SB0315eng 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0315 Engrossed LRB102 05117 KTG 15137 b

AN ACT concerning the Department of Children and Family Services.

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 changing Section 5d as follows:

(20 ILCS 505/5d)

Sec. 5d. The Direct Child Welfare Service Employee License Board.

(a) For purposes of this Section:

(1) "Board" means the Direct Child Welfare Service Employee License Board.

(2) "Director" means the Director of Children and Family Services.

(b) The Direct Child Welfare Service Employee License Board is created within the Department of Children and Family Services and shall consist of 9 members appointed by the Director. The Director shall annually designate a chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Board. The membership of the Board must be composed as follows: (i) 5 licensed professionals from the field of human services with a human services, juris doctor, medical, public administration, or other relevant human services degree or equivalent course work as required by rule of the Department and who are in good standing within their profession, at least 2 of which must be employed in the private not-for-profit sector and at least one of which in the public sector; (ii) 2 faculty members of an accredited university who have child welfare experience and are in good standing within their profession and (iii) 2 members of the general public who are not licensed under this Act or a similar rule and will represent consumer interests.

In making the first appointments, the Director shall appoint 3 members to serve for a term of one year, 3 members to serve for a term of 2 years, and 3 members to serve for a term of 3 years, or until their successors are appointed and qualified. Their successors shall be appointed to serve 3-year terms, or until their successors are appointed and qualified. Appointments to fill unexpired vacancies shall be made in the same manner as original appointments. No member may be reappointed if a reappointment would cause that member to serve on the Board for longer than 6 consecutive years. Board membership must have reasonable representation from different geographic areas of Illinois, and all members must be residents of this State.

The Director may terminate the appointment of any member for good cause, including but not limited to (i) unjustified absences from Board meetings or other failure to meet Board responsibilities, (ii) failure to recuse himself or herself when required by subsection (c) of this Section or Department rule, or (iii) failure to maintain the professional position required by Department rule. No member of the Board may have a pending or indicated report of child abuse or neglect or a pending complaint or criminal conviction of any of the offenses set forth in paragraph (b) of Section 4.2 of the Child Care Act of 1969.

The members of the Board shall receive no compensation for the performance of their duties as members, but each member shall be reimbursed for his or her reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in attending the meetings of the Board.

(c) The Board shall make recommendations to the Director regarding licensure rules. Board members must recuse themselves from sitting on any matter involving an employee of a child welfare agency at which the Board member is an employee or contractual employee. The Board shall make a final determination concerning revocation, suspension, or reinstatement of an employee's direct child welfare service license after a hearing conducted under the Department's rules. Upon notification of the manner of the vote to all the members, votes on a final determination may be cast in person, by telephonic or electronic means, or by mail at the discretion of the chairperson. A simple majority of the members appointed and serving is required when Board members vote by mail or by telephonic or electronic means. A majority of the currently appointed and serving Board members constitutes a quorum. A majority of a quorum is required when a recommendation is voted on during a Board meeting. A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not impair the right of a quorum to perform all the duties of the Board. Board members are not personally liable in any action based upon a disciplinary proceeding or otherwise for any action taken in good faith as a member of the Board.

(d) The Director may assign Department employees to provide staffing services to the Board. The Department must promulgate any rules necessary to implement and administer the requirements of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 92-471, eff. 8-22-01; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02.)

Section 10. The Adoption Act is amended by changing Section 18.9 as follows:

(750 ILCS 50/18.9)

Sec. 18.9. Post-placement and post-adoption support services.

(a) It is the public policy of this State to find permanency for children through adoption and to prevent placement disruption, adoption dissolution, and secondary placement. Public awareness and access to timely, effective post-placement and post-adoption support services to provide resources for children and families is essential to promote permanency.

(b) The Department shall establish and maintain accessible post-placement and post-adoption support services for all children adopted pursuant to this Act, all children residing in this State adopted pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, all children residing in this State adopted pursuant to the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, and all former youth in care, as defined by the Children and Family Services Act, who have been placed in a guardianship.

(b-5) The Department shall establish and maintain a toll-free number to respond to requests from the public about its post-placement and post-adoption support services under subsection (b) and shall staff the toll-free number so that calls are answered on a timely basis, but in no event more than one business day after 24 hours from the receipt of a request.

(c) The Department shall publicize information about the Department's post-placement and post-adoption support services pursuant to subsection (b) and the toll-free number pursuant to subsection (b-5) as follows:

(1) it shall post information on the Department's website;

(2) it shall provide the information to every licensed child welfare agency, every out of State placement agency or entity approved under Section 4.1 of this Act, and any entity providing adoption support services in the Illinois courts;

(3) it shall reference such information in the adoptive parents' rights and responsibilities document that the Department publishes and that is provided to adoptive parents under this Act and the Child Care Act.

(4) it shall provide the information, including the Illinois Post Adoption and Guardianship Services booklet, to prospective adoptive parents and guardians as part of its adoption and guardianship training and at the time they are presented with the Permanency Commitment form; and

(5) it shall include, in each annual notification letter mailed to adoptive parents and guardians, a short, 2-sided flier or news bulletin in plain language that describes access to post-placement and post-adoption services, how to access Medicaid and Individual Care Grant or Family Support Program services, the webpage address to Illinois' Post Adoption and Guardianship Services booklet, information on how to request that a copy of the booklet be mailed, and a sticker or magnet that includes the toll-free number to access the Department's post-placement and post-adoption support services.

(c-5) The Department shall review and update annually all information relating to its post-placement and post-adoption support services, including its Post Adoption and Guardianship Services booklet, to include updated information on Individual Care Group or Family Support Program services eligibility and the post-placement and post-adoption support services that are available through the Medicaid program or any other State program for mental health services. The Department and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall coordinate their efforts in the development of resources described in this subsection.

(d) Every licensed child welfare agency, every entity approved under Section 4.1 of this Act, and any entity providing adoption support services in the Illinois courts shall provide the Department's website address and link to the Department's post-placement and post-adoption support services information set forth in subsection (c) of this Section, including the Department's toll-free number, to every adoptive parent, prospective adoptive parent, and guardian with whom they work in Illinois. This information shall be provided prior to placement.

(e) Beginning one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Department shall report annually to the General Assembly on January 15 the following information for the preceding year:

(1) a description of all post-placement and post-adoption support services the Department provides;

(2) without identifying the names of the recipients of the services, the number of guardians, prospective adoptive parents, and adoptive families in Illinois who have received the Department's post-placement and post-adoption support services and the type of services provided and for each, the length of time between the initial contact to the Department to request post-placement and post-adoption support services and the first receipt of services, and the type of services received;

(3) the number of families who have contacted the Department about its post-placement and post-adoption support services due to a potential placement disruption, adoption dissolution, secondary placement, or unregulated placement, but for whom the Department declined to provide post-placement and post-adoption support services and the reasons that services were denied;

(4) the number of placement disruptions, adoption dissolutions, unregulated placements, and secondary placements, and for each one:

(A) the type of placement or adoption, including whether the child who was the subject of the placement was a youth in care as defined in Section 4d of the Children and Family Services Act, and if the child was not a youth in care, whether the adoption was a private, agency, agency-assisted, interstate, or intercountry adoption;

(B) if the placement or adoption was intercountry, the country of birth of the child;

(C) whether the child who was the subject of the placement disruption, adoption dissolution, unregulated placement, or secondary placement entered State custody;

(D) the length of the placement prior to the placement disruption, adoption dissolution, unregulated placement, or secondary placement;

(E) the age of the child at the time of the placement disruption, adoption dissolution, unregulated placement, or secondary placement;

(F) the reason, if known, for the placement disruption, adoption dissolution, unregulated placement, or secondary placement; and

(G) if a licensed child welfare agency or any approved out of State placing entity participated in the initial placement, and, if applicable, the name of the agency or approved out of State placing entity; and

(5) a description of the coordination between the Department and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop resources under this subsection, including, but not limited to, a description of the goals of such coordination and whether the goals have been met.

(Source: P.A. 100-159, eff. 8-18-17; 101-155, eff. 1-1-20.)