State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
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[ House Amendment 001 ][ House Amendment 002 ]

90_HB0098

      215 ILCS 5/356h           from Ch. 73, par. 968h
      215 ILCS 125/4-9          from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1409.2
      720 ILCS 525/4            from Ch. 40, par. 1704
      750 ILCS 50/1             from Ch. 40, par. 1501
      750 ILCS 50/9             from Ch. 40, par. 1511
      750 ILCS 50/11            from Ch. 40, par. 1513
      750 ILCS 50/13            from Ch. 40, par. 1516
      750 ILCS 50/14            from Ch. 40, par. 1517
      750 ILCS 50/21            from Ch. 40, par. 1526
          Amends  the  Insurance  Code,  the   Health   Maintenance
      Organization  Act, the Adoption Compensation Prohibition Act,
      and  the  Adoption  Act.  Imposes  certain  requirements   on
      accident  and  health  insurance  policies  and HMO contracts
      concerning adopted children.  Adds, as a ground for a finding
      of parental  unfitness,  failure  to  maintain  a  reasonable
      degree of interest as to the pregnant mother and unborn child
      during the period of gestation. Makes other changes.
                                                     LRB9000720LDdv
                                               LRB9000720LDdv
 1        AN ACT concerning adoption, amending named Acts.
 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:
 4        Section 5.  The Illinois Insurance  Code  is  amended  by
 5    changing Section 356h as follows:
 6        (215 ILCS 5/356h) (from Ch. 73, par. 968h)
 7        Sec. 356h.  Adopted children.
 8        (a)  No individual or group policy of accident and health
 9    insurance  which  covers  the  insured's  immediate family or
10    children, as well as covering the insured,  shall  exclude  a
11    child  from  coverage,  or  limit  coverage  for  a child, or
12    require a greater premium or fee to provide  coverage  for  a
13    child,  solely  because  the  child  is  an adopted child, or
14    solely because the child does not reside  with  the  insured.
15    For  purposes  of this Section, a child who is in the custody
16    of the  insured,  pursuant  to  an  interim  court  order  of
17    adoption  vesting temporary care of the child in the insured,
18    is an adopted child, regardless  of  whether  a  final  order
19    granting adoption is ultimately issued.
20        (b)  Each  policy  of accident and health insurance shall
21    contain a provision stating  that  the  accident  and  health
22    insurance  benefits  applicable for adopted children shall be
23    granted retroactive to the earlier of:
24             (1)  the date of birth of the child,  provided  that
25        an interim court order of adoption vesting temporary care
26        of  the  child  in  the insured was entered by a court of
27        competent jurisdiction within 31 days of the birth of the
28        child;
29             (2)  the date of the  entry  of  the  interim  court
30        order  of adoption vesting temporary care of the child in
31        the insured; or
                            -2-                LRB9000720LDdv
 1             (3)  the date of  the  written  placement  agreement
 2        between  the  insured and a licensed child welfare agency
 3        vesting temporary care of the child in the insured.
 4        (c)  The coverage for adopted children retroactive to the
 5    date of birth shall  include  coverage  of  illness,  injury,
 6    congenital defects, birth abnormalities, and premature birth.
 7        (d)  If  payment  of  a  specific  premium is required to
 8    provide coverage for a child, the  policy  may  require  that
 9    notification  of  the  birth of a newborn child, the entry of
10    the interim order of adoption, or the execution of a  written
11    placement  agreement,  as the case may be, and payment of the
12    required premium or fees must be  furnished  to  the  insurer
13    within  31  days  after  the  date of birth, the entry of the
14    interim order of adoption, or the execution  of  the  written
15    placement  agreement,  in order to have the coverage continue
16    beyond the 31-day period.
17        (e)  All individual or group  policies  of  accident  and
18    health  insurance providing coverage of maternity benefits on
19    an expense incurred basis which  cover  the  insured  or  the
20    insured's  immediate  family  or  children shall also provide
21    primary coverage for the costs of the birth  of  any  adopted
22    child  of  the  insured,  including  but  not  limited to the
23    hospital and medical expenses of the biological mother of the
24    child.  That  coverage,  however,  is  subject  to  the  same
25    limitations   contained  in  the  policy  applicable  to  the
26    insured.
27        (f)  For purposes of this Section, a child who is in  the
28    custody of the insured, pursuant to an interim court order of
29    adoption or pursuant to a written placement agreement between
30    the  insured  and  a  licensed  child  welfare agency vesting
31    temporary care of the child in the  insured,  is  an  adopted
32    child,  regardless  of  whether  a final court order granting
33    adoption is ultimately issued.
34    (Source: P.A. 86-649.)
                            -3-                LRB9000720LDdv
 1        Section 10.  The Health Maintenance Organization  Act  is
 2    amended by changing Section 4-9 as follows:
 3        (215 ILCS 125/4-9) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 1409.2)
 4        Sec. 4-9.  Adopted children.
 5        (a)  No  contract  or  evidence  of  coverage issued by a
 6    Health Maintenance Organization which provides  for  coverage
 7    of  dependents  of  the  principal  enrollees shall exclude a
 8    child from coverage or eligibility  for  coverage,  or  limit
 9    coverage  for a child, or require a greater premium or fee to
10    provide coverage for a child, solely on the basis that he  or
11    she  is an adopted child or solely because the child does not
12    reside with the principal enrollee.   For  purposes  of  this
13    Section,  a  child  who  is  in  the  custody  of a principal
14    enrollee, pursuant to an  interim  court  order  of  adoption
15    vesting  temporary  care  of the child in the enrollee, is an
16    adopted child, regardless of whether a final  order  granting
17    adoption is ultimately issued.
18        (b)  Each  contract  or  evidence of coverage issued by a
19    Health Maintenance Organization  shall  contain  a  provision
20    stating  that  the  coverage  applicable for adopted children
21    shall be granted retroactive to the earlier of:
22             (1)  the date of birth of the child,  provided  that
23        an interim court order of adoption vesting temporary care
24        of  the  child  in the enrollee was entered by a court of
25        competent jurisdiction within 31 days of the birth of the
26        child;
27             (2)  the date of the  entry  of  the  interim  court
28        order  of adoption vesting temporary care of the child in
29        the enrollee; or
30             (3)  the date of  the  written  placement  agreement
31        between  the enrollee and a licensed child welfare agency
32        vesting temporary care of the child in the enrollee.
33        (c)  If payment of a  specific  premium  is  required  to
                            -4-                LRB9000720LDdv
 1    provide  coverage  for  a  child, the contract or evidence of
 2    coverage may require that notification  of  the  birth  of  a
 3    newborn child, the entry of the interim order of adoption, or
 4    the  execution  of a written placement agreement, as the case
 5    may be, and payment of the required premium or fees  must  be
 6    furnished  to  the  Health Maintenance Organization within 31
 7    days after the date of birth, the entry of the interim  order
 8    of  adoption,  or  the  execution  of  the  written placement
 9    agreement, in order to have the coverage continue beyond  the
10    31-day period.
11        (d)  The coverage for newborn children retroactive to the
12    date  of  birth  shall  include  coverage of illness, injury,
13    congenital defects, birth abnormalities, and premature birth.
14        (e)  All contracts or evidences of coverage issued  by  a
15    Health  Maintenance  Organization which provide for maternity
16    coverage  of  the  principal  enrollee  or   the   enrollee's
17    immediate  family  or  children  shall  also  provide primary
18    coverage for the costs of the birth of any adopted  child  of
19    the  enrollee,  including but not limited to the hospital and
20    medical expenses of the biological mother of the child.  That
21    coverage,  however,  is  subject  to  the  same   limitations
22    contained  in the contract or evidence of coverage applicable
23    to the enrollee.
24        (f)  For purposes of this Section, a child who is in  the
25    custody  of  the  principal  enrollee, pursuant to an interim
26    court order of adoption or pursuant to  a  written  placement
27    agreement  between  the  enrollee  and  a licensed child care
28    welfare agency vesting temporary care of  the  child  in  the
29    enrollee,  is an adopted child, regardless of whether a final
30    court order granting adoption is ultimately issued.
31    (Source: P.A. 86-620.)
32        Section 15.  The Adoption Compensation Prohibition Act is
33    amended by changing Section 4 as follows:
                            -5-                LRB9000720LDdv
 1        (720 ILCS 525/4) (from Ch. 40, par. 1704)
 2        Sec. 4. The provisions of this Act shall not be construed
 3    to prevent the payment of salaries or other compensation by a
 4    licensed child welfare agency, as that term is defined by the
 5    Child Care Act of 1969, as now or hereafter amended,  to  the
 6    officers  or  employees thereof; nor shall it be construed to
 7    prevent the payment by a person with whom a  child  has  been
 8    placed  out of reasonable and actual medical fees or hospital
 9    charges for services rendered in connection with the birth of
10    such child, if such payment  is  made  to  the  physician  or
11    hospital  who  or  which  rendered  the  services  or  to the
12    biological natural mother of the  child  or  to  prevent  the
13    receipt  of  such  payment  by  such  physician, hospital, or
14    mother.
15    (Source: P.A. 86-820.)
16        Section 20.  The Adoption  Act  is  amended  by  changing
17    Sections 1, 9, 11, 13, 14, and 21 as follows:
18        (750 ILCS 50/1) (from Ch. 40, par. 1501)
19        Sec.  1.  Definitions.  When used in this Act, unless the
20    context otherwise requires:
21        A.  "Child" means a person under  legal  age  subject  to
22    adoption under this Act.
23        B.  "Related  child"  means  a  child subject to adoption
24    where either or both of the adopting parents stands in any of
25    the  following  relationships  to  the  child  by  blood   or
26    marriage: parent, grand-parent, brother, sister, step-parent,
27    step-grandparent,  step-brother,  step-sister,  uncle,  aunt,
28    great-uncle,  great-aunt, or cousin of first degree.  A child
29    whose parent has executed  a  final  irrevocable  consent  to
30    adoption  or  a  final  irrevocable surrender for purposes of
31    adoption, or whose parent has had his or her parental  rights
32    terminated,  is  not a related child to that person or to any
                            -6-                LRB9000720LDdv
 1    other person otherwise related to the child on account  of  a
 2    relationship to that parent.
 3        C.  "Agency"  for  the purpose of this Act means a public
 4    child welfare agency or a licensed child welfare agency.
 5        D.  "Unfit person" means any person whom the court  shall
 6    find  to  be  unfit  to  have  a child, without regard to the
 7    likelihood that the child will be placed for  adoption.   The
 8    grounds of unfitness are any one or more of the following:
 9             (a)  Abandonment of the child.
10             (b)  Failure  to  maintain  a  reasonable  degree of
11        interest, concern or responsibility  as  to  the  child's
12        welfare.
13             (c)  Desertion  of  the child for more than 3 months
14        next  preceding  the   commencement   of   the   Adoption
15        proceeding.
16             (d)  Substantial  neglect of the child if continuous
17        or repeated.
18             (e)  Extreme or repeated cruelty to the child.
19             (f)  Two or more findings of physical abuse  to  any
20        children  under  Section 4-8 of the Juvenile Court Act or
21        Section 2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of  1987, the most
22        recent of which was  determined  by  the  juvenile  court
23        hearing   the   matter  to  be  supported  by  clear  and
24        convincing evidence; a criminal conviction resulting from
25        the death of any child by  physical  child  abuse;  or  a
26        finding  of physical child abuse resulting from the death
27        of any child under Section 4-8 of the Juvenile Court  Act
28        or Section 2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
29             (g)  Failure  to  protect  the child from conditions
30        within his environment injurious to the child's welfare.
31             (h)  Other neglect  of,  or  misconduct  toward  the
32        child; provided that in making a finding of unfitness the
33        court  hearing the adoption proceeding shall not be bound
34        by any previous finding, order or judgment  affecting  or
                            -7-                LRB9000720LDdv
 1        determining  the  rights  of the parents toward the child
 2        sought to be adopted in any other proceeding except  such
 3        proceedings  terminating  parental rights as shall be had
 4        under either this Act, the  Juvenile  Court  Act  or  the
 5        Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
 6             (i)  Depravity.
 7             (j)  Open and notorious adultery or fornication.
 8             (j-1)  Conviction   of   first   degree   murder  in
 9        violation of paragraph  1  or  2  of  subsection  (a)  of
10        Section 9-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or conviction of
11        second  degree  murder  in violation of subsection (a) of
12        Section 9-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961 of a  parent  of
13        the  child  to  be  adopted shall create a presumption of
14        unfitness  that  may  be  overcome  only  by  clear   and
15        convincing evidence.
16             (k)  Habitual  drunkenness  or  addiction  to drugs,
17        other than those prescribed by a physician, for at  least
18        one  year  immediately  prior  to the commencement of the
19        unfitness proceeding.
20             (l)  Failure to demonstrate a reasonable  degree  of
21        interest,  concern or responsibility as to the welfare of
22        a new born child during  the  first  30  days  after  its
23        birth.
24             (m)  Failure  by a parent to make reasonable efforts
25        to correct the conditions that were  the  basis  for  the
26        removal  of  the  child  from  the  parent,  or  to  make
27        reasonable progress toward the return of the child to the
28        parent   within   12  months  after  an  adjudication  of
29        neglected minor, abused minor or  dependent  minor  under
30        the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
31             (n)  Evidence   of  intent  to  forego  his  or  her
32        parental rights, whether or not the child is  a  ward  of
33        the  court, (1) as manifested by his or her failure for a
34        period of 12 months: (i) to  visit  the  child,  (ii)  to
                            -8-                LRB9000720LDdv
 1        communicate with the child or agency, although able to do
 2        so  and  not  prevented  from doing so by an agency or by
 3        court order, or (iii) to maintain contact  with  or  plan
 4        for  the future of the child, although physically able to
 5        do so, or (2) as  manifested  by  the  father's  failure,
 6        where  he  and  the mother of the child were unmarried to
 7        each other at the time  of  the  child's  birth,  (i)  to
 8        commence  legal  proceedings  to  establish his paternity
 9        under the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 or  the  law  of
10        the  jurisdiction  of the child's birth within 30 days of
11        being informed, pursuant to Section 12a of this Act, that
12        he is the father or the likely father of  the  child  or,
13        after  being so informed where the child is not yet born,
14        within 30 days of the child's birth, or (ii)  to  make  a
15        good  faith  effort  to  pay  a  reasonable amount of the
16        expenses related to the birth of the child and to provide
17        a reasonable amount for  the  financial  support  of  the
18        child,  the  court  to  consider in its determination all
19        relevant circumstances, including the financial condition
20        of both parents; provided that the ground for termination
21        provided in this subparagraph (n)(2)(ii)  shall  only  be
22        available  where the petition is brought by the mother or
23        the husband of the mother.
24             Contact or communication by a parent with his or her
25        child that does not  demonstrate  affection  and  concern
26        does not constitute reasonable contact and planning under
27        subdivision  (n).   In  the  absence  of  evidence to the
28        contrary, the ability  to  visit,  communicate,  maintain
29        contact,  pay  expenses  and plan for the future shall be
30        presumed.  The subjective intent of the  parent,  whether
31        expressed  or  otherwise,  unsupported by evidence of the
32        foregoing parental acts manifesting  that  intent,  shall
33        not preclude a determination that the parent has intended
34        to  forego  his  or  her parental rights.  In making this
                            -9-                LRB9000720LDdv
 1        determination, the  court  may  consider  but  shall  not
 2        require  a  showing  of diligent efforts by an authorized
 3        agency to  encourage  the  parent  to  perform  the  acts
 4        specified in subdivision (n).
 5             It shall be an affirmative defense to any allegation
 6        under  paragraph (2) of this subsection that the father's
 7        failure was due to circumstances beyond his control or to
 8        impediments created by the mother  or  any  other  person
 9        having legal custody.  Proof of that fact need only be by
10        a preponderance of the evidence.
11             (o)  Repeated  or continuous failure by the parents,
12        although physically and financially able, to provide  the
13        child with adequate food, clothing, or shelter.
14             (p)  Inability       to      discharge      parental
15        responsibilities supported by competent evidence  from  a
16        psychiatrist,   licensed   clinical   social  worker,  or
17        clinical  psychologist  of  mental   impairment,   mental
18        illness or mental retardation as defined in Section 1-116
19        of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code,
20        or  developmental  disability as defined in Section 1-106
21        of that Code, and there is  sufficient  justification  to
22        believe   that   the   inability  to  discharge  parental
23        responsibilities shall extend beyond  a  reasonable  time
24        period.   However,  this  subdivision  (p)  shall  not be
25        construed so as to  permit  a  licensed  clinical  social
26        worker  to  conduct  any  medical  diagnosis to determine
27        mental illness or mental impairment.
28             (q)  A finding of physical abuse of the child  under
29        Section  4-8 of the Juvenile Court Act or Section 2-21 of
30        the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and a criminal  conviction
31        of aggravated battery of the child.
32             (r)  Failure  to  maintain  a  reasonable  degree of
33        interest, concern, or responsibility as to the welfare of
34        the pregnant mother  and  the  unborn  child  during  the
                            -10-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1        period of gestation.
 2        E.  "Parent"  means  the father or mother of a legitimate
 3    or illegitimate child.  For the purpose of this Act, a person
 4    who has executed a final and irrevocable consent to  adoption
 5    or   a  final  and  irrevocable  surrender  for  purposes  of
 6    adoption, or whose parental rights have been terminated by  a
 7    court,  is  not  a parent of the child who was the subject of
 8    the consent or surrender.
 9        F.  A person is available for adoption  when  the  person
10    is:
11             (a)  a  child  who has been surrendered for adoption
12        to an  agency  and  to  whose  adoption  the  agency  has
13        thereafter consented;
14             (b)  a  child  to whose adoption a person authorized
15        by law, other than his  parents,  has  consented,  or  to
16        whose adoption no consent is required pursuant to Section
17        8 of this Act;
18             (c)  a  child  who  is in the custody of persons who
19        intend  to  adopt  him  through  placement  made  by  his
20        parents; or
21             (d)  an adult who meets the conditions set forth  in
22        Section 3 of this Act.
23        A  person  who  would otherwise be available for adoption
24    shall not be deemed unavailable for adoption solely by reason
25    of his or her death.
26        G.  The singular  includes  the  plural  and  the  plural
27    includes  the  singular and the "male" includes the "female",
28    as the context of this Act may require.
29        H.  "Adoption  disruption"  occurs   when   an   adoptive
30    placement  does not prove successful and it becomes necessary
31    for the  child  to  be  removed  from  placement  before  the
32    adoption is finalized.
33        I.  "Foreign  placing  agency" is an agency or individual
34    operating in a country or territory outside the United States
                            -11-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1    that is authorized by  its  country  to  place  children  for
 2    adoption  either  directly with families in the United States
 3    or through United States based international agencies.
 4        J.  "Immediate relatives" means the  biological  parents,
 5    the  parents  of  the  biological parents and siblings of the
 6    biological parents;
 7        K.  "Intercountry adoption" is a process by which a child
 8    from a country other than the United States is adopted.
 9        L.  "Intercountry Adoption Coordinator" is a staff person
10    of the Department of Children and Family  Services  appointed
11    by  the  Director  to coordinate the provision of services by
12    the public and  private  sector  to  prospective  parents  of
13    foreign-born children.
14        M.  "Interstate  Compact on the Placement of Children" is
15    a law enacted by most states for the purpose of  establishing
16    uniform  procedures  for handling the interstate placement of
17    children in foster homes, adoptive homes, or other child care
18    facilities.
19        N.  "Non-Compact  state"  means  a  state  that  has  not
20    enacted the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
21        O.  "Preadoption   requirements"   are   any   conditions
22    established  by  the  laws  or  regulations  of  the  Federal
23    Government or of each state that must be  met  prior  to  the
24    placement of a child in an adoptive home.
25        P.  "Abused   child"   means  a  child  whose  parent  or
26    immediate family member, or any person  responsible  for  the
27    child's welfare,  or any individual residing in the same home
28    as the child, or a paramour of the child's parent:
29             (a)  inflicts,  causes to be inflicted, or allows to
30        be inflicted upon the child  physical  injury,  by  other
31        than  accidental means, that causes death, disfigurement,
32        impairment of physical or emotional health,  or  loss  or
33        impairment of any bodily function;
34             (b)  creates  a  substantial risk of physical injury
                            -12-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1        to the child by other than accidental means  which  would
 2        be  likely  to  cause death, disfigurement, impairment of
 3        physical or emotional health, or loss  or  impairment  of
 4        any bodily function;
 5             (c)  commits  or  allows  to  be  committed  any sex
 6        offense against the child, as sex offenses are defined in
 7        the Criminal Code of 1961 and extending those definitions
 8        of sex offenses to include children  under  18  years  of
 9        age;
10             (d)  commits  or  allows  to  be committed an act or
11        acts of torture upon the child; or
12             (e)  inflicts excessive corporal punishment.
13        Q.  "Neglected child" means any  child  whose  parent  or
14    other  person   responsible for the child's welfare withholds
15    or  denies  nourishment  or  medically  indicated   treatment
16    including  food  or  care  denied  solely on the basis of the
17    present or  anticipated  mental  or  physical  impairment  as
18    determined  by  a  physician  acting alone or in consultation
19    with other physicians  or  otherwise  does  not  provide  the
20    proper or necessary support, education as required by law, or
21    medical  or other remedial care recognized under State law as
22    necessary for a child's well-being, or other  care  necessary
23    for  his or her well-being, including adequate food, clothing
24    and shelter; or who is abandoned by his  or  her  parents  or
25    other person responsible for the child's welfare.
26        A  child  shall not be considered neglected or abused for
27    the sole reason that  the  child's  parent  or  other  person
28    responsible  for  his  or  her welfare depends upon spiritual
29    means through prayer alone  for  the  treatment  or  cure  of
30    disease  or  remedial care as provided under Section 4 of the
31    Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
32        R.  "Putative father" means a man who may  be  a  child's
33    father,  but  who (1) is not married to the child's mother on
34    or before the date that the child was or is to  be  born  and
                            -13-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1    (2)   has  not  established paternity of the child in a court
 2    proceeding before the filing of a petition for  the  adoption
 3    of  the  child.  The term includes a male who is less than 18
 4    years of age.
 5    (Source: P.A.  88-20;  88-550,  eff.  7-3-94;  88-691,   eff.
 6    1-24-95; 89-235, eff. 8-4-95.)
 7        (750 ILCS 50/9) (from Ch. 40, par. 1511)
 8        Sec. 9. Time for taking a consent or surrender.
 9        A.  A consent or a surrender taken not less than 72 hours
10    after  the  birth  of  the  child  is  irrevocable  except as
11    provided in Section 11 of this Act.
12        B.  No consent or surrender shall be taken within the  72
13    hour period immediately following the birth of the child.
14        C.  A consent or a surrender may be taken from the father
15    prior  to  the  birth of the child. Such consent or surrender
16    shall be revoked if, within 72 hours after the birth  of  the
17    child,  the  father  who  gave  such  consent  or  surrender,
18    notifies   in   writing   the   person,   agency   or   court
19    representative  who  took  the  surrender  or  consent or any
20    individual representing or connected with such person, agency
21    or court representative of the revocation of the  consent  or
22    surrender.
23        D.  Any  consent  or  surrender  taken in accordance with
24    paragraph C above which is not revoked within 72 hours  after
25    the  birth  of the child is irrevocable except as provided in
26    Section 11 of this Act.
27        E.  The consent of a parent shall not be  taken  until  a
28    petition  for the adoption of the child has been filed with a
29    court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  except  as  provided  in
30    subsection C.
31    (Source: P.A. 78-854.)
32        (750 ILCS 50/11) (from Ch. 40, par. 1513)
                            -14-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1        Sec. 11.  Consents, surrenders, irrevocability.
 2        (a)  A consent to  adoption  by  a  parent,  including  a
 3    minor,  executed  and  acknowledged  in  accordance  with the
 4    provisions of Section 8 of this Act,  or  a  surrender  of  a
 5    child  by  a  parent, including a minor, to an agency for the
 6    purpose of adoption shall be irrevocable unless it shall have
 7    been obtained by fraud or duress on the part  of  the  person
 8    before  whom  such  consent,  surrender,  or  other  document
 9    equivalent  to  a  surrender  is acknowledged pursuant to the
10    provisions of Section 10 of this Act or on the  part  of  the
11    adopting  parents  or  their  agents and a court of competent
12    jurisdiction shall so find. No action to  void  or  revoke  a
13    consent  to  or  surrender  for adoption, including an action
14    based on fraud or duress, may be commenced  after  12  months
15    from  the  date  the  consent  or surrender was executed. The
16    consent or surrender of a parent who is a minor shall not  be
17    voidable  because  of  such  minority.  A  consent  to  or  a
18    surrender   for  an  adoption  shall  not  be  limited  to  a
19    particular adopting parent or to particular adopting parents,
20    but shall be deemed to  be  final  and  irrevocable  for  all
21    purposes pursuant to the terms of this Section.
22        (b)  The   petitioners  in  an  adoption  proceeding  are
23    entitled to rely upon a sworn  statement  of  the  biological
24    mother  of  the child to be adopted identifying the father of
25    her child.  The affidavit shall be conclusive evidence as  to
26    the biological mother regarding the facts stated therein, and
27    shall  create  a  rebuttable  presumption  of truth as to the
28    biological father only.  Except as provided in Section 11  of
29    this  Act,  the  biological  mother  of  the  child  shall be
30    permanently barred from attacking the proceeding  thereafter.
31    The biological mother shall execute such affidavit in writing
32    and  under  oath.   The  affidavit  shall  be executed by the
33    biological mother before or at the time of execution  of  the
34    consent  or surrender, and shall be retained by the court and
                            -15-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1    be a part of the Court's files.  The form of affidavit  shall
 2    be substantially as follows:
 3                     AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTIFICATION
 4        I,  .................,  the  mother of a (male or female)
 5    child, state under oath or affirm as follows:
 6        (1)  That the child was born, or is expected to be  born,
 7    on     the     ...     day     of     ...........,     199..,
 8    at.......................,      in      the      State     of
 9    ...................
10        (2)  That I reside at .................., in the City  or
11    Village of ..........., State of ...................
12        (3)  That I am of the age of ....... years.
13        (4)  That  I  acknowledge  that  I  have  been  asked  to
14    identify the father of my child.
15        (5)  (CHECK ONE)
16        .... I know and am identifying the biological father.
17        .... I do not know the identity of the biological father.
18        ....I am unwilling to identify the biological father.
19        (6A)  If I know and am identifying the father:
20        That    the    name   of   the   biological   father   is
21    ....................;   his   last   known    home    address
22    is............;    his    last    known   work   address   is
23    ....................; and he is ..... years of age; or he  is
24    deceased,  having  died  on  the  ...... day of ............,
25    19...., at .............., in the State of ..................
26        (6B)  If I do not know the  identity  of  the  biological
27    father:
28        I do not know who the biological father is; the following
29    is an explanation of why I am unable to identify him:
30    .............................................................
31    .............................................................
32    .............................................................
33        (6C)  If  I  am  unwilling  to  identify  the  biological
34    father:
                            -16-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1        I  do not wish to name the biological father of the child
 2    for the following reasons:
 3    .............................................................
 4    .............................................................
 5    .............................................................
 6        (7)  The physical description of  the  biological  father
 7    is: .........................................................
 8    .............................................................
 9    .............................................................
10        (8)  I   reaffirm   that  the  information  contained  in
11    paragraphs 5, 6, and 7, inclusive, is true and correct.
12        (9)  I have been informed and understand  that  if  I  am
13    unwilling,  refuse to identify, or misidentify the biological
14    father of the child, absent fraud or duress, I am permanently
15    barred from attacking the proceedings for the adoption of the
16    child at any time  after  I  sign  a  final  and  irrevocable
17    consent to adoption or surrender for purposes of adoption.
18        (10)  I  have  read  this  Affidavit  and  have  had  the
19    opportunity to review and question it; it was explained to me
20    by  ............................;  and  I am signing it as my
21    free and voluntary act and understand the  contents  and  the
22    results of signing it.
23        Dated this... day of ..................., 199...
24                              ...................................
25                              Signature
26        Under penalties as provided by law under Section 1-109 of
27    the  Code  of Civil Procedure, the undersigned certifies that
28    the statements set forth  in  this  Affidavit  are  true  and
29    correct.
30                              ...................................
31                              Signature
32    (Source: P.A. 88-550, eff. 7-3-94; 89-315, eff. 1-1-96.)
33        (750 ILCS 50/13) (from Ch. 40, par. 1516)
                            -17-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1        Sec. 13.  Interim order. As soon as practicable after the
 2    filing  of  a  petition  for  adoption the court shall hold a
 3    hearing for the following purposes:
 4        A.  In other than an adoption of a related  child  or  an
 5    adoption through an agency, or of an adult:
 6             (a)  To  determine  the  validity  of  the  consent,
 7        provided that the execution of a consent pursuant to this
 8        Act  shall  be  prima facie evidence of its validity, and
 9        provided that the validity of  a  consent  shall  not  be
10        affected  by  the  omission therefrom of the names of the
11        petitioners or adopting parents at the time  the  consent
12        is  executed  or  acknowledged, and further provided that
13        the execution of a consent  prior  to  the  filing  of  a
14        petition for adoption shall not affect its validity;
15             (b)  To   determine   whether   there  is  available
16        suitable temporary custodial care for a child  sought  to
17        be adopted.
18        B.  In all cases:
19             (a)  The  court shall appoint some licensed attorney
20        other than the State's attorney acting  in  his  official
21        capacity as guardian ad litem to represent a child sought
22        to be adopted. Such guardian ad litem shall have power to
23        consent  to the adoption of the child, if such consent is
24        required;
25             (b)  The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for
26        all named minors or  defendants  who  are  persons  under
27        legal disability, if any.
28             (c)  If  the  petition  alleges a person to be unfit
29        pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  subparagraph  (p)   of
30        paragraph  D  of Section 1 of this Act, such person shall
31        be represented by counsel.  If such person is indigent or
32        an appearance has not been entered on his behalf  at  the
33        time  the  matter  is  set  for  hearing, the court shall
34        appoint as counsel for him either  the  Guardianship  and
                            -18-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1        Advocacy  Commission, the public defender, or, only if no
 2        attorney from the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission or
 3        the public defender is available, an attorney licensed to
 4        practice law in this State.
 5             (d)  If it is proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  the
 6        court,  after  such  investigation  as  the  court  deems
 7        necessary,   that  termination  of  parental  rights  and
 8        temporary commitment of the child to an agency  or  to  a
 9        person   deemed   competent   by   the  court,  including
10        petitioners, will be for the welfare of  the  child,  the
11        court  may  order  the  child  to be so committed and may
12        terminate the parental rights of the parents and  declare
13        the child a ward of the court or, if it is not so proved,
14        the  court  may  enter  such other order as it shall deem
15        necessary and advisable.
16        C.  In the case of a child born outside the United States
17    or a territory thereof, if the  petitioners  have  previously
18    been  appointed  guardians  of  such  child  by  a  court  of
19    competent  jurisdiction  in  a  country other than the United
20    States or a territory thereof, the court may order  that  the
21    petitioners continue as guardians of such child.
22    (Source: P.A. 89-644, eff. 1-1-97.)
23        (750 ILCS 50/14) (from Ch. 40, par. 1517)
24        Sec. 14.  Judgment; affidavit of expenses.
25        (a)  Prior  to  the  entry  of  the judgment for order of
26    adoption in any case other than  an  adoption  of  a  related
27    child  or  of  an  adult,  each  petitioner  and each person,
28    agency, association,  corporation,  institution,  society  or
29    organization  involved in the adoption of the child, except a
30    child welfare agency, as that term is defined  in  the  Child
31    Care  Act  of  1969, shall execute an affidavit setting forth
32    the hospital and medical costs, legal fees, counseling  fees,
33    and  any  other  fees or expenditures paid in accordance with
                            -19-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1    the Adoption Compensation Prohibition Act.
 2        (b)  Before the entry of the judgment for adoption,  each
 3    child  welfare  agency  (as that term is defined in the Child
 4    Care Act of 1969) involved in the adoption of the child shall
 5    execute file an affidavit  concerning  the  costs,  expenses,
 6    contributions,  fees,  compensation, or other things of value
 7    which have been given, promised, or  received  including  but
 8    not limited to hospital and medical costs, legal fees, social
 9    services, birth parent living expenses, or any other expenses
10    related  to the adoption paid in accordance with the Adoption
11    Compensation Prohibition Act.
12        If the total amount paid by the child welfare  agency  is
13    $4,500 or more, the affidavit shall contain an itemization of
14    expenditures.
15        If  the  total amount paid by the child welfare agency is
16    less than $4,500, the  execution  of  an  affidavit  to  that
17    effect  shall  be  sufficient  agency  may file an unitemized
18    affidavit stating that the total amount  paid  is  less  than
19    $4,500  unless  the  court,  in its discretion, requires that
20    agency to file an itemized affidavit.
21        (c)  No affidavit  need  be  filed  in  the  case  of  an
22    adoption  of  a  related  child  or  an  adult,  nor shall an
23    affidavit be required to be filed by a non-consenting parent,
24    or by any judge, or clerk, involved in an  official  capacity
25    in the adoption proceedings.
26        (d)  All affidavits filed in accordance with this Section
27    shall  be under penalty of perjury and shall include, but are
28    not limited to,  hospital  and  medical  costs,  legal  fees,
29    social  services,  birth parent living expenses, or any other
30    expenses related to the adoption or to the placement  of  the
31    child,   whether   or  not  the  payments  are  permitted  by
32    applicable laws.
33        (e)  Upon the expiration of 6 months after  the  date  of
34    any interim order vesting temporary care, custody and control
                            -20-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1    of  a  child, other than a related child, in the petitioners,
 2    entered pursuant to this Act, the petitioners  may  apply  to
 3    the  court  for  a  judgment for of adoption.  Notice of such
 4    application shall be  served  by  the  petitioners  upon  the
 5    investigating agency or the person making such investigation,
 6    and  the  guardian  ad  litem.  After  the  hearing  on  such
 7    application,  at  which  the  petitioners and the child shall
 8    appear in person, unless their  presence  is  waived  by  the
 9    court  for  good  cause shown, the court may enter a judgment
10    for adoption, provided the court is satisfied from the report
11    of  the  investigating  agency  or  the  person  making   the
12    investigation,  and  from  the  evidence, if any, introduced,
13    that the adoption is for the welfare of the  child  and  that
14    there  is  a valid consent, or that no consent is required as
15    provided in Section 8 of this Act.
16        (f)  A judgment for  adoption  of  a  related  child,  an
17    adult,  or  a  child as to whose adoption an agency or person
18    authorized by law has the right of authority to  consent  may
19    be entered at any time after service of process and after the
20    return day designated therein.
21        (g)  No  special  findings  of  fact  or  certificate  of
22    evidence  shall  be  necessary  in  any  case  to support the
23    judgment.
24        (h)  Only the circuit court that entered the judgment  of
25    the  adoption  may  order the issuance of any contents of the
26    court file or that the original birth record of  the  adoptee
27    be provided to any persons.
28    (Source: P.A. 88-148.)
29        (750 ILCS 50/21) (from Ch. 40, par. 1526)
30        Sec. 21. Compensation for placing of children prohibited.
31    No  person,  agency,  association,  corporation, institution,
32    society or other organization, except a child welfare  agency
33    as defined by the the "Child Care Act of 1969", approved July
                            -21-               LRB9000720LDdv
 1    10,  1957,  as  now  or  hereafter  amended, shall receive or
 2    accept, or pay or give any compensation or  thing  of  value,
 3    directly or indirectly, for placing out of a child as is more
 4    specifically    provided   in   the   Adoption   Compensation
 5    Prohibition Act "An Act to prevent the payment or receipt  of
 6    compensation for placing out children for adoption or for the
 7    purpose of providing care", approved July 14, 1955, as now or
 8    hereafter amended.
 9    (Source: Laws, 1959, p. 1269.)

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