750 ILCS 50/18.08

(750 ILCS 50/18.08)

Sec. 18.08. Adoption Registry-Confidential Intermediary Advisory Council.

(a) There shall be established under the Department of Public Health and the Department of Children and Family Services the Adoption Registry-Confidential Intermediary Advisory Council. The Council shall include:

(1) the Director of the Department of Public Health, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the co-chairperson of the Council;

(2) the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the co-chairperson of the Council;

(3) an attorney representing the Attorney General's Office appointed by the Attorney General;

(4) a currently certified confidential intermediary appointed by the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services;

(5) one representative from each of the following organizations appointed by the Director of the Department of Public Health: Adoption Advocates of America, Adoptive Families Today, Catholic Conference of Illinois, Chicago Area Families for Adoption, Chicago Bar Association, Child Care Association of Illinois, Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois, Child Welfare Advisory Council, The Cradle, Healing Hearts, Illinois Foster Parents Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois State Medical Society, Jewish Children's Bureau, LDS Social Services, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Maryville Academy, Midwest Adoption Center, St. Mary's Services, Stars of David, Truthseekers in Adoption, and White Oak Foundation;

(6) 5 additional members appointed by the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services who shall, when making those appointments, consider advocates for adopted persons, adoptive parents, or birth parents, lawyers who represent clients in private adoptions, lawyers specializing in privacy law, and representatives of agencies involved in adoptions;

(7) an attorney from the Department of Children and Family Services, who shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting advisor to the Council; and

(8) the person directly responsible for administering the confidential intermediary program, who shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting advisor to the Council.

(b) If any one of the named organizations in item (5) of subsection (a) notifies the Director of the Department of Public Health or the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services in writing that the organization does not wish to participate on the Adoption Registry-Confidential Intermediary Advisory Council or that the organization is no longer functioning, the Directors may designate another organization that represents the same constituency as the named organization to replace the named organization on the Council.

(c) Council members shall receive no compensation for their service. The Council shall meet no less often than once every 6 months and shall meet as the Director of the Department of Public Health or the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services deems necessary. The Council shall have only an advisory role to the Directors and may make recommendations to the pertinent Department regarding the development of rules, procedures, and forms that will promote the efficient and effective operation of (i) the Illinois Adoption Registry, (ii) the Office of Vital Records as it pertains to the Registry and to access to the non-certified copy of the original birth certificate, and (iii) the Confidential Intermediary Program in Illinois. The Council will also serve in an advisory capacity regarding the effective delivery of adult post-adoption services in Illinois, including:

(1) advising the Department of Public Health on the development of rules, procedures, and forms utilized by the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange;

(2) making recommendations regarding the procedures, tools, and technology that will promote efficient and effective operation of the Registry;

(3) assisting the Department of Public Health with the development, publication, and circulation of an informational pamphlet that describes the purpose, function, and mechanics of the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange, including information about who is eligible to register and how to register; information about the questions and concerns that registrants may develop when they register or when they receive information from the Registry; and a list of services, programs, groups, and informational websites that are available to assist registrants with their questions and concerns;

(4) collecting, compiling, and reviewing statistical data and empirical information concerning the procedures in the Registry including, but not limited to, data concerning the filing of Denials of Information Exchange, Information Exchange Authorizations, Requests for a Non-Certified Copy of an Original Birth Certificate, and Birth Parent Preference Forms;

(5) making recommendations to the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services regarding the standards for certification for confidential intermediaries;

(6) making recommendations to the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services concerning oversight methods used to verify that intermediaries are complying with the appropriate laws;

(7) assisting the Department of Children and Family Services with training for confidential intermediaries, including training with respect to federal and State privacy laws;

(8) reviewing the relationship between confidential intermediaries and the court system and making recommendations to the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services concerning sample orders that define the scope of the intermediaries' access to information;

(9) considering any recent violations of policy or procedures by confidential intermediaries and remedial steps, including decertification, which might be recommended to the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services so as to prevent future violations; and

(10) reviewing reports from the Department of Children and Family Services submitted by July 1 and January 1 of each year in order detailing the penalties assessed and collected, the amounts of related deposits into the DCFS Children's Services Fund, and any expenditures from such deposits.

(d) Within 45 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, both the Adoption Registry Advisory Council and the Confidential Intermediary Council shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, turn over the Council's records to the Adoption Registry-Confidential Intermediary Advisory Council and cease to function.

(Source: P.A. 97-1063, eff. 1-1-13; 98-704, eff. 1-1-15.)