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90_HB1539
20 ILCS 505/7.5 new
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires
the Department of Children and Family Services to establish
and implement a loan program to assist Illinois residents in
meeting expenses related to the adoption of children under
the Department's jurisdiction. Limits recipients to a
maximum of $10,000 per child. Requires the Department to
adopt rules requiring repayment and verification of use of
loans and penalties for default.
LRB9004176MWpc
LRB9004176MWpc
1 AN ACT to amend the Children and Family Services Act by
2 adding Section 7.5.
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 adding Section 7.5 as follows:
7 (20 ILCS 505/7.5 new)
8 Sec. 7.5. Adoption incentive loan program.
9 (a) The Department shall develop and implement a loan
10 program to assist in the payment of adoption-related expenses
11 incurred by persons attempting to become adoptive parents.
12 From funds appropriated for this purpose, the Department
13 shall loan current or prospective adoptive parents amounts
14 necessary to meet expenses required to secure and maintain
15 placement of an adoptee, including but not limited to
16 placement agency fees, legal fees that are the responsibility
17 of the adoptive parent, and an adoptee's medical or other
18 support costs that are the responsibility of the adoptive
19 parent. The maximum aggregate amount that may be loaned for
20 the adoption of one child is $10,000.
21 (b) Loan recipients shall be selected through an
22 application process developed by the Department. Eligibility
23 for a loan shall require determination by the Department that
24 the applicant's financial resources are such that placement
25 and final adoption would be deterred in the absence of
26 financial assistance. Eligibility shall be limited to
27 Illinois residents seeking the adoption of children under the
28 Department's jurisdiction.
29 (c) The Department shall promulgate and adopt rules for
30 the administration of the loan program. Rules shall include
31 but need not be limited to the following:
-2- LRB9004176MWpc
1 (1) the requirement that loans be repaid on
2 specified schedules with interest at specified rates,
3 including 0% when deemed appropriate;
4 (2) penalties for late or no repayment of loans;
5 (3) the requirement that a loan recipient actually
6 incur expenses and document those expenses to the
7 Department, or that a loan recipient submit claims for
8 payment for services actually received, before moneys for
9 those expenses or claims are loaned to a recipient;
10 (4) means for monitoring and verifying the use of
11 loans; and
12 (5) means for preventing the use of loans for the
13 repayment of expenses covered or eligible for coverage
14 through a recipient's insurance or other programs
15 available to the recipient.