Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB4988

Amends the County Shelter Care and Detention Home Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning minimum standards for shelter care homes and detention homes. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning non-secure custody and detention. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning discipline in facilities of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Raises the minimum age in which a delinquent minor may be placed in detention from 10 to 13 years of age. Creates the Illinois Youth Alternatives to Confinement Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall conduct a study and make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning: (1) raising the lower age of confinement in Illinois by one year from 13 to 14 and developing a range of community-based alternatives as needed; (2) prohibiting confinement of youths guilty of misdemeanor offenses and developing a range of community-based alternatives as needed; (3) reducing the confinement of youths based on technical probation or parole violations and developing a range of community-based alternatives as needed; (4) eliminating lengthy confinement of youths who have served their time but have no alternative placement; and (5) prohibiting confinement of youths charged as delinquents in adult jails. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 30, 2009. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Creates the Office of the Juvenile Advocate to protect and promote the legal rights for youth in programs and facilities committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Outlines the powers and duties of the Juvenile Advocate. Requires the Juvenile Advocate to report to the Director of Juvenile Justice, the General Assembly, and the Governor a summary of reports and investigations made for the prior fiscal year no later than January 1 of each year. Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exclude information and records collected by the Juvenile Advocate from the requirements of the Act. Effective immediately.

Provides that the Illinois Youth Alternative to Confinement Task Force is created within the Department of Juvenile Justice. Provides that the Task Force may receive funding through specific appropriations available for its purposes made to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Requires the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide administrative support to the Task Force.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as amended. Deletes the amendatory provisions of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Deletes provisions concerning a new Illinois Youth Alternatives to Confinement Task Force. Deletes the amendatory changes to the Unified Code of Corrections and the Freedom of Information Act. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Changes the composition of, appointments to, and meetings of the Juvenile Advisory Board. Changes the purposes of the Board. Provides that the Board shall advise the Department of Juvenile Justice on all aspects of the Department's responsibilities under the Act. Provides that by December 30, 2010, the Board shall conduct a study and make recommendations to the Director, Governor, and General Assembly concerning: (1) appropriateness of confinement of youth guilty of misdemeanor offenses; (2) appropriateness of confinement of youth based on technical probation and parole violations; (3) appropriateness of parole system for youths, and average length of parole; (4) availability of alternative placements for youth who have served their time but have no placement; (5) availability of community based programming for youth or low level offenders, or both, including technical violators; (6) funding of confinement and of alternative community based programming for young or low level offenders, or both; and (7) appropriateness of the minimum age of detention. Effective immediately.

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