HB5678 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 17772 KTG 66013 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5678

Introduced 2/16/2012, by Rep. Keith P. Sommer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

325 ILCS 5/7a new

Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect shall be confirmed in a record made and maintained by the Department of Children and Family Services regardless of whether the report prompts a formal investigation. Provides that the record of a report shall include the name of the subject of the report and, if voluntarily provided, the name, address, and phone number of the person who reported the alleged abuse or neglect. Provides that the record of a report shall be made and maintained regardless of whether the report is made by a mandated reporter or by any other person who has reasonable cause to believe a child is an abused child or a neglected child. Requires the Department to keep all records on file for at least one year. Provides that nothing in this provision shall be construed to allow the name or identity of a reporter to be disclosed in violation of specified protections afforded under the Act.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning children.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act is amended by adding Section 7a as follows:

(325 ILCS 5/7a new)

Sec. 7a. Record of reports. All reports of suspected child abuse or neglect made under this Act on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly either (i) by telephone to the central register established under Section 7.7 on the single, State-wide, toll-free telephone number established in Section 7.6 or (ii) in person or by telephone through the nearest Department office shall be confirmed in a record made and maintained by the Department regardless of whether the report prompts a formal investigation. The record of a report shall include the name of the subject of the report and, if voluntarily provided, the name, address, and phone number of the person who reported the alleged abuse or neglect. The record of a report shall be made and maintained regardless of whether the report is made by a mandated reporter listed under Section 4 of this Act or by any other person who has reasonable cause to believe a child is an abused child or a neglected child. All records made under this Section shall be kept on file with the Department for at least one year. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to allow the name or identity of a reporter to be disclosed in violation of the protections afforded under Section 7.19 of this Act.