(20 ILCS 505/35.6)
Sec. 35.6. State-wide toll-free telephone
number. (a) There shall be a State-wide, toll-free telephone number for any
person, whether or not mandated by law, to report to the Inspector General
of
the Department, suspected misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, or violations
of rules, procedures, or laws by Department employees, service providers, or
contractors that is detrimental to the best interest of children receiving
care, services, or training from or who were committed to the Department as
allowed under Section 5 of this Act. Immediately upon receipt of a telephone
call regarding suspected abuse or neglect of children, the Inspector General
shall refer the call to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline or to the Illinois State
Police as mandated by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and Section
35.5 of this Act. A mandated reporter shall not be relieved of the mandated reporter's duty
to report incidents to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline referred to in this
subsection. The Inspector General shall also establish rules and procedures
for evaluating reports of suspected misconduct and violation of rules and for
conducting an investigation of such reports.
(b) The Inspector General shall prepare and maintain written records from
the reporting source that shall contain the following information to the extent
known at the time the report is made: (1) the names and addresses of the child
and the person responsible for the child's welfare; (2) the nature of the
misconduct and the detriment cause to the child's best interest; (3) the names
of the persons or agencies responsible for the alleged misconduct. Any
investigation conducted by the Inspector General pursuant to such information
shall not duplicate and shall be separate from the investigation mandated by
the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. However, the Inspector General
may include the results of such investigation in reports compiled under this
Section. At the request of the reporting agent, the Inspector General shall
keep the identity of the reporting agent strictly confidential from the
operation of the Department, until the Inspector General shall determine what
recommendations shall be made with regard to discipline or sanction of the
Department employee, service provider, or contractor, with the exception of
suspected child abuse or neglect which shall be handled consistent with the
Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and Section 35.5 of this Act. The
Department shall take whatever steps are necessary to assure that a person
making a report in good faith under this Section is not adversely affected
solely on the basis of having made such report.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)
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