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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Department of Children and Family Services is
3 charged with acting in the best interest of every child it
4 serves, helping families by increasing their ability to provide
5 a safe environment for their children, and strengthening
6 families who are at risk of abuse or neglect; and
 
7     WHEREAS, A significant function of government is to promote
8 the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The General Assembly has taken notice of many
10 issues surrounding the operations, funding, and execution of
11 the foster care system that must be addressed to ensure
12 continued action as well as establish a higher standard for
13 serving the needs of both foster children and parents;
14 therefore, be it
 
15     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
17 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Joint Task Force on Foster
18 Care in the Department of Children and Family Services is
19 created and shall be comprised of 8 members of the Illinois
20 General Assembly appointed as follows: 2 members of the Senate
21 appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members of the
22 Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2
23 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the
24 Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 2 members of the
25 House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of
26 the House of Representatives; all Joint Task Force members
27 shall serve without compensation; and be it further
 
28     RESOLVED, That the chairperson of the Joint Task Force
29 shall be selected by the members from among its membership and
30 the Joint Task Force shall meet at the call of the chairperson;
31 and be it further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That it is the duty of the Joint Task Force to
2 undertake a comprehensive and thorough review of the operations
3 of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
4 Foster Care Division and related laws and rules impacting the
5 Illinois foster care system, with the intent of making
6 recommendations that would improve the system of Department and
7 private agency accountability, improve Department functioning
8 within the constraints of limited budgets, guarantee necessary
9 medical and psychiatric care to wards within the Department,
10 and increase foster parent support; and be it further
 
11     RESOLVED, That the Department of Children and Family
12 Services shall provide assistance to the Joint Task Force and
13 the Joint Task Force shall request assistance from any other
14 entity as necessary or useful for the performance of its
15 duties; and be it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That the Joint Task Force shall present a report
17 to the General Assembly no later than December 15, 2005; a copy
18 of the report shall be provided to the Director of the
19 Department of Children and Family Services and the Governor
20 within 2 weeks of the presentation of the report to the General
21 Assembly.