State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Introduced ][ Engrossed ][ House Amendment 003 ]
[ Senate Amendment 001 ]

90_HB3778ham001

                                           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1                    AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3778
 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend House Bill 3778  by  replacing
 3    the title with the following:
 4        "AN ACT in relation to adoption."; and
 5    by  replacing  everything  after the enacting clause with the
 6    following:
 7        "Section 5.  The Vital Records Act is amended by changing
 8    Section 17 as follows:
 9        (410 ILCS 535/17) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 73-17)
10        Sec. 17.  (1) For a person born in this State, the  State
11    Registrar  of Vital Records shall establish a new certificate
12    of birth when he or she receives any of the following:
13             (a)  A  certificate  of  adoption  as  provided   in
14        Section  16  or a certified copy of the order of adoption
15        together with the information necessary to  identify  the
16        original  certificate  of  birth and to establish the new
17        certificate of birth; except that a  new  certificate  of
18        birth  shall  not  be  established if so requested by the
19        court ordering the adoption, the adoptive parents, or the
20        adopted person.
21             (b)  A certificate of adoption or a  certified  copy
                            -2-            LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1        of  the order of adoption entered in a court of competent
 2        jurisdiction of any  other  state  or  country  declaring
 3        adopted  a  child born in the State of Illinois, together
 4        with the information necessary to identify  the  original
 5        certificate of birth and to establish the new certificate
 6        of  birth;  except  that a new certificate of birth shall
 7        not be established if so requested by the court  ordering
 8        the  adoption,  the  adoptive  parents,  or  the  adopted
 9        person.
10             (c)  A request that a new certificate be established
11        and  such evidence as required by regulation proving that
12        such person has been legitimatized, or that  the  circuit
13        court,  the Illinois Department of Public Aid, or a court
14        or  administrative  agency  of  any   other   state   has
15        established the paternity of such a person by judicial or
16        administrative  processes or by voluntary acknowledgment,
17        which is accompanied by the social  security  numbers  of
18        all persons determined and presumed to be the parents.
19             (d)  An  affidavit by a physician that he or she has
20        performed an operation on a person, and that by reason of
21        the operation the sex designation on such person's  birth
22        record  should  be changed.  The State Registrar of Vital
23        Records may make any investigation or require any further
24        information he or she deems necessary.
25        Each request for a new  certificate  of  birth  shall  be
26    accompanied by a fee of $15 and entitles the applicant to one
27    certification  or  certified copy of the new certificate.  If
28    the request is for additional copies, it shall be accompanied
29    by a fee of $2 for each additional certification or certified
30    copy.
31        (2)  When a new certificate of birth is established,  the
32    actual  place  and date of birth shall be shown; provided, in
33    the case of adoption of  a  person  born  in  this  State  by
34    parents  who  were residents of this State at the time of the
                            -3-            LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1    birth of the adopted person, the place of birth may be  shown
 2    as the place of residence of the adoptive parents at the time
 3    of  such  person's  birth, if specifically requested by them,
 4    and any new certificate of birth  established  prior  to  the
 5    effective  date  of  this  amendatory  Act  may  be corrected
 6    accordingly if so requested by the adoptive  parents  or  the
 7    adopted person when of legal age. The social security numbers
 8    of  the  parents  shall not be recorded on the certificate of
 9    birth. The social security  numbers  may  only  be  used  for
10    purposes allowed under federal law. The new certificate shall
11    be substituted for the original certificate of birth:
12             (a)  Thereafter,  the  original  certificate and the
13        evidence of adoption,  paternity,  legitimation,  or  sex
14        change   shall   not   be   subject   to   inspection  or
15        certification except upon order of the circuit  court  or
16        as provided by regulation.
17             (b)  Upon   receipt   of   notice  of  annulment  of
18        adoption, the original  certificate  of  birth  shall  be
19        restored   to  its  place  in  the  files,  and  the  new
20        certificate  and  evidence  shall  not  be   subject   to
21        inspection  or  certification  except  upon  order of the
22        circuit court.
23        (3)  If no certificate of birth is on file for the person
24    for whom a new certificate is to be  established  under  this
25    Section,  a  delayed  record of birth shall be filed with the
26    State Registrar of Vital Records as provided in Section 14 or
27    Section 15 of this Act before a new certificate of  birth  is
28    established, except that when the date and place of birth and
29    parentage  have been established in the adoption proceedings,
30    a delayed record shall not be required.
31        (4)  When a new certificate of birth  is  established  by
32    the  State  Registrar  of  Vital  Records,  all copies of the
33    original certificate of birth in the custody of any custodian
34    of permanent local records in this State shall be transmitted
                            -4-            LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1    to the State Registrar of  Vital  Records  as  directed,  and
 2    shall be sealed from inspection.
 3        (5)  Nothing  in  this  Section  shall  be  construed  to
 4    prohibit  the  amendment of a birth certificate in accordance
 5    with subsection (6) of Section 22.
 6    (Source: P.A. 89-6, eff. 3-6-95; 89-257, eff. 1-1-96; 89-626,
 7    eff. 8-9-96; 90-18, eff. 7-1-97.)
 8        Section 10.  The Adoption  Act  is  amended  by  changing
 9    Sections 1, 18.3a, and 18.4 as follows:
10        (750 ILCS 50/1) (from Ch. 40, par. 1501)
11        Sec.  1.  Definitions.  When used in this Act, unless the
12    context otherwise requires:
13        A.  "Child" means a person under  legal  age  subject  to
14    adoption under this Act.
15        B.  "Related  child"  means  a  child subject to adoption
16    where either or both of the adopting parents stands in any of
17    the  following  relationships  to  the  child  by  blood   or
18    marriage: parent, grand-parent, brother, sister, step-parent,
19    step-grandparent,  step-brother,  step-sister,  uncle,  aunt,
20    great-uncle,  great-aunt, or cousin of first degree.  A child
21    whose parent has executed  a  final  irrevocable  consent  to
22    adoption  or  a  final  irrevocable surrender for purposes of
23    adoption, or whose parent has had his or her parental  rights
24    terminated, is not a related child to that person, unless the
25    consent  is  determined  to  be  void  or is void pursuant to
26    subsection O of Section 10.
27        C.  "Agency" for the purpose of this Act means  a  public
28    child welfare agency or a licensed child welfare agency.
29        D.  "Unfit  person" means any person whom the court shall
30    find to be unfit to have  a  child,  without  regard  to  the
31    likelihood  that  the child will be placed for adoption.  The
32    grounds of unfitness are any one or more of the following:
                            -5-            LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1             (a)  Abandonment of the child.
 2             (a-1)  Abandonment  of  a  newborn   infant   in   a
 3        hospital.
 4             (a-2)  Abandonment   of  a  newborn  infant  in  any
 5        setting where  the  evidence  suggests  that  the  parent
 6        intended to relinquish his or her parental rights.
 7             (b)  Failure  to  maintain  a  reasonable  degree of
 8        interest, concern or responsibility  as  to  the  child's
 9        welfare.
10             (c)  Desertion  of  the child for more than 3 months
11        next  preceding  the   commencement   of   the   Adoption
12        proceeding.
13             (d)  Substantial  neglect of the child if continuous
14        or repeated.
15             (d-1)  Substantial   neglect,   if   continuous   or
16        repeated, of any child residing in  the  household  which
17        resulted in the death of that child.
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 or  a  finding
25        of  not  guilty  by reason of insanity resulting from the
26        death of any child by physical child abuse; or a  finding
27        of  physical  child abuse resulting from the death of any
28        child under Section 4-8 of  the  Juvenile  Court  Act  or
29        Section 2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
30             (g)  Failure  to  protect  the child from conditions
31        within his environment injurious to the child's welfare.
32             (h)  Other neglect  of,  or  misconduct  toward  the
33        child; provided that in making a finding of unfitness the
34        court  hearing the adoption proceeding shall not be bound
                            -6-            LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1        by any previous finding, order or judgment  affecting  or
 2        determining  the  rights  of the parents toward the child
 3        sought to be adopted in any other proceeding except  such
 4        proceedings  terminating  parental rights as shall be had
 5        under either this Act, the  Juvenile  Court  Act  or  the
 6        Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
 7             (i)  Depravity.
 8             (j)  Open and notorious adultery or fornication.
 9             (j-1)  Conviction of any one of the following crimes
10        shall  create  a  presumption  of  unfitness  that may be
11        overcome only by clear and convincing evidence: (1) first
12        degree murder  in  violation  of  paragraph  1  or  2  of
13        subsection  (a)  of  Section  9-1 of the Criminal Code of
14        1961 or conviction of second degree murder  in  violation
15        of  subsection (a) of Section 9-2 of the Criminal Code of
16        1961 of a parent of  the  child  to  be  adopted;  (2)  a
17        criminal  conviction  of  first  degree  murder or second
18        degree murder of any child in violation of  the  Criminal
19        Code  of  1961;  (3)  a criminal conviction of attempt or
20        conspiracy to commit first degree murder or second degree
21        murder of any child in violation of the Criminal Code  of
22        1961; (4) a criminal conviction of solicitation to commit
23        murder of any child, solicitation to commit murder of any
24        child  for  hire, or solicitation to commit second degree
25        murder of any child in violation of the Criminal Code  of
26        1961; (5) a criminal conviction of accountability for the
27        first  or  second degree murder of any child in violation
28        of  the  Criminal  Code  of  1961;  or  (6)  a   criminal
29        conviction  of  aggravated  criminal  sexual  assault  in
30        violation  of Section 12-14(b)(1) of the Criminal Code of
31        1961.
32             (k)  Habitual drunkenness  or  addiction  to  drugs,
33        other  than those prescribed by a physician, for at least
34        one year immediately prior to  the  commencement  of  the
                            -7-            LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1        unfitness proceeding.
 2             (l)  Failure  to  demonstrate a reasonable degree of
 3        interest, concern or responsibility as to the welfare  of
 4        a  new  born  child  during  the  first 30 days after its
 5        birth.
 6             (m)  Failure by a parent to make reasonable  efforts
 7        to  correct  the  conditions  that were the basis for the
 8        removal  of  the  child  from  the  parent,  or  to  make
 9        reasonable progress toward the return of the child to the
10        parent within 9 months after an adjudication of neglected
11        or abused minor under Section 2-3 of the  Juvenile  Court
12        Act  of 1987 or dependent minor under Section 2-4 of that
13        Act.  If a service plan has been established as  required
14        under  Section  8.2  of  the  Abused  and Neglected Child
15        Reporting Act to correct the  conditions  that  were  the
16        basis for the removal of the child from the parent and if
17        those services were available, then, for purposes of this
18        Act,  "failure  to  make  reasonable  progress toward the
19        return of the child to the parent" includes the  parent's
20        failure  to  substantially fulfill his or her obligations
21        under the service plan and correct  the  conditions  that
22        brought  the  child  into  care within 9 months after the
23        adjudication under Section 2-3 or  2-4  of  the  Juvenile
24        Court Act of 1987.
25             (n)  Evidence   of  intent  to  forego  his  or  her
26        parental rights, whether or not the child is  a  ward  of
27        the  court, (1) as manifested by his or her failure for a
28        period of 12 months: (i) to  visit  the  child,  (ii)  to
29        communicate with the child or agency, although able to do
30        so  and  not  prevented  from doing so by an agency or by
31        court order, or (iii) to maintain contact  with  or  plan
32        for  the future of the child, although physically able to
33        do so, or (2) as  manifested  by  the  father's  failure,
34        where  he  and  the mother of the child were unmarried to
                            -8-            LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1        each other at the time  of  the  child's  birth,  (i)  to
 2        commence  legal  proceedings  to  establish his paternity
 3        under the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 or  the  law  of
 4        the  jurisdiction  of the child's birth within 30 days of
 5        being informed, pursuant to Section 12a of this Act, that
 6        he is the father or the likely father of  the  child  or,
 7        after  being so informed where the child is not yet born,
 8        within 30 days of the child's birth, or (ii)  to  make  a
 9        good  faith  effort  to  pay  a  reasonable amount of the
10        expenses related to the birth of the child and to provide
11        a reasonable amount for  the  financial  support  of  the
12        child,  the  court  to  consider in its determination all
13        relevant circumstances, including the financial condition
14        of both parents; provided that the ground for termination
15        provided in this subparagraph (n)(2)(ii)  shall  only  be
16        available  where the petition is brought by the mother or
17        the husband of the mother.
18             Contact or communication by a parent with his or her
19        child that does not  demonstrate  affection  and  concern
20        does not constitute reasonable contact and planning under
21        subdivision  (n).   In  the  absence  of  evidence to the
22        contrary, the ability  to  visit,  communicate,  maintain
23        contact,  pay  expenses  and plan for the future shall be
24        presumed.  The subjective intent of the  parent,  whether
25        expressed  or  otherwise,  unsupported by evidence of the
26        foregoing parental acts manifesting  that  intent,  shall
27        not preclude a determination that the parent has intended
28        to  forego  his  or  her parental rights.  In making this
29        determination, the  court  may  consider  but  shall  not
30        require  a  showing  of diligent efforts by an authorized
31        agency to  encourage  the  parent  to  perform  the  acts
32        specified in subdivision (n).
33             It shall be an affirmative defense to any allegation
34        under  paragraph (2) of this subsection that the father's
                            -9-            LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1        failure was due to circumstances beyond his control or to
 2        impediments created by the mother  or  any  other  person
 3        having legal custody.  Proof of that fact need only be by
 4        a preponderance of the evidence.
 5             (o)  Repeated  or continuous failure by the parents,
 6        although physically and financially able, to provide  the
 7        child with adequate food, clothing, or shelter.
 8             (p)  Inability       to      discharge      parental
 9        responsibilities supported by competent evidence  from  a
10        psychiatrist,   licensed   clinical   social  worker,  or
11        clinical  psychologist  of  mental   impairment,   mental
12        illness or mental retardation as defined in Section 1-116
13        of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code,
14        or  developmental  disability as defined in Section 1-106
15        of that Code, and there is  sufficient  justification  to
16        believe   that   the   inability  to  discharge  parental
17        responsibilities shall extend beyond  a  reasonable  time
18        period.   However,  this  subdivision  (p)  shall  not be
19        construed so as to  permit  a  licensed  clinical  social
20        worker  to  conduct  any  medical  diagnosis to determine
21        mental illness or mental impairment.
22             (q)  A finding of physical abuse of the child  under
23        Section  4-8 of the Juvenile Court Act or Section 2-21 of
24        the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and a criminal  conviction
25        of aggravated battery of the child.
26             (r)  The  child  is  in  the  temporary  custody  or
27        guardianship  of  the  Department  of Children and Family
28        Services, the parent  is  incarcerated  as  a  result  of
29        criminal  conviction  at  the time the petition or motion
30        for termination of parental rights  is  filed,  prior  to
31        incarceration  the  parent  had little or no contact with
32        the child or provided little or no support for the child,
33        and the parent's incarceration will  prevent  the  parent
34        from discharging his or her parental responsibilities for
                            -10-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1        the  child  for  a  period in excess of 2 years after the
 2        filing of the  petition  or  motion  for  termination  of
 3        parental rights.
 4             (s)  The  child  is  in  the  temporary  custody  or
 5        guardianship  of  the  Department  of Children and Family
 6        Services, the parent is  incarcerated  at  the  time  the
 7        petition  or motion for termination of parental rights is
 8        filed, the parent has been repeatedly incarcerated  as  a
 9        result of criminal convictions, and the parent's repeated
10        incarceration  has  prevented the parent from discharging
11        his or her parental responsibilities for the child.
12             (t) (r)  A finding that at birth the child's  blood,
13        or   urine,   or  meconium  contained  any  amount  of  a
14        controlled substance as  defined  in  subsection  (f)  of
15        Section 102 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or
16        a   metabolite   of  a  controlled  substance,  with  the
17        exception of controlled substances or metabolites of such
18        substances, the presence of which in the  newborn  infant
19        was  the  result of medical treatment administered to the
20        mother or the newborn infant,  and  that  the  biological
21        mother of this child is the biological mother of at least
22        one  other  child  who  was adjudicated a neglected minor
23        under subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court
24        Act of 1987, after which the biological  mother  had  the
25        opportunity  to enroll in and participate in a clinically
26        appropriate substance abuse drug  counseling,  treatment,
27        and rehabilitation program.
28        E.  "Parent"  means  the father or mother of a legitimate
29    or illegitimate child.  For the purpose of this Act, a person
30    who has executed a final and irrevocable consent to  adoption
31    or   a  final  and  irrevocable  surrender  for  purposes  of
32    adoption, or whose parental rights have been terminated by  a
33    court,  is  not  a parent of the child who was the subject of
34    the consent or surrender, unless the consent is void pursuant
                            -11-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1    to subsection O of Section 10.
 2        F.  A person is available for adoption  when  the  person
 3    is:
 4             (a)  a  child  who has been surrendered for adoption
 5        to an  agency  and  to  whose  adoption  the  agency  has
 6        thereafter consented;
 7             (b)  a  child  to whose adoption a person authorized
 8        by law, other than his  parents,  has  consented,  or  to
 9        whose adoption no consent is required pursuant to Section
10        8 of this Act;
11             (c)  a  child  who  is in the custody of persons who
12        intend  to  adopt  him  through  placement  made  by  his
13        parents;
14             (c-1)  a child  for  whom  a  parent  has  signed  a
15        specific  consent pursuant to subsection O of Section 10;
16        or
17             (d)  an adult who meets the conditions set forth  in
18        Section 3 of this Act.
19        A  person  who  would otherwise be available for adoption
20    shall not be deemed unavailable for adoption solely by reason
21    of his or her death.
22        G.  The singular  includes  the  plural  and  the  plural
23    includes  the  singular and the "male" includes the "female",
24    as the context of this Act may require.
25        H.  "Adoption  disruption"  occurs   when   an   adoptive
26    placement  does not prove successful and it becomes necessary
27    for the  child  to  be  removed  from  placement  before  the
28    adoption is finalized.
29        I.  "Foreign  placing  agency" is an agency or individual
30    operating in a country or territory outside the United States
31    that is authorized by  its  country  to  place  children  for
32    adoption  either  directly with families in the United States
33    or through United States based international agencies.
34        J.  "Immediate relatives" means the  biological  parents,
                            -12-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1    the  parents  of  the  biological parents and siblings of the
 2    biological parents.
 3        K.  "Intercountry adoption" is a process by which a child
 4    from a country other than the United States is adopted.
 5        L.  "Intercountry Adoption Coordinator" is a staff person
 6    of the Department of Children and Family  Services  appointed
 7    by  the  Director  to coordinate the provision of services by
 8    the public and  private  sector  to  prospective  parents  of
 9    foreign-born children.
10        M.  "Interstate  Compact on the Placement of Children" is
11    a law enacted by most states for the purpose of  establishing
12    uniform  procedures  for handling the interstate placement of
13    children in foster homes, adoptive homes, or other child care
14    facilities.
15        N.  "Non-Compact  state"  means  a  state  that  has  not
16    enacted the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
17        O.  "Preadoption   requirements"   are   any   conditions
18    established  by  the  laws  or  regulations  of  the  Federal
19    Government or of each state that must be  met  prior  to  the
20    placement of a child in an adoptive home.
21        P.  "Abused   child"   means  a  child  whose  parent  or
22    immediate family member, or any person  responsible  for  the
23    child's welfare,  or any individual residing in the same home
24    as the child, or a paramour of the child's parent:
25             (a)  inflicts,  causes to be inflicted, or allows to
26        be inflicted upon the child  physical  injury,  by  other
27        than  accidental means, that causes death, disfigurement,
28        impairment of physical or emotional health,  or  loss  or
29        impairment of any bodily function;
30             (b)  creates  a  substantial risk of physical injury
31        to the child by other than accidental means  which  would
32        be  likely  to  cause death, disfigurement, impairment of
33        physical or emotional health, or loss  or  impairment  of
34        any bodily function;
                            -13-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1             (c)  commits  or  allows  to  be  committed  any sex
 2        offense against the child, as sex offenses are defined in
 3        the Criminal Code of 1961 and extending those definitions
 4        of sex offenses to include children  under  18  years  of
 5        age;
 6             (d)  commits  or  allows  to  be committed an act or
 7        acts of torture upon the child; or
 8             (e)  inflicts excessive corporal punishment.
 9        Q.  "Neglected child" means any  child  whose  parent  or
10    other person responsible for the child's welfare withholds or
11    denies nourishment or medically indicated treatment including
12    food  or  care  denied  solely on the basis of the present or
13    anticipated mental or physical impairment as determined by  a
14    physician   acting   alone  or  in  consultation  with  other
15    physicians or  otherwise  does  not  provide  the  proper  or
16    necessary  support,  education as required by law, or medical
17    or  other  remedial  care  recognized  under  State  law   as
18    necessary  for  a child's well-being, or other care necessary
19    for his or her well-being, including adequate food,  clothing
20    and  shelter;  or  who  is abandoned by his or her parents or
21    other person responsible for the child's welfare.
22        A child shall not be considered neglected or  abused  for
23    the  sole  reason  that  the  child's  parent or other person
24    responsible for his or her  welfare  depends  upon  spiritual
25    means  through  prayer  alone  for  the  treatment or cure of
26    disease or remedial care as provided under Section 4  of  the
27    Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
28        R.  "Putative  father"  means  a man who may be a child's
29    father, but who (1) is not married to the child's  mother  on
30    or  before  the  date that the child was or is to be born and
31    (2) has not established paternity of the  child  in  a  court
32    proceeding  before  the filing of a petition for the adoption
33    of the child.  The term includes a male who is less  than  18
34    years  of  age.  "Putative father" does not mean a man who is
                            -14-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1    the child's father as a result of criminal  sexual  abuse  or
 2    assault  as  defined under Article 12 of the Criminal Code of
 3    1961.
 4        S.  "Adopted person"  means  a  person  who  was  adopted
 5    pursuant to the laws in effect at the time of adoption.
 6        T.  "Birth  parent"  means  a  parent,  by  birth,  of an
 7    adopted or surrendered person.
 8        U.  "Birth sibling" means a person who is the  biological
 9    brother  or sister of an adopted or surrendered person by the
10    whole or half blood.
11    (Source: P.A.  89-235,  eff.  8-4-95;  89-704,  eff.  8-16-97
12    (changed from 1-1-98 by P.A. 90-443);  90-13,  eff.  6-13-97;
13    90-15, eff. 6-13-97; 90-27, eff. 1-1-98 except subdiv. (D)(m)
14    eff.  6-25-97;  90-28, eff. 1-1-98 except subdiv. (D)(m) eff.
15    6-25-97; 90-443, eff. 8-16-97; revised 11-26-97.)
16        (750 ILCS 50/18.3a) (from Ch. 40, par. 1522.3a)
17        Sec. 18.3a.  Confidential intermediary.
18        (a)  General   purposes.   Notwithstanding   any    other
19    provision  of  this  Act,  any  adopted or surrendered person
20    adoptee over the age of 18, or any adoptive parent  or  legal
21    guardian  of  an  adoptee  under  the age of 18, or any birth
22    parent or birth sibling of an adopted or  surrendered  person
23    over  the age of 18 may petition the court for appointment of
24    a confidential intermediary as provided in this  Section  for
25    the  purpose  of  determining  the whereabouts of one or more
26    unknown relatives.  The court, without holding a hearing, may
27    rule  on  the  petition  and  may  appoint   a   confidential
28    intermediary.
29        Confidential   intermediaries   shall  be  authorized  to
30    inspect  confidential  relinquishment,  adoption,  and  other
31    records and shall be  included  on  a  list  of  confidential
32    intermediaries  maintained  by the Department of Children and
33    Family Services and made available to the judiciary.
                            -15-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1        This Section shall not be construed as the regulation  of
 2    an  occupation  or profession.  In conducting a search for an
 3    adopted  or  surrendered  person  under  this  Section,   the
 4    confidential  intermediary  shall first attempt to locate the
 5    petitioner's birth parents.  If either  of  the  petitioner's
 6    birth  parents  is  deceased, has been found incompetent by a
 7    court, or cannot be located  after  a  diligent  search  then
 8    adult siblings and other adult relatives may be contacted.
 9        In  cases where an adopted or surrendered person or birth
10    parent is deceased or has been found incompetent by a  court,
11    the  children  of  the adopted or surrendered person or birth
12    parent may petition the court under the  provisions  of  this
13    Section  obtaining  from  one or both biological parents or a
14    sibling or siblings of the adoptee information concerning the
15    background of a psychological  or  genetically-based  medical
16    problem   experienced   or   which  may  be  expected  to  be
17    experienced  in  the  future  by  the  adoptee  or  obtaining
18    assistance in treating such a problem.
19        (b)  (Blank).  Petition.  The  court  shall   appoint   a
20    confidential  intermediary  for  the  purposes  described  in
21    subsection (f) if the petitioner shows the following:
22             (1)  the  adoptee is suffering or may be expected to
23        suffer  in  the  future  from   a   life-threatening   or
24        substantially  incapacitating  physical  illness  of  any
25        nature,   or   a   psychological   disturbance  which  is
26        substantially incapacitating but not life-threatening, or
27        a mental illness which, in the  opinion  of  a  physician
28        licensed  to practice medicine in all its branches, is or
29        could be genetically based to a significant degree;
30             (2)  the treatment of the adoptee, in the opinion of
31        a physician licensed to practice medicine in all  of  its
32        branches,  would  be  materially  assisted by information
33        obtainable from the biological parents or  might  benefit
34        from  the  provision  of  organs or other bodily tissues,
                            -16-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1        materials, or fluids by the biological parents  or  other
 2        close biological relatives; and
 3             (3)  there   is   neither  an  Information  Exchange
 4        Authorization nor a Denial of Information Exchange  filed
 5        in the Registry as provided in Section 18.1.
 6        The  affidavit  or  testimony  of  the treating physician
 7    shall be conclusive on the issue of the  utility  of  contact
 8    with  the  biological parents unless the court finds that the
 9    relationship between  the  illness  to  be  treated  and  the
10    alleged need for contact is totally without foundation.
11        (c)  Fees  and  expenses.  The  court shall condition the
12    appointment  of  the   confidential   intermediary   on   the
13    petitioner's  payment  of the service intermediary's fees and
14    expenses in advance of the commencement of the  work  of  the
15    confidential  intermediary,  unless  for good cause the court
16    approves a waiver or reduction of the fee.
17        When a birth  relative  wishes  to  disclose  information
18    about   a   serious   medical  condition  to  an  adopted  or
19    surrendered person or to the adoptive parents of  an  adopted
20    person  who is a minor, the court has the discretion to waive
21    any fees  and  expenses  solely  related  to  releasing  that
22    medical information the intermediary waives the right to full
23    advance payment or to any reimbursement at all.
24        (d)  Eligibility  of  intermediary. The court may appoint
25    as  confidential  intermediary  either  an  employee  of  the
26    Illinois  Department  of   Children   and   Family   Services
27    designated  by  the  Department  to  serve as such, any other
28    person certified by the Department as qualified to serve as a
29    confidential intermediary, or  any  employee  of  a  licensed
30    child  welfare agency certified by the agency as qualified to
31    serve as a confidential intermediary.
32        (e)  Access. Notwithstanding any other provision of  law,
33    the  confidential  intermediary  shall  have  access  to  all
34    records  of  the  court  or  any agency, school, or hospital,
                            -17-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1    public or private,  which  relate  to  the  adoption  or  the
 2    identity and location of any adopted or surrendered person or
 3    his or her birth parents or birth siblings biological parent.
 4        Any  identifying information obtained by the confidential
 5    intermediary during the course of his  or  her  investigation
 6    shall be kept strictly confidential and shall be used for the
 7    purpose  of  arranging  a  contact between the individual who
 8    initiated the search and the sought-after birth relative.  At
 9    the time the case is closed, all such identifying information
10    shall be returned to the court for inclusion in the impounded
11    adoption file.
12        Any non-identifying information  ascertained  during  the
13    course  of  the  search  may  be  given  in  writing  to  the
14    petitioner  by  the confidential intermediary before the case
15    is closed.
16        (f)  Purposes of contact. The  confidential  intermediary
17    shall  contact  a  sought-after  relative  on  behalf  of the
18    individual  who  initiated  the   search   and   inform   the
19    sought-after relative of the following options:
20             (1)  The  sought-after  relative  may totally reject
21        the request for contact or information or  both,  and  no
22        disclosure  of  identity or location shall be made to the
23        petitioner.  In cases  where  the  sought-after  relative
24        totally rejects the request for contact or information or
25        both,   however,   the  confidential  intermediary  shall
26        request that the sought-after relative complete a medical
27        questionnaire to be forwarded  to  the  petitioner  along
28        with  any  other  non-identifying information ascertained
29        during the course of the search.
30             (2)  If  the   sought-after   relative   wishes   to
31        communicate  with the petitioner but does not wish his or
32        her identity  disclosed,  the  confidential  intermediary
33        shall   arrange   the   desired   communication   in   as
34        confidential  a manner as possible to protect the privacy
                            -18-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1        of the sought-after relative's identity.
 2             (3)  When a sought-after birth relative  is  located
 3        by   a   confidential   intermediary  on  behalf  of  the
 4        individual who initiated the search and when both parties
 5        desire to disclose  their  identities,  the  confidential
 6        intermediary  shall  obtain  written  consents  from both
 7        parties that they wish to disclose  their  identities  to
 8        each  other.   The  confidential  intermediary shall then
 9        disclose identities as specified  in  the  consents.  has
10        only the following powers and duties:
11             (1)  To  contact  one  or  both  biological parents,
12        inform the parent or parents of the basic medical problem
13        of the adoptee and  the  nature  of  the  information  or
14        assistance  sought from the biological parent, and inform
15        the parent or parents of the following options:
16                  (A)  The biological parent may  totally  reject
17             the  request for assistance or information, or both,
18             and no disclosure of identity or location  shall  be
19             made to the petitioner.
20                  (B)  The   biological   parent   may   file  an
21             Information Exchange Authorization  as  provided  in
22             Section  18.1.  The  confidential intermediary shall
23             explain to the biological parent the consequences of
24             such  a  filing,  including  that   the   biological
25             parent's identity will be available for discovery by
26             the adoptee. If the biological parent agrees to this
27             option,  the  confidential intermediary shall supply
28             the parent with  the  appropriate  forms,  shall  be
29             responsible  for  their  immediate  filing  with the
30             Registry, and shall inform the petitioner  of  their
31             filing.
32                  (C)  If the biological parent wishes to provide
33             the  information  or  assistance sought but does not
34             wish his or her identity disclosed, the confidential
                            -19-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1             intermediary shall arrange for the disclosure of the
 2             information or the provision  of  assistance  in  as
 3             confidential  a  manner as possible so as to protect
 4             the privacy of the biological  parent  and  minimize
 5             the  likelihood  of  disclosure  of  the  biological
 6             parent's identity.
 7             (2)  If  a  biological parent so desires, to arrange
 8        for  a  confidential  communication  with  the   treating
 9        physician   to   discuss   the  need  for  the  requested
10        information or assistance.
11             (3)  If a biological parent agrees  to  provide  the
12        information  or  assistance sought but wishes to maintain
13        his or her privacy, to arrange for the provision  of  the
14        information   or   assistance  to  the  physician  in  as
15        confidential a manner as possible so as  to  protect  the
16        privacy   of  the  biological  parent  and  minimize  the
17        likelihood  of  disclosure  of  the  biological  parent's
18        identity.
19        (g)  Oath. The confidential intermediary  shall  sign  an
20    oath of confidentiality substantially as follows:
21             "I, .........., being duly sworn, on oath depose and
22        say:  As  a  condition  of  appointment as a confidential
23        intermediary, I affirm that:
24             (1)  I will not disclose to the petitioner, directly
25        or indirectly, any  information  about  the  identity  or
26        location  of  the  relative  who  biological parent whose
27        assistance is being sought for medical reasons except  in
28        a manner consistent with the law.
29             (2)  I   recognize   that  violation  of  this  oath
30        subjects me to civil liability  and  to  being  found  in
31        contempt of court.
32                                 ................................
33             SUBSCRIBED  AND SWORN to before me, a Notary Public,
34        this ..... day of .........., 19...
                            -20-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1                                ................................"
 2        (g-5)  Exemption  from  liability.   No  liability  shall
 3    accrue to the State, any State agency, any judge, any officer
 4    or employee of the court, any confidential  intermediary,  or
 5    any  agency  designated  to oversee confidential intermediary
 6    services for acts, omissions, or efforts made in  good  faith
 7    within the scope of this Act and under its provisions.
 8        (h)  Sanctions.  (1)  Any  confidential  intermediary who
 9        improperly   discloses    information    identifying    a
10        sought-after  relative  biological parent shall be liable
11        to  the  sought-after  relative  biological  parent   for
12        damages and may also be found in contempt of court.
13             (2)  Any  physician  or  other  person  who learns a
14        biological parent's  identity,  directly  or  indirectly,
15        through  the  use  of procedures provided in this Section
16        and who improperly discloses information identifying  the
17        biological  parent  shall  be  liable  to  the biological
18        parent for actual damages plus minimum  punitive  damages
19        of $10,000.
20        (i)  Death  of  biological  parent.  Notwithstanding  any
21    other provision of this Act, if the confidential intermediary
22    discovers  that  the  person being whose assistance is sought
23    has died, he or she shall report this fact to the  petitioner
24    and  to the court, along with a copy of the death certificate
25    if possible.
26    (Source: P.A. 86-1451; 86-1451.)
27        (750 ILCS 50/18.4) (from Ch. 40, par. 1522.4)
28        Sec. 18.4.  (a) The agency, Department  of  Children  and
29    Family Services, Court Supportive Services, Juvenile Division
30    of  the  Circuit  Court,  or  the  Probation  Officers of the
31    Circuit Court involved in the adoption proceedings shall give
32    in writing  the  following  information,  if  known,  to  the
33    adoptive  parents  not  later than the date of placement with
                            -21-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1    the petitioning adoptive  parents:   (i)  age  of  biological
 2    parents;  (ii)  their  race,  religion and ethnic background;
 3    (iii) general physical appearance of biological parents; (iv)
 4    their education, occupation, hobbies, interests and  talents;
 5    (v)  existence  of  any other children born to the biological
 6    parents;  (vi)  information  about  biological  grandparents;
 7    reason for emigrating into the United States, if  applicable,
 8    and  country of origin; (vii) relationship between biological
 9    parents;  and  (viii)  detailed  medical  and  mental  health
10    histories of the child, the  biological  parents,  and  their
11    immediate  relatives.  However, no information provided under
12    this subsection shall disclose the name or last known address
13    of the biological parents, grandparents, the siblings of  the
14    biological  parents,  or  any  other  relative of the adopted
15    person.
16        (b)  Upon request, any adopted person adoptee 18 years of
17    age or over shall be given the information in subsection  (a)
18    as  well  as  the  name  of  the  state  and county where the
19    judgment of adoption  was  finalized  upon  request.  If  the
20    adopted  person's actual date and place of birth is different
21    from that shown on his or her amended birth certificate,  the
22    information   provided  to  the  adopted  person  under  this
23    subsection shall also include his  or  her  actual  date  and
24    place  of  birth.  Upon request, the agency or agencies which
25    facilitated the adoption shall provide an adopted  person  18
26    years  of  age  or  over  with  any updated medical or social
27    information which has been  provided  by  his  or  her  birth
28    relatives through verbal or written communication, as well as
29    all photographs and letters submitted by the adopted person's
30    birth  relatives  and  specifically  intended for the adopted
31    person.
32        (c)  Any of  the  above  available  information  for  any
33    adoption  proceedings  completed before the effective date of
34    this Act shall be supplied to  the  adoptive  parents  or  an
                            -22-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1    adopted person adoptee 18 years of age or over upon request.
 2        (d)  The   agency,  Department  of  Children  and  Family
 3    Services, Court Supportive Services, Juvenile Division of the
 4    Circuit Court, the Probation Officers of  the  Circuit  Court
 5    and  any  other  governmental  bodies having any of the above
 6    information shall retain the file until  the  adopted  person
 7    adoptee would have reached the age of 99 years.
 8        (e)  Upon request, the agency, Department of Children and
 9    Family Services, Court Supportive Services, Juvenile Division
10    of  the  Circuit  Court,  or  the  probation  officers of the
11    Circuit Court involved  in  the  adoption  proceedings  shall
12    provide  birth parents whose surrendered child is 18 years of
13    age or older with any updated medical information provided by
14    the adopted or surrendered person  or  his  or  her  adoptive
15    parents   or   legal  guardians  through  verbal  or  written
16    communication,  as  well  as  all  photographs  and   letters
17    submitted  by the adopted or surrendered person or his or her
18    adoptive parents or legal guardians and specifically intended
19    for the birth parent.
20        Upon request, the following  non-identifying  information
21    shall be provided to birth parents whose surrendered child is
22    18  years  of  age  or older and birth siblings of an adopted
23    person who is 18 years of age or older, to  the  extent  that
24    such  information  is  available:  (i) age of the surrendered
25    child's adoptive parents at the time of  the  adoption;  (ii)
26    adoptive  parents' heritage, including nationality and ethnic
27    background; (iii) number of years of schooling  completed  by
28    the   adoptive  parents  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  or
29    surrender;   (iv)   religion   of   adoptive   parents;   (v)
30    occupations, talents, hobbies, and special interests  of  the
31    adoptive  parents;  and  (vi)  state  and  county  where  the
32    judgment of adoption was finalized.
33        The  agency,  Department of Children and Family Services,
34    Department of Public  Health,  Registrar  of  Vital  Records,
                            -23-           LRB9010853WHmbam01
 1    Court  Supportive  Services, Juvenile Division of the Circuit
 2    Court, the probation officers of the Circuit  Court  involved
 3    in   the   adoption  proceedings,  and  all  individuals  who
 4    facilitated the adoption  shall,  upon  written  request  and
 5    without  requiring  any  showing  of  cause,  provide a birth
 6    parent with copies of all documents in their possession which
 7    the birth parent executed in connection with the surrender of
 8    his or her child.  All identifying information pertaining  to
 9    the adoptive parents shall be deleted from any information or
10    documents released to a birth parent or birth sibling.
11    (Source: P.A. 87-617.)".

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