State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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90_SB0329enr

      20 ILCS 505/5             from Ch. 23, par. 5005
          Amends the Children and Family  Services  Act.   Provides
      that  the  Department  of  Children  and  Family Services may
      provide categories of financial  assistance  (now,  financial
      assistance)  and  education  assistance grants to persons who
      adopt or are appointed guardian  of  physically  or  mentally
      handicapped, older, or other hard-to-place children.  Removes
      the requirement that the assistance must be at least $25 less
      than  the  monthly  cost  of  care of the child in the foster
      home.  Provides that the Department may establish  rules  and
      regulations concerning the grants.
                                                    LRB9002415MWksA
SB329 Enrolled                                LRB9002415MWksA
 1        AN  ACT  to amend the Children and Family Services Act by
 2    changing Section 5.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section  5.   The  Children  and  Family  Services Act is
 6    amended by changing Section 5 as follows:
 7        (20 ILCS 505/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 5005)
 8        (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 89-507)
 9        Sec. 5.  To provide direct child  welfare  services  when
10    not  available  through other public or private child care or
11    program facilities.
12        (a)  For purposes of this Section:
13             (1)  "Children" means persons found within the State
14        who are under  the  age  of  18  years.   The  term  also
15        includes persons under age 19 who:
16                  (A)  were  committed to the Department pursuant
17             to the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court  Act
18             of  1987, as amended, prior to the age of 18 and who
19             continue under the jurisdiction of the court; or
20                  (B)  were  accepted   for  care,  service   and
21             training  by  the  Department prior to the age of 18
22             and whose best interest in  the  discretion  of  the
23             Department  would be served by continuing that care,
24             service and training  because  of  severe  emotional
25             disturbances, physical disability, social adjustment
26             or  any  combination thereof, or because of the need
27             to complete an educational  or  vocational  training
28             program.
29             (2)  "Homeless youth" means persons found within the
30        State  who are under the age of 19, are not in a safe and
31        stable living situation and cannot be reunited with their
SB329 Enrolled              -2-               LRB9002415MWksA
 1        families.
 2             (3)  "Child welfare services"  means  public  social
 3        services  which are directed toward the accomplishment of
 4        the following purposes:
 5                  (A)  protecting and promoting  the  welfare  of
 6             children, including homeless, dependent or neglected
 7             children;
 8                  (B)  preventing  or  remedying, or assisting in
 9             the solution of problems which may  result  in,  the
10             neglect,   abuse,  exploitation  or  delinquency  of
11             children;
12                  (C)  preventing the unnecessary  separation  of
13             children  from  their families by identifying family
14             problems,  assisting  families  in  resolving  their
15             problems, and preventing the breakup of  the  family
16             where  the  prevention of child removal is desirable
17             and possible;
18                  (D)  restoring to their families  children  who
19             have  been  removed, by the provision of services to
20             the child and the families;
21                  (E)  placing  children  in  suitable   adoptive
22             homes,  in cases where restoration to the biological
23             family is not possible or appropriate;
24                  (F)  assuring adequate care  of  children  away
25             from their homes, in cases where the child cannot be
26             returned home or cannot be placed for adoption;
27                  (G)  providing  supportive  services and living
28             maintenance  which  contribute  to   the   physical,
29             emotional  and social well-being of children who are
30             pregnant and unmarried;
31                  (H)  providing shelter and  independent  living
32             services for homeless youth; and
33                  (I)  placing   and   maintaining   children  in
34             facilities that provide separate living quarters for
SB329 Enrolled              -3-               LRB9002415MWksA
 1             children under the age of 18  and  for  children  18
 2             years  of  age and older, unless a child 18 years of
 3             age is in the last year of high school education  or
 4             vocational  training,  in  an approved individual or
 5             group treatment program, or in  a  licensed  shelter
 6             facility.    The Department is not required to place
 7             or maintain children:
 8                       (i)  who are in a foster home, or
 9                       (ii)  who are persons with a developmental
10                  disability, as defined in the Mental Health and
11                  Developmental Disabilities Code, or
12                       (iii)  who are  female  children  who  are
13                  pregnant,  pregnant and parenting or parenting,
14                  or
15                       (iv)  who are siblings,
16             in facilities that provide separate living  quarters
17             for  children  18  years  of  age  and older and for
18             children under 18 years of age.
19        (b)  Nothing  in  this  Section  shall  be  construed  to
20    authorize the expenditure of public funds for the purpose  of
21    performing abortions.
22        (c)  The   Department   shall   establish   and  maintain
23    tax-supported child welfare services and extend and  seek  to
24    improve  voluntary  services throughout the State, to the end
25    that services and care shall be available on an  equal  basis
26    throughout the State to children requiring such services.
27        (d)  The Director may authorize advance disbursements for
28    any new program initiative to any agency contracting with the
29    Department.   As a prerequisite for an advance  disbursement,
30    the  contractor  must post a surety bond in the amount of the
31    advance disbursement and have a purchase of service  contract
32    approved  by  the Department.  The Department may pay up to 2
33    months operational expenses in advance.  The  amount  of  the
34    advance  disbursement  shall be prorated over the life of the
SB329 Enrolled              -4-               LRB9002415MWksA
 1    contract  or  the  remaining  months  of  the  fiscal   year,
 2    whichever  is  less, and the installment amount shall then be
 3    deducted   from   future   bills.     Advance    disbursement
 4    authorizations  for  new initiatives shall not be made to any
 5    agency after that agency has operated  during  2  consecutive
 6    fiscal  years.    The requirements of this Section concerning
 7    advance disbursements shall not apply  with  respect  to  the
 8    following:   payments  to local public agencies for child day
 9    care services as authorized by Section 5a of  this  Act;  and
10    youth  service  programs  receiving grant funds under Section
11    17a-4.
12        (e)  For the purpose  of  insuring  effective  state-wide
13    planning,  development,  and utilization of resources for the
14    day care of children, operated under  various  auspices,  the
15    Department  is  hereby  designated to coordinate all day care
16    activities for children of the State and shall:
17             (1)  Develop on or  before  December  1,  1977,  and
18        update  every  year  thereafter,  a  state  comprehensive
19        day-care  plan  for  submission  to  the  Governor  which
20        identifies  high-priority areas and groups, relating them
21        to  available  resources,  and   identifying   the   most
22        effective  approaches  to  the  use  of existing day care
23        services. The State comprehensive day-care plan shall  be
24        made  available  to  the  General  Assembly following the
25        Governor's approval  of the plan.
26             The plan shall include methods  and  procedures  for
27        the  development  of  additional  day  care resources for
28        children to meet  the  goal  of  reducing  short-run  and
29        long-run  dependency  and to provide necessary enrichment
30        and stimulation  to  the  education  of  young  children.
31        Recommendation  shall be made for State policy on optimum
32        use of private  and  public,  local,  state  and  federal
33        resources,  including an estimate of the resources needed
34        for the licensing and regulation of day care facilities.
SB329 Enrolled              -5-               LRB9002415MWksA
 1             A written report shall be submitted to the  Governor
 2        and  the  General  Assembly,  annually,  on April 15, and
 3        shall include an  evaluation  of  developments  over  the
 4        preceding fiscal year, including cost-benefit analyses of
 5        various  arrangements.  Beginning with the report in 1990
 6        and every 2  years  thereafter,  the  report  shall  also
 7        include the following:
 8                  (A)  An  assessment of the child care services,
 9             needs and available resources throughout  the  State
10             and  an assessment of the adequacy of existing child
11             care  services,  including,  but  not  limited   to,
12             services assisted under this Act and under any other
13             program administered by other State agencies.
14                  (B)  A   survey   of  day  care  facilities  to
15             determine the number  of  qualified  caregivers,  as
16             defined  by  rule, attracted to vacant positions and
17             any problems encountered by facilities in attracting
18             and retaining capable caregivers.
19                  (C)  The average wages and salaries and  fringe
20             benefit  packages  paid to caregivers throughout the
21             State, computed on a regional basis.
22                  (D)  The qualifications of new caregivers hired
23             at licensed day care facilities during the  previous
24             2 year period.
25                  (E)  Recommendations  for  increasing caregiver
26             wages  and  salaries  to  insure  quality  care  for
27             children.
28                  (F)  Evaluation of the fee structure and income
29             eligibility for child care subsidized by the State.
30             The  requirement  for  reporting  to   the   General
31        Assembly  shall  be  satisfied  by  filing  copies of the
32        report with the Speaker,  the  Minority  Leader  and  the
33        Clerk  of the House of Representatives and the President,
34        the Minority Leader and the Secretary of the  Senate  and
SB329 Enrolled              -6-               LRB9002415MWksA
 1        the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1
 2        of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such
 3        additional   copies  with  the  State  Government  Report
 4        Distribution  Center  for  the  General  Assembly  as  is
 5        required under paragraph (t) of Section 7  of  the  State
 6        Library Act.
 7             (2)  Establish    policies    and   procedures   for
 8        developing and implementing interagency  agreements  with
 9        other agencies of the State providing child care services
10        or reimbursement for such services.
11             (3)  In   cooperation  with  other  State  agencies,
12        develop and implement a resource and referral system  for
13        the  State of Illinois either within the Department or by
14        contract with local or regional  agencies.   Funding  for
15        implementation  of  this  system  may be provided through
16        Department appropriations or other  inter-agency  funding
17        arrangements.  The  resource  and  referral  system shall
18        provide at least the following services:
19                  (A)  assembling and maintaining a data base  on
20             the supply of child care services;
21                  (B)  providing  information  and  referrals for
22             parents;
23                  (C)  coordinating the development of new  child
24             care resources;
25                  (D)  providing    technical    assistance   and
26             training to child care service providers; and
27                  (E)  recording and  analyzing  the  demand  for
28             child care services.
29             The Department shall complete implementation of this
30        resource  and referral system in all regions of the State
31        by January 1, 1992.
32             (4)  Conduct day care planning activities  with  the
33        following priorities:
34                  (A)  development    of   voluntary   day   care
SB329 Enrolled              -7-               LRB9002415MWksA
 1             resources wherever possible, with the provision  for
 2             grants-in-aid  only  where demonstrated to be useful
 3             and necessary as incentives or supports;
 4                  (B)  emphasis  on  service   to   children   of
 5             recipients  of  public assistance where such service
 6             will allow training  or  employment  of  the  parent
 7             toward achieving the goal of independence;
 8                  (C)  maximum employment of recipients of public
 9             assistance  in  day care centers and day care homes,
10             operated  in  conjunction   with   short-term   work
11             training programs;
12                  (D)  care  of  children from families in stress
13             and crises whose members potentially may become,  or
14             are   in  danger  of  becoming,  non-productive  and
15             dependent;
16                  (E)  expansion of family  day  care  facilities
17             wherever possible;
18                  (F)  location   of   centers   in  economically
19             depressed neighborhoods, preferably in multi-service
20             centers with cooperation of other agencies;
21                  (G)  use of existing facilities free of  charge
22             or  for  reasonable rental wherever possible in lieu
23             of construction;
24                  (H)  development of strategies for  assuring  a
25             more  complete  range of day care options, including
26             provision of day care services in homes, in  schools
27             or in centers, which will enable a parent or parents
28             to  complete  a  course  of  education  or obtain or
29             maintain employment.
30             Emphasis shall be given to  support  services  which
31        will  help  to  ensure such parents' graduation from high
32        school and to services for participants  in  the  Project
33        Chance  program of job training conducted by the Illinois
34        Department of Public Aid.
SB329 Enrolled              -8-               LRB9002415MWksA
 1             (5)  Actively stimulate the  development  of  public
 2        and  private resources at the local level.  It shall also
 3        seek the fullest utilization of federal funds directly or
 4        indirectly available to the Department.
 5        Where appropriate, existing non-governmental agencies  or
 6    associations shall be involved in planning by the Department.
 7        (f)  The  Department,  pursuant  to  a  contract with the
 8    Illinois Department of Public Aid,  may  provide  child  care
 9    services   to  former  recipients  of  assistance  under  The
10    Illinois Public Aid Code as authorized by  Section  9-6.3  of
11    that Code.
12        (g)  The Department shall establish rules and regulations
13    concerning  its  operation  of  programs designed to meet the
14    goals  of  child  protection,  family  preservation,   family
15    reunification,  adoption and youth development, including but
16    not limited to:
17             (1)  adoption;
18             (2)  foster care;
19             (3)  family counseling;
20             (4)  protective services;
21             (5)  service to unwed mothers;
22             (6)  homemaker service;
23             (7)  return of runaway children;
24             (8)  independent  living  skills  and  shelter   for
25        homeless youth;
26             (9)  placement  under  Section  5-7  of the Juvenile
27        Court Act or Section 2-27, 3-28,  4-25  or  5-29  of  the
28        Juvenile Court Act of 1987 in accordance with the federal
29        Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980; and
30             (10)  interstate services.
31        Rules and regulations established by the Department shall
32    include  provisions  for  training  Department  staff and the
33    staff of Department grantees, through  contracts  with  other
34    agencies  or  resources,  in alcohol and drug abuse screening
SB329 Enrolled              -9-               LRB9002415MWksA
 1    techniques to identify children  and  adults  who  should  be
 2    referred  to  an alcohol and drug abuse treatment program for
 3    professional evaluation.
 4        (h)  If the Department finds that there is no appropriate
 5    program or facility within or available to the Department for
 6    a ward and that no licensed private facility has an  adequate
 7    and  appropriate  program  or none agrees to accept the ward,
 8    the Department shall create  an  appropriate  individualized,
 9    program-oriented  plan  for  such  ward.   The  plan  may  be
10    developed  within  the  Department  or  through  purchase  of
11    services  by  the  Department to the extent that it is within
12    its statutory authority to do.
13        (i)  Service programs shall be available  throughout  the
14    State  and  shall include but not be limited to the following
15    services:
16             (1)  case management;
17             (2)  homemakers;
18             (3)  counseling;
19             (4)  parent education;
20             (5)  day care; and
21             (6)  emergency assistance and advocacy.
22        In addition, the following services may be made available
23    to assess and meet the needs of children and families:
24             (1)  comprehensive family-based services;
25             (2)  assessments;
26             (3)  respite care; and
27             (4)  in-home health services.
28        The Department shall provide transportation  for  any  of
29    the  services  it  makes available to children or families or
30    for which it refers children or families.
31        (j)  The Department may provide financial assistance, and
32    shall  establish  rules  and  regulations   concerning   such
33    assistance,  to  persons  who  adopt  physically  or mentally
34    handicapped,  older  and  other  hard-to-place  children  who
SB329 Enrolled              -10-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    immediately prior to their adoption were legal wards  of  the
 2    Department.    The  Department  may  also  provide  financial
 3    assistance, and shall establish  rules  and  regulations  for
 4    such assistance,  to persons appointed guardian of the person
 5    under  Section 5-7 of the Juvenile Court Act or Section 2-27,
 6    3-28, 4-25 or 5-29 of the Juvenile  Court  Act  of  1987  for
 7    children  who  were  wards  of  the  Department for 12 months
 8    immediately  prior  to  the  appointment  of  the   successor
 9    guardian  and  for  whom  the  Department  has  set a goal of
10    permanent family placement with a foster family.
11        The amount of assistance may  vary,  depending  upon  the
12    needs  of  the child and the adoptive parents, but must be at
13    least $25 less than the monthly cost of care of the child  in
14    a  foster  home,  as  set  forth  in  the  annual  assistance
15    agreement.   Special  purpose  grants  are  allowed where the
16    child requires special service but such costs may not  exceed
17    the  amounts which similar services would cost the Department
18    if it were to provide or  secure  them  as  guardian  of  the
19    child.
20        Any  financial  assistance provided under this subsection
21    is inalienable by assignment,  sale,  execution,  attachment,
22    garnishment,  or  any other remedy for recovery or collection
23    of a judgment or debt.
24        (k)  The Department shall accept for  care  and  training
25    any  child  who  has been adjudicated neglected or abused, or
26    dependent committed to it pursuant to the Juvenile Court  Act
27    or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
28        (l)  Before July 1, 2000, the Department may provide, and
29    beginning  July 1, 2000, the Department shall provide, family
30    preservation services, as determined to be appropriate and in
31    the child's best interests and when the child will not be  in
32    imminent  risk  of  harm,  to any family whose child has been
33    placed in substitute care, any persons  who  have  adopted  a
34    child  and  require  post-adoption  services,  or any persons
SB329 Enrolled              -11-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    whose child or children are at risk of being  placed  outside
 2    their   home  as  documented  by  an  "indicated"  report  of
 3    suspected child abuse or neglect determined pursuant  to  the
 4    Abused  and  Neglected  Child  Reporting Act. Nothing in this
 5    paragraph shall be construed to create  a  private  right  of
 6    action  or  claim  on  the  part  of  any individual or child
 7    welfare agency.
 8        The Department shall notify the child and his  family  of
 9    the  Department's  responsibility to offer and provide family
10    preservation services as identified in the service plan.  The
11    child and his family shall be eligible for services  as  soon
12    as   the   report  is  determined  to  be  "indicated".   The
13    Department may offer services to any  child  or  family  with
14    respect  to whom a report of suspected child abuse or neglect
15    has been filed, prior to concluding its  investigation  under
16    Section 7.12 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
17    However,  the  child's  or  family's  willingness  to  accept
18    services  shall  not be considered in the investigation.  The
19    Department may also provide services to any child  or  family
20    who  is the subject of any report of suspected child abuse or
21    neglect or  may  refer  such  child  or  family  to  services
22    available  from  other agencies in the community, even if the
23    report is determined to be unfounded, if  the  conditions  in
24    the child's or family's home are reasonably likely to subject
25    the  child  or  family  to  future reports of suspected child
26    abuse or neglect.   Acceptance  of  such  services  shall  be
27    voluntary.
28        The  Department  may,  at its discretion except for those
29    children also adjudicated neglected or dependent, accept  for
30    care   and  training  any  child  who  has  been  adjudicated
31    addicted, as a truant minor in need of supervision  or  as  a
32    minor   requiring   authoritative   intervention,  under  the
33    Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, but  no
34    such  child shall be committed to the Department by any court
SB329 Enrolled              -12-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    without the approval of the Department.  A minor charged with
 2    a criminal  offense  under  the  Criminal  Code  of  1961  or
 3    adjudicated  delinquent shall not be placed in the custody of
 4    or committed to the Department by any court, except  a  minor
 5    less  than  13 years of age committed to the Department under
 6    Section 5-23 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
 7        (m)  The Department may assume temporary custody  of  any
 8    child if:
 9             (1)  it  has  received  a  written  consent  to such
10        temporary custody signed by the parents of the  child  or
11        by  the parent having custody of the child if the parents
12        are not living together or by the guardian  or  custodian
13        of the child if the child is not in the custody of either
14        parent, or
15             (2)  the  child  is found in the State and neither a
16        parent, guardian  nor  custodian  of  the  child  can  be
17        located.
18    If  the  child  is  found  in  his or her residence without a
19    parent, guardian, custodian  or  responsible  caretaker,  the
20    Department  may,  instead  of removing the child and assuming
21    temporary custody, place an authorized representative of  the
22    Department  in  that  residence  until such time as a parent,
23    guardian  or  custodian  enters  the  home  and  expresses  a
24    willingness and apparent ability to resume  permanent  charge
25    of  the  child,  or  until  a relative enters the home and is
26    willing and able to  assume  charge  of  the  child  until  a
27    parent,  guardian  or custodian enters the home and expresses
28    such willingness and  ability  to  resume  permanent  charge.
29    After  a  caretaker has remained in the home for a period not
30    to  exceed  12  hours,  the  Department  must  follow   those
31    procedures  outlined  in Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8 or 5-9 of the
32    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
33        The Department shall have the authority, responsibilities
34    and duties that a legal custodian of  the  child  would  have
SB329 Enrolled              -13-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    pursuant  to  subsection  (9)  of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile
 2    Court Act of 1987.  Whenever a child is taken into  temporary
 3    custody  pursuant  to  an  investigation under the Abused and
 4    Neglected Child Reporting Act, or pursuant to a referral  and
 5    acceptance under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 of a minor in
 6    limited   custody,  the  Department,  during  the  period  of
 7    temporary custody and before the child is  brought  before  a
 8    judicial officer as required by Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8 or 5-9
 9    of  the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, shall have the authority,
10    responsibilities and duties that a  legal  custodian  of  the
11    child  would  have under subsection (9) of Section 1-3 of the
12    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
13        The Department shall ensure that  any  child  taken  into
14    custody  is  scheduled  for  an  appointment  for  a  medical
15    examination.
16        A  parent,  guardian  or  custodian  of  a  child  in the
17    temporary custody of the Department who would have custody of
18    the child if he were not in  the  temporary  custody  of  the
19    Department  may  deliver  to  the Department a signed request
20    that the Department surrender the temporary  custody  of  the
21    child.    The  Department may retain temporary custody of the
22    child for 10 days after the receipt of  the  request,  during
23    which  period the Department may cause to be filed a petition
24    pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.  If a petition is
25    so filed, the Department shall retain  temporary  custody  of
26    the child until the court orders otherwise.  If a petition is
27    not  filed  within  the  10  day  period,  the child shall be
28    surrendered to the custody of the requesting parent, guardian
29    or custodian not later than the  expiration  of  the  10  day
30    period,  at  which  time  the  authority  and  duties  of the
31    Department with respect to the temporary custody of the child
32    shall terminate.
33        (n)  The Department may place children under 18 years  of
34    age  in licensed child care facilities when in the opinion of
SB329 Enrolled              -14-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    the  Department,  appropriate  services   aimed   at   family
 2    preservation  have  been unsuccessful or unavailable and such
 3    placement would be for  their  best  interest.   Payment  for
 4    board,  clothing, care, training and supervision of any child
 5    placed in a licensed child care facility may be made  by  the
 6    Department,  by  the  parents  or guardians of the estates of
 7    those children, or by both the Department and the parents  or
 8    guardians,  except  that  no  payments  shall  be made by the
 9    Department for any child placed  in  a  licensed  child  care
10    facility  for board, clothing, care, training and supervision
11    of such a child that exceed the average per  capita  cost  of
12    maintaining  and  of  caring  for a child in institutions for
13    dependent or neglected children operated by  the  Department.
14    However, such restriction on payments does not apply in cases
15    where  children  require  specialized  care and treatment for
16    problems   of   severe   emotional   disturbance,    physical
17    disability, social adjustment, or any combination thereof and
18    suitable  facilities  for  the placement of such children are
19    not available at payment rates  within  the  limitations  set
20    forth  in  this  Section.  All  reimbursements  for  services
21    delivered  shall  be  absolutely  inalienable  by assignment,
22    sale, attachment, garnishment or otherwise.
23        (o)  The Department  shall  establish  an  administrative
24    review  and  appeal  process  for  children  and families who
25    request  or  receive  child   welfare   services   from   the
26    Department.  Children who are wards of the Department and are
27    placed by private child welfare agencies, and foster families
28    with  whom  those  children are placed, shall be afforded the
29    same procedural and appeal rights as children and families in
30    the case of placement by the Department, including the  right
31    to  an   initial  review of a private agency decision by that
32    agency.  The Department shall insure that any  private  child
33    welfare  agency,  which  accepts  wards of the Department for
34    placement,  affords  those  rights  to  children  and  foster
SB329 Enrolled              -15-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    families.  The Department  shall  accept  for  administrative
 2    review  and  an appeal hearing a complaint made by a child or
 3    foster family concerning  a  decision  following  an  initial
 4    review  by  a  private  child welfare agency.  An appeal of a
 5    decision concerning a change in  the  placement  of  a  child
 6    shall be conducted in an expedited manner.
 7        (p)  There  is  hereby created the Department of Children
 8    and Family Services Emergency Assistance Fund from which  the
 9    Department   may  provide  special  financial  assistance  to
10    families which are in economic crisis when such assistance is
11    not available through other public or private sources and the
12    assistance is deemed necessary to prevent dissolution of  the
13    family  unit or to reunite families which have been separated
14    due  to  child  abuse  and  neglect.   The  Department  shall
15    establish administrative rules specifying  the  criteria  for
16    determining  eligibility  for  and  the  amount and nature of
17    assistance to be provided.  The  Department  may  also  enter
18    into  written  agreements  with  private  and  public  social
19    service  agencies  to provide emergency financial services to
20    families referred  by  the  Department.    Special  financial
21    assistance  payments  shall  be available to a family no more
22    than once during each fiscal year and the total payments to a
23    family may not exceed $500 during a fiscal year.
24        (q)  The  Department  may  receive  and  use,  in   their
25    entirety,  for  the benefit of children any gift, donation or
26    bequest of money or  other  property  which  is  received  on
27    behalf  of  such children, or any financial benefits to which
28    such children are or may  become  entitled  while  under  the
29    jurisdiction or care of the Department.
30        The  Department  shall  set  up  and  administer no-cost,
31    interest-bearing savings accounts  in  appropriate  financial
32    institutions  ("individual  accounts")  for children for whom
33    the Department is  legally  responsible  and  who  have  been
34    determined  eligible  for Veterans' Benefits, Social Security
SB329 Enrolled              -16-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    benefits, assistance allotments from the armed forces,  court
 2    ordered  payments,  parental voluntary payments, Supplemental
 3    Security Income, Railroad  Retirement  payments,  Black  Lung
 4    benefits,  or  other miscellaneous payments.  Interest earned
 5    by each individual account shall be credited to the  account,
 6    unless disbursed in accordance with this subsection.
 7        In  disbursing funds from children's individual accounts,
 8    the Department shall:
 9             (1)  Establish standards in  accordance  with  State
10        and  federal  laws  for  disbursing money from children's
11        individual   accounts.    In   all   circumstances,   the
12        Department's "Guardianship Administrator" or his  or  her
13        designee   must  approve  disbursements  from  children's
14        individual accounts.  The Department shall be responsible
15        for keeping complete records  of  all  disbursements  for
16        each individual account for any purpose.
17             (2)  Calculate  on  a monthly basis the amounts paid
18        from State funds for the child's board and care,  medical
19        care not covered under Medicaid, and social services; and
20        utilize  funds  from  the  child's individual account, as
21        covered  by  regulation,  to   reimburse   those   costs.
22        Monthly,  disbursements  from  all  children's individual
23        accounts, up to 1/12 of $13,000,000, shall  be  deposited
24        by  the  Department into the General Revenue Fund and the
25        balance over 1/12 of $13,000,000 into the DCFS Children's
26        Services Fund.
27             (3)  Maintain   any    balance    remaining    after
28        reimbursing  for  the child's costs of care, as specified
29        in item (2). The balance shall accumulate  in  accordance
30        with  relevant  State  and  federal  laws  and  shall  be
31        disbursed  to the child or his or her guardian, or to the
32        issuing agency.
33        (r)  The   Department   shall   promulgate    regulations
34    encouraging  all  adoption agencies to voluntarily forward to
SB329 Enrolled              -17-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    the Department or  its  agent  names  and  addresses  of  all
 2    persons  who  have  applied  for  and  have been approved for
 3    adoption of a hard-to-place  or  handicapped  child  and  the
 4    names of such children who have not been placed for adoption.
 5    A list of such names and addresses shall be maintained by the
 6    Department  or  its agent, and coded lists which maintain the
 7    confidentiality of the person seeking to adopt the child  and
 8    of  the  child  shall  be  made available, without charge, to
 9    every adoption agency in the State to assist the agencies  in
10    placing  such  children  for  adoption.  The  Department  may
11    delegate  to an agent its duty to maintain and make available
12    such lists.  The Department  shall  ensure  that  such  agent
13    maintains  the confidentiality of the person seeking to adopt
14    the child and of the child.
15        (s)  The Department of Children and Family  Services  may
16    establish and implement a program to reimburse Department and
17    private  child  welfare agency foster parents licensed by the
18    Department  of  Children  and  Family  Services  for  damages
19    sustained by the foster parents as a result of the  malicious
20    or  negligent  acts  of foster children, as well as providing
21    third party coverage for such foster parents with  regard  to
22    actions  of  foster  children  to  other  individuals.   Such
23    coverage  will  be  secondary  to the foster parent liability
24    insurance policy, if applicable.  The program shall be funded
25    through  appropriations  from  the  General   Revenue   Fund,
26    specifically designated for such purposes.
27        (t)  The   Department  shall  perform  home  studies  and
28    investigations and shall exercise supervision over visitation
29    as ordered by a court pursuant to the Illinois  Marriage  and
30    Dissolution of Marriage Act or the Adoption Act only if:
31             (1)  an   order   entered   by   an  Illinois  court
32        specifically  directs  the  Department  to  perform  such
33        services; and
34             (2)  the court  has  ordered  one  or  both  of  the
SB329 Enrolled              -18-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1        parties to the proceeding to reimburse the Department for
 2        its  reasonable  costs  for  providing  such  services in
 3        accordance with Department rules, or has determined  that
 4        neither party is financially able to pay.
 5        The  Department shall provide written notification to the
 6    court of the specific arrangements for supervised  visitation
 7    and  projected  monthly  costs  within  60  days of the court
 8    order. The Department shall send  to  the  court  information
 9    related to the costs incurred except in cases where the court
10    has determined the parties are financially unable to pay. The
11    court may order additional periodic reports as appropriate.
12        (u)  Whenever the Department places a child in a licensed
13    foster  home,  group  home,  child  care institution, or in a
14    relative home, the Department shall provide to the caretaker:
15             (1)  available detailed information  concerning  the
16        child's   educational   and  health  history,  copies  of
17        immunization records  (including  insurance  and  medical
18        card  information),  a  history  of  the child's previous
19        placements, if any, and  reasons  for  placement  changes
20        excluding  any information that identifies or reveals the
21        location of any previous caretaker;
22             (2)  a copy of the child's  portion  of  the  client
23        service  plan,  including any visitation arrangement, and
24        all amendments or revisions  to  it  as  related  to  the
25        child; and
26             (3)  information  containing  details of the child's
27        individualized  educational  plan  when  the   child   is
28        receiving special education services.
29        The  caretaker  shall  be informed of any known social or
30    behavioral information (including, but not limited  to,  fire
31    setting,  perpetuation of sexual abuse, destructive behavior,
32    and substance abuse) necessary to care for and safeguard  the
33    child.
34        (u-5)  Effective   July   1,   1995,   only  foster  care
SB329 Enrolled              -19-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    placements licensed as foster family homes  pursuant  to  the
 2    Child  Care  Act  of 1969 shall be eligible to receive foster
 3    care payments from the Department. Relative  caregivers  who,
 4    as  of  July  1,  1995,  were  approved  pursuant to approved
 5    relative  placement  rules  previously  promulgated  by   the
 6    Department  at  89  Ill.  Adm.  Code 335 and had submitted an
 7    application  for  licensure  as  a  foster  family  home  may
 8    continue to receive  foster  care  payments  only  until  the
 9    Department  determines  that they may be licensed as a foster
10    family home or that their application for licensure is denied
11    or until September 30, 1995, whichever occurs first.
12        (v)  The Department shall access criminal history  record
13    information    as  defined in the Illinois Uniform Conviction
14    Information   Act   and   information   maintained   in   the
15    adjudicatory and dispositional record system  as  defined  in
16    subdivision  (A)19 of Section 55a of the Civil Administrative
17    Code of Illinois if the Department determines the information
18    is necessary to perform  its  duties  under  the  Abused  and
19    Neglected  Child  Reporting  Act, the Child Care Act of 1969,
20    and the Children and Family  Services  Act.   The  Department
21    shall  provide for interactive computerized communication and
22    processing   equipment   that    permits    direct    on-line
23    communication  with  the Department of State Police's central
24    criminal  history  data  repository.   The  Department  shall
25    comply  with  all  certification  requirements  and   provide
26    certified  operators  who have been trained by personnel from
27    the Department of State Police.  In addition, one  Office  of
28    the Inspector General investigator shall have training in the
29    use  of  the  criminal  history information access system and
30    have access to the terminal.  The Department of Children  and
31    Family  Services  and  its employees shall abide by rules and
32    regulations established by the  Department  of  State  Police
33    relating to the access and dissemination of this information.
34        (w)  Within  120  days  of August 20, 1995 (the effective
SB329 Enrolled              -20-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    date of Public Act 89-392), the Department shall prepare  and
 2    submit  to  the  Governor and the General Assembly, a written
 3    plan for the development of in-state  licensed  secure  child
 4    care  facilities  that  care  for children who are in need of
 5    secure living arrangements  for  their  health,  safety,  and
 6    well-being.   For  purposes  of  this subsection, secure care
 7    facility shall mean a facility that is designed and  operated
 8    to  ensure  that all entrances and exits from the facility, a
 9    building or a distinct part of the building,  are  under  the
10    exclusive  control  of  the staff of the facility, whether or
11    not  the  child  has  the  freedom  of  movement  within  the
12    perimeter of the facility, building, or distinct part of  the
13    building.   The  plan shall include descriptions of the types
14    of facilities that  are  needed  in  Illinois;  the  cost  of
15    developing these secure care facilities; the estimated number
16    of  placements; the potential cost savings resulting from the
17    movement of children currently out-of-state who are projected
18    to  be  returned  to  Illinois;  the   necessary   geographic
19    distribution  of these facilities in Illinois; and a proposed
20    timetable for development of such facilities.
21    (Source: P.A. 88-380; 88-398; 88-487;  88-614,  eff.  9-7-94;
22    88-670,  eff.  12-2-94;  89-21,  eff.  6-6-95;  89-392,  eff.
23    8-20-95; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
24        (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 89-507)
25        Sec.  5.  Direct  child  welfare  services; Department of
26    Children and Family Services. To provide direct child welfare
27    services when not available through other public  or  private
28    child care or program facilities.
29        (a)  For purposes of this Section:
30             (1)  "Children" means persons found within the State
31        who  are  under  the  age  of  18  years.   The term also
32        includes persons under age 19 who:
33                  (A)  were committed to the Department  pursuant
34             to  the Juvenile Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act
SB329 Enrolled              -21-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1             of 1987, as amended, prior to the age of 18 and  who
 2             continue under the jurisdiction of the court; or
 3                  (B)  were   accepted   for  care,  service  and
 4             training by the Department prior to the  age  of  18
 5             and  whose  best  interest  in the discretion of the
 6             Department would be served by continuing that  care,
 7             service  and  training  because  of severe emotional
 8             disturbances, physical disability, social adjustment
 9             or any combination thereof, or because of  the  need
10             to  complete  an  educational or vocational training
11             program.
12             (2)  "Homeless youth" means persons found within the
13        State who are under the age of 19, are not in a safe  and
14        stable living situation and cannot be reunited with their
15        families.
16             (3)  "Child  welfare  services"  means public social
17        services which are directed toward the accomplishment  of
18        the following purposes:
19                  (A)  protecting  and  promoting  the welfare of
20             children, including homeless, dependent or neglected
21             children;
22                  (B)  remedying, or assisting in the solution of
23             problems which may result in,  the  neglect,  abuse,
24             exploitation or delinquency of children;
25                  (C)  preventing  the  unnecessary separation of
26             children from their families by  identifying  family
27             problems,  assisting  families  in  resolving  their
28             problems,  and  preventing the breakup of the family
29             where the prevention of child removal  is  desirable
30             and possible;
31                  (D)  restoring  to  their families children who
32             have been removed, by the provision of  services  to
33             the child and the families;
34                  (E)  placing   children  in  suitable  adoptive
SB329 Enrolled              -22-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1             homes, in cases where restoration to the  biological
 2             family is not possible or appropriate;
 3                  (F)  assuring  adequate  care  of children away
 4             from their homes, in cases where the child cannot be
 5             returned home or cannot be placed for adoption;
 6                  (G)  (blank);
 7                  (H)  (blank); and
 8                  (I)  placing  and   maintaining   children   in
 9             facilities that provide separate living quarters for
10             children  under  the  age  of 18 and for children 18
11             years of age and older, unless a child 18  years  of
12             age  is in the last year of high school education or
13             vocational training, in an  approved  individual  or
14             group  treatment  program,  or in a licensed shelter
15             facility.  The Department is not required  to  place
16             or maintain children:
17                       (i)  who are in a foster home, or
18                       (ii)  who are persons with a developmental
19                  disability, as defined in the Mental Health and
20                  Developmental Disabilities Code, or
21                       (iii)  who  are  female  children  who are
22                  pregnant, pregnant and parenting or  parenting,
23                  or
24                       (iv)  who are siblings,
25             in  facilities that provide separate living quarters
26             for children 18 years  of  age  and  older  and  for
27             children under 18 years of age.
28        (b)  Nothing  in  this  Section  shall  be  construed  to
29    authorize  the expenditure of public funds for the purpose of
30    performing abortions.
31        (c)  The  Department   shall   establish   and   maintain
32    tax-supported  child  welfare services and extend and seek to
33    improve voluntary services throughout the State, to  the  end
34    that  services  and care shall be available on an equal basis
SB329 Enrolled              -23-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    throughout the State to children requiring such services.
 2        (d)  The Director may authorize advance disbursements for
 3    any new program initiative to any agency contracting with the
 4    Department.   As a prerequisite for an advance  disbursement,
 5    the contractor must post a surety bond in the amount  of  the
 6    advance  disbursement and have a purchase of service contract
 7    approved by the Department.  The Department may pay up  to  2
 8    months  operational  expenses  in advance.  The amount of the
 9    advance disbursement shall be prorated over the life  of  the
10    contract   or  the  remaining  months  of  the  fiscal  year,
11    whichever is less, and the installment amount shall  then  be
12    deducted    from    future   bills.    Advance   disbursement
13    authorizations for new initiatives shall not be made  to  any
14    agency  after  that  agency has operated during 2 consecutive
15    fiscal years.  The requirements of  this  Section  concerning
16    advance  disbursements  shall  not  apply with respect to the
17    following:  payments to local public agencies for  child  day
18    care  services  as  authorized by Section 5a of this Act; and
19    youth service programs receiving grant  funds  under  Section
20    17a-4.
21        (e)  (Blank).
22        (f)  (Blank).
23        (g)  The Department shall establish rules and regulations
24    concerning  its  operation  of  programs designed to meet the
25    goals  of  child  protection,  family  preservation,   family
26    reunification, and adoption, including but not limited to:
27             (1)  adoption;
28             (2)  foster care;
29             (3)  family counseling;
30             (4)  protective services;
31             (5)  (blank);
32             (6)  homemaker service;
33             (7)  return of runaway children;
34             (8)  (blank);
SB329 Enrolled              -24-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1             (9)  placement  under  Section  5-7  of the Juvenile
 2        Court Act or Section 2-27, 3-28,  4-25  or  5-29  of  the
 3        Juvenile Court Act of 1987 in accordance with the federal
 4        Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980; and
 5             (10)  interstate services.
 6        Rules and regulations established by the Department shall
 7    include  provisions  for  training  Department  staff and the
 8    staff of Department grantees, through  contracts  with  other
 9    agencies  or  resources,  in alcohol and drug abuse screening
10    techniques to identify children  and  adults  who  should  be
11    referred  to  an alcohol and drug abuse treatment program for
12    professional evaluation.
13        (h)  If the Department finds that there is no appropriate
14    program or facility within or available to the Department for
15    a ward and that no licensed private facility has an  adequate
16    and  appropriate  program  or none agrees to accept the ward,
17    the Department shall create  an  appropriate  individualized,
18    program-oriented  plan  for  such  ward.   The  plan  may  be
19    developed  within  the  Department  or  through  purchase  of
20    services  by  the  Department to the extent that it is within
21    its statutory authority to do.
22        (i)  Service programs shall be available  throughout  the
23    State  and  shall include but not be limited to the following
24    services:
25             (1)  case management;
26             (2)  homemakers;
27             (3)  counseling;
28             (4)  parent education;
29             (5)  day care; and
30             (6)  emergency assistance and advocacy.
31        In addition, the following services may be made available
32    to assess and meet the needs of children and families:
33             (1)  comprehensive family-based services;
34             (2)  assessments;
SB329 Enrolled              -25-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1             (3)  respite care; and
 2             (4)  in-home health services.
 3        The Department shall provide transportation  for  any  of
 4    the  services  it  makes available to children or families or
 5    for which it refers children or families.
 6        (j)  The Department may provide categories  of  financial
 7    assistance   and   education  assistance  grants,  and  shall
 8    establish  rules  and   regulations   concerning   the   such
 9    assistance  and  grants,  to  persons who adopt physically or
10    mentally handicapped, older and other hard-to-place  children
11    who  immediately  prior to their adoption were legal wards of
12    the Department.  The Department may also  provide  categories
13    of  financial assistance and education assistance grants, and
14    shall establish rules and regulations for the such assistance
15    and grants, to persons appointed guardian of the person under
16    Section 5-7 of the Juvenile Court Act or Section 2-27,  3-28,
17    4-25  or  5-29 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for children
18    who were wards of the Department for  12  months  immediately
19    prior  to  the  appointment of the successor guardian and for
20    whom the Department  has  set  a  goal  of  permanent  family
21    placement with a foster family.
22        The  amount  of  assistance  may vary, depending upon the
23    needs of the child and the adoptive parents, but must  be  at
24    least  $25 less than the monthly cost of care of the child in
25    a  foster  home,  as  set  forth  in  the  annual  assistance
26    agreement.  Special purpose  grants  are  allowed  where  the
27    child  requires special service but such costs may not exceed
28    the amounts which similar services would cost the  Department
29    if  it  were  to  provide  or  secure them as guardian of the
30    child.
31        Any financial assistance provided under  this  subsection
32    is  inalienable  by  assignment, sale, execution, attachment,
33    garnishment, or any other remedy for recovery  or  collection
34    of a judgment or debt.
SB329 Enrolled              -26-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1        (k)  The  Department  shall  accept for care and training
 2    any child who has been adjudicated neglected  or  abused,  or
 3    dependent  committed to it pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act
 4    or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
 5        (l)  Before July 1, 2000, the Department may provide, and
 6    beginning July 1, 2000, the Department shall provide,  family
 7    preservation services, as determined to be appropriate and in
 8    the  child's best interests and when the child will not be in
 9    imminent risk of harm, to any family  whose  child  has  been
10    placed  in  substitute  care,  any persons who have adopted a
11    child and require  post-adoption  services,  or  any  persons
12    whose  child  or children are at risk of being placed outside
13    their  home  as  documented  by  an  "indicated"  report   of
14    suspected  child  abuse or neglect determined pursuant to the
15    Abused and Neglected Child Reporting  Act.  Nothing  in  this
16    paragraph  shall  be  construed  to create a private right of
17    action or claim on  the  part  of  any  individual  or  child
18    welfare agency.
19        The  Department  shall notify the child and his family of
20    the Department's responsibility to offer and  provide  family
21    preservation services as identified in the service plan.  The
22    child  and  his family shall be eligible for services as soon
23    as  the  report  is  determined  to  be   "indicated".    The
24    Department  may  offer  services  to any child or family with
25    respect to whom a report of suspected child abuse or  neglect
26    has  been  filed, prior to concluding its investigation under
27    Section 7.12 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
28    However,  the  child's  or  family's  willingness  to  accept
29    services shall not be considered in the  investigation.   The
30    Department  may  also provide services to any child or family
31    who is the subject of any report of suspected child abuse  or
32    neglect  or  may  refer  such  child  or  family  to services
33    available from other agencies in the community, even  if  the
34    report  is  determined  to be unfounded, if the conditions in
SB329 Enrolled              -27-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    the child's or family's home are reasonably likely to subject
 2    the child or family to  future  reports  of  suspected  child
 3    abuse  or  neglect.   Acceptance  of  such  services shall be
 4    voluntary.
 5        The Department may, at its discretion  except  for  those
 6    children  also adjudicated neglected or dependent, accept for
 7    care  and  training  any  child  who  has  been   adjudicated
 8    addicted,  as  a  truant minor in need of supervision or as a
 9    minor  requiring  authoritative   intervention,   under   the
10    Juvenile  Court Act or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, but no
11    such child shall be committed to the Department by any  court
12    without the approval of the Department.  A minor charged with
13    a  criminal  offense  under  the  Criminal  Code  of  1961 or
14    adjudicated delinquent shall not be placed in the custody  of
15    or  committed  to the Department by any court, except a minor
16    less than 13 years of age committed to the  Department  under
17    Section 5-23 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
18        (m)  The  Department  may assume temporary custody of any
19    child if:
20             (1)  it has  received  a  written  consent  to  such
21        temporary  custody  signed by the parents of the child or
22        by the parent having custody of the child if the  parents
23        are  not  living together or by the guardian or custodian
24        of the child if the child is not in the custody of either
25        parent, or
26             (2)  the child is found in the State and  neither  a
27        parent,  guardian  nor  custodian  of  the  child  can be
28        located.
29    If the child is found in  his  or  her  residence  without  a
30    parent,  guardian,  custodian  or  responsible caretaker, the
31    Department may, instead of removing the  child  and  assuming
32    temporary  custody, place an authorized representative of the
33    Department in that residence until such  time  as  a  parent,
34    guardian  or  custodian  enters  the  home  and  expresses  a
SB329 Enrolled              -28-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    willingness  and  apparent ability to resume permanent charge
 2    of the child, or until a relative  enters  the  home  and  is
 3    willing  and  able  to  assume  charge  of  the child until a
 4    parent, guardian or custodian enters the home  and  expresses
 5    such  willingness  and  ability  to  resume permanent charge.
 6    After a caretaker has remained in the home for a  period  not
 7    to   exceed  12  hours,  the  Department  must  follow  those
 8    procedures outlined in Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8 or 5-9  of  the
 9    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
10        The Department shall have the authority, responsibilities
11    and  duties  that  a  legal custodian of the child would have
12    pursuant to subsection (9) of Section  1-3  of  the  Juvenile
13    Court  Act of 1987.  Whenever a child is taken into temporary
14    custody pursuant to an investigation  under  the  Abused  and
15    Neglected  Child Reporting Act, or pursuant to a referral and
16    acceptance under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 of a minor in
17    limited  custody,  the  Department,  during  the  period   of
18    temporary  custody  and  before the child is brought before a
19    judicial officer as required by Section 2-9, 3-11, 4-8 or 5-9
20    of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, shall have the  authority,
21    responsibilities  and  duties  that  a legal custodian of the
22    child would have under subsection (9) of Section 1-3  of  the
23    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
24        The  Department  shall  ensure  that any child taken into
25    custody  is  scheduled  for  an  appointment  for  a  medical
26    examination.
27        A parent,  guardian  or  custodian  of  a  child  in  the
28    temporary custody of the Department who would have custody of
29    the  child  if  he  were  not in the temporary custody of the
30    Department may deliver to the  Department  a  signed  request
31    that  the  Department  surrender the temporary custody of the
32    child.  The Department may retain temporary  custody  of  the
33    child  for  10  days after the receipt of the request, during
34    which period the Department may cause to be filed a  petition
SB329 Enrolled              -29-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.  If a petition is
 2    so  filed,  the  Department shall retain temporary custody of
 3    the child until the court orders otherwise.  If a petition is
 4    not filed within the  10  day  period,  the  child  shall  be
 5    surrendered to the custody of the requesting parent, guardian
 6    or  custodian  not  later  than  the expiration of the 10 day
 7    period, at  which  time  the  authority  and  duties  of  the
 8    Department with respect to the temporary custody of the child
 9    shall terminate.
10        (n)  The  Department may place children under 18 years of
11    age in licensed child care facilities when in the opinion  of
12    the   Department,   appropriate   services  aimed  at  family
13    preservation have been unsuccessful or unavailable  and  such
14    placement  would  be  for  their  best interest.  Payment for
15    board, clothing, care, training and supervision of any  child
16    placed  in  a licensed child care facility may be made by the
17    Department, by the parents or guardians  of  the  estates  of
18    those  children, or by both the Department and the parents or
19    guardians, except that no  payments  shall  be  made  by  the
20    Department  for  any  child  placed  in a licensed child care
21    facility for board, clothing, care, training and  supervision
22    of  such  a  child that exceed the average per capita cost of
23    maintaining and of caring for a  child  in  institutions  for
24    dependent  or  neglected children operated by the Department.
25    However, such restriction on payments does not apply in cases
26    where children require specialized  care  and  treatment  for
27    problems    of   severe   emotional   disturbance,   physical
28    disability, social adjustment, or any combination thereof and
29    suitable facilities for the placement of  such  children  are
30    not  available  at  payment  rates within the limitations set
31    forth  in  this  Section.  All  reimbursements  for  services
32    delivered shall  be  absolutely  inalienable  by  assignment,
33    sale, attachment, garnishment or otherwise.
34        (o)  The  Department  shall  establish  an administrative
SB329 Enrolled              -30-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    review and appeal  process  for  children  and  families  who
 2    request   or   receive   child   welfare  services  from  the
 3    Department.  Children who are wards of the Department and are
 4    placed by private child welfare agencies, and foster families
 5    with whom those children are placed, shall  be  afforded  the
 6    same procedural and appeal rights as children and families in
 7    the  case of placement by the Department, including the right
 8    to an  initial review of a private agency  decision  by  that
 9    agency.   The  Department shall insure that any private child
10    welfare agency, which accepts wards  of  the  Department  for
11    placement,  affords  those  rights  to  children  and  foster
12    families.   The  Department  shall  accept for administrative
13    review and an appeal hearing a complaint made by a  child  or
14    foster  family  concerning  a  decision  following an initial
15    review by a private child welfare agency.   An  appeal  of  a
16    decision  concerning  a  change  in  the placement of a child
17    shall be conducted in an expedited manner.
18        (p)  There is hereby created the Department  of  Children
19    and  Family Services Emergency Assistance Fund from which the
20    Department  may  provide  special  financial  assistance   to
21    families which are in economic crisis when such assistance is
22    not available through other public or private sources and the
23    assistance  is deemed necessary to prevent dissolution of the
24    family unit or to reunite families which have been  separated
25    due  to  child  abuse  and  neglect.   The  Department  shall
26    establish  administrative  rules  specifying the criteria for
27    determining eligibility for and  the  amount  and  nature  of
28    assistance  to  be  provided.   The Department may also enter
29    into  written  agreements  with  private  and  public  social
30    service agencies to provide emergency financial  services  to
31    families  referred  by  the  Department.    Special financial
32    assistance payments shall be available to a  family  no  more
33    than once during each fiscal year and the total payments to a
34    family may not exceed $500 during a fiscal year.
SB329 Enrolled              -31-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1        (q)  The   Department  may  receive  and  use,  in  their
 2    entirety, for the benefit of children any gift,  donation  or
 3    bequest  of  money  or  other  property  which is received on
 4    behalf of such children, or any financial benefits  to  which
 5    such  children  are  or  may  become entitled while under the
 6    jurisdiction or care of the Department.
 7        The Department  shall  set  up  and  administer  no-cost,
 8    interest-bearing  savings  accounts  in appropriate financial
 9    institutions ("individual accounts") for  children  for  whom
10    the  Department  is  legally  responsible  and  who have been
11    determined eligible for Veterans' Benefits,  Social  Security
12    benefits,  assistance allotments from the armed forces, court
13    ordered payments, parental voluntary  payments,  Supplemental
14    Security  Income,  Railroad  Retirement  payments, Black Lung
15    benefits, or other miscellaneous payments.   Interest  earned
16    by  each individual account shall be credited to the account,
17    unless disbursed in accordance with this subsection.
18        In disbursing funds from children's individual  accounts,
19    the Department shall:
20             (1)  Establish  standards  in  accordance with State
21        and federal laws for  disbursing  money  from  children's
22        individual   accounts.    In   all   circumstances,   the
23        Department's  "Guardianship  Administrator" or his or her
24        designee  must  approve  disbursements  from   children's
25        individual accounts.  The Department shall be responsible
26        for  keeping  complete  records  of all disbursements for
27        each individual account for any purpose.
28             (2)  Calculate on a monthly basis the  amounts  paid
29        from  State funds for the child's board and care, medical
30        care not covered under Medicaid, and social services; and
31        utilize funds from the  child's  individual  account,  as
32        covered   by   regulation,   to  reimburse  those  costs.
33        Monthly, disbursements  from  all  children's  individual
34        accounts,  up  to 1/12 of $13,000,000, shall be deposited
SB329 Enrolled              -32-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1        by the Department into the General Revenue Fund  and  the
 2        balance over 1/12 of $13,000,000 into the DCFS Children's
 3        Services Fund.
 4             (3)  Maintain    any    balance    remaining   after
 5        reimbursing for the child's costs of care,  as  specified
 6        in  item  (2). The balance shall accumulate in accordance
 7        with  relevant  State  and  federal  laws  and  shall  be
 8        disbursed to the child or his or her guardian, or to  the
 9        issuing agency.
10        (r)  The    Department   shall   promulgate   regulations
11    encouraging all adoption agencies to voluntarily  forward  to
12    the  Department  or  its  agent  names  and  addresses of all
13    persons who have applied  for  and  have  been  approved  for
14    adoption  of  a  hard-to-place  or  handicapped child and the
15    names of such children who have not been placed for adoption.
16    A list of such names and addresses shall be maintained by the
17    Department or its agent, and coded lists which  maintain  the
18    confidentiality  of the person seeking to adopt the child and
19    of the child shall be  made  available,  without  charge,  to
20    every  adoption agency in the State to assist the agencies in
21    placing  such  children  for  adoption.  The  Department  may
22    delegate to an agent its duty to maintain and make  available
23    such  lists.   The  Department  shall  ensure that such agent
24    maintains the confidentiality of the person seeking to  adopt
25    the child and of the child.
26        (s)  The  Department  of Children and Family Services may
27    establish and implement a program to reimburse Department and
28    private child welfare agency foster parents licensed  by  the
29    Department  of  Children  and  Family  Services  for  damages
30    sustained  by the foster parents as a result of the malicious
31    or negligent acts of foster children, as  well  as  providing
32    third  party  coverage for such foster parents with regard to
33    actions  of  foster  children  to  other  individuals.   Such
34    coverage will be secondary to  the  foster  parent  liability
SB329 Enrolled              -33-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    insurance policy, if applicable.  The program shall be funded
 2    through   appropriations   from  the  General  Revenue  Fund,
 3    specifically designated for such purposes.
 4        (t)  The  Department  shall  perform  home  studies   and
 5    investigations and shall exercise supervision over visitation
 6    as  ordered  by a court pursuant to the Illinois Marriage and
 7    Dissolution of Marriage Act or the Adoption Act only if:
 8             (1)  an  order  entered   by   an   Illinois   court
 9        specifically  directs  the  Department  to  perform  such
10        services; and
11             (2)  the  court  has  ordered  one  or  both  of the
12        parties to the proceeding to reimburse the Department for
13        its reasonable  costs  for  providing  such  services  in
14        accordance  with Department rules, or has determined that
15        neither party is financially able to pay.
16        The Department shall provide written notification to  the
17    court  of the specific arrangements for supervised visitation
18    and projected monthly costs  within  60  days  of  the  court
19    order.  The  Department  shall  send to the court information
20    related to the costs incurred except in cases where the court
21    has determined the parties are financially unable to pay. The
22    court may order additional periodic reports as appropriate.
23        (u)  Whenever the Department places a child in a licensed
24    foster home, group home, child  care  institution,  or  in  a
25    relative home, the Department shall provide to the caretaker:
26             (1)  available  detailed  information concerning the
27        child's  educational  and  health  history,   copies   of
28        immunization  records  (including  insurance  and medical
29        card information), a  history  of  the  child's  previous
30        placements,  if  any,  and  reasons for placement changes
31        excluding any information that identifies or reveals  the
32        location of any previous caretaker;
33             (2)  a  copy  of  the  child's portion of the client
34        service plan, including any visitation  arrangement,  and
SB329 Enrolled              -34-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1        all  amendments  or  revisions  to  it  as related to the
 2        child; and
 3             (3)  information containing details of  the  child's
 4        individualized   educational   plan  when  the  child  is
 5        receiving special education services.
 6        The caretaker shall be informed of any  known  social  or
 7    behavioral  information  (including, but not limited to, fire
 8    setting, perpetuation of sexual abuse, destructive  behavior,
 9    and  substance abuse) necessary to care for and safeguard the
10    child.
11        (u-5)  Effective  July  1,   1995,   only   foster   care
12    placements  licensed  as  foster family homes pursuant to the
13    Child Care Act of 1969 shall be eligible  to  receive  foster
14    care  payments  from the Department. Relative caregivers who,
15    as of July  1,  1995,  were  approved  pursuant  to  approved
16    relative   placement  rules  previously  promulgated  by  the
17    Department at 89 Ill. Adm. Code  335  and  had  submitted  an
18    application  for  licensure  as  a  foster  family  home  may
19    continue  to  receive  foster  care  payments  only until the
20    Department determines that they may be licensed as  a  foster
21    family home or that their application for licensure is denied
22    or until September 30, 1995, whichever occurs first.
23        (v)  The  Department shall access criminal history record
24    information  as defined in the  Illinois  Uniform  Conviction
25    Information   Act   and   information   maintained   in   the
26    adjudicatory  and  dispositional  record system as defined in
27    subdivision (A)19 of Section 55a of the Civil  Administrative
28    Code of Illinois if the Department determines the information
29    is  necessary  to  perform  its  duties  under the Abused and
30    Neglected Child Reporting Act, the Child Care  Act  of  1969,
31    and  the  Children  and  Family Services Act.  The Department
32    shall provide for interactive computerized communication  and
33    processing    equipment    that    permits   direct   on-line
34    communication with the Department of State  Police's  central
SB329 Enrolled              -35-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1    criminal  history  data  repository.   The  Department  shall
 2    comply   with  all  certification  requirements  and  provide
 3    certified operators who have been trained by  personnel  from
 4    the  Department  of State Police.  In addition, one Office of
 5    the Inspector General investigator shall have training in the
 6    use of the criminal history  information  access  system  and
 7    have  access to the terminal.  The Department of Children and
 8    Family Services and its employees shall abide  by  rules  and
 9    regulations  established  by  the  Department of State Police
10    relating to the access and dissemination of this information.
11        (w)  Within 120 days of August 20,  1995  (the  effective
12    date  of Public Act 89-392), the Department shall prepare and
13    submit to the Governor and the General  Assembly,  a  written
14    plan  for  the  development of in-state licensed secure child
15    care facilities that care for children who  are  in  need  of
16    secure  living  arrangements  for  their  health, safety, and
17    well-being.  For purposes of  this  subsection,  secure  care
18    facility  shall mean a facility that is designed and operated
19    to ensure that all entrances and exits from the  facility,  a
20    building  or  a  distinct part of the building, are under the
21    exclusive control of the staff of the  facility,  whether  or
22    not  the  child  has  the  freedom  of  movement  within  the
23    perimeter  of the facility, building, or distinct part of the
24    building.  The plan shall include descriptions of  the  types
25    of  facilities  that  are  needed  in  Illinois;  the cost of
26    developing these secure care facilities; the estimated number
27    of placements; the potential cost savings resulting from  the
28    movement of children currently out-of-state who are projected
29    to   be   returned  to  Illinois;  the  necessary  geographic
30    distribution of these facilities in Illinois; and a  proposed
31    timetable for development of such facilities.
32    (Source: P.A.  88-380;  88-398;  88-487; 88-614, eff. 9-7-94;
33    88-670,  eff.  12-2-94;  89-21,  eff.  6-6-95;  89-392,  eff.
34    8-20-95; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
SB329 Enrolled              -36-              LRB9002415MWksA
 1        Section 95.  No acceleration or delay.   Where  this  Act
 2    makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by
 3    text  that  is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a
 4    Section represented by multiple versions), the  use  of  that
 5    text  does  not  accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i)
 6    the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived  from
 7    any other Public Act.

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