HJ0029 LRB094 11740 LCB 43864 r

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 is created and shall be comprised of 8 members of the
19 Illinois General Assembly appointed as follows: 2 members of
20 the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members
21 of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2
22 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the
23 Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 2 members of the
24 House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of
25 the House of Representatives; all Joint Task Force members
26 shall serve without compensation; and be it further
 
27     RESOLVED, That the chairperson of the Joint Task Force
28 shall be selected by the members from among its membership and
29 the Joint Task Force shall meet at the call of the chairperson;
30 and be it further
 

 

 

HJ0029 - 2 - LRB094 11740 LCB 43864 r

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