(325 ILCS 7/5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that the University of Illinois' Children and Family Research Center determined in its October 2021 report, "Racial Disproportionality in the Illinois Child Welfare System", that:

(1) In 2020, compared to their percentage in the general child population, black children were overrepresented in foster care having made up 16.4% of the general child population, but accounting for 38.5% of protective custodies.

(2) In comparison, white children were proportionally represented in foster care having made up 52.8% of the general child population, but accounting for 48.8% of protective custodies. Hispanic children were under-represented having made up 24.9% of the general child population, but accounting for 11.5% of protective custodies.

(Source: P.A. 102-1087, eff. 6-10-22.)