HR0418enr 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0418 Enrolled LRB100 12763 KTG 26306 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION 418

WHEREAS, The Department of Children and Family Services ("DCFS" or "Department") is responsible for providing child protective services and programs to abused, neglected, and dependent children and their families; and

WHEREAS, The shooting death of 17 year-old Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer on October 20, 2014 shed light on the inefficiencies that plague the DCFS foster care program as media reports revealed the instability and abuse Laquan McDonald experienced throughout his youth as he moved through the foster care system; and

WHEREAS, Last month's suspicious death of 16 month-old Semaj Crosby, whose body was found in her family's Joliet home a day and a half after DCFS case workers visited the home to investigate an allegation of child neglect, has elicited sharp criticism on how DCFS investigates reports of child abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has an interest in ensuring that all reports of child abuse and neglect are thoroughly investigated and that the children of this State have access to adequate and efficient protective services and programs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Auditor General is directed in accordance with Section 3-2 of the Illinois State Auditing Act to conduct a performance audit on the Department of Children and Family Services to review and assess the Department's protocols for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the audit include a review of abuse and neglect investigations conducted by the Department of Children and Family Services in Fiscal Year 2015, Fiscal Year 2016, and Fiscal Year 2017, including, but not limited to, a review of:

(1) the status of abuse and neglect investigations;

(2) the final determination or findings made by the Department for abuse and neglect investigations;

(3) the time frame within which the Department completed or closed abuse and neglect investigations;

(4) for sampled cases, recommendations made by the Department to families who were the subject of an abuse or neglect investigation, including any services provided by the Department to the child or family; and

(5) demographic information on abuse and neglect investigations, including the age, race, and gender of children who were subjects of the abuse or neglect investigations, and, if available, the zip code and county where the abuse or neglect was alleged to have occurred; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General compile a detailed report that includes a full summary on the number of lawsuits or other legal actions filed against the Department within the past 3 fiscal years that concern an abuse or neglect investigation and the number of lawsuits the Department settled within the past 3 fiscal years that concern an abuse or neglect investigation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Children and Family Services cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General in the conduct of this audit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General is not allowed or authorized to release or disclose in his report any information that is prohibited from public disclosure under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or under any other State or federal law; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as soon as possible and submit his report, including his findings and recommendations, upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to the Auditor General and the Department of Children and Family Services.