State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Introduced ][ House Amendment 001 ]

90_HB0097eng

      20 ILCS 505/5             from Ch. 23, par. 5005
          Amends the Children and Family  Services  Act.   Provides
      that  adoption  assistance  payments  may  vary  based on the
      needs, age, and placement of the child.   Provides  that  the
      payments shall not exceed the cost of foster care payments or
      special  service payments.  (Now payment must be at least $25
      less than the monthly cost of care of the child in  a  foster
      home).   Provides  that  acceptance  or refusal of assistance
      shall not be  a  factor  in  selecting  an  adoptive  family.
      Provides  that  adoption subsidies for physically or mentally
      handicapped children shall be determined soley on  the  basis
      of  the  child's  medical  condition or disability.  Provides
      that if  the  condition  is  discovered  during  the  child's
      minority,  the  subsidy  shall be paid to the adoptive parent
      retroactive to the date of the interim order of  adoption  or
      the  onset of the condition or disability whichever is later.
      Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9000901MWpc
HB0097 Engrossed                               LRB9000901MWpc
 1        AN ACT to amend the Children and Family Services  Act  by
 2    changing Section 5.
 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section 5.  The  Children  and  Family  Services  Act  is
 6    amended by changing Section 5 as follows:
 7        (20 ILCS 505/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 5005)
 8        (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 89-507)
 9        Sec.  5.  To  provide  direct child welfare services when
10    not available through other public or private child  care  or
11    program facilities.
12        (a)  For purposes of this Section:
13             (1)  "Children" means persons found within the State
14        who  are  under  the  age  of  18  years.   The term also
15        includes persons under age 19 who:
16                  (A)  were committed to the Department  pursuant
17             to  the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act
18             of 1987, as amended, prior to the age of 18 and  who
19             continue under the jurisdiction of the court; or
20                  (B)  were   accepted   for  care,  service  and
21             training by the Department prior to the  age  of  18
22             and  whose  best  interest  in the discretion of the
23             Department would be served by continuing that  care,
24             service  and  training  because  of severe emotional
25             disturbances, physical disability, social adjustment
26             or any combination thereof, or because of  the  need
27             to  complete  an  educational or vocational training
28             program.
29             (2)  "Homeless youth" means persons found within the
30        State who are under the age of 19, are not in a safe  and
31        stable living situation and cannot be reunited with their
HB0097 Engrossed            -2-                LRB9000901MWpc
 1        families.
 2             (3)  "Child  welfare  services"  means public social
 3        services which are directed toward the accomplishment  of
 4        the following purposes:
 5                  (A)  protecting  and  promoting  the welfare of
 6             children, including homeless, dependent or neglected
 7             children;
 8                  (B)  preventing or remedying, or  assisting  in
 9             the  solution  of  problems which may result in, the
10             neglect,  abuse,  exploitation  or  delinquency   of
11             children;
12                  (C)  preventing  the  unnecessary separation of
13             children from their families by  identifying  family
14             problems,  assisting  families  in  resolving  their
15             problems,  and  preventing the breakup of the family
16             where the prevention of child removal  is  desirable
17             and possible;
18                  (D)  restoring  to  their families children who
19             have been removed, by the provision of  services  to
20             the child and the families;
21                  (E)  placing   children  in  suitable  adoptive
22             homes, in cases where restoration to the  biological
23             family is not possible or appropriate;
24                  (F)  assuring  adequate  care  of children away
25             from their homes, in cases where the child cannot be
26             returned home or cannot be placed for adoption;
27                  (G)  providing supportive services  and  living
28             maintenance   which   contribute  to  the  physical,
29             emotional and social well-being of children who  are
30             pregnant and unmarried;
31                  (H)  providing  shelter  and independent living
32             services for homeless youth; and
33                  (I)  placing  and   maintaining   children   in
34             facilities that provide separate living quarters for
HB0097 Engrossed            -3-                LRB9000901MWpc
 1             children  under  the  age  of 18 and for children 18
 2             years of age and older, unless a child 18  years  of
 3             age  is in the last year of high school education or
 4             vocational training, in an  approved  individual  or
 5             group  treatment  program,  or in a licensed shelter
 6             facility.  The Department is not required  to  place
 7             or maintain children:
 8                       (i)  who are in a foster home, or
 9                       (ii)  who are persons with a developmental
10                  disability, as defined in the Mental Health and
11                  Developmental Disabilities Code, or
12                       (iii)  who  are  female  children  who are
13                  pregnant, pregnant and parenting or  parenting,
14                  or
15                       (iv)  who are siblings,
16             in  facilities that provide separate living quarters
17             for children 18 years  of  age  and  older  and  for
18             children under 18 years of age.
19        (b)  Nothing  in  this  Section  shall  be  construed  to
20    authorize  the expenditure of public funds for the purpose of
21    performing abortions.
22        (c)  The  Department   shall   establish   and   maintain
23    tax-supported  child  welfare services and extend and seek to
24    improve voluntary services throughout the State, to  the  end
25    that  services  and care shall be available on an equal basis
26    throughout the State to children requiring such services.
27        (d)  The Director may authorize advance disbursements for
28    any new program initiative to any agency contracting with the
29    Department.   As a prerequisite for an advance  disbursement,
30    the contractor must post a surety bond in the amount  of  the
31    advance  disbursement and have a purchase of service contract
32    approved by the Department.  The Department may pay up  to  2
33    months  operational  expenses  in advance.  The amount of the
34    advance disbursement shall be prorated over the life  of  the
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 1    contract   or  the  remaining  months  of  the  fiscal  year,
 2    whichever is less, and the installment amount shall  then  be
 3    deducted    from    future   bills.    Advance   disbursement
 4    authorizations for new initiatives shall not be made  to  any
 5    agency  after  that  agency has operated during 2 consecutive
 6    fiscal years.  The requirements of  this  Section  concerning
 7    advance  disbursements  shall  not  apply with respect to the
 8    following:  payments to local public agencies for  child  day
 9    care  services  as  authorized by Section 5a of this Act; and
10    youth service programs receiving grant  funds  under  Section
11    17a-4.
12        (e)  For  the  purpose  of  insuring effective state-wide
13    planning, development, and utilization of resources  for  the
14    day  care  of  children, operated under various auspices, the
15    Department is hereby designated to coordinate  all  day  care
16    activities for children of the State and shall:
17             (1)  Develop  on  or  before  December  1, 1977, and
18        update  every  year  thereafter,  a  state  comprehensive
19        day-care  plan  for  submission  to  the  Governor  which
20        identifies high-priority areas and groups, relating  them
21        to   available   resources,   and  identifying  the  most
22        effective approaches to the  use  of  existing  day  care
23        services.  The State comprehensive day-care plan shall be
24        made available to  the  General  Assembly  following  the
25        Governor's approval  of the plan.
26             The  plan  shall  include methods and procedures for
27        the development of  additional  day  care  resources  for
28        children  to  meet  the  goal  of  reducing short-run and
29        long-run dependency and to provide  necessary  enrichment
30        and  stimulation  to  the  education  of  young children.
31        Recommendation shall be made for State policy on  optimum
32        use  of  private  and  public,  local,  state and federal
33        resources, including an estimate of the resources  needed
34        for the licensing and regulation of day care facilities.
HB0097 Engrossed            -5-                LRB9000901MWpc
 1             A  written report shall be submitted to the Governor
 2        and the General Assembly,  annually,  on  April  15,  and
 3        shall  include  an  evaluation  of  developments over the
 4        preceding fiscal year, including cost-benefit analyses of
 5        various arrangements.  Beginning with the report in  1990
 6        and  every  2  years  thereafter,  the  report shall also
 7        include the following:
 8                  (A)  An assessment of the child care  services,
 9             needs  and  available resources throughout the State
10             and an assessment of the adequacy of existing  child
11             care   services,  including,  but  not  limited  to,
12             services assisted under this Act and under any other
13             program administered by other State agencies.
14                  (B)  A  survey  of  day  care   facilities   to
15             determine  the  number  of  qualified caregivers, as
16             defined by rule, attracted to vacant  positions  and
17             any problems encountered by facilities in attracting
18             and retaining capable caregivers.
19                  (C)  The  average wages and salaries and fringe
20             benefit packages paid to caregivers  throughout  the
21             State, computed on a regional basis.
22                  (D)  The qualifications of new caregivers hired
23             at  licensed day care facilities during the previous
24             2 year period.
25                  (E)  Recommendations for  increasing  caregiver
26             wages  and  salaries  to  insure  quality  care  for
27             children.
28                  (F)  Evaluation of the fee structure and income
29             eligibility for child care subsidized by the State.
30             The   requirement   for  reporting  to  the  General
31        Assembly shall be  satisfied  by  filing  copies  of  the
32        report  with  the  Speaker,  the  Minority Leader and the
33        Clerk of the House of Representatives and the  President,
34        the  Minority  Leader and the Secretary of the Senate and
HB0097 Engrossed            -6-                LRB9000901MWpc
 1        the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1
 2        of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such
 3        additional  copies  with  the  State  Government   Report
 4        Distribution  Center  for  the  General  Assembly  as  is
 5        required  under  paragraph  (t) of Section 7 of the State
 6        Library Act.
 7             (2)  Establish   policies   and    procedures    for
 8        developing  and  implementing interagency agreements with
 9        other agencies of the State providing child care services
10        or reimbursement for such services.
11             (3)  In  cooperation  with  other  State   agencies,
12        develop  and implement a resource and referral system for
13        the State of Illinois either within the Department or  by
14        contract  with  local  or regional agencies.  Funding for
15        implementation of this system  may  be  provided  through
16        Department  appropriations  or other inter-agency funding
17        arrangements. The  resource  and  referral  system  shall
18        provide at least the following services:
19                  (A)  assembling  and maintaining a data base on
20             the supply of child care services;
21                  (B)  providing information  and  referrals  for
22             parents;
23                  (C)  coordinating  the development of new child
24             care resources;
25                  (D)  providing   technical    assistance    and
26             training to child care service providers; and
27                  (E)  recording  and  analyzing  the  demand for
28             child care services.
29             The Department shall complete implementation of this
30        resource and referral system in all regions of the  State
31        by January 1, 1992.
32             (4)  Conduct  day  care planning activities with the
33        following priorities:
34                  (A)  development   of   voluntary   day    care
HB0097 Engrossed            -7-                LRB9000901MWpc
 1             resources  wherever possible, with the provision for
 2             grants-in-aid only where demonstrated to  be  useful
 3             and necessary as incentives or supports;
 4                  (B)  emphasis   on   service   to  children  of
 5             recipients of public assistance where  such  service
 6             will  allow  training  or  employment  of the parent
 7             toward achieving the goal of independence;
 8                  (C)  maximum employment of recipients of public
 9             assistance in day care centers and day  care  homes,
10             operated   in   conjunction   with  short-term  work
11             training programs;
12                  (D)  care of children from families  in  stress
13             and  crises whose members potentially may become, or
14             are  in  danger  of  becoming,  non-productive   and
15             dependent;
16                  (E)  expansion  of  family  day care facilities
17             wherever possible;
18                  (F)  location  of   centers   in   economically
19             depressed neighborhoods, preferably in multi-service
20             centers with cooperation of other agencies;
21                  (G)  use  of existing facilities free of charge
22             or for reasonable rental wherever possible  in  lieu
23             of construction;
24                  (H)  development  of  strategies for assuring a
25             more complete range of day care  options,  including
26             provision  of day care services in homes, in schools
27             or in centers, which will enable a parent or parents
28             to complete a  course  of  education  or  obtain  or
29             maintain employment.
30             Emphasis  shall  be  given to support services which
31        will help to ensure such parents'  graduation  from  high
32        school  and  to  services for participants in the Project
33        Chance program of job training conducted by the  Illinois
34        Department of Public Aid.
HB0097 Engrossed            -8-                LRB9000901MWpc
 1             (5)  Actively  stimulate  the  development of public
 2        and private resources at the local level.  It shall  also
 3        seek the fullest utilization of federal funds directly or
 4        indirectly available to the Department.
 5        Where  appropriate, existing non-governmental agencies or
 6    associations shall be involved in planning by the Department.
 7        (f)  The Department, pursuant  to  a  contract  with  the
 8    Illinois  Department  of  Public  Aid, may provide child care
 9    services  to  former  recipients  of  assistance  under   The
10    Illinois  Public  Aid  Code as authorized by Section 9-6.3 of
11    that Code.
12        (g)  The Department shall establish rules and regulations
13    concerning its operation of programs  designed  to  meet  the
14    goals   of  child  protection,  family  preservation,  family
15    reunification, adoption and youth development, including  but
16    not limited to:
17             (1)  adoption;
18             (2)  foster care;
19             (3)  family counseling;
20             (4)  protective services;
21             (5)  service to unwed mothers;
22             (6)  homemaker service;
23             (7)  return of runaway children;
24             (8)  independent   living  skills  and  shelter  for
25        homeless youth;
26             (9)  placement under Section  5-7  of  the  Juvenile
27        Court  Act  or  Section  2-27,  3-28, 4-25 or 5-29 of the
28        Juvenile Court Act of 1987 in accordance with the federal
29        Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980; and
30             (10)  interstate services.
31        Rules and regulations established by the Department shall
32    include provisions for  training  Department  staff  and  the
33    staff  of  Department  grantees, through contracts with other
34    agencies or resources, in alcohol and  drug  abuse  screening
HB0097 Engrossed            -9-                LRB9000901MWpc
 1    techniques  to  identify  children  and  adults who should be
 2    referred to an alcohol and drug abuse treatment  program  for
 3    professional evaluation.
 4        (h)  If the Department finds that there is no appropriate
 5    program or facility within or available to the Department for
 6    a  ward and that no licensed private facility has an adequate
 7    and appropriate program or none agrees to  accept  the  ward,
 8    the  Department  shall  create an appropriate individualized,
 9    program-oriented  plan  for  such  ward.   The  plan  may  be
10    developed  within  the  Department  or  through  purchase  of
11    services by the Department to the extent that  it  is  within
12    its statutory authority to do.
13        (i)  Service  programs  shall be available throughout the
14    State and shall include but not be limited to  the  following
15    services:
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
23    to assess and meet the needs of children and families:
24             (1)  comprehensive family-based services;
25             (2)  assessments;
26             (3)  respite care; and
27             (4)  in-home health services.
28        The  Department  shall  provide transportation for any of
29    the services it makes available to children  or  families  or
30    for which it refers children or families.
31        (j)  The Department may provide financial assistance, and
32    shall   establish   rules  and  regulations  concerning  such
33    assistance, to  persons  who  adopt  physically  or  mentally
34    handicapped,  older  and  other  hard-to-place  children  who
HB0097 Engrossed            -10-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    immediately  prior  to their adoption were legal wards of the
 2    Department.   The  Department  may  also  provide   financial
 3    assistance,  and  shall  establish  rules and regulations for
 4    such assistance, to persons appointed guardian of the  person
 5    under  Section 5-7 of the Juvenile Court Act or Section 2-27,
 6    3-28, 4-25 or 5-29 of the Juvenile  Court  Act  of  1987  for
 7    children  who  were  wards  of  the  Department for 12 months
 8    immediately  prior  to  the  appointment  of  the   successor
 9    guardian  and  for  whom  the  Department  has  set a goal of
10    permanent family placement with a foster family.
11        The amount of assistance may  vary,  depending  upon  the
12    needs  of  the child and the adoptive parents, but must be at
13    least $25 less than the monthly cost of care of the child  in
14    a  foster  home,  as  set  forth  in  the  annual  assistance
15    agreement.   Special  purpose  grants  are  allowed where the
16    child requires special service but such costs may not  exceed
17    the  amounts which similar services would cost the Department
18    if it were to provide or  secure  them  as  guardian  of  the
19    child.
20        Any  financial  assistance provided under this subsection
21    is inalienable by assignment,  sale,  execution,  attachment,
22    garnishment,  or  any other remedy for recovery or collection
23    of a judgment or debt.
24        (k)  The Department shall accept for  care  and  training
25    any  child  who  has been adjudicated neglected or abused, or
26    dependent committed to it pursuant to the Juvenile Court  Act
27    or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
28        (l)  Before July 1, 2000, the Department may provide, and
29    beginning  July 1, 2000, the Department shall provide, family
30    preservation services, as determined to be appropriate and in
31    the child's best interests and when the child will not be  in
32    imminent  risk  of  harm,  to any family whose child has been
33    placed in substitute care, any persons  who  have  adopted  a
34    child  and  require  post-adoption  services,  or any persons
HB0097 Engrossed            -11-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    whose child or children are at risk of being  placed  outside
 2    their   home  as  documented  by  an  "indicated"  report  of
 3    suspected child abuse or neglect determined pursuant  to  the
 4    Abused  and  Neglected  Child  Reporting Act. Nothing in this
 5    paragraph shall be construed to create  a  private  right  of
 6    action  or  claim  on  the  part  of  any individual or child
 7    welfare agency.
 8        The Department shall notify the child and his  family  of
 9    the  Department's  responsibility to offer and provide family
10    preservation services as identified in the service plan.  The
11    child and his family shall be eligible for services  as  soon
12    as   the   report  is  determined  to  be  "indicated".   The
13    Department may offer services to any  child  or  family  with
14    respect  to whom a report of suspected child abuse or neglect
15    has been filed, prior to concluding its  investigation  under
16    Section 7.12 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
17    However,  the  child's  or  family's  willingness  to  accept
18    services  shall  not be considered in the investigation.  The
19    Department may also provide services to any child  or  family
20    who  is the subject of any report of suspected child abuse or
21    neglect or  may  refer  such  child  or  family  to  services
22    available  from  other agencies in the community, even if the
23    report is determined to be unfounded, if  the  conditions  in
24    the child's or family's home are reasonably likely to subject
25    the  child  or  family  to  future reports of suspected child
26    abuse or neglect.   Acceptance  of  such  services  shall  be
27    voluntary.
28        The  Department  may,  at its discretion except for those
29    children also adjudicated neglected or dependent, accept  for
30    care   and  training  any  child  who  has  been  adjudicated
31    addicted, as a truant minor in need of supervision  or  as  a
32    minor   requiring   authoritative   intervention,  under  the
33    Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, but  no
34    such  child shall be committed to the Department by any court
HB0097 Engrossed            -12-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    without the approval of the Department.  A minor charged with
 2    a criminal  offense  under  the  Criminal  Code  of  1961  or
 3    adjudicated  delinquent shall not be placed in the custody of
 4    or committed to the Department by any court, except  a  minor
 5    less  than  13 years of age committed to the Department under
 6    Section 5-23 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
 7        (m)  The Department may assume temporary custody  of  any
 8    child if:
 9             (1)  it  has  received  a  written  consent  to such
10        temporary custody signed by the parents of the  child  or
11        by  the parent having custody of the child if the parents
12        are not living together or by the guardian  or  custodian
13        of the child if the child is not in the custody of either
14        parent, or
15             (2)  the  child  is found in the State and neither a
16        parent, guardian  nor  custodian  of  the  child  can  be
17        located.
18    If  the  child  is  found  in  his or her residence without a
19    parent, guardian, custodian  or  responsible  caretaker,  the
20    Department  may,  instead  of removing the child and assuming
21    temporary custody, place an authorized representative of  the
22    Department  in  that  residence  until such time as a parent,
23    guardian  or  custodian  enters  the  home  and  expresses  a
24    willingness and apparent ability to resume  permanent  charge
25    of  the  child,  or  until  a relative enters the home and is
26    willing and able to  assume  charge  of  the  child  until  a
27    parent,  guardian  or custodian enters the home and expresses
28    such willingness and  ability  to  resume  permanent  charge.
29    After  a  caretaker has remained in the home for a period not
30    to  exceed  12  hours,  the  Department  must  follow   those
31    procedures  outlined  in Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8 or 5-9 of the
32    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
33        The Department shall have the authority, responsibilities
34    and duties that a legal custodian of  the  child  would  have
HB0097 Engrossed            -13-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    pursuant  to  subsection  (9)  of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile
 2    Court Act of 1987.  Whenever a child is taken into  temporary
 3    custody  pursuant  to  an  investigation under the Abused and
 4    Neglected Child Reporting Act, or pursuant to a referral  and
 5    acceptance under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 of a minor in
 6    limited   custody,  the  Department,  during  the  period  of
 7    temporary custody and before the child is  brought  before  a
 8    judicial officer as required by Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8 or 5-9
 9    of  the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, shall have the authority,
10    responsibilities and duties that a  legal  custodian  of  the
11    child  would  have under subsection (9) of Section 1-3 of the
12    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
13        The Department shall ensure that  any  child  taken  into
14    custody  is  scheduled  for  an  appointment  for  a  medical
15    examination.
16        A  parent,  guardian  or  custodian  of  a  child  in the
17    temporary custody of the Department who would have custody of
18    the child if he were not in  the  temporary  custody  of  the
19    Department  may  deliver  to  the Department a signed request
20    that the Department surrender the temporary  custody  of  the
21    child.    The  Department may retain temporary custody of the
22    child for 10 days after the receipt of  the  request,  during
23    which  period the Department may cause to be filed a petition
24    pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.  If a petition is
25    so filed, the Department shall retain  temporary  custody  of
26    the child until the court orders otherwise.  If a petition is
27    not  filed  within  the  10  day  period,  the child shall be
28    surrendered to the custody of the requesting parent, guardian
29    or custodian not later than the  expiration  of  the  10  day
30    period,  at  which  time  the  authority  and  duties  of the
31    Department with respect to the temporary custody of the child
32    shall terminate.
33        (n)  The Department may place children under 18 years  of
34    age  in licensed child care facilities when in the opinion of
HB0097 Engrossed            -14-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    the  Department,  appropriate  services   aimed   at   family
 2    preservation  have  been unsuccessful or unavailable and such
 3    placement would be for  their  best  interest.   Payment  for
 4    board,  clothing, care, training and supervision of any child
 5    placed in a licensed child care facility may be made  by  the
 6    Department,  by  the  parents  or guardians of the estates of
 7    those children, or by both the Department and the parents  or
 8    guardians,  except  that  no  payments  shall  be made by the
 9    Department for any child placed  in  a  licensed  child  care
10    facility  for board, clothing, care, training and supervision
11    of such a child that exceed the average per  capita  cost  of
12    maintaining  and  of  caring  for a child in institutions for
13    dependent or neglected children operated by  the  Department.
14    However, such restriction on payments does not apply in cases
15    where  children  require  specialized  care and treatment for
16    problems   of   severe   emotional   disturbance,    physical
17    disability, social adjustment, or any combination thereof and
18    suitable  facilities  for  the placement of such children are
19    not available at payment rates  within  the  limitations  set
20    forth  in  this  Section.  All  reimbursements  for  services
21    delivered  shall  be  absolutely  inalienable  by assignment,
22    sale, attachment, garnishment or otherwise.
23        (o)  The Department  shall  establish  an  administrative
24    review  and  appeal  process  for  children  and families who
25    request  or  receive  child   welfare   services   from   the
26    Department.  Children who are wards of the Department and are
27    placed by private child welfare agencies, and foster families
28    with  whom  those  children are placed, shall be afforded the
29    same procedural and appeal rights as children and families in
30    the case of placement by the Department, including the  right
31    to  an   initial  review of a private agency decision by that
32    agency.  The Department shall insure that any  private  child
33    welfare  agency,  which  accepts  wards of the Department for
34    placement,  affords  those  rights  to  children  and  foster
HB0097 Engrossed            -15-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    families.  The Department  shall  accept  for  administrative
 2    review  and  an appeal hearing a complaint made by a child or
 3    foster family concerning  a  decision  following  an  initial
 4    review  by  a  private  child welfare agency.  An appeal of a
 5    decision concerning a change in  the  placement  of  a  child
 6    shall be conducted in an expedited manner.
 7        (p)  There  is  hereby created the Department of Children
 8    and Family Services Emergency Assistance Fund from which  the
 9    Department   may  provide  special  financial  assistance  to
10    families which are in economic crisis when such assistance is
11    not available through other public or private sources and the
12    assistance is deemed necessary to prevent dissolution of  the
13    family  unit or to reunite families which have been separated
14    due  to  child  abuse  and  neglect.   The  Department  shall
15    establish administrative rules specifying  the  criteria  for
16    determining  eligibility  for  and  the  amount and nature of
17    assistance to be provided.  The  Department  may  also  enter
18    into  written  agreements  with  private  and  public  social
19    service  agencies  to provide emergency financial services to
20    families referred  by  the  Department.    Special  financial
21    assistance  payments  shall  be available to a family no more
22    than once during each fiscal year and the total payments to a
23    family may not exceed $500 during a fiscal year.
24        (q)  The  Department  may  receive  and  use,  in   their
25    entirety,  for  the benefit of children any gift, donation or
26    bequest of money or  other  property  which  is  received  on
27    behalf  of  such children, or any financial benefits to which
28    such children are or may  become  entitled  while  under  the
29    jurisdiction or care of the Department.
30        The  Department  shall  set  up  and  administer no-cost,
31    interest-bearing savings accounts  in  appropriate  financial
32    institutions  ("individual  accounts")  for children for whom
33    the Department is  legally  responsible  and  who  have  been
34    determined  eligible  for Veterans' Benefits, Social Security
HB0097 Engrossed            -16-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    benefits, assistance allotments from the armed forces,  court
 2    ordered  payments,  parental voluntary payments, Supplemental
 3    Security Income, Railroad  Retirement  payments,  Black  Lung
 4    benefits,  or  other miscellaneous payments.  Interest earned
 5    by each individual account shall be credited to the  account,
 6    unless disbursed in accordance with this subsection.
 7        In  disbursing funds from children's individual accounts,
 8    the Department shall:
 9             (1)  Establish standards in  accordance  with  State
10        and  federal  laws  for  disbursing money from children's
11        individual   accounts.    In   all   circumstances,   the
12        Department's "Guardianship Administrator" or his  or  her
13        designee   must  approve  disbursements  from  children's
14        individual accounts.  The Department shall be responsible
15        for keeping complete records  of  all  disbursements  for
16        each individual account for any purpose.
17             (2)  Calculate  on  a monthly basis the amounts paid
18        from State funds for the child's board and care,  medical
19        care not covered under Medicaid, and social services; and
20        utilize  funds  from  the  child's individual account, as
21        covered  by  regulation,  to   reimburse   those   costs.
22        Monthly,  disbursements  from  all  children's individual
23        accounts, up to 1/12 of $13,000,000, shall  be  deposited
24        by  the  Department into the General Revenue Fund and the
25        balance over 1/12 of $13,000,000 into the DCFS Children's
26        Services Fund.
27             (3)  Maintain   any    balance    remaining    after
28        reimbursing  for  the child's costs of care, as specified
29        in item (2). The balance shall accumulate  in  accordance
30        with  relevant  State  and  federal  laws  and  shall  be
31        disbursed  to the child or his or her guardian, or to the
32        issuing agency.
33        (r)  The   Department   shall   promulgate    regulations
34    encouraging  all  adoption agencies to voluntarily forward to
HB0097 Engrossed            -17-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    the Department or  its  agent  names  and  addresses  of  all
 2    persons  who  have  applied  for  and  have been approved for
 3    adoption of a hard-to-place  or  handicapped  child  and  the
 4    names of such children who have not been placed for adoption.
 5    A list of such names and addresses shall be maintained by the
 6    Department  or  its agent, and coded lists which maintain the
 7    confidentiality of the person seeking to adopt the child  and
 8    of  the  child  shall  be  made available, without charge, to
 9    every adoption agency in the State to assist the agencies  in
10    placing  such  children  for  adoption.  The  Department  may
11    delegate  to an agent its duty to maintain and make available
12    such lists.  The Department  shall  ensure  that  such  agent
13    maintains  the confidentiality of the person seeking to adopt
14    the child and of the child.
15        (s)  The Department of Children and Family  Services  may
16    establish and implement a program to reimburse Department and
17    private  child  welfare agency foster parents licensed by the
18    Department  of  Children  and  Family  Services  for  damages
19    sustained by the foster parents as a result of the  malicious
20    or  negligent  acts  of foster children, as well as providing
21    third party coverage for such foster parents with  regard  to
22    actions  of  foster  children  to  other  individuals.   Such
23    coverage  will  be  secondary  to the foster parent liability
24    insurance policy, if applicable.  The program shall be funded
25    through  appropriations  from  the  General   Revenue   Fund,
26    specifically designated for such purposes.
27        (t)  The   Department  shall  perform  home  studies  and
28    investigations and shall exercise supervision over visitation
29    as ordered by a court pursuant to the Illinois  Marriage  and
30    Dissolution of Marriage Act or the Adoption Act only if:
31             (1)  an   order   entered   by   an  Illinois  court
32        specifically  directs  the  Department  to  perform  such
33        services; and
34             (2)  the court  has  ordered  one  or  both  of  the
HB0097 Engrossed            -18-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1        parties to the proceeding to reimburse the Department for
 2        its  reasonable  costs  for  providing  such  services in
 3        accordance with Department rules, or has determined  that
 4        neither party is financially able to pay.
 5        The  Department shall provide written notification to the
 6    court of the specific arrangements for supervised  visitation
 7    and  projected  monthly  costs  within  60  days of the court
 8    order. The Department shall send  to  the  court  information
 9    related to the costs incurred except in cases where the court
10    has determined the parties are financially unable to pay. The
11    court may order additional periodic reports as appropriate.
12        (u)  Whenever the Department places a child in a licensed
13    foster  home,  group  home,  child  care institution, or in a
14    relative home, the Department shall provide to the caretaker:
15             (1)  available detailed information  concerning  the
16        child's   educational   and  health  history,  copies  of
17        immunization records  (including  insurance  and  medical
18        card  information),  a  history  of  the child's previous
19        placements, if any, and  reasons  for  placement  changes
20        excluding  any information that identifies or reveals the
21        location of any previous caretaker;
22             (2)  a copy of the child's  portion  of  the  client
23        service  plan,  including any visitation arrangement, and
24        all amendments or revisions  to  it  as  related  to  the
25        child; and
26             (3)  information  containing  details of the child's
27        individualized  educational  plan  when  the   child   is
28        receiving special education services.
29        The  caretaker  shall  be informed of any known social or
30    behavioral information (including, but not limited  to,  fire
31    setting,  perpetuation of sexual abuse, destructive behavior,
32    and substance abuse) necessary to care for and safeguard  the
33    child.
34        (u-5)  Effective   July   1,   1995,   only  foster  care
HB0097 Engrossed            -19-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    placements licensed as foster family homes  pursuant  to  the
 2    Child  Care  Act  of 1969 shall be eligible to receive foster
 3    care payments from the Department. Relative  caregivers  who,
 4    as  of  July  1,  1995,  were  approved  pursuant to approved
 5    relative  placement  rules  previously  promulgated  by   the
 6    Department  at  89  Ill.  Adm.  Code 335 and had submitted an
 7    application  for  licensure  as  a  foster  family  home  may
 8    continue to receive  foster  care  payments  only  until  the
 9    Department  determines  that they may be licensed as a foster
10    family home or that their application for licensure is denied
11    or until September 30, 1995, whichever occurs first.
12        (v)  The Department shall access criminal history  record
13    information    as  defined in the Illinois Uniform Conviction
14    Information   Act   and   information   maintained   in   the
15    adjudicatory and dispositional record system  as  defined  in
16    subdivision  (A)19 of Section 55a of the Civil Administrative
17    Code of Illinois if the Department determines the information
18    is necessary to perform  its  duties  under  the  Abused  and
19    Neglected  Child  Reporting  Act, the Child Care Act of 1969,
20    and the Children and Family  Services  Act.   The  Department
21    shall  provide for interactive computerized communication and
22    processing   equipment   that    permits    direct    on-line
23    communication  with  the Department of State Police's central
24    criminal  history  data  repository.   The  Department  shall
25    comply  with  all  certification  requirements  and   provide
26    certified  operators  who have been trained by personnel from
27    the Department of State Police.  In addition, one  Office  of
28    the Inspector General investigator shall have training in the
29    use  of  the  criminal  history information access system and
30    have access to the terminal.  The Department of Children  and
31    Family  Services  and  its employees shall abide by rules and
32    regulations established by the  Department  of  State  Police
33    relating to the access and dissemination of this information.
34        (w)  Within  120  days  of August 20, 1995 (the effective
HB0097 Engrossed            -20-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    date of Public Act 89-392) this amendatory Act of 1995),  the
 2    Department  shall  prepare and submit to the Governor and the
 3    General Assembly, a  written  plan  for  the  development  of
 4    in-state  licensed secure child care facilities that care for
 5    children who are in need of secure  living  arrangements  for
 6    their  health,  safety, and well-being.  For purposes of this
 7    subsection, secure care facility shall mean a  facility  that
 8    is  designed  and  operated  to ensure that all entrances and
 9    exits from the facility, a building or a distinct part of the
10    building, are under the exclusive control of the staff of the
11    facility, whether  or  not  the  child  has  the  freedom  of
12    movement  within  the perimeter of the facility, building, or
13    distinct part  of  the  building.   The  plan  shall  include
14    descriptions  of  the  types of facilities that are needed in
15    Illinois;  the  cost  of   developing   these   secure   care
16    facilities; the estimated number of placements; the potential
17    cost   savings   resulting  from  the  movement  of  children
18    currently out-of-state who are projected to  be  returned  to
19    Illinois;  the  necessary  geographic  distribution  of these
20    facilities  in  Illinois;  and  a  proposed   timetable   for
21    development of such facilities.
22    (Source: P.A.  88-380;  88-398;  88-487; 88-614, eff. 9-7-94;
23    88-670,  eff.  12-2-94;  89-21,  eff.  6-6-95;  89-392,  eff.
24    8-20-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
25        (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 89-507)
26        Sec. 5.  Direct child  welfare  services;  Department  of
27    Children and Family Services. To provide direct child welfare
28    services  when  not available through other public or private
29    child care or program facilities.
30        (a)  For purposes of this Section:
31             (1)  "Children" means persons found within the State
32        who are under  the  age  of  18  years.   The  term  also
33        includes persons under age 19 who:
34                  (A)  were  committed to the Department pursuant
HB0097 Engrossed            -21-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1             to the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court  Act
 2             of  1987, as amended, prior to the age of 18 and who
 3             continue under the jurisdiction of the court; or
 4                  (B)  were  accepted   for  care,  service   and
 5             training  by  the  Department prior to the age of 18
 6             and whose best interest in  the  discretion  of  the
 7             Department  would be served by continuing that care,
 8             service and training  because  of  severe  emotional
 9             disturbances, physical disability, social adjustment
10             or  any  combination thereof, or because of the need
11             to complete an educational  or  vocational  training
12             program.
13             (2)  "Homeless youth" means persons found within the
14        State  who are under the age of 19, are not in a safe and
15        stable living situation and cannot be reunited with their
16        families.
17             (3)  "Child welfare services"  means  public  social
18        services  which are directed toward the accomplishment of
19        the following purposes:
20                  (A)  protecting and promoting  the  welfare  of
21             children, including homeless, dependent or neglected
22             children;
23                  (B)  remedying, or assisting in the solution of
24             problems  which  may  result in, the neglect, abuse,
25             exploitation or delinquency of children;
26                  (C)  preventing the unnecessary  separation  of
27             children  from  their families by identifying family
28             problems,  assisting  families  in  resolving  their
29             problems, and preventing the breakup of  the  family
30             where  the  prevention of child removal is desirable
31             and possible;
32                  (D)  restoring to their families  children  who
33             have  been  removed, by the provision of services to
34             the child and the families;
HB0097 Engrossed            -22-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1                  (E)  placing  children  in  suitable   adoptive
 2             homes,  in cases where restoration to the biological
 3             family is not possible or appropriate;
 4                  (F)  assuring adequate care  of  children  away
 5             from their homes, in cases where the child cannot be
 6             returned home or cannot be placed for adoption;
 7                  (G)  (blank);
 8                  (H)  (blank); and
 9                  (I)  placing   and   maintaining   children  in
10             facilities that provide separate living quarters for
11             children under the age of 18  and  for  children  18
12             years  of  age and older, unless a child 18 years of
13             age is in the last year of high school education  or
14             vocational  training,  in  an approved individual or
15             group treatment program, or in  a  licensed  shelter
16             facility.    The Department is not required to place
17             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,
24                  or
25                       (iv)  who are siblings,
26             in facilities that provide separate living  quarters
27             for  children  18  years  of  age  and older and for
28             children under 18 years of age.
29        (b)  Nothing  in  this  Section  shall  be  construed  to
30    authorize the expenditure of public funds for the purpose  of
31    performing abortions.
32        (c)  The   Department   shall   establish   and  maintain
33    tax-supported child welfare services and extend and  seek  to
34    improve  voluntary  services throughout the State, to the end
HB0097 Engrossed            -23-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    that services and care shall be available on an  equal  basis
 2    throughout the State to children requiring such services.
 3        (d)  The Director may authorize advance disbursements for
 4    any new program initiative to any agency contracting with the
 5    Department.   As a prerequisite for an advance  disbursement,
 6    the  contractor  must post a surety bond in the amount of the
 7    advance disbursement and have a purchase of service  contract
 8    approved  by  the Department.  The Department may pay up to 2
 9    months operational expenses in advance.  The  amount  of  the
10    advance  disbursement  shall be prorated over the life of the
11    contract  or  the  remaining  months  of  the  fiscal   year,
12    whichever  is  less, and the installment amount shall then be
13    deducted   from   future   bills.     Advance    disbursement
14    authorizations  for  new initiatives shall not be made to any
15    agency after that agency has operated  during  2  consecutive
16    fiscal  years.    The requirements of this Section concerning
17    advance disbursements shall not apply  with  respect  to  the
18    following:   payments  to local public agencies for child day
19    care services as authorized by Section 5a of  this  Act;  and
20    youth  service  programs  receiving grant funds under Section
21    17a-4.
22        (e)  (Blank).
23        (f)  (Blank).
24        (g)  The Department shall establish rules and regulations
25    concerning its operation of programs  designed  to  meet  the
26    goals   of  child  protection,  family  preservation,  family
27    reunification, and adoption, including but not limited to:
28             (1)  adoption;
29             (2)  foster care;
30             (3)  family counseling;
31             (4)  protective services;
32             (5)  (blank);
33             (6)  homemaker service;
34             (7)  return of runaway children;
HB0097 Engrossed            -24-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1             (8)  (blank);
 2             (9)  placement under Section  5-7  of  the  Juvenile
 3        Court  Act  or  Section  2-27,  3-28, 4-25 or 5-29 of the
 4        Juvenile Court Act of 1987 in accordance with the federal
 5        Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980; and
 6             (10)  interstate services.
 7        Rules and regulations established by the Department shall
 8    include provisions for  training  Department  staff  and  the
 9    staff  of  Department  grantees, through contracts with other
10    agencies or resources, in alcohol and  drug  abuse  screening
11    techniques  to  identify  children  and  adults who should be
12    referred to an alcohol and drug abuse treatment  program  for
13    professional evaluation.
14        (h)  If the Department finds that there is no appropriate
15    program or facility within or available to the Department for
16    a  ward and that no licensed private facility has an adequate
17    and appropriate program or none agrees to  accept  the  ward,
18    the  Department  shall  create an appropriate individualized,
19    program-oriented  plan  for  such  ward.   The  plan  may  be
20    developed  within  the  Department  or  through  purchase  of
21    services by the Department to the extent that  it  is  within
22    its statutory authority to do.
23        (i)  Service  programs  shall be available throughout the
24    State and shall include but not be limited to  the  following
25    services:
26             (1)  case management;
27             (2)  homemakers;
28             (3)  counseling;
29             (4)  parent education;
30             (5)  day care; and
31             (6)  emergency assistance and advocacy.
32        In addition, the following services may be made available
33    to assess and meet the needs of children and families:
34             (1)  comprehensive family-based services;
HB0097 Engrossed            -25-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1             (2)  assessments;
 2             (3)  respite care; and
 3             (4)  in-home health services.
 4        The  Department  shall  provide transportation for any of
 5    the services it makes available to children  or  families  or
 6    for which it refers children or families.
 7        (j)  The Department may provide financial assistance, and
 8    shall   establish   rules  and  regulations  concerning  such
 9    assistance, to  persons  who  adopt  physically  or  mentally
10    handicapped,  older  and  other  hard-to-place  children  who
11    immediately  prior  to their adoption were legal wards of the
12    Department.   The  Department  may  also  provide   financial
13    assistance,  and  shall  establish  rules and regulations for
14    such assistance, to persons appointed guardian of the  person
15    under  Section 5-7 of the Juvenile Court Act or Section 2-27,
16    3-28, 4-25 or 5-29 of the Juvenile  Court  Act  of  1987  for
17    children  who  were  wards  of  the  Department for 12 months
18    immediately  prior  to  the  appointment  of  the   successor
19    guardian  and  for  whom  the  Department  has  set a goal of
20    permanent family placement with a foster family.
21        The amount of assistance may  vary,  depending  upon  the
22    needs  of  the child and the adoptive parents, but must be at
23    least $25 less than the monthly cost of care of the child  in
24    a  foster  home,  as  set  forth  in  the  annual  assistance
25    agreement.   Special  purpose  grants  are  allowed where the
26    child requires special service but such costs may not  exceed
27    the  amounts which similar services would cost the Department
28    if it were to provide or  secure  them  as  guardian  of  the
29    child.
30        Any  financial  assistance provided under this subsection
31    is inalienable by assignment,  sale,  execution,  attachment,
32    garnishment,  or  any other remedy for recovery or collection
33    of a judgment or debt.
34        (k)  The Department shall accept for  care  and  training
HB0097 Engrossed            -26-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    any  child  who  has been adjudicated neglected or abused, or
 2    dependent committed to it pursuant to the Juvenile Court  Act
 3    or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
 4        (l)  Before July 1, 2000, the Department may provide, and
 5    beginning  July 1, 2000, the Department shall provide, family
 6    preservation services, as determined to be appropriate and in
 7    the child's best interests and when the child will not be  in
 8    imminent  risk  of  harm,  to any family whose child has been
 9    placed in substitute care, any persons  who  have  adopted  a
10    child  and  require  post-adoption  services,  or any persons
11    whose child or children are at risk of being  placed  outside
12    their   home  as  documented  by  an  "indicated"  report  of
13    suspected child abuse or neglect determined pursuant  to  the
14    Abused  and  Neglected  Child  Reporting Act. Nothing in this
15    paragraph shall be construed to create  a  private  right  of
16    action  or  claim  on  the  part  of  any individual or child
17    welfare agency.
18        The Department shall notify the child and his  family  of
19    the  Department's  responsibility to offer and provide family
20    preservation services as identified in the service plan.  The
21    child and his family shall be eligible for services  as  soon
22    as   the   report  is  determined  to  be  "indicated".   The
23    Department may offer services to any  child  or  family  with
24    respect  to whom a report of suspected child abuse or neglect
25    has been filed, prior to concluding its  investigation  under
26    Section 7.12 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
27    However,  the  child's  or  family's  willingness  to  accept
28    services  shall  not be considered in the investigation.  The
29    Department may also provide services to any child  or  family
30    who  is the subject of any report of suspected child abuse or
31    neglect or  may  refer  such  child  or  family  to  services
32    available  from  other agencies in the community, even if the
33    report is determined to be unfounded, if  the  conditions  in
34    the child's or family's home are reasonably likely to subject
HB0097 Engrossed            -27-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    the  child  or  family  to  future reports of suspected child
 2    abuse or neglect.   Acceptance  of  such  services  shall  be
 3    voluntary.
 4        The  Department  may,  at its discretion except for those
 5    children also adjudicated neglected or dependent, accept  for
 6    care   and  training  any  child  who  has  been  adjudicated
 7    addicted, as a truant minor in need of supervision  or  as  a
 8    minor   requiring   authoritative   intervention,  under  the
 9    Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, but  no
10    such  child shall be committed to the Department by any court
11    without the approval of the Department.  A minor charged with
12    a criminal  offense  under  the  Criminal  Code  of  1961  or
13    adjudicated  delinquent shall not be placed in the custody of
14    or committed to the Department by any court, except  a  minor
15    less  than  13 years of age committed to the Department under
16    Section 5-23 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
17        (m)  The Department may assume temporary custody  of  any
18    child if:
19             (1)  it  has  received  a  written  consent  to such
20        temporary custody signed by the parents of the  child  or
21        by  the parent having custody of the child if the parents
22        are not living together or by the guardian  or  custodian
23        of the child if the child is not in the custody of either
24        parent, or
25             (2)  the  child  is found in the State and neither a
26        parent, guardian  nor  custodian  of  the  child  can  be
27        located.
28    If  the  child  is  found  in  his or her residence without a
29    parent, guardian, custodian  or  responsible  caretaker,  the
30    Department  may,  instead  of removing the child and assuming
31    temporary custody, place an authorized representative of  the
32    Department  in  that  residence  until such time as a parent,
33    guardian  or  custodian  enters  the  home  and  expresses  a
34    willingness and apparent ability to resume  permanent  charge
HB0097 Engrossed            -28-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    of  the  child,  or  until  a relative enters the home and is
 2    willing and able to  assume  charge  of  the  child  until  a
 3    parent,  guardian  or custodian enters the home and expresses
 4    such willingness and  ability  to  resume  permanent  charge.
 5    After  a  caretaker has remained in the home for a period not
 6    to  exceed  12  hours,  the  Department  must  follow   those
 7    procedures  outlined  in Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8 or 5-9 of the
 8    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
 9        The Department shall have the authority, responsibilities
10    and duties that a legal custodian of  the  child  would  have
11    pursuant  to  subsection  (9)  of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile
12    Court Act of 1987.  Whenever a child is taken into  temporary
13    custody  pursuant  to  an  investigation under the Abused and
14    Neglected Child Reporting Act, or pursuant to a referral  and
15    acceptance under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 of a minor in
16    limited   custody,  the  Department,  during  the  period  of
17    temporary custody and before the child is  brought  before  a
18    judicial officer as required by Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8 or 5-9
19    of  the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, shall have the authority,
20    responsibilities and duties that a  legal  custodian  of  the
21    child  would  have under subsection (9) of Section 1-3 of the
22    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
23        The Department shall ensure that  any  child  taken  into
24    custody  is  scheduled  for  an  appointment  for  a  medical
25    examination.
26        A  parent,  guardian  or  custodian  of  a  child  in the
27    temporary custody of the Department who would have custody of
28    the child if he were not in  the  temporary  custody  of  the
29    Department  may  deliver  to  the Department a signed request
30    that the Department surrender the temporary  custody  of  the
31    child.    The  Department may retain temporary custody of the
32    child for 10 days after the receipt of  the  request,  during
33    which  period the Department may cause to be filed a petition
34    pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.  If a petition is
HB0097 Engrossed            -29-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    so filed, the Department shall retain  temporary  custody  of
 2    the child until the court orders otherwise.  If a petition is
 3    not  filed  within  the  10  day  period,  the child shall be
 4    surrendered to the custody of the requesting parent, guardian
 5    or custodian not later than the  expiration  of  the  10  day
 6    period,  at  which  time  the  authority  and  duties  of the
 7    Department with respect to the temporary custody of the child
 8    shall terminate.
 9        (n)  The Department may place children under 18 years  of
10    age  in licensed child care facilities when in the opinion of
11    the  Department,  appropriate  services   aimed   at   family
12    preservation  have  been unsuccessful or unavailable and such
13    placement would be for  their  best  interest.   Payment  for
14    board,  clothing, care, training and supervision of any child
15    placed in a licensed child care facility may be made  by  the
16    Department,  by  the  parents  or guardians of the estates of
17    those children, or by both the Department and the parents  or
18    guardians,  except  that  no  payments  shall  be made by the
19    Department for any child placed  in  a  licensed  child  care
20    facility  for board, clothing, care, training and supervision
21    of such a child that exceed the average per  capita  cost  of
22    maintaining  and  of  caring  for a child in institutions for
23    dependent or neglected children operated by  the  Department.
24    However, such restriction on payments does not apply in cases
25    where  children  require  specialized  care and treatment for
26    problems   of   severe   emotional   disturbance,    physical
27    disability, social adjustment, or any combination thereof and
28    suitable  facilities  for  the placement of such children are
29    not available at payment rates  within  the  limitations  set
30    forth  in  this  Section.  All  reimbursements  for  services
31    delivered  shall  be  absolutely  inalienable  by assignment,
32    sale, attachment, garnishment or otherwise.
33        (o)  The Department  shall  establish  an  administrative
34    review  and  appeal  process  for  children  and families who
HB0097 Engrossed            -30-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    request  or  receive  child   welfare   services   from   the
 2    Department.  Children who are wards of the Department and are
 3    placed by private child welfare agencies, and foster families
 4    with  whom  those  children are placed, shall be afforded the
 5    same procedural and appeal rights as children and families in
 6    the case of placement by the Department, including the  right
 7    to  an   initial  review of a private agency decision by that
 8    agency.  The Department shall insure that any  private  child
 9    welfare  agency,  which  accepts  wards of the Department for
10    placement,  affords  those  rights  to  children  and  foster
11    families.  The Department  shall  accept  for  administrative
12    review  and  an appeal hearing a complaint made by a child or
13    foster family concerning  a  decision  following  an  initial
14    review  by  a  private  child welfare agency.  An appeal of a
15    decision concerning a change in  the  placement  of  a  child
16    shall be conducted in an expedited manner.
17        (p)  There  is  hereby created the Department of Children
18    and Family Services Emergency Assistance Fund from which  the
19    Department   may  provide  special  financial  assistance  to
20    families which are in economic crisis when such assistance is
21    not available through other public or private sources and the
22    assistance is deemed necessary to prevent dissolution of  the
23    family  unit or to reunite families which have been separated
24    due  to  child  abuse  and  neglect.   The  Department  shall
25    establish administrative rules specifying  the  criteria  for
26    determining  eligibility  for  and  the  amount and nature of
27    assistance to be provided.  The  Department  may  also  enter
28    into  written  agreements  with  private  and  public  social
29    service  agencies  to provide emergency financial services to
30    families referred  by  the  Department.    Special  financial
31    assistance  payments  shall  be available to a family no more
32    than once during each fiscal year and the total payments to a
33    family may not exceed $500 during a fiscal year.
34        (q)  The  Department  may  receive  and  use,  in   their
HB0097 Engrossed            -31-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    entirety,  for  the benefit of children any gift, donation or
 2    bequest of money or  other  property  which  is  received  on
 3    behalf  of  such children, or any financial benefits to which
 4    such children are or may  become  entitled  while  under  the
 5    jurisdiction or care of the Department.
 6        The  Department  shall  set  up  and  administer no-cost,
 7    interest-bearing savings accounts  in  appropriate  financial
 8    institutions  ("individual  accounts")  for children for whom
 9    the Department is  legally  responsible  and  who  have  been
10    determined  eligible  for Veterans' Benefits, Social Security
11    benefits, assistance allotments from the armed forces,  court
12    ordered  payments,  parental voluntary payments, Supplemental
13    Security Income, Railroad  Retirement  payments,  Black  Lung
14    benefits,  or  other miscellaneous payments.  Interest earned
15    by each individual account shall be credited to the  account,
16    unless disbursed in accordance with this subsection.
17        In  disbursing funds from children's individual accounts,
18    the Department shall:
19             (1)  Establish standards in  accordance  with  State
20        and  federal  laws  for  disbursing money from children's
21        individual   accounts.    In   all   circumstances,   the
22        Department's "Guardianship Administrator" or his  or  her
23        designee   must  approve  disbursements  from  children's
24        individual accounts.  The Department shall be responsible
25        for keeping complete records  of  all  disbursements  for
26        each individual account for any purpose.
27             (2)  Calculate  on  a monthly basis the amounts paid
28        from State funds for the child's board and care,  medical
29        care not covered under Medicaid, and social services; and
30        utilize  funds  from  the  child's individual account, as
31        covered  by  regulation,  to   reimburse   those   costs.
32        Monthly,  disbursements  from  all  children's individual
33        accounts, up to 1/12 of $13,000,000, shall  be  deposited
34        by  the  Department into the General Revenue Fund and the
HB0097 Engrossed            -32-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1        balance over 1/12 of $13,000,000 into the DCFS Children's
 2        Services Fund.
 3             (3)  Maintain   any    balance    remaining    after
 4        reimbursing  for  the child's costs of care, as specified
 5        in item (2). The balance shall accumulate  in  accordance
 6        with  relevant  State  and  federal  laws  and  shall  be
 7        disbursed  to the child or his or her guardian, or to the
 8        issuing agency.
 9        (r)  The   Department   shall   promulgate    regulations
10    encouraging  all  adoption agencies to voluntarily forward to
11    the Department or  its  agent  names  and  addresses  of  all
12    persons  who  have  applied  for  and  have been approved for
13    adoption of a hard-to-place  or  handicapped  child  and  the
14    names of such children who have not been placed for adoption.
15    A list of such names and addresses shall be maintained by the
16    Department  or  its agent, and coded lists which maintain the
17    confidentiality of the person seeking to adopt the child  and
18    of  the  child  shall  be  made available, without charge, to
19    every adoption agency in the State to assist the agencies  in
20    placing  such  children  for  adoption.  The  Department  may
21    delegate  to an agent its duty to maintain and make available
22    such lists.  The Department  shall  ensure  that  such  agent
23    maintains  the confidentiality of the person seeking to adopt
24    the child and of the child.
25        (s)  The Department of Children and Family  Services  may
26    establish and implement a program to reimburse Department and
27    private  child  welfare agency foster parents licensed by the
28    Department  of  Children  and  Family  Services  for  damages
29    sustained by the foster parents as a result of the  malicious
30    or  negligent  acts  of foster children, as well as providing
31    third party coverage for such foster parents with  regard  to
32    actions  of  foster  children  to  other  individuals.   Such
33    coverage  will  be  secondary  to the foster parent liability
34    insurance policy, if applicable.  The program shall be funded
HB0097 Engrossed            -33-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    through  appropriations  from  the  General   Revenue   Fund,
 2    specifically designated for such purposes.
 3        (t)  The   Department  shall  perform  home  studies  and
 4    investigations and shall exercise supervision over visitation
 5    as ordered by a court pursuant to the Illinois  Marriage  and
 6    Dissolution of Marriage Act or the Adoption Act only if:
 7             (1)  an   order   entered   by   an  Illinois  court
 8        specifically  directs  the  Department  to  perform  such
 9        services; and
10             (2)  the court  has  ordered  one  or  both  of  the
11        parties to the proceeding to reimburse the Department for
12        its  reasonable  costs  for  providing  such  services in
13        accordance with Department rules, or has determined  that
14        neither party is financially able to pay.
15        The  Department shall provide written notification to the
16    court of the specific arrangements for supervised  visitation
17    and  projected  monthly  costs  within  60  days of the court
18    order. The Department shall send  to  the  court  information
19    related to the costs incurred except in cases where the court
20    has determined the parties are financially unable to pay. The
21    court may order additional periodic reports as appropriate.
22        (u)  Whenever the Department places a child in a licensed
23    foster  home,  group  home,  child  care institution, or in a
24    relative home, the Department shall provide to the caretaker:
25             (1)  available detailed information  concerning  the
26        child's   educational   and  health  history,  copies  of
27        immunization records  (including  insurance  and  medical
28        card  information),  a  history  of  the child's previous
29        placements, if any, and  reasons  for  placement  changes
30        excluding  any information that identifies or reveals the
31        location of any previous caretaker;
32             (2)  a copy of the child's  portion  of  the  client
33        service  plan,  including any visitation arrangement, and
34        all amendments or revisions  to  it  as  related  to  the
HB0097 Engrossed            -34-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1        child; and
 2             (3)  information  containing  details of the child's
 3        individualized  educational  plan  when  the   child   is
 4        receiving special education services.
 5        The  caretaker  shall  be informed of any known social or
 6    behavioral information (including, but not limited  to,  fire
 7    setting,  perpetuation of sexual abuse, destructive behavior,
 8    and substance abuse) necessary to care for and safeguard  the
 9    child.
10        (u-5)  Effective   July   1,   1995,   only  foster  care
11    placements licensed as foster family homes  pursuant  to  the
12    Child  Care  Act  of 1969 shall be eligible to receive foster
13    care payments from the Department. Relative  caregivers  who,
14    as  of  July  1,  1995,  were  approved  pursuant to approved
15    relative  placement  rules  previously  promulgated  by   the
16    Department  at  89  Ill.  Adm.  Code 335 and had submitted an
17    application  for  licensure  as  a  foster  family  home  may
18    continue to receive  foster  care  payments  only  until  the
19    Department  determines  that they may be licensed as a foster
20    family home or that their application for licensure is denied
21    or until September 30, 1995, whichever occurs first.
22        (v)  The Department shall access criminal history  record
23    information    as  defined in the Illinois Uniform Conviction
24    Information   Act   and   information   maintained   in   the
25    adjudicatory and dispositional record system  as  defined  in
26    subdivision  (A)19 of Section 55a of the Civil Administrative
27    Code of Illinois if the Department determines the information
28    is necessary to perform  its  duties  under  the  Abused  and
29    Neglected  Child  Reporting  Act, the Child Care Act of 1969,
30    and the Children and Family  Services  Act.   The  Department
31    shall  provide for interactive computerized communication and
32    processing   equipment   that    permits    direct    on-line
33    communication  with  the Department of State Police's central
34    criminal  history  data  repository.   The  Department  shall
HB0097 Engrossed            -35-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1    comply  with  all  certification  requirements  and   provide
 2    certified  operators  who have been trained by personnel from
 3    the Department of State Police.  In addition, one  Office  of
 4    the Inspector General investigator shall have training in the
 5    use  of  the  criminal  history information access system and
 6    have access to the terminal.  The Department of Children  and
 7    Family  Services  and  its employees shall abide by rules and
 8    regulations established by the  Department  of  State  Police
 9    relating to the access and dissemination of this information.
10        (w)  Within  120  days  of August 20, 1995 (the effective
11    date of Public Act 89-392) this amendatory Act of 1995),  the
12    Department  shall  prepare and submit to the Governor and the
13    General Assembly, a  written  plan  for  the  development  of
14    in-state  licensed secure child care facilities that care for
15    children who are in need of secure  living  arrangements  for
16    their  health,  safety, and well-being.  For purposes of this
17    subsection, secure care facility shall mean a  facility  that
18    is  designed  and  operated  to ensure that all entrances and
19    exits from the facility, a building or a distinct part of the
20    building, are under the exclusive control of the staff of the
21    facility, whether  or  not  the  child  has  the  freedom  of
22    movement  within  the perimeter of the facility, building, or
23    distinct part  of  the  building.   The  plan  shall  include
24    descriptions  of  the  types of facilities that are needed in
25    Illinois;  the  cost  of   developing   these   secure   care
26    facilities; the estimated number of placements; the potential
27    cost   savings   resulting  from  the  movement  of  children
28    currently out-of-state who are projected to  be  returned  to
29    Illinois;  the  necessary  geographic  distribution  of these
30    facilities  in  Illinois;  and  a  proposed   timetable   for
31    development of such facilities.
32    (Source: P.A.  88-380;  88-398;  88-487; 88-614, eff. 9-7-94;
33    88-670,  eff.  12-2-94;  89-21,  eff.  6-6-95;  89-392,  eff.
34    8-20-95; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
HB0097 Engrossed            -36-               LRB9000901MWpc
 1        Section 95.  No acceleration or delay.   Where  this  Act
 2    makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by
 3    text  that  is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a
 4    Section represented by multiple versions), the  use  of  that
 5    text  does  not  accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i)
 6    the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived  from
 7    any other Public Act.
 8        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
 9    becoming law.

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