Rep. Robyn Gabel

Filed: 3/23/2015

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3507

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3507 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended
5by changing Sections 2.1 and 5 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 505/2.1)
7    Sec. 2.1. The Department shall ensure a sufficient number
8of placement and other resources of sufficient quality and
9variety to meet the needs of children and families as specified
10in the individual case plan in Sec. 6a of this Act. Nothing in
11this Sec. shall be construed to create a private right of
12action or a judicially enforceable claim on the part of any
13individual or agency.
14(Source: P.A. 88-614, eff. 9-7-94.)
 
15    (20 ILCS 505/5)  (from Ch. 23, par. 5005)

 

 

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1    Sec. 5. Direct child welfare services; Department of
2Children and Family Services. To provide direct child welfare
3services when not available through other public or private
4child care or program facilities.
5    (a) For purposes of this Section:
6        (1) "Children" means persons found within the State who
7    are under the age of 18 years. The term also includes
8    persons under age 21 who:
9            (A) were committed to the Department pursuant to
10        the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of
11        1987, as amended, prior to the age of 18 and who
12        continue under the jurisdiction of the court; or
13            (B) were accepted for care, service and training by
14        the Department prior to the age of 18 and whose best
15        interest in the discretion of the Department would be
16        served by continuing that care, service and training
17        because of severe emotional disturbances, physical
18        disability, social adjustment or any combination
19        thereof, or because of the need to complete an
20        educational or vocational training program.
21        (2) "Homeless youth" means persons found within the
22    State who are under the age of 19, are not in a safe and
23    stable living situation and cannot be reunited with their
24    families.
25        (3) "Child welfare services" means public social
26    services which are directed toward the accomplishment of

 

 

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1    the following purposes:
2            (A) protecting and promoting the health, safety
3        and welfare of children, including homeless, dependent
4        or neglected children;
5            (B) remedying, or assisting in the solution of
6        problems which may result in, the neglect, abuse,
7        exploitation or delinquency of children;
8            (C) preventing the unnecessary separation of
9        children from their families by identifying family
10        problems, assisting families in resolving their
11        problems, and preventing the breakup of the family
12        where the prevention of child removal is desirable and
13        possible when the child can be cared for at home
14        without endangering the child's health and safety;
15            (D) restoring to their families children who have
16        been removed, by the provision of services to the child
17        and the families when the child can be cared for at
18        home without endangering the child's health and
19        safety;
20            (E) placing children in suitable adoptive homes,
21        in cases where restoration to the biological family is
22        not safe, possible or appropriate;
23            (F) assuring safe and adequate care of children
24        away from their homes, in cases where the child cannot
25        be returned home or cannot be placed for adoption. At
26        the time of placement, the Department shall consider

 

 

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1        concurrent planning, as described in subsection (l-1)
2        of this Section so that permanency may occur at the
3        earliest opportunity. Consideration should be given so
4        that if reunification fails or is delayed, the
5        placement made is the best available placement to
6        provide permanency for the child;
7            (G) (blank);
8            (H) (blank); and
9            (I) placing and maintaining children in facilities
10        that provide separate living quarters for children
11        under the age of 18 and for children 18 years of age
12        and older, unless a child 18 years of age is in the
13        last year of high school education or vocational
14        training, in an approved individual or group treatment
15        program, in a licensed shelter facility, or secure
16        child care facility. The Department is not required to
17        place or maintain children:
18                (i) who are in a foster home, or
19                (ii) who are persons with a developmental
20            disability, as defined in the Mental Health and
21            Developmental Disabilities Code, or
22                (iii) who are female children who are
23            pregnant, pregnant and parenting or parenting, or
24                (iv) who are siblings, in facilities that
25            provide separate living quarters for children 18
26            years of age and older and for children under 18

 

 

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1            years of age.
2    (b) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to authorize
3the expenditure of public funds for the purpose of performing
4abortions.
5    (c) The Department shall establish and maintain
6tax-supported child welfare services and extend and seek to
7improve voluntary services throughout the State, to the end
8that services and care shall be available on an equal basis
9throughout the State to children requiring such services.
10    (d) The Director may authorize advance disbursements for
11any new program initiative to any agency contracting with the
12Department. As a prerequisite for an advance disbursement, the
13contractor must post a surety bond in the amount of the advance
14disbursement and have a purchase of service contract approved
15by the Department. The Department may pay up to 2 months
16operational expenses in advance. The amount of the advance
17disbursement shall be prorated over the life of the contract or
18the remaining months of the fiscal year, whichever is less, and
19the installment amount shall then be deducted from future
20bills. Advance disbursement authorizations for new initiatives
21shall not be made to any agency after that agency has operated
22during 2 consecutive fiscal years. The requirements of this
23Section concerning advance disbursements shall not apply with
24respect to the following: payments to local public agencies for
25child day care services as authorized by Section 5a of this
26Act; and youth service programs receiving grant funds under

 

 

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1Section 17a-4.
2    (e) (Blank).
3    (f) (Blank).
4    (g) The Department shall establish rules and regulations
5concerning its operation of programs designed to meet the goals
6of child safety and protection, family preservation, family
7reunification, and adoption, including but not limited to:
8        (1) adoption;
9        (2) foster care;
10        (3) family counseling;
11        (4) protective services;
12        (5) (blank);
13        (6) homemaker service;
14        (7) return of runaway children;
15        (8) (blank);
16        (9) placement under Section 5-7 of the Juvenile Court
17    Act or Section 2-27, 3-28, 4-25 or 5-740 of the Juvenile
18    Court Act of 1987 in accordance with the federal Adoption
19    Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980; and
20        (10) interstate services.
21    Rules and regulations established by the Department shall
22include provisions for training Department staff and the staff
23of Department grantees, through contracts with other agencies
24or resources, in alcohol and drug abuse screening techniques
25approved by the Department of Human Services, as a successor to
26the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, for the

 

 

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1purpose of identifying children and adults who should be
2referred to an alcohol and drug abuse treatment program for
3professional evaluation.
4    (h) If the Department finds that there is no appropriate
5program or facility within or available to the Department for a
6ward and that no licensed private facility has an adequate and
7appropriate program or none agrees to accept the ward, the
8Department shall create an appropriate individualized,
9program-oriented plan for such ward. The plan may be developed
10within the Department or through purchase of services by the
11Department to the extent that it is within its statutory
12authority to do.
13    (i) Service programs shall be available throughout the
14State and shall include but not be limited to the following
15services:
16        (1) case management;
17        (2) homemakers;
18        (3) counseling;
19        (4) parent education;
20        (5) day care; and
21        (6) emergency assistance and advocacy.
22    In addition, the following services may be made available
23to assess and meet the needs of children and families:
24        (1) comprehensive family-based services;
25        (2) assessments;
26        (3) respite care; and

 

 

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1        (4) in-home health services.
2    The Department shall provide transportation for any of the
3services it makes available to children or families or for
4which it refers children or families.
5    (j) The Department may provide categories of financial
6assistance and education assistance grants, and shall
7establish rules and regulations concerning the assistance and
8grants, to persons who adopt physically or mentally
9handicapped, older and other hard-to-place children who (i)
10immediately prior to their adoption were legal wards of the
11Department or (ii) were determined eligible for financial
12assistance with respect to a prior adoption and who become
13available for adoption because the prior adoption has been
14dissolved and the parental rights of the adoptive parents have
15been terminated or because the child's adoptive parents have
16died. The Department may continue to provide financial
17assistance and education assistance grants for a child who was
18determined eligible for financial assistance under this
19subsection (j) in the interim period beginning when the child's
20adoptive parents died and ending with the finalization of the
21new adoption of the child by another adoptive parent or
22parents. The Department may also provide categories of
23financial assistance and education assistance grants, and
24shall establish rules and regulations for the assistance and
25grants, to persons appointed guardian of the person under
26Section 5-7 of the Juvenile Court Act or Section 2-27, 3-28,

 

 

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14-25 or 5-740 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for children
2who were wards of the Department for 12 months immediately
3prior to the appointment of the guardian.
4    The amount of assistance may vary, depending upon the needs
5of the child and the adoptive parents, as set forth in the
6annual assistance agreement. Special purpose grants are
7allowed where the child requires special service but such costs
8may not exceed the amounts which similar services would cost
9the Department if it were to provide or secure them as guardian
10of the child.
11    Any financial assistance provided under this subsection is
12inalienable by assignment, sale, execution, attachment,
13garnishment, or any other remedy for recovery or collection of
14a judgment or debt.
15    (j-5) The Department shall not deny or delay the placement
16of a child for adoption if an approved family is available
17either outside of the Department region handling the case, or
18outside of the State of Illinois.
19    (k) The Department shall accept for care and training any
20child who has been adjudicated neglected or abused, or
21dependent committed to it pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act or
22the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
23    (l) The Department shall offer family preservation
24services, as defined in Section 8.2 of the Abused and Neglected
25Child Reporting Act, to help families, including adoptive and
26extended families. Family preservation services shall be

 

 

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1offered (i) to prevent the placement of children in substitute
2care when the children can be cared for at home or in the
3custody of the person responsible for the children's welfare,
4(ii) to reunite children with their families, or (iii) to
5maintain an adoptive placement. Family preservation services
6shall only be offered when doing so will not endanger the
7children's health or safety. With respect to children who are
8in substitute care pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987,
9family preservation services shall not be offered if a goal
10other than those of subdivisions (A), (B), or (B-1) of
11subsection (2) of Section 2-28 of that Act has been set.
12Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to create a
13private right of action or claim on the part of any individual
14or child welfare agency, except that when a child is the
15subject of an action under Article II of the Juvenile Court Act
16of 1987 and the child's service plan calls for services to
17facilitate achievement of the permanency goal, the court
18hearing the action under Article II of the Juvenile Court Act
19of 1987 may order the Department to provide the services set
20out in the plan, if those services are not provided with
21reasonable promptness and if those services are available.
22    The Department shall notify the child and his family of the
23Department's responsibility to offer and provide family
24preservation services as identified in the service plan. The
25child and his family shall be eligible for services as soon as
26the report is determined to be "indicated". The Department may

 

 

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1offer services to any child or family with respect to whom a
2report of suspected child abuse or neglect has been filed,
3prior to concluding its investigation under Section 7.12 of the
4Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. However, the child's
5or family's willingness to accept services shall not be
6considered in the investigation. The Department may also
7provide services to any child or family who is the subject of
8any report of suspected child abuse or neglect or may refer
9such child or family to services available from other agencies
10in the community, even if the report is determined to be
11unfounded, if the conditions in the child's or family's home
12are reasonably likely to subject the child or family to future
13reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. Acceptance of such
14services shall be voluntary. The Department may also provide
15services to any child or family after completion of a family
16assessment, as an alternative to an investigation, as provided
17under the "differential response program" provided for in
18subsection (a-5) of Section 7.4 of the Abused and Neglected
19Child Reporting Act.
20    The Department may, at its discretion except for those
21children also adjudicated neglected or dependent, accept for
22care and training any child who has been adjudicated addicted,
23as a truant minor in need of supervision or as a minor
24requiring authoritative intervention, under the Juvenile Court
25Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, but no such child shall
26be committed to the Department by any court without the

 

 

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1approval of the Department. On and after the effective date of
2this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly and before
3January 1, 2017, a minor charged with a criminal offense under
4the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or
5adjudicated delinquent shall not be placed in the custody of or
6committed to the Department by any court, except (i) a minor
7less than 16 years of age committed to the Department under
8Section 5-710 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, (ii) a minor
9for whom an independent basis of abuse, neglect, or dependency
10exists, which must be defined by departmental rule, or (iii) a
11minor for whom the court has granted a supplemental petition to
12reinstate wardship pursuant to subsection (2) of Section 2-33
13of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. On and after January 1,
142017, a minor charged with a criminal offense under the
15Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or
16adjudicated delinquent shall not be placed in the custody of or
17committed to the Department by any court, except (i) a minor
18less than 15 years of age committed to the Department under
19Section 5-710 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, ii) a minor
20for whom an independent basis of abuse, neglect, or dependency
21exists, which must be defined by departmental rule, or (iii) a
22minor for whom the court has granted a supplemental petition to
23reinstate wardship pursuant to subsection (2) of Section 2-33
24of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. An independent basis exists
25when the allegations or adjudication of abuse, neglect, or
26dependency do not arise from the same facts, incident, or

 

 

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1circumstances which give rise to a charge or adjudication of
2delinquency.
3    As soon as is possible after August 7, 2009 (the effective
4date of Public Act 96-134), the Department shall develop and
5implement a special program of family preservation services to
6support intact, foster, and adoptive families who are
7experiencing extreme hardships due to the difficulty and stress
8of caring for a child who has been diagnosed with a pervasive
9developmental disorder if the Department determines that those
10services are necessary to ensure the health and safety of the
11child. The Department may offer services to any family whether
12or not a report has been filed under the Abused and Neglected
13Child Reporting Act. The Department may refer the child or
14family to services available from other agencies in the
15community if the conditions in the child's or family's home are
16reasonably likely to subject the child or family to future
17reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. Acceptance of
18these services shall be voluntary. The Department shall develop
19and implement a public information campaign to alert health and
20social service providers and the general public about these
21special family preservation services. The nature and scope of
22the services offered and the number of families served under
23the special program implemented under this paragraph shall be
24determined by the level of funding that the Department annually
25allocates for this purpose. The term "pervasive developmental
26disorder" under this paragraph means a neurological condition,

 

 

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1including but not limited to, Asperger's Syndrome and autism,
2as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and
3Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American
4Psychiatric Association.
5    (l-1) The legislature recognizes that the best interests of
6the child require that the child be placed in the most
7permanent living arrangement as soon as is practically
8possible. To achieve this goal, the legislature directs the
9Department of Children and Family Services to conduct
10concurrent planning so that permanency may occur at the
11earliest opportunity. Permanent living arrangements may
12include prevention of placement of a child outside the home of
13the family when the child can be cared for at home without
14endangering the child's health or safety; reunification with
15the family, when safe and appropriate, if temporary placement
16is necessary; or movement of the child toward the most
17permanent living arrangement and permanent legal status.
18    When determining reasonable efforts to be made with respect
19to a child, as described in this subsection, and in making such
20reasonable efforts, the child's health and safety shall be the
21paramount concern.
22    When a child is placed in foster care, the Department shall
23ensure and document that reasonable efforts were made to
24prevent or eliminate the need to remove the child from the
25child's home. The Department must make reasonable efforts to
26reunify the family when temporary placement of the child occurs

 

 

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1unless otherwise required, pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act
2of 1987. At any time after the dispositional hearing where the
3Department believes that further reunification services would
4be ineffective, it may request a finding from the court that
5reasonable efforts are no longer appropriate. The Department is
6not required to provide further reunification services after
7such a finding.
8    A decision to place a child in substitute care shall be
9made with considerations of the child's health, safety, and
10best interests. At the time of placement, consideration should
11also be given so that if reunification fails or is delayed, the
12placement made is the best available placement to provide
13permanency for the child.
14    The Department shall adopt rules addressing concurrent
15planning for reunification and permanency. The Department
16shall consider the following factors when determining
17appropriateness of concurrent planning:
18        (1) the likelihood of prompt reunification;
19        (2) the past history of the family;
20        (3) the barriers to reunification being addressed by
21    the family;
22        (4) the level of cooperation of the family;
23        (5) the foster parents' willingness to work with the
24    family to reunite;
25        (6) the willingness and ability of the foster family to
26    provide an adoptive home or long-term placement;

 

 

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1        (7) the age of the child;
2        (8) placement of siblings.
3    (m) The Department may assume temporary custody of any
4child if:
5        (1) it has received a written consent to such temporary
6    custody signed by the parents of the child or by the parent
7    having custody of the child if the parents are not living
8    together or by the guardian or custodian of the child if
9    the child is not in the custody of either parent, or
10        (2) the child is found in the State and neither a
11    parent, guardian nor custodian of the child can be located.
12If the child is found in his or her residence without a parent,
13guardian, custodian or responsible caretaker, the Department
14may, instead of removing the child and assuming temporary
15custody, place an authorized representative of the Department
16in that residence until such time as a parent, guardian or
17custodian enters the home and expresses a willingness and
18apparent ability to ensure the child's health and safety and
19resume permanent charge of the child, or until a relative
20enters the home and is willing and able to ensure the child's
21health and safety and assume charge of the child until a
22parent, guardian or custodian enters the home and expresses
23such willingness and ability to ensure the child's safety and
24resume permanent charge. After a caretaker has remained in the
25home for a period not to exceed 12 hours, the Department must
26follow those procedures outlined in Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8, or

 

 

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15-415 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
2    The Department shall have the authority, responsibilities
3and duties that a legal custodian of the child would have
4pursuant to subsection (9) of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court
5Act of 1987. Whenever a child is taken into temporary custody
6pursuant to an investigation under the Abused and Neglected
7Child Reporting Act, or pursuant to a referral and acceptance
8under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 of a minor in limited
9custody, the Department, during the period of temporary custody
10and before the child is brought before a judicial officer as
11required by Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8, or 5-415 of the Juvenile
12Court Act of 1987, shall have the authority, responsibilities
13and duties that a legal custodian of the child would have under
14subsection (9) of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of
151987.
16    The Department shall ensure that any child taken into
17custody is scheduled for an appointment for a medical
18examination.
19    A parent, guardian or custodian of a child in the temporary
20custody of the Department who would have custody of the child
21if he were not in the temporary custody of the Department may
22deliver to the Department a signed request that the Department
23surrender the temporary custody of the child. The Department
24may retain temporary custody of the child for 10 days after the
25receipt of the request, during which period the Department may
26cause to be filed a petition pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act

 

 

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1of 1987. If a petition is so filed, the Department shall retain
2temporary custody of the child until the court orders
3otherwise. If a petition is not filed within the 10 day period,
4the child shall be surrendered to the custody of the requesting
5parent, guardian or custodian not later than the expiration of
6the 10 day period, at which time the authority and duties of
7the Department with respect to the temporary custody of the
8child shall terminate.
9    (m-1) The Department may place children under 18 years of
10age in a secure child care facility licensed by the Department
11that cares for children who are in need of secure living
12arrangements for their health, safety, and well-being after a
13determination is made by the facility director and the Director
14or the Director's designate prior to admission to the facility
15subject to Section 2-27.1 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
16This subsection (m-1) does not apply to a child who is subject
17to placement in a correctional facility operated pursuant to
18Section 3-15-2 of the Unified Code of Corrections, unless the
19child is a ward who was placed under the care of the Department
20before being subject to placement in a correctional facility
21and a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered placement of
22the child in a secure care facility.
23    (n) The Department may place children under 18 years of age
24in licensed child care facilities when in the opinion of the
25Department, appropriate services aimed at family preservation
26have been unsuccessful and cannot ensure the child's health and

 

 

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1safety or are unavailable and such placement would be for their
2best interest. Payment for board, clothing, care, training and
3supervision of any child placed in a licensed child care
4facility may be made by the Department, by the parents or
5guardians of the estates of those children, or by both the
6Department and the parents or guardians, except that no
7payments shall be made by the Department for any child placed
8in a licensed child care facility for board, clothing, care,
9training and supervision of such a child that exceed the
10average per capita cost of maintaining and of caring for a
11child in institutions for dependent or neglected children
12operated by the Department. However, such restriction on
13payments does not apply in cases where children require
14specialized care and treatment for problems of severe emotional
15disturbance, physical disability, social adjustment, or any
16combination thereof and suitable facilities for the placement
17of such children are not available at payment rates within the
18limitations set forth in this Section. All reimbursements for
19services delivered shall be absolutely inalienable by
20assignment, sale, attachment, garnishment or otherwise.
21    (n-1) The Department shall provide or authorize child
22welfare services, aimed at assisting minors to achieve
23sustainable self-sufficiency as independent adults, for any
24minor eligible for the reinstatement of wardship pursuant to
25subsection (2) of Section 2-33 of the Juvenile Court Act of
261987, whether or not such reinstatement is sought or allowed,

 

 

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1provided that the minor consents to such services and has not
2yet attained the age of 21. The Department shall have
3responsibility for the development and delivery of services
4under this Section. An eligible youth may access services under
5this Section through the Department of Children and Family
6Services or by referral from the Department of Human Services.
7Youth participating in services under this Section shall
8cooperate with the assigned case manager in developing an
9agreement identifying the services to be provided and how the
10youth will increase skills to achieve self-sufficiency. A
11homeless shelter is not considered appropriate housing for any
12youth receiving child welfare services under this Section. The
13Department shall continue child welfare services under this
14Section to any eligible minor until the minor becomes 21 years
15of age, no longer consents to participate, or achieves
16self-sufficiency as identified in the minor's service plan. The
17Department of Children and Family Services shall create clear,
18readable notice of the rights of former foster youth to child
19welfare services under this Section and how such services may
20be obtained. The Department of Children and Family Services and
21the Department of Human Services shall disseminate this
22information statewide. The Department shall adopt regulations
23describing services intended to assist minors in achieving
24sustainable self-sufficiency as independent adults.
25    (n-2) The Department shall provide, as required by this Act
26or any applicable State or federal law, child welfare services

 

 

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1aimed at assisting minors in achieving sustainable
2self-sufficiency as adults for any minor for whom the
3Department is appointed the custodian or guardian pursuant to
4the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Such services shall include,
5but shall not be limited to: transitional living programs;
6independent living programs; educational assistance, including
7Youth in College; community college tuition waivers, and
8scholarships awarded by the Department; case management;
9mentoring; Youth in Employment; counseling; support and
10services for pregnant and parenting youth; sibling and parent
11visitation services and support; vocational training; and, as
12appropriate, transitioning youth to appropriate adult
13placement services and guardianship and any other service
14included in the youth's case plan. This Section shall not be
15interpreted as creating a new obligation of the Department to
16provide services, but as recognizing an existing and continuing
17obligation to provide services to youth in the Department's
18care, including those between the ages of 18 and 21 and those
19over the age of 21 receiving assistance through scholarships
20awarded by the Department and Youth in College programs, and
21any other applicable programs.
22    (o) The Department shall establish an administrative
23review and appeal process for children and families who request
24or receive child welfare services from the Department. Children
25who are wards of the Department and are placed by private child
26welfare agencies, and foster families with whom those children

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 22 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1are placed, shall be afforded the same procedural and appeal
2rights as children and families in the case of placement by the
3Department, including the right to an initial review of a
4private agency decision by that agency. The Department shall
5insure that any private child welfare agency, which accepts
6wards of the Department for placement, affords those rights to
7children and foster families. The Department shall accept for
8administrative review and an appeal hearing a complaint made by
9(i) a child or foster family concerning a decision following an
10initial review by a private child welfare agency or (ii) a
11prospective adoptive parent who alleges a violation of
12subsection (j-5) of this Section. An appeal of a decision
13concerning a change in the placement of a child shall be
14conducted in an expedited manner. A court determination that a
15current foster home placement is necessary and appropriate
16under Section 2-28 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 does not
17constitute a judicial determination on the merits of an
18administrative appeal, filed by a former foster parent,
19involving a change of placement decision.
20    (p) There is hereby created the Department of Children and
21Family Services Emergency Assistance Fund from which the
22Department may provide special financial assistance to
23families which are in economic crisis when such assistance is
24not available through other public or private sources and the
25assistance is deemed necessary to prevent dissolution of the
26family unit or to reunite families which have been separated

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 23 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1due to child abuse and neglect. The Department shall establish
2administrative rules specifying the criteria for determining
3eligibility for and the amount and nature of assistance to be
4provided. The Department may also enter into written agreements
5with private and public social service agencies to provide
6emergency financial services to families referred by the
7Department. Special financial assistance payments shall be
8available to a family no more than once during each fiscal year
9and the total payments to a family may not exceed $500 during a
10fiscal year.
11    (q) The Department may receive and use, in their entirety,
12for the benefit of children any gift, donation or bequest of
13money or other property which is received on behalf of such
14children, or any financial benefits to which such children are
15or may become entitled while under the jurisdiction or care of
16the Department.
17    The Department shall set up and administer no-cost,
18interest-bearing accounts in appropriate financial
19institutions for children for whom the Department is legally
20responsible and who have been determined eligible for Veterans'
21Benefits, Social Security benefits, assistance allotments from
22the armed forces, court ordered payments, parental voluntary
23payments, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement
24payments, Black Lung benefits, or other miscellaneous
25payments. Interest earned by each account shall be credited to
26the account, unless disbursed in accordance with this

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 24 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1subsection.
2    In disbursing funds from children's accounts, the
3Department shall:
4        (1) Establish standards in accordance with State and
5    federal laws for disbursing money from children's
6    accounts. In all circumstances, the Department's
7    "Guardianship Administrator" or his or her designee must
8    approve disbursements from children's accounts. The
9    Department shall be responsible for keeping complete
10    records of all disbursements for each account for any
11    purpose.
12        (2) Calculate on a monthly basis the amounts paid from
13    State funds for the child's board and care, medical care
14    not covered under Medicaid, and social services; and
15    utilize funds from the child's account, as covered by
16    regulation, to reimburse those costs. Monthly,
17    disbursements from all children's accounts, up to 1/12 of
18    $13,000,000, shall be deposited by the Department into the
19    General Revenue Fund and the balance over 1/12 of
20    $13,000,000 into the DCFS Children's Services Fund.
21        (3) Maintain any balance remaining after reimbursing
22    for the child's costs of care, as specified in item (2).
23    The balance shall accumulate in accordance with relevant
24    State and federal laws and shall be disbursed to the child
25    or his or her guardian, or to the issuing agency.
26    (r) The Department shall promulgate regulations

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 25 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1encouraging all adoption agencies to voluntarily forward to the
2Department or its agent names and addresses of all persons who
3have applied for and have been approved for adoption of a
4hard-to-place or handicapped child and the names of such
5children who have not been placed for adoption. A list of such
6names and addresses shall be maintained by the Department or
7its agent, and coded lists which maintain the confidentiality
8of the person seeking to adopt the child and of the child shall
9be made available, without charge, to every adoption agency in
10the State to assist the agencies in placing such children for
11adoption. The Department may delegate to an agent its duty to
12maintain and make available such lists. The Department shall
13ensure that such agent maintains the confidentiality of the
14person seeking to adopt the child and of the child.
15    (s) The Department of Children and Family Services may
16establish and implement a program to reimburse Department and
17private child welfare agency foster parents licensed by the
18Department of Children and Family Services for damages
19sustained by the foster parents as a result of the malicious or
20negligent acts of foster children, as well as providing third
21party coverage for such foster parents with regard to actions
22of foster children to other individuals. Such coverage will be
23secondary to the foster parent liability insurance policy, if
24applicable. The program shall be funded through appropriations
25from the General Revenue Fund, specifically designated for such
26purposes.

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 26 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1    (t) The Department shall perform home studies and
2investigations and shall exercise supervision over visitation
3as ordered by a court pursuant to the Illinois Marriage and
4Dissolution of Marriage Act or the Adoption Act only if:
5        (1) an order entered by an Illinois court specifically
6    directs the Department to perform such services; and
7        (2) the court has ordered one or both of the parties to
8    the proceeding to reimburse the Department for its
9    reasonable costs for providing such services in accordance
10    with Department rules, or has determined that neither party
11    is financially able to pay.
12    The Department shall provide written notification to the
13court of the specific arrangements for supervised visitation
14and projected monthly costs within 60 days of the court order.
15The Department shall send to the court information related to
16the costs incurred except in cases where the court has
17determined the parties are financially unable to pay. The court
18may order additional periodic reports as appropriate.
19    (u) In addition to other information that must be provided,
20whenever the Department places a child with a prospective
21adoptive parent or parents or in a licensed foster home, group
22home, child care institution, or in a relative home, the
23Department shall provide to the prospective adoptive parent or
24parents or other caretaker:
25        (1) available detailed information concerning the
26    child's educational and health history, copies of

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 27 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1    immunization records (including insurance and medical card
2    information), a history of the child's previous
3    placements, if any, and reasons for placement changes
4    excluding any information that identifies or reveals the
5    location of any previous caretaker;
6        (2) a copy of the child's portion of the client service
7    plan, including any visitation arrangement, and all
8    amendments or revisions to it as related to the child; and
9        (3) information containing details of the child's
10    individualized educational plan when the child is
11    receiving special education services.
12    The caretaker shall be informed of any known social or
13behavioral information (including, but not limited to,
14criminal background, fire setting, perpetuation of sexual
15abuse, destructive behavior, and substance abuse) necessary to
16care for and safeguard the children to be placed or currently
17in the home. The Department may prepare a written summary of
18the information required by this paragraph, which may be
19provided to the foster or prospective adoptive parent in
20advance of a placement. The foster or prospective adoptive
21parent may review the supporting documents in the child's file
22in the presence of casework staff. In the case of an emergency
23placement, casework staff shall at least provide known
24information verbally, if necessary, and must subsequently
25provide the information in writing as required by this
26subsection.

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 28 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1    The information described in this subsection shall be
2provided in writing. In the case of emergency placements when
3time does not allow prior review, preparation, and collection
4of written information, the Department shall provide such
5information as it becomes available. Within 10 business days
6after placement, the Department shall obtain from the
7prospective adoptive parent or parents or other caretaker a
8signed verification of receipt of the information provided.
9Within 10 business days after placement, the Department shall
10provide to the child's guardian ad litem a copy of the
11information provided to the prospective adoptive parent or
12parents or other caretaker. The information provided to the
13prospective adoptive parent or parents or other caretaker shall
14be reviewed and approved regarding accuracy at the supervisory
15level.
16    (u-5) Effective July 1, 1995, only foster care placements
17licensed as foster family homes pursuant to the Child Care Act
18of 1969 shall be eligible to receive foster care payments from
19the Department. Relative caregivers who, as of July 1, 1995,
20were approved pursuant to approved relative placement rules
21previously promulgated by the Department at 89 Ill. Adm. Code
22335 and had submitted an application for licensure as a foster
23family home may continue to receive foster care payments only
24until the Department determines that they may be licensed as a
25foster family home or that their application for licensure is
26denied or until September 30, 1995, whichever occurs first.

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 29 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1    (v) The Department shall access criminal history record
2information as defined in the Illinois Uniform Conviction
3Information Act and information maintained in the adjudicatory
4and dispositional record system as defined in Section 2605-355
5of the Department of State Police Law (20 ILCS 2605/2605-355)
6if the Department determines the information is necessary to
7perform its duties under the Abused and Neglected Child
8Reporting Act, the Child Care Act of 1969, and the Children and
9Family Services Act. The Department shall provide for
10interactive computerized communication and processing
11equipment that permits direct on-line communication with the
12Department of State Police's central criminal history data
13repository. The Department shall comply with all certification
14requirements and provide certified operators who have been
15trained by personnel from the Department of State Police. In
16addition, one Office of the Inspector General investigator
17shall have training in the use of the criminal history
18information access system and have access to the terminal. The
19Department of Children and Family Services and its employees
20shall abide by rules and regulations established by the
21Department of State Police relating to the access and
22dissemination of this information.
23    (v-1) Prior to final approval for placement of a child, the
24Department shall conduct a criminal records background check of
25the prospective foster or adoptive parent, including
26fingerprint-based checks of national crime information

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 30 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1databases. Final approval for placement shall not be granted if
2the record check reveals a felony conviction for child abuse or
3neglect, for spousal abuse, for a crime against children, or
4for a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault,
5or homicide, but not including other physical assault or
6battery, or if there is a felony conviction for physical
7assault, battery, or a drug-related offense committed within
8the past 5 years.
9    (v-2) Prior to final approval for placement of a child, the
10Department shall check its child abuse and neglect registry for
11information concerning prospective foster and adoptive
12parents, and any adult living in the home. If any prospective
13foster or adoptive parent or other adult living in the home has
14resided in another state in the preceding 5 years, the
15Department shall request a check of that other state's child
16abuse and neglect registry.
17    (w) Within 120 days of August 20, 1995 (the effective date
18of Public Act 89-392), the Department shall prepare and submit
19to the Governor and the General Assembly, a written plan for
20the development of in-state licensed secure child care
21facilities that care for children who are in need of secure
22living arrangements for their health, safety, and well-being.
23For purposes of this subsection, secure care facility shall
24mean a facility that is designed and operated to ensure that
25all entrances and exits from the facility, a building or a
26distinct part of the building, are under the exclusive control

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 31 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1of the staff of the facility, whether or not the child has the
2freedom of movement within the perimeter of the facility,
3building, or distinct part of the building. The plan shall
4include descriptions of the types of facilities that are needed
5in Illinois; the cost of developing these secure care
6facilities; the estimated number of placements; the potential
7cost savings resulting from the movement of children currently
8out-of-state who are projected to be returned to Illinois; the
9necessary geographic distribution of these facilities in
10Illinois; and a proposed timetable for development of such
11facilities.
12    (x) The Department shall conduct annual credit history
13checks to determine the financial history of children placed
14under its guardianship pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of
151987. The Department shall conduct such credit checks starting
16when a ward turns 12 years old and each year thereafter for the
17duration of the guardianship as terminated pursuant to the
18Juvenile Court Act of 1987. The Department shall determine if
19financial exploitation of the child's personal information has
20occurred. If financial exploitation appears to have taken place
21or is presently ongoing, the Department shall notify the proper
22law enforcement agency, the proper State's Attorney, or the
23Attorney General.
24    (y) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act
25of the 96th General Assembly, a child with a disability who
26receives residential and educational services from the

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 32 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1Department shall be eligible to receive transition services in
2accordance with Article 14 of the School Code from the age of
314.5 through age 21, inclusive, notwithstanding the child's
4residential services arrangement. For purposes of this
5subsection, "child with a disability" means a child with a
6disability as defined by the federal Individuals with
7Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004.
8    (z) The Department shall access criminal history record
9information as defined as "background information" in this
10subsection and criminal history record information as defined
11in the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act for each
12Department employee or Department applicant. Each Department
13employee or Department applicant shall submit his or her
14fingerprints to the Department of State Police in the form and
15manner prescribed by the Department of State Police. These
16fingerprints shall be checked against the fingerprint records
17now and hereafter filed in the Department of State Police and
18the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records
19databases. The Department of State Police shall charge a fee
20for conducting the criminal history record check, which shall
21be deposited into the State Police Services Fund and shall not
22exceed the actual cost of the record check. The Department of
23State Police shall furnish, pursuant to positive
24identification, all Illinois conviction information to the
25Department of Children and Family Services.
26    For purposes of this subsection:

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 33 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1    "Background information" means all of the following:
2        (i) Upon the request of the Department of Children and
3    Family Services, conviction information obtained from the
4    Department of State Police as a result of a
5    fingerprint-based criminal history records check of the
6    Illinois criminal history records database and the Federal
7    Bureau of Investigation criminal history records database
8    concerning a Department employee or Department applicant.
9        (ii) Information obtained by the Department of
10    Children and Family Services after performing a check of
11    the Department of State Police's Sex Offender Database, as
12    authorized by Section 120 of the Sex Offender Community
13    Notification Law, concerning a Department employee or
14    Department applicant.
15        (iii) Information obtained by the Department of
16    Children and Family Services after performing a check of
17    the Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS)
18    operated and maintained by the Department.
19    "Department employee" means a full-time or temporary
20employee coded or certified within the State of Illinois
21Personnel System.
22    "Department applicant" means an individual who has
23conditional Department full-time or part-time work, a
24contractor, an individual used to replace or supplement staff,
25an academic intern, a volunteer in Department offices or on
26Department contracts, a work-study student, an individual or

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 34 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1entity licensed by the Department, or an unlicensed service
2provider who works as a condition of a contract or an agreement
3and whose work may bring the unlicensed service provider into
4contact with Department clients or client records.
5(Source: P.A. 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13; 98-249, eff. 1-1-14;
698-570, eff. 8-27-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 98-803, eff.
71-1-15.)
 
8    Section 10. The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 is amended by
9changing Sections 2-23, 2-28, and 2-31 as follows:
 
10    (705 ILCS 405/2-23)  (from Ch. 37, par. 802-23)
11    Sec. 2-23. Kinds of dispositional orders.
12    (1) The following kinds of orders of disposition may be
13made in respect of wards of the court:
14        (a) A minor under 18 years of age found to be neglected
15    or abused under Section 2-3 or dependent under Section 2-4
16    may be (1) continued in the custody of his or her parents,
17    guardian or legal custodian; (2) placed in accordance with
18    Section 2-27; (3) restored to the custody of the parent,
19    parents, guardian, or legal custodian, provided the court
20    shall order the parent, parents, guardian, or legal
21    custodian to cooperate with the Department of Children and
22    Family Services and comply with the terms of an after-care
23    plan or risk the loss of custody of the child and the
24    possible termination of their parental rights; or (4)

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 35 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1    ordered partially or completely emancipated in accordance
2    with the provisions of the Emancipation of Minors Act.
3        However, in any case in which a minor is found by the
4    court to be neglected or abused under Section 2-3 of this
5    Act, custody of the minor shall not be restored to any
6    parent, guardian or legal custodian whose acts or omissions
7    or both have been identified, pursuant to subsection (1) of
8    Section 2-21, as forming the basis for the court's finding
9    of abuse or neglect, until such time as a hearing is held
10    on the issue of the best interests of the minor and the
11    fitness of such parent, guardian or legal custodian to care
12    for the minor without endangering the minor's health or
13    safety, and the court enters an order that such parent,
14    guardian or legal custodian is fit to care for the minor.
15        (b) A minor under 18 years of age found to be dependent
16    under Section 2-4 may be (1) placed in accordance with
17    Section 2-27 or (2) ordered partially or completely
18    emancipated in accordance with the provisions of the
19    Emancipation of Minors Act.
20        However, in any case in which a minor is found by the
21    court to be dependent under Section 2-4 of this Act,
22    custody of the minor shall not be restored to any parent,
23    guardian or legal custodian whose acts or omissions or both
24    have been identified, pursuant to subsection (1) of Section
25    2-21, as forming the basis for the court's finding of
26    dependency, until such time as a hearing is held on the

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 36 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1    issue of the fitness of such parent, guardian or legal
2    custodian to care for the minor without endangering the
3    minor's health or safety, and the court enters an order
4    that such parent, guardian or legal custodian is fit to
5    care for the minor.
6        (b-1) A minor between the ages of 18 and 21 may be
7    placed pursuant to Section 2-27 of this Act if (1) the
8    court has granted a supplemental petition to reinstate
9    wardship of the minor pursuant to subsection (2) of Section
10    2-33, or (2) the court has adjudicated the minor a ward of
11    the court, permitted the minor to return home under an
12    order of protection, and subsequently made a finding that
13    it is in the minor's best interest to vacate the order of
14    protection and commit the minor to the Department of
15    Children and Family Services for care and service.
16        (c) When the court awards guardianship to the
17    Department of Children and Family Services, the court shall
18    order the parents to cooperate with the Department of
19    Children and Family Services, comply with the terms of the
20    service plans, and correct the conditions that require the
21    child to be in care, or risk termination of their parental
22    rights.
23    (2) Any order of disposition may provide for protective
24supervision under Section 2-24 and may include an order of
25protection under Section 2-25.
26    Unless the order of disposition expressly so provides, it

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 37 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1does not operate to close proceedings on the pending petition,
2but is subject to modification, not inconsistent with Section
32-28, until final closing and discharge of the proceedings
4under Section 2-31.
5    (3) The court also shall enter any other orders necessary
6to fulfill the service plan, including, but not limited to, (i)
7orders requiring parties to cooperate with services, (ii)
8restraining orders controlling the conduct of any party likely
9to frustrate the achievement of the goal, and (iii) visiting
10orders. When the child is placed separately from a sibling, the
11court shall review the Sibling Contact Support Plan developed
12under subsection (f) of Section 7.4 of the Children and Family
13Services Act, if applicable. If the Department has not convened
14a meeting to develop a Sibling Contact Support Plan, or if the
15court finds that the existing Plan is not in the child's best
16interest, the court may enter an order requiring the Department
17to develop and implement a Sibling Contact Support Plan under
18subsection (f) of Section 7.4 of the Children and Family
19Services Act or order mediation. Unless otherwise specifically
20authorized by law, the court is not empowered under this
21subsection (3) to order specific placements, specific
22services, or specific service providers to be included in the
23plan. If, after receiving evidence, the court determines that
24the services contained in the plan are not reasonably
25calculated to facilitate achievement of the permanency goal,
26the court shall put in writing the factual basis supporting the

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 38 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1determination and enter specific findings based on the
2evidence. The court also shall enter an order for the
3Department to develop and implement a new service plan or to
4implement changes to the current service plan consistent with
5the court's findings. The new service plan shall be filed with
6the court and served on all parties within 45 days after the
7date of the order. The court shall continue the matter until
8the new service plan is filed. Unless otherwise specifically
9authorized by law, the court is not empowered under this
10subsection (3) or under subsection (2) to order specific
11placements, specific services, or specific service providers
12to be included in the plan.
13    (4) In addition to any other order of disposition, the
14court may order any minor adjudicated neglected with respect to
15his or her own injurious behavior to make restitution, in
16monetary or non-monetary form, under the terms and conditions
17of Section 5-5-6 of the Unified Code of Corrections, except
18that the "presentence hearing" referred to therein shall be the
19dispositional hearing for purposes of this Section. The parent,
20guardian or legal custodian of the minor may pay some or all of
21such restitution on the minor's behalf.
22    (5) Any order for disposition where the minor is committed
23or placed in accordance with Section 2-27 shall provide for the
24parents or guardian of the estate of such minor to pay to the
25legal custodian or guardian of the person of the minor such
26sums as are determined by the custodian or guardian of the

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 39 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1person of the minor as necessary for the minor's needs. Such
2payments may not exceed the maximum amounts provided for by
3Section 9.1 of the Children and Family Services Act.
4    (6) Whenever the order of disposition requires the minor to
5attend school or participate in a program of training, the
6truant officer or designated school official shall regularly
7report to the court if the minor is a chronic or habitual
8truant under Section 26-2a of the School Code.
9    (7) The court may terminate the parental rights of a parent
10at the initial dispositional hearing if all of the conditions
11in subsection (5) of Section 2-21 are met.
12(Source: P.A. 96-581, eff. 1-1-10; 96-600, eff. 8-21-09;
1396-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 97-1076, eff. 8-24-12.)
 
14    (705 ILCS 405/2-28)  (from Ch. 37, par. 802-28)
15    Sec. 2-28. Court review.
16    (1) The court may require any legal custodian or guardian
17of the person appointed under this Act to report periodically
18to the court or may cite him into court and require him or his
19agency, to make a full and accurate report of his or its doings
20in behalf of the minor. The custodian or guardian, within 10
21days after such citation, shall make the report, either in
22writing verified by affidavit or orally under oath in open
23court, or otherwise as the court directs. Upon the hearing of
24the report the court may remove the custodian or guardian and
25appoint another in his stead or restore the minor to the

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 40 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1custody of his parents or former guardian or custodian.
2However, custody of the minor shall not be restored to any
3parent, guardian or legal custodian in any case in which the
4minor is found to be neglected or abused under Section 2-3 or
5dependent under Section 2-4 of this Act, unless the minor can
6be cared for at home without endangering the minor's health or
7safety and it is in the best interests of the minor, and if
8such neglect, abuse, or dependency is found by the court under
9paragraph (1) of Section 2-21 of this Act to have come about
10due to the acts or omissions or both of such parent, guardian
11or legal custodian, until such time as an investigation is made
12as provided in paragraph (5) and a hearing is held on the issue
13of the fitness of such parent, guardian or legal custodian to
14care for the minor and the court enters an order that such
15parent, guardian or legal custodian is fit to care for the
16minor.
17    (2) The first permanency hearing shall be conducted by the
18judge. Subsequent permanency hearings may be heard by a judge
19or by hearing officers appointed or approved by the court in
20the manner set forth in Section 2-28.1 of this Act. The initial
21hearing shall be held (a) within 12 months from the date
22temporary custody was taken, regardless of whether an
23adjudication or dispositional hearing has been completed
24within that time frame, (b) if the parental rights of both
25parents have been terminated in accordance with the procedure
26described in subsection (5) of Section 2-21, within 30 days of

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 41 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1the order for termination of parental rights and appointment of
2a guardian with power to consent to adoption, or (c) in
3accordance with subsection (2) of Section 2-13.1. Subsequent
4permanency hearings shall be held every 6 months or more
5frequently if necessary in the court's determination following
6the initial permanency hearing, in accordance with the
7standards set forth in this Section, until the court determines
8that the plan and goal have been achieved. Once the plan and
9goal have been achieved, if the minor remains in substitute
10care, the case shall be reviewed at least every 6 months
11thereafter, subject to the provisions of this Section, unless
12the minor is placed in the guardianship of a suitable relative
13or other person and the court determines that further
14monitoring by the court does not further the health, safety or
15best interest of the child and that this is a stable permanent
16placement. The permanency hearings must occur within the time
17frames set forth in this subsection and may not be delayed in
18anticipation of a report from any source or due to the agency's
19failure to timely file its written report (this written report
20means the one required under the next paragraph and does not
21mean the service plan also referred to in that paragraph).
22    The public agency that is the custodian or guardian of the
23minor, or another agency responsible for the minor's care,
24shall ensure that all parties to the permanency hearings are
25provided a copy of the most recent service plan prepared within
26the prior 6 months at least 14 days in advance of the hearing.

 

 

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1If not contained in the plan, the agency shall also include a
2report setting forth (i) any special physical, psychological,
3educational, medical, emotional, or other needs of the minor or
4his or her family that are relevant to a permanency or
5placement determination and (ii) for any minor age 16 or over,
6a written description of the programs and services that will
7enable the minor to prepare for independent living. The
8agency's written report must detail what progress or lack of
9progress the parent has made in correcting the conditions
10requiring the child to be in care; whether the child can be
11returned home without jeopardizing the child's health, safety,
12and welfare, and if not, what permanency goal is recommended to
13be in the best interests of the child, and why the other
14permanency goals are not appropriate. The caseworker must
15appear and testify at the permanency hearing. If a permanency
16hearing has not previously been scheduled by the court, the
17moving party shall move for the setting of a permanency hearing
18and the entry of an order within the time frames set forth in
19this subsection.
20    At the permanency hearing, the court shall determine the
21future status of the child. The court shall set one of the
22following permanency goals:
23        (A) The minor will be returned home by a specific date
24    within 5 months.
25        (B) The minor will be in short-term care with a
26    continued goal to return home within a period not to exceed

 

 

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1    one year, where the progress of the parent or parents is
2    substantial giving particular consideration to the age and
3    individual needs of the minor.
4        (B-1) The minor will be in short-term care with a
5    continued goal to return home pending a status hearing.
6    When the court finds that a parent has not made reasonable
7    efforts or reasonable progress to date, the court shall
8    identify what actions the parent and the Department must
9    take in order to justify a finding of reasonable efforts or
10    reasonable progress and shall set a status hearing to be
11    held not earlier than 9 months from the date of
12    adjudication nor later than 11 months from the date of
13    adjudication during which the parent's progress will again
14    be reviewed.
15        (C) The minor will be in substitute care pending court
16    determination on termination of parental rights.
17        (D) Adoption, provided that parental rights have been
18    terminated or relinquished.
19        (E) The guardianship of the minor will be transferred
20    to an individual or couple on a permanent basis provided
21    that goals (A) through (D) have been ruled out.
22        (F) The minor over age 15 will be in substitute care
23    pending independence.
24        (G) The minor will be in substitute care because he or
25    she cannot be provided for in a home environment due to
26    developmental disabilities or mental illness or because he

 

 

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1    or she is a danger to self or others, provided that goals
2    (A) through (D) have been ruled out.
3    In selecting any permanency goal, the court shall indicate
4in writing the reasons the goal was selected and why the
5preceding goals were ruled out. Where the court has selected a
6permanency goal other than (A), (B), or (B-1), the Department
7of Children and Family Services shall not provide further
8reunification services, but shall provide services consistent
9with the goal selected.
10        (H) Notwithstanding any other provision in this
11    Section, the court may select the goal of continuing foster
12    care as a permanency goal if:
13            (1) The Department of Children and Family Services
14        has custody and guardianship of the minor;
15            (2) The court has ruled out all other permanency
16        goals based on the child's best interest;
17            (3) The court has found compelling reasons, based
18        on written documentation reviewed by the court, to
19        place the minor in continuing foster care. Compelling
20        reasons include:
21                (a) the child does not wish to be adopted or to
22            be placed in the guardianship of his or her
23            relative or foster care placement;
24                (b) the child exhibits an extreme level of need
25            such that the removal of the child from his or her
26            placement would be detrimental to the child; or

 

 

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1                (c) the child who is the subject of the
2            permanency hearing has existing close and strong
3            bonds with a sibling, and achievement of another
4            permanency goal would substantially interfere with
5            the subject child's sibling relationship, taking
6            into consideration the nature and extent of the
7            relationship, and whether ongoing contact is in
8            the subject child's best interest, including
9            long-term emotional interest, as compared with the
10            legal and emotional benefit of permanence;
11            (4) The child has lived with the relative or foster
12        parent for at least one year; and
13            (5) The relative or foster parent currently caring
14        for the child is willing and capable of providing the
15        child with a stable and permanent environment.
16    The court shall set a permanency goal that is in the best
17interest of the child. In determining that goal, the court
18shall consult with the minor in an age-appropriate manner
19regarding the proposed permanency or transition plan for the
20minor. The court's determination shall include the following
21factors:
22        (1) Age of the child.
23        (2) Options available for permanence, including both
24    out-of-State and in-State placement options.
25        (3) Current placement of the child and the intent of
26    the family regarding adoption.

 

 

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1        (4) Emotional, physical, and mental status or
2    condition of the child.
3        (5) Types of services previously offered and whether or
4    not the services were successful and, if not successful,
5    the reasons the services failed.
6        (6) Availability of services currently needed and
7    whether the services exist.
8        (7) Status of siblings of the minor.
9    The court shall consider (i) the permanency goal contained
10in the service plan, (ii) the appropriateness of the services
11contained in the plan and whether those services have been
12provided, (iii) whether reasonable efforts have been made by
13all the parties to the service plan to achieve the goal, and
14(iv) whether the plan and goal have been achieved. All evidence
15relevant to determining these questions, including oral and
16written reports, may be admitted and may be relied on to the
17extent of their probative value.
18    The court shall make findings as to whether, in violation
19of Section 8.2 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act,
20any portion of the service plan compels a child or parent to
21engage in any activity or refrain from any activity that is not
22reasonably related to remedying a condition or conditions that
23gave rise or which could give rise to any finding of child
24abuse or neglect. The services contained in the service plan
25shall include services reasonably related to remedy the
26conditions that gave rise to removal of the child from the home

 

 

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1of his or her parents, guardian, or legal custodian or that the
2court has found must be remedied prior to returning the child
3home. Any tasks the court requires of the parents, guardian, or
4legal custodian or child prior to returning the child home,
5must be reasonably related to remedying a condition or
6conditions that gave rise to or which could give rise to any
7finding of child abuse or neglect.
8    If the permanency goal is to return home, the court shall
9make findings that identify any problems that are causing
10continued placement of the children away from the home and
11identify what outcomes would be considered a resolution to
12these problems. The court shall explain to the parents that
13these findings are based on the information that the court has
14at that time and may be revised, should additional evidence be
15presented to the court.
16    The court shall review the Sibling Contact Support Plan
17developed or modified under subsection (f) of Section 7.4 of
18the Children and Family Services Act, if applicable. If the
19Department has not convened a meeting to develop or modify a
20Sibling Contact Support Plan, or if the court finds that the
21existing Plan is not in the child's best interest, the court
22may enter an order requiring the Department to develop, modify
23or implement a Sibling Contact Support Plan, or order
24mediation.
25    If the goal has been achieved, the court shall enter orders
26that are necessary to conform the minor's legal custody and

 

 

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1status to those findings.
2    If, after receiving evidence, the court determines that the
3services contained in the plan are not reasonably calculated to
4facilitate achievement of the permanency goal, the court shall
5put in writing the factual basis supporting the determination
6and enter specific findings based on the evidence. The court
7also shall enter an order for the Department to develop and
8implement a new service plan or to implement changes to the
9current service plan consistent with the court's findings. The
10new service plan shall be filed with the court and served on
11all parties within 45 days of the date of the order. The court
12shall continue the matter until the new service plan is filed.
13Unless otherwise specifically authorized by law, the court is
14not empowered under this subsection (2) or under subsection (3)
15to order specific placements, specific services, or specific
16service providers to be included in the plan.
17    A guardian or custodian appointed by the court pursuant to
18this Act shall file updated case plans with the court every 6
19months.
20    Rights of wards of the court under this Act are enforceable
21against any public agency by complaints for relief by mandamus
22filed in any proceedings brought under this Act.
23    (3) Following the permanency hearing, the court shall enter
24a written order that includes the determinations required under
25subsection (2) of this Section and sets forth the following:
26        (a) The future status of the minor, including the

 

 

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1    permanency goal, and any order necessary to conform the
2    minor's legal custody and status to such determination; or
3        (b) If the permanency goal of the minor cannot be
4    achieved immediately, the specific reasons for continuing
5    the minor in the care of the Department of Children and
6    Family Services or other agency for short term placement,
7    and the following determinations:
8            (i) (Blank).
9            (ii) Whether the services required by the court and
10        by any service plan prepared within the prior 6 months
11        have been provided and (A) if so, whether the services
12        were reasonably calculated to facilitate the
13        achievement of the permanency goal or (B) if not
14        provided, why the services were not provided.
15            (iii) Whether the minor's placement is necessary,
16        and appropriate to the plan and goal, recognizing the
17        right of minors to the least restrictive (most
18        family-like) setting available and in close proximity
19        to the parents' home consistent with the health,
20        safety, best interest and special needs of the minor
21        and, if the minor is placed out-of-State, whether the
22        out-of-State placement continues to be appropriate and
23        consistent with the health, safety, and best interest
24        of the minor.
25            (iv) (Blank).
26            (v) (Blank).

 

 

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1    (4) The minor or any person interested in the minor may
2apply to the court for a change in custody of the minor and the
3appointment of a new custodian or guardian of the person or for
4the restoration of the minor to the custody of his parents or
5former guardian or custodian.
6    When return home is not selected as the permanency goal:
7        (a) The Department, the minor, or the current foster
8    parent or relative caregiver seeking private guardianship
9    may file a motion for private guardianship of the minor.
10    Appointment of a guardian under this Section requires
11    approval of the court.
12        (b) The State's Attorney may file a motion to terminate
13    parental rights of any parent who has failed to make
14    reasonable efforts to correct the conditions which led to
15    the removal of the child or reasonable progress toward the
16    return of the child, as defined in subdivision (D)(m) of
17    Section 1 of the Adoption Act or for whom any other
18    unfitness ground for terminating parental rights as
19    defined in subdivision (D) of Section 1 of the Adoption Act
20    exists.
21        When parental rights have been terminated for a minimum
22    of 3 years and the child who is the subject of the
23    permanency hearing is 13 years old or older and is not
24    currently placed in a placement likely to achieve
25    permanency, the Department of Children and Family Services
26    shall make reasonable efforts to locate parents whose

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 51 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1    rights have been terminated, except when the Court
2    determines that those efforts would be futile or
3    inconsistent with the subject child's best interests. The
4    Department of Children and Family Services shall assess the
5    appropriateness of the parent whose rights have been
6    terminated, and shall, as appropriate, foster and support
7    connections between the parent whose rights have been
8    terminated and the youth. The Department of Children and
9    Family Services shall document its determinations and
10    efforts to foster connections in the child's case plan.
11    Custody of the minor shall not be restored to any parent,
12guardian or legal custodian in any case in which the minor is
13found to be neglected or abused under Section 2-3 or dependent
14under Section 2-4 of this Act, unless the minor can be cared
15for at home without endangering his or her health or safety and
16it is in the best interest of the minor, and if such neglect,
17abuse, or dependency is found by the court under paragraph (1)
18of Section 2-21 of this Act to have come about due to the acts
19or omissions or both of such parent, guardian or legal
20custodian, until such time as an investigation is made as
21provided in paragraph (5) and a hearing is held on the issue of
22the health, safety and best interest of the minor and the
23fitness of such parent, guardian or legal custodian to care for
24the minor and the court enters an order that such parent,
25guardian or legal custodian is fit to care for the minor. In
26the event that the minor has attained 18 years of age and the

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 52 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1guardian or custodian petitions the court for an order
2terminating his guardianship or custody, guardianship or
3custody shall terminate automatically 30 days after the receipt
4of the petition unless the court orders otherwise. No legal
5custodian or guardian of the person may be removed without his
6consent until given notice and an opportunity to be heard by
7the court.
8    When the court orders a child restored to the custody of
9the parent or parents, the court shall order the parent or
10parents to cooperate with the Department of Children and Family
11Services and comply with the terms of an after-care plan, or
12risk the loss of custody of the child and possible termination
13of their parental rights. The court may also enter an order of
14protective supervision in accordance with Section 2-24.
15    (5) Whenever a parent, guardian, or legal custodian files a
16motion for restoration of custody of the minor, and the minor
17was adjudicated neglected, abused, or dependent as a result of
18physical abuse, the court shall cause to be made an
19investigation as to whether the movant has ever been charged
20with or convicted of any criminal offense which would indicate
21the likelihood of any further physical abuse to the minor.
22Evidence of such criminal convictions shall be taken into
23account in determining whether the minor can be cared for at
24home without endangering his or her health or safety and
25fitness of the parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
26        (a) Any agency of this State or any subdivision thereof

 

 

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1    shall co-operate with the agent of the court in providing
2    any information sought in the investigation.
3        (b) The information derived from the investigation and
4    any conclusions or recommendations derived from the
5    information shall be provided to the parent, guardian, or
6    legal custodian seeking restoration of custody prior to the
7    hearing on fitness and the movant shall have an opportunity
8    at the hearing to refute the information or contest its
9    significance.
10        (c) All information obtained from any investigation
11    shall be confidential as provided in Section 5-150 of this
12    Act.
13(Source: P.A. 97-425, eff. 8-16-11; 97-1076, eff. 8-24-12;
1498-756, eff. 7-16-14.)
 
15    (705 ILCS 405/2-31)  (from Ch. 37, par. 802-31)
16    Sec. 2-31. Duration of wardship and discharge of
17proceedings.
18    (1) All proceedings under this Act in respect of any minor
19for whom a petition was filed after the effective date of this
20amendatory Act of 1991 automatically terminate upon the minor
21attaining the age of 21. The clerk of the court shall at that
22time record all proceedings under this Act as finally closed
23and discharged for that reason his attaining the age of 19
24years, except that a court may continue the wardship of a minor
25until age 21 for good cause when there is satisfactory evidence

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 54 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1presented to the court and the court makes written factual
2findings that the health, safety, and best interest of the
3minor and the public require the continuation of the wardship.
4    (2) Whenever the court determines, and makes written
5factual findings, that health, safety, and the best interests
6of the minor and the public no longer require the wardship of
7the court, the court shall order the wardship terminated and
8all proceedings under this Act respecting that minor finally
9closed and discharged. The court may at the same time continue
10or terminate any custodianship or guardianship theretofore
11ordered but the termination must be made in compliance with
12Section 2-28. When terminating wardship under this Section, if
13the minor is over 18 and is exiting wardship to live
14independently, or if wardship is terminated in conjunction with
15an order partially or completely emancipating the minor in
16accordance with the Emancipation of Minors Act, the court shall
17also make specific findings of fact as to the minor's wishes
18regarding case closure and the manner in which the minor will
19maintain independence. The minor's lack of cooperation with
20services provided by the Department of Children and Family
21Services shall not by itself be considered sufficient evidence
22that the minor is prepared to live independently and that it is
23in the best interest of the minor to terminate wardship. In
24ruling on a motion by any party requesting that the case of a
25minor over the age of 18 be closed to independence, the court,
26upon the request of any party, shall conduct a permanency

 

 

09900HB3507ham001- 55 -LRB099 11087 KTG 33225 a

1hearing instanter pursuant to Section 2-28. After conducting
2the permanency hearing, the court is authorized to enter any
3orders necessary to assist the minor in preparing to live
4independently, including orders requiring the Department of
5Children and Family Services to provide services and placement.
6    (3) (Blank) The wardship of the minor and any custodianship
7or guardianship respecting the minor for whom a petition was
8filed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991
9automatically terminates when he attains the age of 19 years
10except as set forth in subsection (1) of this Section. The
11clerk of the court shall at that time record all proceedings
12under this Act as finally closed and discharged for that
13reason.
14(Source: P.A. 96-581, eff. 1-1-10.)".