3     (i) Service programs shall be available throughout the
4 State and shall include but not be limited to the following
5 services:
6         (1) case management;
7         (2) homemakers;
8         (3) counseling;
9         (4) parent education;
10         (5) day care; and
11         (6) emergency assistance and advocacy.
12     In addition, the following services may be made available
13 to assess and meet the needs of children and families:
14         (1) comprehensive family-based services;
15         (2) assessments;
16         (3) respite care; and
17         (4) in-home health services.
18     The Department shall provide transportation for any of the
19 services it makes available to children or families or for
20 which it refers children or families.
21     (j) The Department may provide categories of financial
22 assistance and education assistance grants, and shall
23 establish rules and regulations concerning the assistance and
24 grants, to persons who adopt physically or mentally
25 handicapped, older and other hard-to-place children who (i)
26 immediately prior to their adoption were legal wards of the

 

 

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1 Department or (ii) were determined eligible for financial
2 assistance with respect to a prior adoption and who become
3 available for adoption because the prior adoption has been
4 dissolved and the parental rights of the adoptive parents have
5 been terminated or because the child's adoptive parents have
6 died. The Department may continue to provide financial
7 assistance and education assistance grants for a child who was
8 determined eligible for financial assistance under this
9 subsection (j) in the interim period beginning when the child's
10 adoptive parents died and ending with the finalization of the
11 new adoption of the child by another adoptive parent or
12 parents. The Department may also provide categories of
13 financial assistance and education assistance grants, and
14 shall establish rules and regulations for the assistance and
15 grants, to persons appointed guardian of the person under
16 Section 5-7 of the Juvenile Court Act or Section 2-27, 3-28,
17 4-25 or 5-740 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for children
18 who were wards of the Department for 12 months immediately
19 prior to the appointment of the guardian.
20     The amount of assistance may vary, depending upon the needs
21 of the child and the adoptive parents, as set forth in the
22 annual assistance agreement. Special purpose grants are
23 allowed where the child requires special service but such costs
24 may not exceed the amounts which similar services would cost
25 the Department if it were to provide or secure them as guardian
26 of the child.

 

 

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1     Any financial assistance provided under this subsection is
2 inalienable by assignment, sale, execution, attachment,
3 garnishment, or any other remedy for recovery or collection of
4 a judgment or debt.
5     (j-5) The Department shall not deny or delay the placement
6 of a child for adoption if an approved family is available
7 either outside of the Department region handling the case, or
8 outside of the State of Illinois.
9     (k) The Department shall accept for care and training any
10 child who has been adjudicated neglected or abused, or
11 dependent committed to it pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act or
12 the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
13     (l) Before July 1, 2000, the Department may provide, and
14 beginning July 1, 2000, the Department shall offer family
15 preservation services, as defined in Section 8.2 of the Abused
16 and Neglected Child Reporting Act, to help families, including
17 adoptive and extended families. Family preservation services
18 shall be offered (i) to prevent the placement of children in
19 substitute care when the children can be cared for at home or
20 in the custody of the person responsible for the children's
21 welfare, (ii) to reunite children with their families, or (iii)
22 to maintain an adoptive placement. Family preservation
23 services shall only be offered when doing so will not endanger
24 the children's health or safety. With respect to children who
25 are in substitute care pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of
26 1987, family preservation services shall not be offered if a

 

 

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1 goal other than those of subdivisions (A), (B), or (B-1) of
2 subsection (2) of Section 2-28 of that Act has been set.
3 Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to create a
4 private right of action or claim on the part of any individual
5 or child welfare agency.
6     The Department shall notify the child and his family of the
7 Department's responsibility to offer and provide family
8 preservation services as identified in the service plan. The
9 child and his family shall be eligible for services as soon as
10 the report is determined to be "indicated". The Department may
11 offer services to any child or family with respect to whom a
12 report of suspected child abuse or neglect has been filed,
13 prior to concluding its investigation under Section 7.12 of the
14 Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. However, the child's
15 or family's willingness to accept services shall not be
16 considered in the investigation. The Department may also
17 provide services to any child or family who is the subject of
18 any report of suspected child abuse or neglect or may refer
19 such child or family to services available from other agencies
20 in the community, even if the report is determined to be
21 unfounded, if the conditions in the child's or family's home
22 are reasonably likely to subject the child or family to future
23 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. Acceptance of such
24 services shall be voluntary. The Department may also provide
25 services to any child or family after completion of a family
26 assessment, as an alternative to an investigation, as provided

 

 

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1 in Section 5a of this Act.
2     The Department may, at its discretion except for those
3 children also adjudicated neglected or dependent, accept for
4 care and training any child who has been adjudicated addicted,
5 as a truant minor in need of supervision or as a minor
6 requiring authoritative intervention, under the Juvenile Court
7 Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, but no such child shall
8 be committed to the Department by any court without the
9 approval of the Department. A minor charged with a criminal
10 offense under the Criminal Code of 1961 or adjudicated
11 delinquent shall not be placed in the custody of or committed
12 to the Department by any court, except a minor less than 15
13 years of age committed to the Department under Section 5-710 of
14 the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or a minor for whom an
15 independent basis of abuse, neglect, or dependency exists,
16 which must be defined by departmental rule. An independent
17 basis exists when the allegations or adjudication of abuse,
18 neglect, or dependency do not arise from the same facts,
19 incident, or circumstances which give rise to a charge or
20 adjudication of delinquency.
21     (l-1) The legislature recognizes that the best interests of
22 the child require that the child be placed in the most
23 permanent living arrangement as soon as is practically
24 possible. To achieve this goal, the legislature directs the
25 Department of Children and Family Services to conduct
26 concurrent planning so that permanency may occur at the

 

 

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1 earliest opportunity. Permanent living arrangements may
2 include prevention of placement of a child outside the home of
3 the family when the child can be cared for at home without
4 endangering the child's health or safety; reunification with
5 the family, when safe and appropriate, if temporary placement
6 is necessary; or movement of the child toward the most
7 permanent living arrangement and permanent legal status.
8     When determining reasonable efforts to be made with respect
9 to a child, as described in this subsection, and in making such
10 reasonable efforts, the child's health and safety shall be the
11 paramount concern.
12     When a child is placed in foster care, the Department shall
13 ensure and document that reasonable efforts were made to
14 prevent or eliminate the need to remove the child from the
15 child's home. The Department must make reasonable efforts to
16 reunify the family when temporary placement of the child occurs
17 unless otherwise required, pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act
18 of 1987. At any time after the dispositional hearing where the
19 Department believes that further reunification services would
20 be ineffective, it may request a finding from the court that
21 reasonable efforts are no longer appropriate. The Department is
22 not required to provide further reunification services after
23 such a finding.
24     A decision to place a child in substitute care shall be
25 made with considerations of the child's health, safety, and
26 best interests. At the time of placement, consideration should

 

 

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1 also be given so that if reunification fails or is delayed, the
2 placement made is the best available placement to provide
3 permanency for the child.
4     The Department shall adopt rules addressing concurrent
5 planning for reunification and permanency. The Department
6 shall consider the following factors when determining
7 appropriateness of concurrent planning:
8         (1) the likelihood of prompt reunification;
9         (2) the past history of the family;
10         (3) the barriers to reunification being addressed by
11     the family;
12         (4) the level of cooperation of the family;
13         (5) the foster parents' willingness to work with the
14     family to reunite;
15         (6) the willingness and ability of the foster family to
16     provide an adoptive home or long-term placement;
17         (7) the age of the child;
18         (8) placement of siblings.
19     (m) The Department may assume temporary custody of any
20 child if:
21         (1) it has received a written consent to such temporary
22     custody signed by the parents of the child or by the parent
23     having custody of the child if the parents are not living
24     together or by the guardian or custodian of the child if
25     the child is not in the custody of either parent, or
26         (2) the child is found in the State and neither a

 

 

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1     parent, guardian nor custodian of the child can be located.
2 If the child is found in his or her residence without a parent,
3 guardian, custodian or responsible caretaker, the Department
4 may, instead of removing the child and assuming temporary
5 custody, place an authorized representative of the Department
6 in that residence until such time as a parent, guardian or
7 custodian enters the home and expresses a willingness and
8 apparent ability to ensure the child's health and safety and
9 resume permanent charge of the child, or until a relative
10 enters the home and is willing and able to ensure the child's
11 health and safety and assume charge of the child until a
12 parent, guardian or custodian enters the home and expresses
13 such willingness and ability to ensure the child's safety and
14 resume permanent charge. After a caretaker has remained in the
15 home for a period not to exceed 12 hours, the Department must
16 follow those procedures outlined in Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8, or
17 5-415 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
18     The Department shall have the authority, responsibilities
19 and duties that a legal custodian of the child would have
20 pursuant to subsection (9) of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court
21 Act of 1987. Whenever a child is taken into temporary custody
22 pursuant to an investigation under the Abused and Neglected
23 Child Reporting Act, or pursuant to a referral and acceptance
24 under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 of a minor in limited
25 custody, the Department, during the period of temporary custody
26 and before the child is brought before a judicial officer as

 

 

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1 required by Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8, or 5-415 of the Juvenile
2 Court Act of 1987, shall have the authority, responsibilities
3 and duties that a legal custodian of the child would have under
4 subsection (9) of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of
5 1987.
6     The Department shall ensure that any child taken into
7 custody is scheduled for an appointment for a medical
8 examination.
9     A parent, guardian or custodian of a child in the temporary
10 custody of the Department who would have custody of the child
11 if he were not in the temporary custody of the Department may
12 deliver to the Department a signed request that the Department
13 surrender the temporary custody of the child. The Department
14 may retain temporary custody of the child for 10 days after the
15 receipt of the request, during which period the Department may
16 cause to be filed a petition pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act
17 of 1987. If a petition is so filed, the Department shall retain
18 temporary custody of the child until the court orders
19 otherwise. If a petition is not filed within the 10 day period,
20 the child shall be surrendered to the custody of the requesting
21 parent, guardian or custodian not later than the expiration of
22 the 10 day period, at which time the authority and duties of
23 the Department with respect to the temporary custody of the
24 child shall terminate.
25     (m-1) The Department may place children under 18 years of
26 age in a secure child care facility licensed by the Department

 

 

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1 that cares for children who are in need of secure living
2 arrangements for their health, safety, and well-being after a
3 determination is made by the facility director and the Director
4 or the Director's designate prior to admission to the facility
5 subject to Section 2-27.1 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
6 This subsection (m-1) does not apply to a child who is subject
7 to placement in a correctional facility operated pursuant to
8 Section 3-15-2 of the Unified Code of Corrections, unless the
9 child is a ward who was placed under the care of the Department
10 before being subject to placement in a correctional facility
11 and a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered placement of
12 the child in a secure care facility.
13     (n) The Department may place children under 18 years of age
14 in licensed child care facilities when in the opinion of the
15 Department, appropriate services aimed at family preservation
16 have been unsuccessful and cannot ensure the child's health and
17 safety or are unavailable and such placement would be for their
18 best interest. Payment for board, clothing, care, training and
19 supervision of any child placed in a licensed child care
20 facility may be made by the Department, by the parents or
21 guardians of the estates of those children, or by both the
22 Department and the parents or guardians, except that no
23 payments shall be made by the Department for any child placed
24 in a licensed child care facility for board, clothing, care,
25 training and supervision of such a child that exceed the
26 average per capita cost of maintaining and of caring for a

 

 

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1 child in institutions for dependent or neglected children
2 operated by the Department. However, such restriction on
3 payments does not apply in cases where children require
4 specialized care and treatment for problems of severe emotional
5 disturbance, physical disability, social adjustment, or any
6 combination thereof and suitable facilities for the placement
7 of such children are not available at payment rates within the
8 limitations set forth in this Section. All reimbursements for
9 services delivered shall be absolutely inalienable by
10 assignment, sale, attachment, garnishment or otherwise.
11     (o) The Department shall establish an administrative
12 review and appeal process for children and families who request
13 or receive child welfare services from the Department. Children
14 who are wards of the Department and are placed by private child
15 welfare agencies, and foster families with whom those children
16 are placed, shall be afforded the same procedural and appeal
17 rights as children and families in the case of placement by the
18 Department, including the right to an initial review of a
19 private agency decision by that agency. The Department shall
20 insure that any private child welfare agency, which accepts
21 wards of the Department for placement, affords those rights to
22 children and foster families. The Department shall accept for
23 administrative review and an appeal hearing a complaint made by
24 (i) a child or foster family concerning a decision following an
25 initial review by a private child welfare agency or (ii) a
26 prospective adoptive parent who alleges a violation of

 

 

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1 subsection (j-5) of this Section. An appeal of a decision
2 concerning a change in the placement of a child shall be
3 conducted in an expedited manner.
4     (p) There is hereby created the Department of Children and
5 Family Services Emergency Assistance Fund from which the
6 Department may provide special financial assistance to
7 families which are in economic crisis when such assistance is
8 not available through other public or private sources and the
9 assistance is deemed necessary to prevent dissolution of the
10 family unit or to reunite families which have been separated
11 due to child abuse and neglect. The Department shall establish
12 administrative rules specifying the criteria for determining
13 eligibility for and the amount and nature of assistance to be
14 provided. The Department may also enter into written agreements
15 with private and public social service agencies to provide
16 emergency financial services to families referred by the
17 Department. Special financial assistance payments shall be
18 available to a family no more than once during each fiscal year
19 and the total payments to a family may not exceed $500 during a
20 fiscal year.
21     (q) The Department may receive and use, in their entirety,
22 for the benefit of children any gift, donation or bequest of
23 money or other property which is received on behalf of such
24 children, or any financial benefits to which such children are
25 or may become entitled while under the jurisdiction or care of
26 the Department.

 

 

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1     The Department shall set up and administer no-cost,
2 interest-bearing accounts in appropriate financial
3 institutions for children for whom the Department is legally
4 responsible and who have been determined eligible for Veterans'
5 Benefits, Social Security benefits, assistance allotments from
6 the armed forces, court ordered payments, parental voluntary
7 payments, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement
8 payments, Black Lung benefits, or other miscellaneous
9 payments. Interest earned by each account shall be credited to
10 the account, unless disbursed in accordance with this
11 subsection.
12     In disbursing funds from children's accounts, the
13 Department shall:
14         (1) Establish standards in accordance with State and
15     federal laws for disbursing money from children's
16     accounts. In all circumstances, the Department's
17     "Guardianship Administrator" or his or her designee must
18     approve disbursements from children's accounts. The
19     Department shall be responsible for keeping complete
20     records of all disbursements for each account for any
21     purpose.
22         (2) Calculate on a monthly basis the amounts paid from
23     State funds for the child's board and care, medical care
24     not covered under Medicaid, and social services; and
25     utilize funds from the child's account, as covered by
26     regulation, to reimburse those costs. Monthly,

 

 

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1     disbursements from all children's accounts, up to 1/12 of
2     $13,000,000, shall be deposited by the Department into the
3     General Revenue Fund and the balance over 1/12 of
4     $13,000,000 into the DCFS Children's Services Fund.
5         (3) Maintain any balance remaining after reimbursing
6     for the child's costs of care, as specified in item (2).
7     The balance shall accumulate in accordance with relevant
8     State and federal laws and shall be disbursed to the child
9     or his or her guardian, or to the issuing agency.
10     (r) The Department shall promulgate regulations
11 encouraging all adoption agencies to voluntarily forward to the
12 Department or its agent names and addresses of all persons who
13 have applied for and have been approved for adoption of a
14 hard-to-place or handicapped child and the names of such
15 children who have not been placed for adoption. A list of such
16 names and addresses shall be maintained by the Department or
17 its agent, and coded lists which maintain the confidentiality
18 of the person seeking to adopt the child and of the child shall
19 be made available, without charge, to every adoption agency in
20 the State to assist the agencies in placing such children for
21 adoption. The Department may delegate to an agent its duty to
22 maintain and make available such lists. The Department shall
23 ensure that such agent maintains the confidentiality of the
24 person seeking to adopt the child and of the child.
25     (s) The Department of Children and Family Services may
26 establish and implement a program to reimburse Department and

 

 

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1 private child welfare agency foster parents licensed by the
2 Department of Children and Family Services for damages
3 sustained by the foster parents as a result of the malicious or
4 negligent acts of foster children, as well as providing third
5 party coverage for such foster parents with regard to actions
6 of foster children to other individuals. Such coverage will be
7 secondary to the foster parent liability insurance policy, if
8 applicable. The program shall be funded through appropriations
9 from the General Revenue Fund, specifically designated for such
10 purposes.
11     (t) The Department shall perform home studies and
12 investigations and shall exercise supervision over visitation
13 as ordered by a court pursuant to the Illinois Marriage and
14 Dissolution of Marriage Act or the Adoption Act only if:
15         (1) an order entered by an Illinois court specifically
16     directs the Department to perform such services; and
17         (2) the court has ordered one or both of the parties to
18     the proceeding to reimburse the Department for its
19     reasonable costs for providing such services in accordance
20     with Department rules, or has determined that neither party
21     is financially able to pay.
22     The Department shall provide written notification to the
23 court of the specific arrangements for supervised visitation
24 and projected monthly costs within 60 days of the court order.
25 The Department shall send to the court information related to
26 the costs incurred except in cases where the court has

 

 

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1 determined the parties are financially unable to pay. The court
2 may order additional periodic reports as appropriate.
3     (u) In addition to other information that must be provided,
4 whenever the Department places a child with a prospective
5 adoptive parent or parents or in a licensed foster home, group
6 home, child care institution, or in a relative home, the
7 Department shall provide to the prospective adoptive parent or
8 parents or other caretaker:
9         (1) available detailed information concerning the
10     child's educational and health history, copies of
11     immunization records (including insurance and medical card
12     information), a history of the child's previous
13     placements, if any, and reasons for placement changes
14     excluding any information that identifies or reveals the
15     location of any previous caretaker;
16         (2) a copy of the child's portion of the client service
17     plan, including any visitation arrangement, and all
18     amendments or revisions to it as related to the child; and
19         (3) information containing details of the child's
20     individualized educational plan when the child is
21     receiving special education services.
22     The caretaker shall be informed of any known social or
23 behavioral information (including, but not limited to,
24 criminal background, fire setting, perpetuation of sexual
25 abuse, destructive behavior, and substance abuse) necessary to
26 care for and safeguard the children to be placed or currently

 

 

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1 in the home. The Department may prepare a written summary of
2 the information required by this paragraph, which may be
3 provided to the foster or prospective adoptive parent in
4 advance of a placement. The foster or prospective adoptive
5 parent may review the supporting documents in the child's file
6 in the presence of casework staff. In the case of an emergency
7 placement, casework staff shall at least provide known
8 information verbally, if necessary, and must subsequently
9 provide the information in writing as required by this
10 subsection.
11     The information described in this subsection shall be
12 provided in writing. In the case of emergency placements when
13 time does not allow prior review, preparation, and collection
14 of written information, the Department shall provide such
15 information as it becomes available. Within 10 business days
16 after placement, the Department shall obtain from the
17 prospective adoptive parent or parents or other caretaker a
18 signed verification of receipt of the information provided.
19 Within 10 business days after placement, the Department shall
20 provide to the child's guardian ad litem a copy of the
21 information provided to the prospective adoptive parent or
22 parents or other caretaker. The information provided to the
23 prospective adoptive parent or parents or other caretaker shall
24 be reviewed and approved regarding accuracy at the supervisory
25 level.
26     (u-5) Effective July 1, 1995, only foster care placements

 

 

09600SB0807sam001 - 24 - LRB096 06879 DRJ 23796 a

1 licensed as foster family homes pursuant to the Child Care Act
2 of 1969 shall be eligible to receive foster care payments from
3 the Department. Relative caregivers who, as of July 1, 1995,
4 were approved pursuant to approved relative placement rules
5 previously promulgated by the Department at 89 Ill. Adm. Code
6 335 and had submitted an application for licensure as a foster
7 family home may continue to receive foster care payments only
8 until the Department determines that they may be licensed as a
9 foster family home or that their application for licensure is
10 denied or until September 30, 1995, whichever occurs first.
11     (v) The Department shall access criminal history record
12 information as defined in the Illinois Uniform Conviction
13 Information Act and information maintained in the adjudicatory
14 and dispositional record system as defined in Section 2605-355
15 of the Department of State Police Law (20 ILCS 2605/2605-355)
16 if the Department determines the information is necessary to
17 perform its duties under the Abused and Neglected Child
18 Reporting Act, the Child Care Act of 1969, and the Children and
19 Family Services Act. The Department shall provide for
20 interactive computerized communication and processing
21 equipment that permits direct on-line communication with the
22 Department of State Police's central criminal history data
23 repository. The Department shall comply with all certification
24 requirements and provide certified operators who have been
25 trained by personnel from the Department of State Police. In
26 addition, one Office of the Inspector General investigator

 

 

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1 shall have training in the use of the criminal history
2 information access system and have access to the terminal. The
3 Department of Children and Family Services and its employees
4 shall abide by rules and regulations established by the
5 Department of State Police relating to the access and
6 dissemination of this information.
7     (v-1) Prior to final approval for placement of a child, the
8 Department shall conduct a criminal records background check of
9 the prospective foster or adoptive parent, including
10 fingerprint-based checks of national crime information
11 databases. Final approval for placement shall not be granted if
12 the record check reveals a felony conviction for child abuse or
13 neglect, for spousal abuse, for a crime against children, or
14 for a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault,
15 or homicide, but not including other physical assault or
16 battery, or if there is a felony conviction for physical
17 assault, battery, or a drug-related offense committed within
18 the past 5 years.
19     (v-2) Prior to final approval for placement of a child, the
20 Department shall check its child abuse and neglect registry for
21 information concerning prospective foster and adoptive
22 parents, and any adult living in the home. If any prospective
23 foster or adoptive parent or other adult living in the home has
24 resided in another state in the preceding 5 years, the
25 Department shall request a check of that other state's child
26 abuse and neglect registry.

 

 

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1     (w) Within 120 days of August 20, 1995 (the effective date
2 of Public Act 89-392), the Department shall prepare and submit
3 to the Governor and the General Assembly, a written plan for
4 the development of in-state licensed secure child care
5 facilities that care for children who are in need of secure
6 living arrangements for their health, safety, and well-being.
7 For purposes of this subsection, secure care facility shall
8 mean a facility that is designed and operated to ensure that
9 all entrances and exits from the facility, a building or a
10 distinct part of the building, are under the exclusive control
11 of the staff of the facility, whether or not the child has the
12 freedom of movement within the perimeter of the facility,
13 building, or distinct part of the building. The plan shall
14 include descriptions of the types of facilities that are needed
15 in Illinois; the cost of developing these secure care
16 facilities; the estimated number of placements; the potential
17 cost savings resulting from the movement of children currently
18 out-of-state who are projected to be returned to Illinois; the
19 necessary geographic distribution of these facilities in
20 Illinois; and a proposed timetable for development of such
21 facilities.
22 (Source: P.A. 94-215, eff. 1-1-06; 94-1010, eff. 10-1-06;
23 95-10, eff. 6-30-07; 95-601, eff. 9-11-07; 95-642, eff. 6-1-08;
24 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)
 
25     (20 ILCS 505/5a)  (from Ch. 23, par. 5005a)

 

 

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1     Sec. 5a. Reimbursable services for which the Department of
2 Children and Family Services shall pay 100% of the reasonable
3 cost pursuant to a written contract negotiated between the
4 Department and the agency furnishing the services (which shall
5 include but not be limited to the determination of reasonable
6 cost, the services being purchased and the duration of the
7 agreement) include, but are not limited to:
 
8 SERVICE ACTIVITIES
9     Adjunctive Therapy;
10     Child Care Service, including day care;
11     Clinical Therapy;
12     Custodial Service;
13     Field Work Students;
14     Food Service;
15     Normal Education;
16     In-Service Training;
17     Intake or Evaluation, or both;
18     Medical Services;
19     Recreation;
20     Social Work or Counselling, or both;
21     Supportive Staff;
22     Volunteers.
 
23 OBJECT EXPENSES
24     Professional Fees and Contract Service Payments;

 

 

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1     Supplies;
2     Telephone and Telegram;
3     Occupancy;
4     Local Transportation;
5     Equipment and Other Fixed Assets, including amortization
6         of same;
7     Miscellaneous.
 
8 ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
9     Program Administration;
10     Supervision and Consultation;
11     Inspection and Monitoring for purposes of issuing
12         licenses;
13     Determination of Children who are eligible
14     for federal or other reimbursement;
15     Postage and Shipping;
16     Outside Printing, Artwork, etc.;
17     Subscriptions and Reference Publications;
18     Management and General Expense.
19 Reimbursement of administrative costs other than inspection
20 and monitoring for purposes of issuing licenses may not exceed
21 20% of the costs for other services.
22     The Department may offer services to any child or family
23 with respect to whom a report of suspected child abuse or
24 neglect has been called in to the hotline after completion of a
25 family assessment and the Department has determined that

 

 

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1 services are needed to address the safety of the child and
2 other family members and the risk of subsequent maltreatment.
3 Acceptance of such services shall be voluntary.
4     All Object Expenses, Service Activities and Administrative
5 Costs are allowable.
6     If a survey instrument is used in the rate setting process:
7         (a) with respect to any day care centers, it shall be
8     limited to those agencies which receive reimbursement from
9     the State;
10         (b) the cost survey instrument shall be promulgated by
11     rule;
12         (c) any requirements of the respondents shall be
13     promulgated by rule;
14         (d) all screens, limits or other tests of
15     reasonableness, allowability and reimbursability shall be
16     promulgated by rule;
17         (e) adjustments may be made by the Department to rates
18     when it determines that reported wage and salary levels are
19     insufficient to attract capable caregivers in sufficient
20     numbers.
21     The Department of Children and Family Services may pay 100%
22 of the reasonable costs of research and valuation focused
23 exclusively on services to wards of the Department. Such
24 research projects must be approved, in advance, by the Director
25 of the Department.
26     In addition to reimbursements otherwise provided for in

 

 

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1 this Section, the Department of Human Services shall, in
2 accordance with annual written agreements, make advance
3 quarterly disbursements to local public agencies for child day
4 care services with funds appropriated from the Local Effort Day
5 Care Fund.
6     Neither the Department of Children and Family Services nor
7 the Department of Human Services shall pay or approve
8 reimbursement for day care in a facility which is operating
9 without a valid license or permit, except in the case of day
10 care homes or day care centers which are exempt from the
11 licensing requirements of the "Child Care Act of 1969".
12 (Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)
 
13     (20 ILCS 505/9.9)  (from Ch. 23, par. 5009.9)
14     Sec. 9.9. Review under Administrative Review Law. Any
15 responsible parent or guardian affected by a final
16 administrative decision of the Department in a hearing,
17 conducted pursuant to this Act, may have the decision reviewed
18 only under and in accordance with the Administrative Review Law
19 as amended. The provisions of the Administrative Review Law,
20 and the rules adopted pursuant thereto, shall apply to and
21 govern all proceedings for the judicial review of such final
22 administrative decisions of the Department. The term
23 "administrative decision", is defined as in Section 3-101 of
24 the Code of Civil Procedure.
25     Review of a final administrative decision under the

 

 

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1 Administrative Review Law is not applicable to a decision to
2 conduct a family assessment because no determination
3 concerning child abuse or neglect is made and nothing is
4 reported to the central register.
5     Appeals from all final orders and judgments entered by a
6 court upon review of the Department's orders in any case may be
7 taken by either party to the proceeding and shall be governed
8 by the rules applicable to appeals in civil cases.
9     The remedy herein provided for appeal shall be exclusive,
10 and no court shall have jurisdiction to review the subject
11 matter of any order made by the Department except as herein
12 provided.
13 (Source: P.A. 83-1037.)
 
14     Section 10. The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act is
15 amended by changing Sections 3, 7.4, and 11.6 as follows:
 
16     (325 ILCS 5/3)  (from Ch. 23, par. 2053)
17     Sec. 3. As used in this Act unless the context otherwise
18 requires:
19     "Child" means any person under the age of 18 years, unless
20 legally emancipated by reason of marriage or entry into a
21 branch of the United States armed services.
22     "Department" means Department of Children and Family
23 Services.
24     "Local law enforcement agency" means the police of a city,

 

 

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1 town, village or other incorporated area or the sheriff of an
2 unincorporated area or any sworn officer of the Illinois
3 Department of State Police.
4     "Abused child" means a child whose parent or immediate
5 family member, or any person responsible for the child's
6 welfare, or any individual residing in the same home as the
7 child, or a paramour of the child's parent:
8         (a) inflicts, causes to be inflicted, or allows to be
9     inflicted upon such child physical injury, by other than
10     accidental means, which causes death, disfigurement,
11     impairment of physical or emotional health, or loss or
12     impairment of any bodily function;
13         (b) creates a substantial risk of physical injury to
14     such child by other than accidental means which would be
15     likely to cause death, disfigurement, impairment of
16     physical or emotional health, or loss or impairment of any
17     bodily function;
18         (c) commits or allows to be committed any sex offense
19     against such child, as such sex offenses are defined in the
20     Criminal Code of 1961, as amended, and extending those
21     definitions of sex offenses to include children under 18
22     years of age;
23         (d) commits or allows to be committed an act or acts of
24     torture upon such child;
25         (e) inflicts excessive corporal punishment;
26         (f) commits or allows to be committed the offense of

 

 

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1     female genital mutilation, as defined in Section 12-34 of
2     the Criminal Code of 1961, against the child; or
3         (g) causes to be sold, transferred, distributed, or
4     given to such child under 18 years of age, a controlled
5     substance as defined in Section 102 of the Illinois
6     Controlled Substances Act in violation of Article IV of the
7     Illinois Controlled Substances Act or in violation of the
8     Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act,
9     except for controlled substances that are prescribed in
10     accordance with Article III of the Illinois Controlled
11     Substances Act and are dispensed to such child in a manner
12     that substantially complies with the prescription.
13     A child shall not be considered abused for the sole reason
14 that the child has been relinquished in accordance with the
15 Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
16     "Family assessment" means a comprehensive assessment of
17 child safety, risk of subsequent child maltreatment, and family
18 strengths and needs that is applied to a child maltreatment
19 report that does not allege substantial child endangerment.
20 "Family assessment" does not include a determination as to
21 whether child maltreatment occurred but does determine the need
22 for services to address the safety of family members and the
23 risk of subsequent maltreatment.
24     "Investigation" means fact-gathering related to the
25 current safety of a child and the risk of subsequent abuse or
26 neglect that determines whether a report of suspected child

 

 

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1 abuse or neglect should be indicated or unfounded and whether
2 child protective services are needed.
3     "Neglected child" means any child who is not receiving the
4 proper or necessary nourishment or medically indicated
5 treatment including food or care not provided solely on the
6 basis of the present or anticipated mental or physical
7 impairment as determined by a physician acting alone or in
8 consultation with other physicians or otherwise is not
9 receiving the proper or necessary support or medical or other
10 remedial care recognized under State law as necessary for a
11 child's well-being, or other care necessary for his or her
12 well-being, including adequate food, clothing and shelter; or
13 who is abandoned by his or her parents or other person
14 responsible for the child's welfare without a proper plan of
15 care; or who has been provided with interim crisis intervention
16 services under Section 3-5 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987
17 and whose parent, guardian, or custodian refuses to permit the
18 child to return home and no other living arrangement agreeable
19 to the parent, guardian, or custodian can be made, and the
20 parent, guardian, or custodian has not made any other
21 appropriate living arrangement for the child; or who is a
22 newborn infant whose blood, urine, or meconium contains any
23 amount of a controlled substance as defined in subsection (f)
24 of Section 102 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or a
25 metabolite thereof, with the exception of a controlled
26 substance or metabolite thereof whose presence in the newborn

 

 

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1 infant is the result of medical treatment administered to the
2 mother or the newborn infant. A child shall not be considered
3 neglected for the sole reason that the child's parent or other
4 person responsible for his or her welfare has left the child in
5 the care of an adult relative for any period of time. A child
6 shall not be considered neglected for the sole reason that the
7 child has been relinquished in accordance with the Abandoned
8 Newborn Infant Protection Act. A child shall not be considered
9 neglected or abused for the sole reason that such child's
10 parent or other person responsible for his or her welfare
11 depends upon spiritual means through prayer alone for the
12 treatment or cure of disease or remedial care as provided under
13 Section 4 of this Act. A child shall not be considered
14 neglected or abused solely because the child is not attending
15 school in accordance with the requirements of Article 26 of The
16 School Code, as amended.
17     "Child Protective Service Unit" means certain specialized
18 State employees of the Department assigned by the Director to
19 perform the duties and responsibilities as provided under
20 Section 7.2 of this Act.
21     "Person responsible for the child's welfare" means the
22 child's parent; guardian; foster parent; relative caregiver;
23 any person responsible for the child's welfare in a public or
24 private residential agency or institution; any person
25 responsible for the child's welfare within a public or private
26 profit or not for profit child care facility; or any other

 

 

09600SB0807sam001 - 36 - LRB096 06879 DRJ 23796 a

1 person responsible for the child's welfare at the time of the
2 alleged abuse or neglect, or any person who came to know the
3 child through an official capacity or position of trust,
4 including but not limited to health care professionals,
5 educational personnel, recreational supervisors, members of
6 the clergy, and volunteers or support personnel in any setting
7 where children may be subject to abuse or neglect.
8     "Temporary protective custody" means custody within a
9 hospital or other medical facility or a place previously
10 designated for such custody by the Department, subject to
11 review by the Court, including a licensed foster home, group
12 home, or other institution; but such place shall not be a jail
13 or other place for the detention of criminal or juvenile
14 offenders.
15     "An unfounded report" means any report made under this Act
16 for which it is determined after an investigation that no
17 credible evidence of abuse or neglect exists.
18     "An indicated report" means a report made under this Act if
19 an investigation determines that credible evidence of the
20 alleged abuse or neglect exists.
21     "An undetermined report" means any report made under this
22 Act in which it was not possible to initiate or complete an
23 investigation on the basis of information provided to the
24 Department.
25     "Subject of report" means any child reported to the central
26 register of child abuse and neglect established under Section

 

 

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1 7.7 of this Act and his or her parent, guardian or other person
2 responsible who is also named in the report.
3     "Perpetrator" means a person who, as a result of
4 investigation, has been determined by the Department to have
5 caused child abuse or neglect.
6     "Member of the clergy" means a clergyman or practitioner of
7 any religious denomination accredited by the religious body to
8 which he or she belongs.
9 (Source: P.A. 94-556, eff. 9-11-05; 95-443, eff. 1-1-08.)
 
10     (325 ILCS 5/7.4)  (from Ch. 23, par. 2057.4)
11     Sec. 7.4. (a) The Department shall be capable of receiving
12 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect 24 hours a day, 7
13 days a week. Whenever the Department receives a report alleging
14 that a child is a truant as defined in Section 26-2a of The
15 School Code, as now or hereafter amended, the Department shall
16 notify the superintendent of the school district in which the
17 child resides and the appropriate superintendent of the
18 educational service region. The notification to the
19 appropriate officials by the Department shall not be considered
20 an allegation of abuse or neglect under this Act.
21     Upon receiving a report, the Department shall determine
22 whether to conduct a family assessment or an investigation as
23 appropriate to prevent or provide a remedy for child abuse or
24 neglect. The Department:
25         (1) Shall conduct an investigation on reports

 

 

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1     involving substantial child abuse or neglect.
2         (2) Shall begin an immediate investigation if, at any
3     time when it is using a family assessment response, it
4     determines that there is reason to believe that substantial
5     child abuse or neglect or a serious threat to the child's
6     safety exists.
7         (3) May conduct a family assessment for reports that do
8     not allege substantial child endangerment. In determining
9     that a family assessment is appropriate, the Department may
10     consider issues including, but not limited to, child
11     safety, parental cooperation, and the need for an immediate
12     response.
13         (4) May conduct a family assessment on a report that
14     was initially screened and assigned for an investigation.
15     In determining that a complete investigation is not
16     required, the Department must document the reason for
17     terminating the investigation and notify the local law
18     enforcement agency or the Department of State Police if the
19     local law enforcement agency or Department of State Police
20     is conducting a joint investigation.
21     Family assessments are not reported to the central
22 register.
23     During a family assessment, the Department shall collect
24 any available and relevant information to determine child
25 safety, risk of subsequent abuse or neglect, and family
26 strengths. Information collected includes, but is not limited

 

 

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1 to, when relevant: information with regard to the person
2 reporting the alleged abuse or neglect, including the nature of
3 the reporter's relationship to the child and to the alleged
4 offender, and the basis of the reporter's knowledge for the
5 report; the child allegedly being abused or neglected; the
6 alleged offender; the child's caretaker; and other collateral
7 sources having relevant information related to the alleged
8 abuse or neglect. Information relevant to the assessment must
9 be asked for, and may include:
10         (A) The child's sex and age, prior reports of abuse or
11     neglect, information relating to developmental
12     functioning, credibility of the child's statement, and
13     whether the information provided under this subparagraph
14     (A) is consistent with other information collected during
15     the course of the assessment or investigation.
16         (B) The alleged offender's age, a record check for
17     prior reports of abuse or neglect, and criminal charges and
18     convictions. The alleged offender may submit supporting
19     documentation relevant to the assessment.
20         (C) Collateral source information regarding the
21     alleged abuse or neglect and care of the child. Collateral
22     information includes, when relevant: (i) a medical
23     examination of the child; (ii) prior medical records
24     relating to the alleged maltreatment or care of the child
25     maintained by any facility, clinic, or health care
26     professional, and an interview with the treating

 

 

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1     professionals; and (iii) interviews with the child's
2     caretakers, including the child's parent, guardian, foster
3     parent, child care provider, teachers, counselors, family
4     members, relatives, and other persons who may have
5     knowledge regarding the alleged maltreatment and the care
6     of the child.
7         (D) Information on the existence of domestic abuse and
8     violence in the home of the child, and substance abuse.
9 Nothing in this paragraph precludes the Department from
10 collecting other relevant information necessary to conduct the
11 assessment or investigation. Nothing in this paragraph shall be
12 construed to allow the name or identity of a reporter to be
13 disclosed in violation of the protections afforded under
14 Section 7.19 of this Act.
15     After conducting the family assessment, the Department
16 shall determine whether services are needed to address the
17 safety of the child and other family members and the risk of
18 subsequent abuse or neglect.
19     Upon completion of the family assessment, if the Department
20 concludes that no services shall be offered, then the case
21 shall be closed. If the Department concludes that services
22 shall be offered, the Department shall develop a family
23 preservation plan and offer or refer services to the family.
24     At any time during a family assessment, if the Department
25 believes there is any reason to stop the assessment and conduct
26 an investigation based on the information discovered, the

 

 

09600SB0807sam001 - 41 - LRB096 06879 DRJ 23796 a

1 Department shall do so.
2     The procedures available to the Department in conducting
3 investigations under this Act shall be followed as appropriate
4 during a family assessment.
5     (b) (1) The following procedures shall be followed in the
6     investigation of all reports of suspected abuse or neglect
7     of a child, except as provided in subsection (c) of this
8     Section.
9         (2) If, during a family assessment or investigation, it
10     appears that the immediate safety or well-being of a child
11     is endangered, that the family may flee or the child
12     disappear, or that the facts otherwise so warrant, the
13     Child Protective Service Unit shall commence an
14     investigation immediately, regardless of the time of day or
15     night. All other investigations In all other cases,
16     investigation shall be commenced within 24 hours of receipt
17     of the report. Upon receipt of a report, the Child
18     Protective Service Unit shall conduct a family assessment
19     or begin make an initial investigation and make an initial
20     determination whether the report is a good faith indication
21     of alleged child abuse or neglect.
22         (3) Based on an initial investigation, if If the Unit
23     determines the report is a good faith indication of alleged
24     child abuse or neglect, then a formal investigation shall
25     commence and, pursuant to Section 7.12 of this Act, may or
26     may not result in an indicated report. The formal

 

 

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1     investigation shall include: direct contact with the
2     subject or subjects of the report as soon as possible after
3     the report is received; an evaluation of the environment of
4     the child named in the report and any other children in the
5     same environment; a determination of the risk to such
6     children if they continue to remain in the existing
7     environments, as well as a determination of the nature,
8     extent and cause of any condition enumerated in such
9     report; the name, age and condition of other children in
10     the environment; and an evaluation as to whether there
11     would be an immediate and urgent necessity to remove the
12     child from the environment if appropriate family
13     preservation services were provided. After seeing to the
14     safety of the child or children, the Department shall
15     forthwith notify the subjects of the report in writing, of
16     the existence of the report and their rights existing under
17     this Act in regard to amendment or expungement. To fulfill
18     the requirements of this Section, the Child Protective
19     Service Unit shall have the capability of providing or
20     arranging for comprehensive emergency services to children
21     and families at all times of the day or night.
22         (4) If (i) at the conclusion of the Unit's initial
23     investigation of a report, the Unit determines the report
24     to be a good faith indication of alleged child abuse or
25     neglect that warrants a formal investigation by the Unit,
26     the Department, any law enforcement agency or any other

 

 

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1     responsible agency and (ii) the person who is alleged to
2     have caused the abuse or neglect is employed or otherwise
3     engaged in an activity resulting in frequent contact with
4     children and the alleged abuse or neglect are in the course
5     of such employment or activity, then the Department shall,
6     except in investigations where the Director determines
7     that such notification would be detrimental to the
8     Department's investigation, inform the appropriate
9     supervisor or administrator of that employment or activity
10     that the Unit has commenced a formal investigation pursuant
11     to this Act, which may or may not result in an indicated
12     report. The Department shall also notify the person being
13     investigated, unless the Director determines that such
14     notification would be detrimental to the Department's
15     investigation.
16     (c) In an investigation of a report of suspected abuse or
17 neglect of a child by a school employee at a school or on
18 school grounds, the Department shall make reasonable efforts to
19 follow the following procedures:
20         (1) Investigations involving teachers shall not, to
21     the extent possible, be conducted when the teacher is
22     scheduled to conduct classes. Investigations involving
23     other school employees shall be conducted so as to minimize
24     disruption of the school day. The school employee accused
25     of child abuse or neglect may have his superior, his
26     association or union representative and his attorney

 

 

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1     present at any interview or meeting at which the teacher or
2     administrator is present. The accused school employee
3     shall be informed by a representative of the Department, at
4     any interview or meeting, of the accused school employee's
5     due process rights and of the steps in the investigation
6     process. The information shall include, but need not
7     necessarily be limited to the right, subject to the
8     approval of the Department, of the school employee to
9     confront the accuser, if the accuser is 14 years of age or
10     older, or the right to review the specific allegations
11     which gave rise to the investigation, and the right to
12     review all materials and evidence that have been submitted
13     to the Department in support of the allegation. These due
14     process rights shall also include the right of the school
15     employee to present countervailing evidence regarding the
16     accusations.
17         (2) If a report of neglect or abuse of a child by a
18     teacher or administrator does not involve allegations of
19     sexual abuse or extreme physical abuse, the Child
20     Protective Service Unit shall make reasonable efforts to
21     conduct the initial investigation in coordination with the
22     employee's supervisor.
23         If the Unit determines that the report is a good faith
24     indication of potential child abuse or neglect, it shall
25     then commence a formal investigation under paragraph (3) of
26     subsection (b) of this Section.

 

 

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1         (3) If a report of neglect or abuse of a child by a
2     teacher or administrator involves an allegation of sexual
3     abuse or extreme physical abuse, the Child Protective Unit
4     shall commence an investigation under paragraph (2) of
5     subsection (b) of this Section.
6     (c-5) In any instance in which a report is made or caused
7 to made by a school district employee involving the conduct of
8 a person employed by the school district, at the time the
9 report was made, as required under Section 4 of this Act, the
10 Child Protective Service Unit shall send a copy of its final
11 finding report to the general superintendent of that school
12 district.
13     (d) If the Department has contact with an employer, or with
14 a religious institution or religious official having
15 supervisory or hierarchical authority over a member of the
16 clergy accused of the abuse of a child, in the course of its
17 investigation, the Department shall notify the employer or the
18 religious institution or religious official, in writing, when a
19 report is unfounded so that any record of the investigation can
20 be expunged from the employee's or member of the clergy's
21 personnel or other records. The Department shall also notify
22 the employee or the member of the clergy, in writing, that
23 notification has been sent to the employer or to the
24 appropriate religious institution or religious official
25 informing the employer or religious institution or religious
26 official that the Department's investigation has resulted in an

 

 

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1 unfounded report.
2     (e) Upon request by the Department, the Department of State
3 Police and law enforcement agencies are authorized to provide
4 criminal history record information as defined in the Illinois
5 Uniform Conviction Information Act and information maintained
6 in the adjudicatory and dispositional record system as defined
7 in Section 2605-355 of the Department of State Police Law (20
8 ILCS 2605/2605-355) to properly designated employees of the
9 Department of Children and Family Services if the Department
10 determines the information is necessary to perform its duties
11 under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, the Child
12 Care Act of 1969, and the Children and Family Services Act. The
13 request shall be in the form and manner required by the
14 Department of State Police. Any information obtained by the
15 Department of Children and Family Services under this Section
16 is confidential and may not be transmitted outside the
17 Department of Children and Family Services other than to a
18 court of competent jurisdiction or unless otherwise authorized
19 by law. Any employee of the Department of Children and Family
20 Services who transmits confidential information in violation
21 of this Section or causes the information to be transmitted in
22 violation of this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor
23 unless the transmittal of the information is authorized by this
24 Section or otherwise authorized by law.
25 (Source: P.A. 95-908, eff. 8-26-08.)
 

 

 

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1     (325 ILCS 5/11.6)  (from Ch. 23, par. 2061.6)
2     Sec. 11.6. All final administrative decisions of the
3 Department under this Act are subject to judicial review under
4 the Administrative Review Law, as now or hereafter amended, and
5 the rules adopted pursuant thereto. The term "administrative
6 decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil
7 Procedure.
8     Review of a final administrative decision under the
9 Administrative Review Law is not applicable to a decision to
10 conduct a family assessment because no determination
11 concerning child abuse or neglect is made and nothing is
12 reported to the central register.
13 (Source: P.A. 82-783.)".