State of Illinois
Public Acts
92^nd General Assembly

Public Act 92-0666

HB4208 Enrolled                                LRB9214880REpk

    AN ACT in relation to children.

    Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

    Section  5.   The  Children  and  Family  Services Act is
amended by adding Section 7.4 as follows:

    (20 ILCS 505/7.4 new)
    Sec. 7.4.  Placement of siblings.
    (a)  When a child is in need of  an  adoptive  placement,
the  Department  shall  examine its files and other available
resources and attempt to  determine  whether  any  biological
sibling  of  the  child  has been adopted.  If the Department
determines that a biological sibling of the  child  has  been
adopted,  the  Department  shall  make a good faith effort to
locate the adoptive parents of the sibling and inform them of
the availability of the child for adoption.
    (b)  If the adoptive parents of a biological sibling of a
child available for adoption apply to adopt that  child,  the
Department shall consider them as adoptive applicants for the
adoption  of  the  child.   The  Department's final decision,
however, shall be based upon the welfare and best interest of
the child.  In arriving at its decision, the Department shall
consider all relevant factors, including but not limited to:
         (1)  the wishes of the child;
         (2)  the interaction and  interrelationship  of  the
    child with the applicant to adopt the child;
         (3)  the  child's  need for stability and continuity
    of relationship with parent figures;
         (4)  the child's adjustment to his  or  her  present
    home, school, and community;
         (5)  the   mental   and   physical   health  of  all
    individuals involved;
         (6)  the family  ties  between  the  child  and  the
    child's relatives, including siblings;
         (7)  the background, age, and living arrangements of
    the applicant to adopt the child;
         (8)  a  criminal  background report of the applicant
    to adopt the child.
    (c)  The Department may refuse  to  inform  the  adoptive
parents  of a biological sibling of a child that the child is
available for adoption, as  required  under  subsection  (a),
only  for  a  reason  permitted under criteria adopted by the
Department by rule.

    Section 99. Effective date.  This Act takes  effect  upon
becoming law.
    Passed in the General Assembly May 07, 2002.
    Approved July 16, 2002.
    Effective July 16, 2002.