(55 ILCS 80/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 1803)

Sec. 3. Child Advocacy Advisory Board.

(a) Each county or group of counties in the State of Illinois shall establish a Child Advocacy Advisory Board ("Advisory Board").

Each of the following county officers or State agencies or allied professional entities shall designate a representative to serve on the Advisory Board: law enforcement within the appropriate jurisdiction(s), the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the State's attorney, and the Children's Advocacy Center.

The Advisory Board may appoint additional members of the Advisory Board as is deemed necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act, the additional members to include but not be limited to representatives of local law enforcement agencies, allied professionals, and the Circuit Courts.

(b) The Advisory Board shall have the authority to organize itself and appoint, assign, or elect leaders. The Advisory Board shall determine the voting rights of multiple members from the same agency or entity.

(c) The Advisory Board shall adopt, by a majority of the members, a written operational protocol. The Advisory Board shall, prior to finalization, submit a draft to the Children's Advocacy Center of Illinois ("CACI") for review and comments to ensure compliance with accreditation standards from NCA. After considering the comments of the CACI and upon finalization of its protocol, the Advisory Board shall file the protocol with the Department of Children and Family Services and the CACI. If requested, a copy shall be made available to the public by the local CAC. Each Advisory Board shall, on an annual basis, review and/or update the written protocol. Any changes made to the written protocol shall be approved by majority vote and, prior to finalization, a draft shall be submitted to the CACI for review and comments to ensure compliance with accreditation standards from NCA. After considering the comments of the CACI and upon finalization of its protocol, the Advisory Board shall file the protocol with the Department of Children and Family Services and the CACI.

(d) The purpose of the protocol shall be to ensure coordination and cooperation among all agencies involved in child maltreatment cases so as to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of those agencies, to minimize the trauma created for the child and his or her non-offending parents, caregivers, or family members by the investigatory and judicial process, and to ensure that more effective treatment is provided for the child and his or her non-offending parents, caregivers, or family members. Agencies that are members of the Advisory Board are encouraged to amend their internal operating protocol in a manner that further facilitates coordination and cooperation among all agencies.

(e) The protocol shall be a written document outlining in detail the procedures to be used in investigating and responding to cases arising from alleged child maltreatment and in coordinating treatment referrals for the child and his or her non-offending parents, caregivers, or family members. In preparing the written protocol, the Advisory Board shall ensure that the CAC includes all of the components listed in Section 4 of this Act.

(f) The Advisory Board shall evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the protocol required under subsection (c) of this Section on an annual basis, and shall propose appropriate modifications to the protocol to maximize its effectiveness. A report of the Advisory Board's review, along with proposed modifications, shall be submitted to the CACI for its review and comments. After considering the comments of the CACI and adopting modifications, the Advisory Board shall file its amended protocol with the Department of Children and Family Services. A copy of the Advisory Board's review and amended protocol shall be furnished to the CACI and to the public.

(g) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 98-809, eff. 1-1-15.)