Rep. Sara Feigenholtz

Filed: 4/12/2016

 

 


 

 


 
09900HB5551ham002LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 5551

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 5551 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended
5by changing Sections 6a and 7 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 505/6a)  (from Ch. 23, par. 5006a)
7    Sec. 6a. Case Plan.
8    (a) With respect to each Department client for whom the
9Department is providing placement service, the Department
10shall develop a case plan designed to stabilize the family
11situation and prevent placement of a child outside the home of
12the family when the child can be cared for at home without
13endangering the child's health or safety, reunify the family if
14temporary placement is necessary when safe and appropriate, or
15move the child toward the most permanent living arrangement and
16permanent legal status. Such case plan shall provide for the

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 2 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1utilization of family preservation services as defined in
2Section 8.2 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
3Such case plan shall be reviewed and updated every 6 months.
4The Department shall ensure that incarcerated parents are able
5to participate in case plan reviews via teleconference or
6videoconference. Where appropriate, the case plan shall
7include recommendations concerning alcohol or drug abuse
8evaluation.
9    If the parent is incarcerated, the case plan must address
10the tasks that must be completed by the parent and how the
11parent will participate in the administrative case review and
12permanency planning hearings and, wherever possible, must
13include treatment that reflects the resources available at the
14facility where the parent is confined. The case plan must
15provide for visitation opportunities, unless visitation is not
16in the best interests of the child.
17    (b) The Department may enter into written agreements with
18child welfare agencies to establish and implement case plan
19demonstration projects. The demonstration projects shall
20require that service providers develop, implement, review and
21update client case plans. The Department shall examine the
22effectiveness of the demonstration projects in promoting the
23family reunification or the permanent placement of each client
24and shall report its findings to the General Assembly no later
25than 90 days after the end of the fiscal year in which any such
26demonstration project is implemented.

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 3 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1(Source: P.A. 89-704, eff. 8-16-97 (changed from 1-1-98 by P.A.
290-443); 90-28, eff. 1-1-98; 90-443, eff. 8-16-97.)
 
3    (20 ILCS 505/7)  (from Ch. 23, par. 5007)
4    Sec. 7. Placement of children; considerations.
5    (a) In placing any child under this Act, the Department
6shall place the child, as far as possible, in the care and
7custody of some individual holding the same religious belief as
8the parents of the child, or with some child care facility
9which is operated by persons of like religious faith as the
10parents of such child.
11    (a-5) In placing a child under this Act, the Department
12shall place the child with the child's sibling or siblings
13under Section 7.4 of this Act unless the placement is not in
14each child's best interest, or is otherwise not possible under
15the Department's rules. If the child is not placed with a
16sibling under the Department's rules, the Department shall
17consider placements that are likely to develop, preserve,
18nurture, and support sibling relationships, where doing so is
19in each child's best interest.
20    (b) In placing a child under this Act, the Department may
21place a child with a relative if the Department determines that
22the relative will be able to adequately provide for the child's
23safety and welfare based on the factors set forth in the
24Department's rules governing relative placements, and that the
25placement is consistent with the child's best interests, taking

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 4 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1into consideration the factors set out in subsection (4.05) of
2Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
3    When the Department first assumes custody of a child, in
4placing that child under this Act, the Department shall make
5reasonable efforts to identify, locate, and provide notice to
6all adult grandparents and other adult relatives of the child
7who are ready, willing, and able to care for the child. At a
8minimum, these efforts shall be renewed each time the child
9requires a placement change and it is appropriate for the child
10to be cared for in a home environment. The Department must
11document its efforts to identify, locate, and provide notice to
12such potential relative placements and maintain the
13documentation in the child's case file.
14    If the Department determines that a placement with any
15identified relative is not in the child's best interests or
16that the relative does not meet the requirements to be a
17relative caregiver, as set forth in Department rules or by
18statute, the Department must document the basis for that
19decision and maintain the documentation in the child's case
20file.
21    If, pursuant to the Department's rules, any person files an
22administrative appeal of the Department's decision not to place
23a child with a relative, it is the Department's burden to prove
24that the decision is consistent with the child's best
25interests.
26    When the Department determines that the child requires

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 5 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1placement in an environment, other than a home environment, the
2Department shall continue to make reasonable efforts to
3identify and locate relatives to serve as visitation resources
4for the child and potential future placement resources, except
5when the Department determines that those efforts would be
6futile or inconsistent with the child's best interests.
7    If the Department determines that efforts to identify and
8locate relatives would be futile or inconsistent with the
9child's best interests, the Department shall document the basis
10of its determination and maintain the documentation in the
11child's case file.
12    If the Department determines that an individual or a group
13of relatives are inappropriate to serve as visitation resources
14or possible placement resources, the Department shall document
15the basis of its determination and maintain the documentation
16in the child's case file.
17    When the Department determines that an individual or a
18group of relatives are appropriate to serve as visitation
19resources or possible future placement resources, the
20Department shall document the basis of its determination,
21maintain the documentation in the child's case file, create a
22visitation or transition plan, or both, and incorporate the
23visitation or transition plan, or both, into the child's case
24plan. For the purpose of this subsection, any determination as
25to the child's best interests shall include consideration of
26the factors set out in subsection (4.05) of Section 1-3 of the

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 6 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
2    The Department may not place a child with a relative, with
3the exception of certain circumstances which may be waived as
4defined by the Department in rules, if the results of a check
5of the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) identifies
6a prior criminal conviction of the relative or any adult member
7of the relative's household for any of the following offenses
8under the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012:
9        (1) murder;
10        (1.1) solicitation of murder;
11        (1.2) solicitation of murder for hire;
12        (1.3) intentional homicide of an unborn child;
13        (1.4) voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child;
14        (1.5) involuntary manslaughter;
15        (1.6) reckless homicide;
16        (1.7) concealment of a homicidal death;
17        (1.8) involuntary manslaughter of an unborn child;
18        (1.9) reckless homicide of an unborn child;
19        (1.10) drug-induced homicide;
20        (2) a sex offense under Article 11, except offenses
21    described in Sections 11-7, 11-8, 11-12, 11-13, 11-35,
22    11-40, and 11-45;
23        (3) kidnapping;
24        (3.1) aggravated unlawful restraint;
25        (3.2) forcible detention;
26        (3.3) aiding and abetting child abduction;

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 7 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1        (4) aggravated kidnapping;
2        (5) child abduction;
3        (6) aggravated battery of a child as described in
4    Section 12-4.3 or subdivision (b)(1) of Section 12-3.05;
5        (7) criminal sexual assault;
6        (8) aggravated criminal sexual assault;
7        (8.1) predatory criminal sexual assault of a child;
8        (9) criminal sexual abuse;
9        (10) aggravated sexual abuse;
10        (11) heinous battery as described in Section 12-4.1 or
11    subdivision (a)(2) of Section 12-3.05;
12        (12) aggravated battery with a firearm as described in
13    Section 12-4.2 or subdivision (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), or
14    (e)(4) of Section 12-3.05;
15        (13) tampering with food, drugs, or cosmetics;
16        (14) drug-induced infliction of great bodily harm as
17    described in Section 12-4.7 or subdivision (g)(1) of
18    Section 12-3.05;
19        (15) aggravated stalking;
20        (16) home invasion;
21        (17) vehicular invasion;
22        (18) criminal transmission of HIV;
23        (19) criminal abuse or neglect of an elderly person or
24    person with a disability as described in Section 12-21 or
25    subsection (b) of Section 12-4.4a;
26        (20) child abandonment;

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 8 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1        (21) endangering the life or health of a child;
2        (22) ritual mutilation;
3        (23) ritualized abuse of a child;
4        (24) an offense in any other state the elements of
5    which are similar and bear a substantial relationship to
6    any of the foregoing offenses.
7    For the purpose of this subsection, "relative" shall
8include any person, 21 years of age or over, other than the
9parent, who (i) is currently related to the child in any of the
10following ways by blood or adoption: grandparent, sibling,
11great-grandparent, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin,
12second cousin, godparent, great-uncle, or great-aunt; or (ii)
13is the spouse of such a relative; or (iii) is the child's
14step-father, step-mother, or adult step-brother or
15step-sister; or (iv) is a fictive kin; "relative" also includes
16a person related in any of the foregoing ways to a sibling of a
17child, even though the person is not related to the child, when
18the child and its sibling are placed together with that person.
19For children who have been in the guardianship of the
20Department, have been adopted, and are subsequently returned to
21the temporary custody or guardianship of the Department, a
22"relative" may also include any person who would have qualified
23as a relative under this paragraph prior to the adoption, but
24only if the Department determines, and documents, that it would
25be in the child's best interests to consider this person a
26relative, based upon the factors for determining best interests

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 9 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1set forth in subsection (4.05) of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile
2Court Act of 1987. A relative with whom a child is placed
3pursuant to this subsection may, but is not required to, apply
4for licensure as a foster family home pursuant to the Child
5Care Act of 1969; provided, however, that as of July 1, 1995,
6foster care payments shall be made only to licensed foster
7family homes pursuant to the terms of Section 5 of this Act.
8    Notwithstanding any other provision under this subsection
9to the contrary, a fictive kin with whom a child is placed
10pursuant to this subsection shall apply for licensure as a
11foster family home pursuant to the Child Care Act of 1969
12within 6 months of the child's placement with the fictive kin.
13The Department shall not remove a child from the home of a
14fictive kin on the basis that the fictive kin fails to apply
15for licensure within 6 months of the child's placement with the
16fictive kin, or fails to meet the standard for licensure. All
17other requirements established under the rules and procedures
18of the Department concerning the placement of a child, for whom
19the Department is legally responsible, with a relative shall
20apply. By June 1, 2015, the Department shall promulgate rules
21establishing criteria and standards for placement,
22identification, and licensure of fictive kin.
23    For purposes of this subsection, "fictive kin" means any
24individual, unrelated by birth or marriage, who:
25        (i) is shown to have close personal or emotional ties
26    with the child or the child's family prior to the child's

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 10 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    placement with the individual; or
2        (ii) is the current foster parent of a child in the
3    custody or guardianship of the Department pursuant to this
4    Act and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, if the child has
5    been placed in the home for at least one year and has
6    established a significant and family-like relationship
7    with the foster parent, and the foster parent has been
8    identified by the Department as the child's permanent
9    connection, as defined by Department rule.
10    The provisions added to this subsection (b) by Public Act
1198-846 this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly shall
12become operative on and after June 1, 2015.
13    (c) In placing a child under this Act, the Department shall
14ensure that the child's health, safety, and best interests are
15met. In rejecting placement of a child with an identified
16relative, the Department shall ensure that the child's health,
17safety, and best interests are met. In evaluating the best
18interests of the child, the Department shall take into
19consideration the factors set forth in subsection (4.05) of
20Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
21    The Department shall consider the individual needs of the
22child and the capacity of the prospective foster or adoptive
23parents to meet the needs of the child. When a child must be
24placed outside his or her home and cannot be immediately
25returned to his or her parents or guardian, a comprehensive,
26individualized assessment shall be performed of that child at

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 11 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1which time the needs of the child shall be determined. Only if
2race, color, or national origin is identified as a legitimate
3factor in advancing the child's best interests shall it be
4considered. Race, color, or national origin shall not be
5routinely considered in making a placement decision. The
6Department shall make special efforts for the diligent
7recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families that
8reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of the children for
9whom foster and adoptive homes are needed. "Special efforts"
10shall include contacting and working with community
11organizations and religious organizations and may include
12contracting with those organizations, utilizing local media
13and other local resources, and conducting outreach activities.
14    (c-1) At the time of placement, the Department shall
15consider concurrent planning, as described in subsection (l-1)
16of Section 5, so that permanency may occur at the earliest
17opportunity. Consideration should be given so that if
18reunification fails or is delayed, the placement made is the
19best available placement to provide permanency for the child.
20To the extent that doing so is in the child's best interests as
21set forth in subsection (4.05) of Section 1-3 of the Juvenile
22Court Act of 1987, the Department should consider placements
23that will permit the child to maintain a meaningful
24relationship with his or her parents.
25    (d) The Department may accept gifts, grants, offers of
26services, and other contributions to use in making special

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 12 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1recruitment efforts.
2    (e) The Department in placing children in adoptive or
3foster care homes may not, in any policy or practice relating
4to the placement of children for adoption or foster care,
5discriminate against any child or prospective adoptive or
6foster parent on the basis of race.
7(Source: P.A. 98-846, eff. 1-1-15; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15;
899-340, eff. 1-1-16; revised 10-19-15.)
 
9    Section 10. The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 is amended by
10changing Section 2-13 as follows:
 
11    (705 ILCS 405/2-13)  (from Ch. 37, par. 802-13)
12    Sec. 2-13. Petition.
13    (1) Any adult person, any agency or association by its
14representative may file, or the court on its own motion,
15consistent with the health, safety and best interests of the
16minor may direct the filing through the State's Attorney of a
17petition in respect of a minor under this Act. The petition and
18all subsequent court documents shall be entitled "In the
19interest of ...., a minor".
20    (2) The petition shall be verified but the statements may
21be made upon information and belief. It shall allege that the
22minor is abused, neglected, or dependent, with citations to the
23appropriate provisions of this Act, and set forth (a) facts
24sufficient to bring the minor under Section 2-3 or 2-4 and to

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 13 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1inform respondents of the cause of action, including, but not
2limited to, a plain and concise statement of the factual
3allegations that form the basis for the filing of the petition;
4(b) the name, age and residence of the minor; (c) the names and
5residences of his parents; (d) the name and residence of his
6legal guardian or the person or persons having custody or
7control of the minor, or of the nearest known relative if no
8parent or guardian can be found; and (e) if the minor upon
9whose behalf the petition is brought is sheltered in custody,
10the date on which such temporary custody was ordered by the
11court or the date set for a temporary custody hearing. If any
12of the facts herein required are not known by the petitioner,
13the petition shall so state.
14    (3) The petition must allege that it is in the best
15interests of the minor and of the public that he be adjudged a
16ward of the court and may pray generally for relief available
17under this Act. The petition need not specify any proposed
18disposition following adjudication of wardship. The petition
19may request that the minor remain in the custody of the parent,
20guardian, or custodian under an Order of Protection.
21    (4) If termination of parental rights and appointment of a
22guardian of the person with power to consent to adoption of the
23minor under Section 2-29 is sought, the petition shall so
24state. If the petition includes this request, the prayer for
25relief shall clearly and obviously state that the parents could
26permanently lose their rights as a parent at this hearing.

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 14 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    In addition to the foregoing, the petitioner, by motion,
2may request the termination of parental rights and appointment
3of a guardian of the person with power to consent to adoption
4of the minor under Section 2-29 at any time after the entry of
5a dispositional order under Section 2-22.
6    (4.5) (a) Unless good cause exists that filing a petition
7to terminate parental rights is contrary to the child's best
8interests, with With respect to any minors committed to its
9care pursuant to this Act, the Department of Children and
10Family Services shall request the State's Attorney to file a
11petition or motion for termination of parental rights and
12appointment of guardian of the person with power to consent to
13adoption of the minor under Section 2-29 if:
14        (i) a minor has been in foster care, as described in
15    subsection (b), for 15 months of the most recent 22 months;
16    or
17        (ii) a minor under the age of 2 years has been
18    previously determined to be abandoned at an adjudicatory
19    hearing; or
20        (iii) the parent is criminally convicted of (A) first
21    degree murder or second degree murder of any child, (B)
22    attempt or conspiracy to commit first degree murder or
23    second degree murder of any child, (C) solicitation to
24    commit murder of any child, solicitation to commit murder
25    for hire of any child, or solicitation to commit second
26    degree murder of any child, (D) aggravated battery,

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 15 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    aggravated battery of a child, or felony domestic battery,
2    any of which has resulted in serious injury to the minor or
3    a sibling of the minor, (E) aggravated criminal sexual
4    assault in violation of subdivision (a)(1) of Section
5    11-1.40 or subdivision (a)(1) of Section 12-14.1 of the
6    Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or (F)
7    an offense in any other state the elements of which are
8    similar and bear a substantial relationship to any of the
9    foregoing offenses.
10unless:
11    (a-1) For purposes of this subsection (4.5), good cause
12exists in the following circumstances:
13        (i) the child is being cared for by a relative,
14        (ii) the Department has documented in the case plan a
15    compelling reason for determining that filing such
16    petition would not be in the best interests of the child,
17        (iii) the court has found within the preceding 12
18    months that the Department has failed to make reasonable
19    efforts to reunify the child and family, or
20        (iv) the parent is incarcerated, or the parent's prior
21    incarceration is a significant factor in why the child has
22    been in foster care for 15 months out of any 22-month
23    period, the parent maintains a meaningful role in the
24    child's life, and the Department has not documented another
25    reason why it would otherwise be appropriate to file a
26    petition to terminate parental rights pursuant to this

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 16 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    Section and the Adoption Act. The assessment of whether an
2    incarcerated parent maintains a meaningful role in the
3    child's life may include consideration of the following:
4    paragraph (c) of this subsection (4.5) provides otherwise.
5            (A) the child's best interest;
6            (B) the parent's expressions or acts of
7        manifesting concern for the child, such as letters,
8        telephone calls, visits, and other forms of
9        communication with the child and the impact of the
10        communication on the child;
11            (C) the parent's efforts to communicate with and
12        work with the Department for the purpose of complying
13        with the service plan and repairing, maintaining, or
14        building the parent-child relationship; or
15            (D) limitations in the parent's access to family
16        support programs, therapeutic services, visiting
17        opportunities, telephone and mail services, and
18        meaningful participation in court proceedings.
19    (b) For purposes of this subsection, the date of entering
20foster care is defined as the earlier of:
21        (1) The date of a judicial finding at an adjudicatory
22    hearing that the child is an abused, neglected, or
23    dependent minor; or
24        (2) 60 days after the date on which the child is
25    removed from his or her parent, guardian, or legal
26    custodian.

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 17 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    (c) (Blank). With respect to paragraph (a)(i), the
2following transition rules shall apply:
3        (1) If the child entered foster care after November 19,
4    1997 and this amendatory Act of 1998 takes effect before
5    the child has been in foster care for 15 months of the
6    preceding 22 months, then the Department shall comply with
7    the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4.5)
8    for that child as soon as the child has been in foster care
9    for 15 of the preceding 22 months.
10        (2) If the child entered foster care after November 19,
11    1997 and this amendatory Act of 1998 takes effect after the
12    child has been in foster care for 15 of the preceding 22
13    months, then the Department shall comply with the
14    requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4.5) for
15    that child within 3 months after the end of the next
16    regular session of the General Assembly.
17        (3) If the child entered foster care prior to November
18    19, 1997, then the Department shall comply with the
19    requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection (4.5) for
20    that child in accordance with Department policy or rule.
21    (d) (Blank). If the State's Attorney determines that the
22Department's request for filing of a petition or motion
23conforms to the requirements set forth in subdivisions (a),
24(b), and (c) of this subsection (4.5), then the State's
25Attorney shall file the petition or motion as requested.
26    (5) The court shall liberally allow the petitioner to amend

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 18 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1the petition to set forth a cause of action or to add, amend,
2or supplement factual allegations that form the basis for a
3cause of action up until 14 days before the adjudicatory
4hearing. The petitioner may amend the petition after that date
5and prior to the adjudicatory hearing if the court grants leave
6to amend upon a showing of good cause. The court may allow
7amendment of the petition to conform with the evidence at any
8time prior to ruling. In all cases in which the court has
9granted leave to amend based on new evidence or new
10allegations, the court shall permit the respondent an adequate
11opportunity to prepare a defense to the amended petition.
12    (6) At any time before dismissal of the petition or before
13final closing and discharge under Section 2-31, one or more
14motions in the best interests of the minor may be filed. The
15motion shall specify sufficient facts in support of the relief
16requested.
17(Source: P.A. 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
 
18    Section 15. The Adoption Act is amended by changing Section
191 as follows:
 
20    (750 ILCS 50/1)  (from Ch. 40, par. 1501)
21    Sec. 1. Definitions. When used in this Act, unless the
22context otherwise requires:
23    A. "Child" means a person under legal age subject to
24adoption under this Act.

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 19 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    B. "Related child" means a child subject to adoption where
2either or both of the adopting parents stands in any of the
3following relationships to the child by blood, marriage,
4adoption, or civil union: parent, grand-parent,
5great-grandparent, brother, sister, step-parent,
6step-grandparent, step-brother, step-sister, uncle, aunt,
7great-uncle, great-aunt, first cousin, or second cousin. A
8person is related to the child as a first cousin or second
9cousin if they are both related to the same ancestor as either
10grandchild or great-grandchild. A child whose parent has
11executed a consent to adoption, a surrender, or a waiver
12pursuant to Section 10 of this Act or whose parent has signed a
13denial of paternity pursuant to Section 12 of the Vital Records
14Act or Section 12a of this Act, or whose parent has had his or
15her parental rights terminated, is not a related child to that
16person, unless (1) the consent is determined to be void or is
17void pursuant to subsection O of Section 10 of this Act; or (2)
18the parent of the child executed a consent to adoption by a
19specified person or persons pursuant to subsection A-1 of
20Section 10 of this Act and a court of competent jurisdiction
21finds that such consent is void; or (3) the order terminating
22the parental rights of the parent is vacated by a court of
23competent jurisdiction.
24    C. "Agency" for the purpose of this Act means a public
25child welfare agency or a licensed child welfare agency.
26    D. "Unfit person" means any person whom the court shall

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 20 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1find to be unfit to have a child, without regard to the
2likelihood that the child will be placed for adoption. The
3grounds of unfitness are any one or more of the following,
4except that a person shall not be considered an unfit person
5for the sole reason that the person has relinquished a child in
6accordance with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act:
7        (a) Abandonment of the child.
8        (a-1) Abandonment of a newborn infant in a hospital.
9        (a-2) Abandonment of a newborn infant in any setting
10    where the evidence suggests that the parent intended to
11    relinquish his or her parental rights.
12        (b) Failure to maintain a reasonable degree of
13    interest, concern or responsibility as to the child's
14    welfare.
15        (c) Desertion of the child for more than 3 months next
16    preceding the commencement of the Adoption proceeding.
17        (d) Substantial neglect of the child if continuous or
18    repeated.
19        (d-1) Substantial neglect, if continuous or repeated,
20    of any child residing in the household which resulted in
21    the death of that child.
22        (e) Extreme or repeated cruelty to the child.
23        (f) There is a rebuttable presumption, which can be
24    overcome only by clear and convincing evidence, that a
25    parent is unfit if:
26            (1) Two or more findings of physical abuse have

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 21 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1        been entered regarding any children under Section 2-21
2        of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the most recent of
3        which was determined by the juvenile court hearing the
4        matter to be supported by clear and convincing
5        evidence; or
6            (2) The parent has been convicted or found not
7        guilty by reason of insanity and the conviction or
8        finding resulted from the death of any child by
9        physical abuse; or
10            (3) There is a finding of physical child abuse
11        resulting from the death of any child under Section
12        2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
13            No conviction or finding of delinquency pursuant
14        to Article V of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall be
15        considered a criminal conviction for the purpose of
16        applying any presumption under this item (f).
17        (g) Failure to protect the child from conditions within
18    his environment injurious to the child's welfare.
19        (h) Other neglect of, or misconduct toward the child;
20    provided that in making a finding of unfitness the court
21    hearing the adoption proceeding shall not be bound by any
22    previous finding, order or judgment affecting or
23    determining the rights of the parents toward the child
24    sought to be adopted in any other proceeding except such
25    proceedings terminating parental rights as shall be had
26    under either this Act, the Juvenile Court Act or the

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 22 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
2        (i) Depravity. Conviction of any one of the following
3    crimes shall create a presumption that a parent is depraved
4    which can be overcome only by clear and convincing
5    evidence: (1) first degree murder in violation of paragraph
6    1 or 2 of subsection (a) of Section 9-1 of the Criminal
7    Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or conviction of
8    second degree murder in violation of subsection (a) of
9    Section 9-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal
10    Code of 2012 of a parent of the child to be adopted; (2)
11    first degree murder or second degree murder of any child in
12    violation of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code
13    of 2012; (3) attempt or conspiracy to commit first degree
14    murder or second degree murder of any child in violation of
15    the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (4)
16    solicitation to commit murder of any child, solicitation to
17    commit murder of any child for hire, or solicitation to
18    commit second degree murder of any child in violation of
19    the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (5)
20    predatory criminal sexual assault of a child in violation
21    of Section 11-1.40 or 12-14.1 of the Criminal Code of 1961
22    or the Criminal Code of 2012; (6) heinous battery of any
23    child in violation of the Criminal Code of 1961; or (7)
24    aggravated battery of any child in violation of the
25    Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012.
26        There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent is

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 23 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    depraved if the parent has been criminally convicted of at
2    least 3 felonies under the laws of this State or any other
3    state, or under federal law, or the criminal laws of any
4    United States territory; and at least one of these
5    convictions took place within 5 years of the filing of the
6    petition or motion seeking termination of parental rights.
7        There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
8    depraved if that parent has been criminally convicted of
9    either first or second degree murder of any person as
10    defined in the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code
11    of 2012 within 10 years of the filing date of the petition
12    or motion to terminate parental rights.
13        No conviction or finding of delinquency pursuant to
14    Article 5 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall be
15    considered a criminal conviction for the purpose of
16    applying any presumption under this item (i).
17        (j) Open and notorious adultery or fornication.
18        (j-1) (Blank).
19        (k) Habitual drunkenness or addiction to drugs, other
20    than those prescribed by a physician, for at least one year
21    immediately prior to the commencement of the unfitness
22    proceeding.
23        There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
24    unfit under this subsection with respect to any child to
25    which that parent gives birth where there is a confirmed
26    test result that at birth the child's blood, urine, or

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 24 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    meconium contained any amount of a controlled substance as
2    defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the Illinois
3    Controlled Substances Act or metabolites of such
4    substances, the presence of which in the newborn infant was
5    not the result of medical treatment administered to the
6    mother or the newborn infant; and the biological mother of
7    this child is the biological mother of at least one other
8    child who was adjudicated a neglected minor under
9    subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of
10    1987.
11        (l) Failure to demonstrate a reasonable degree of
12    interest, concern or responsibility as to the welfare of a
13    new born child during the first 30 days after its birth.
14        (m) Failure by a parent (i) to make reasonable efforts
15    to correct the conditions that were the basis for the
16    removal of the child from the parent during any 9-month
17    period following the adjudication of neglected or abused
18    minor under Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987
19    or dependent minor under Section 2-4 of that Act, or (ii)
20    to make reasonable progress toward the return of the child
21    to the parent during any 9-month period following the
22    adjudication of neglected or abused minor under Section 2-3
23    of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or dependent minor under
24    Section 2-4 of that Act. If a service plan has been
25    established as required under Section 8.2 of the Abused and
26    Neglected Child Reporting Act to correct the conditions

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 25 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    that were the basis for the removal of the child from the
2    parent and if those services were available, then, for
3    purposes of this Act, "failure to make reasonable progress
4    toward the return of the child to the parent" includes the
5    parent's failure to substantially fulfill his or her
6    obligations under the service plan and correct the
7    conditions that brought the child into care during any
8    9-month period following the adjudication under Section
9    2-3 or 2-4 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
10    Notwithstanding any other provision, when a petition or
11    motion seeks to terminate parental rights on the basis of
12    item (ii) of this subsection (m), the petitioner shall file
13    with the court and serve on the parties a pleading that
14    specifies the 9-month period or periods relied on. The
15    pleading shall be filed and served on the parties no later
16    than 3 weeks before the date set by the court for closure
17    of discovery, and the allegations in the pleading shall be
18    treated as incorporated into the petition or motion.
19    Failure of a respondent to file a written denial of the
20    allegations in the pleading shall not be treated as an
21    admission that the allegations are true.
22        (m-1) (Blank). Pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of
23    1987, a child has been in foster care for 15 months out of
24    any 22 month period which begins on or after the effective
25    date of this amendatory Act of 1998 unless the child's
26    parent can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that it

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 26 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    is more likely than not that it will be in the best
2    interests of the child to be returned to the parent within
3    6 months of the date on which a petition for termination of
4    parental rights is filed under the Juvenile Court Act of
5    1987. The 15 month time limit is tolled during any period
6    for which there is a court finding that the appointed
7    custodian or guardian failed to make reasonable efforts to
8    reunify the child with his or her family, provided that (i)
9    the finding of no reasonable efforts is made within 60 days
10    of the period when reasonable efforts were not made or (ii)
11    the parent filed a motion requesting a finding of no
12    reasonable efforts within 60 days of the period when
13    reasonable efforts were not made. For purposes of this
14    subdivision (m-1), the date of entering foster care is the
15    earlier of: (i) the date of a judicial finding at an
16    adjudicatory hearing that the child is an abused,
17    neglected, or dependent minor; or (ii) 60 days after the
18    date on which the child is removed from his or her parent,
19    guardian, or legal custodian.
20        (n) Evidence of intent to forgo his or her parental
21    rights, whether or not the child is a ward of the court,
22    (1) as manifested by his or her failure for a period of 12
23    months: (i) to visit the child, (ii) to communicate with
24    the child or agency, although able to do so and not
25    prevented from doing so by an agency or by court order, or
26    (iii) to maintain contact with or plan for the future of

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 27 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    the child, although physically able to do so, or (2) as
2    manifested by the father's failure, where he and the mother
3    of the child were unmarried to each other at the time of
4    the child's birth, (i) to commence legal proceedings to
5    establish his paternity under the Illinois Parentage Act of
6    1984, the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015, or the law of the
7    jurisdiction of the child's birth within 30 days of being
8    informed, pursuant to Section 12a of this Act, that he is
9    the father or the likely father of the child or, after
10    being so informed where the child is not yet born, within
11    30 days of the child's birth, or (ii) to make a good faith
12    effort to pay a reasonable amount of the expenses related
13    to the birth of the child and to provide a reasonable
14    amount for the financial support of the child, the court to
15    consider in its determination all relevant circumstances,
16    including the financial condition of both parents;
17    provided that the ground for termination provided in this
18    subparagraph (n)(2)(ii) shall only be available where the
19    petition is brought by the mother or the husband of the
20    mother.
21        Contact or communication by a parent with his or her
22    child that does not demonstrate affection and concern does
23    not constitute reasonable contact and planning under
24    subdivision (n). In the absence of evidence to the
25    contrary, the ability to visit, communicate, maintain
26    contact, pay expenses and plan for the future shall be

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 28 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    presumed. The subjective intent of the parent, whether
2    expressed or otherwise, unsupported by evidence of the
3    foregoing parental acts manifesting that intent, shall not
4    preclude a determination that the parent has intended to
5    forgo his or her parental rights. In making this
6    determination, the court may consider but shall not require
7    a showing of diligent efforts by an authorized agency to
8    encourage the parent to perform the acts specified in
9    subdivision (n).
10        It shall be an affirmative defense to any allegation
11    under paragraph (2) of this subsection that the father's
12    failure was due to circumstances beyond his control or to
13    impediments created by the mother or any other person
14    having legal custody. Proof of that fact need only be by a
15    preponderance of the evidence.
16        (o) Repeated or continuous failure by the parents,
17    although physically and financially able, to provide the
18    child with adequate food, clothing, or shelter.
19        (p) Inability to discharge parental responsibilities
20    supported by competent evidence from a psychiatrist,
21    licensed clinical social worker, or clinical psychologist
22    of mental impairment, mental illness or an intellectual
23    disability as defined in Section 1-116 of the Mental Health
24    and Developmental Disabilities Code, or developmental
25    disability as defined in Section 1-106 of that Code, and
26    there is sufficient justification to believe that the

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 29 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    inability to discharge parental responsibilities shall
2    extend beyond a reasonable time period. However, this
3    subdivision (p) shall not be construed so as to permit a
4    licensed clinical social worker to conduct any medical
5    diagnosis to determine mental illness or mental
6    impairment.
7        (q) (Blank).
8        (r) The child is in the temporary custody or
9    guardianship of the Department of Children and Family
10    Services, the parent is incarcerated as a result of
11    criminal conviction at the time the petition or motion for
12    termination of parental rights is filed, prior to
13    incarceration the parent had little or no contact with the
14    child or provided little or no support for the child, and
15    the parent's incarceration will prevent the parent from
16    discharging his or her parental responsibilities for the
17    child for a period in excess of 2 years after the filing of
18    the petition or motion for termination of parental rights.
19        (s) The child is in the temporary custody or
20    guardianship of the Department of Children and Family
21    Services, the parent is incarcerated at the time the
22    petition or motion for termination of parental rights is
23    filed, the parent has been repeatedly incarcerated as a
24    result of criminal convictions, and the parent's repeated
25    incarceration has prevented the parent from discharging
26    his or her parental responsibilities for the child.

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 30 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1        (t) A finding that at birth the child's blood, urine,
2    or meconium contained any amount of a controlled substance
3    as defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the Illinois
4    Controlled Substances Act, or a metabolite of a controlled
5    substance, with the exception of controlled substances or
6    metabolites of such substances, the presence of which in
7    the newborn infant was the result of medical treatment
8    administered to the mother or the newborn infant, and that
9    the biological mother of this child is the biological
10    mother of at least one other child who was adjudicated a
11    neglected minor under subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the
12    Juvenile Court Act of 1987, after which the biological
13    mother had the opportunity to enroll in and participate in
14    a clinically appropriate substance abuse counseling,
15    treatment, and rehabilitation program.
16    E. "Parent" means a person who is the legal mother or legal
17father of the child as defined in subsection X or Y of this
18Section. For the purpose of this Act, a parent who has executed
19a consent to adoption, a surrender, or a waiver pursuant to
20Section 10 of this Act, who has signed a Denial of Paternity
21pursuant to Section 12 of the Vital Records Act or Section 12a
22of this Act, or whose parental rights have been terminated by a
23court, is not a parent of the child who was the subject of the
24consent, surrender, waiver, or denial unless (1) the consent is
25void pursuant to subsection O of Section 10 of this Act; or (2)
26the person executed a consent to adoption by a specified person

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 31 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1or persons pursuant to subsection A-1 of Section 10 of this Act
2and a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the consent is
3void; or (3) the order terminating the parental rights of the
4person is vacated by a court of competent jurisdiction.
5    F. A person is available for adoption when the person is:
6        (a) a child who has been surrendered for adoption to an
7    agency and to whose adoption the agency has thereafter
8    consented;
9        (b) a child to whose adoption a person authorized by
10    law, other than his parents, has consented, or to whose
11    adoption no consent is required pursuant to Section 8 of
12    this Act;
13        (c) a child who is in the custody of persons who intend
14    to adopt him through placement made by his parents;
15        (c-1) a child for whom a parent has signed a specific
16    consent pursuant to subsection O of Section 10;
17        (d) an adult who meets the conditions set forth in
18    Section 3 of this Act; or
19        (e) a child who has been relinquished as defined in
20    Section 10 of the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
21    A person who would otherwise be available for adoption
22shall not be deemed unavailable for adoption solely by reason
23of his or her death.
24    G. The singular includes the plural and the plural includes
25the singular and the "male" includes the "female", as the
26context of this Act may require.

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 32 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    H. (Blank).
2    I. "Habitual residence" has the meaning ascribed to it in
3the federal Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 and regulations
4promulgated thereunder.
5    J. "Immediate relatives" means the biological parents, the
6parents of the biological parents and siblings of the
7biological parents.
8    K. "Intercountry adoption" is a process by which a child
9from a country other than the United States is adopted by
10persons who are habitual residents of the United States, or the
11child is a habitual resident of the United States who is
12adopted by persons who are habitual residents of a country
13other than the United States.
14    L. (Blank).
15    M. "Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children" is a
16law enacted by all states and certain territories for the
17purpose of establishing uniform procedures for handling the
18interstate placement of children in foster homes, adoptive
19homes, or other child care facilities.
20    N. (Blank).
21    O. "Preadoption requirements" means any conditions or
22standards established by the laws or administrative rules of
23this State that must be met by a prospective adoptive parent
24prior to the placement of a child in an adoptive home.
25    P. "Abused child" means a child whose parent or immediate
26family member, or any person responsible for the child's

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 33 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1welfare, or any individual residing in the same home as the
2child, or a paramour of the child's parent:
3        (a) inflicts, causes to be inflicted, or allows to be
4    inflicted upon the child physical injury, by other than
5    accidental means, that causes death, disfigurement,
6    impairment of physical or emotional health, or loss or
7    impairment of any bodily function;
8        (b) creates a substantial risk of physical injury to
9    the child by other than accidental means which would be
10    likely to cause death, disfigurement, impairment of
11    physical or emotional health, or loss or impairment of any
12    bodily function;
13        (c) commits or allows to be committed any sex offense
14    against the child, as sex offenses are defined in the
15    Criminal Code of 2012 and extending those definitions of
16    sex offenses to include children under 18 years of age;
17        (d) commits or allows to be committed an act or acts of
18    torture upon the child; or
19        (e) inflicts excessive corporal punishment.
20    Q. "Neglected child" means any child whose parent or other
21person responsible for the child's welfare withholds or denies
22nourishment or medically indicated treatment including food or
23care denied solely on the basis of the present or anticipated
24mental or physical impairment as determined by a physician
25acting alone or in consultation with other physicians or
26otherwise does not provide the proper or necessary support,

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 34 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1education as required by law, or medical or other remedial care
2recognized under State law as necessary for a child's
3well-being, or other care necessary for his or her well-being,
4including adequate food, clothing and shelter; or who is
5abandoned by his or her parents or other person responsible for
6the child's welfare.
7    A child shall not be considered neglected or abused for the
8sole reason that the child's parent or other person responsible
9for his or her welfare depends upon spiritual means through
10prayer alone for the treatment or cure of disease or remedial
11care as provided under Section 4 of the Abused and Neglected
12Child Reporting Act. A child shall not be considered neglected
13or abused for the sole reason that the child's parent or other
14person responsible for the child's welfare failed to vaccinate,
15delayed vaccination, or refused vaccination for the child due
16to a waiver on religious or medical grounds as permitted by
17law.
18    R. "Putative father" means a man who may be a child's
19father, but who (1) is not married to the child's mother on or
20before the date that the child was or is to be born and (2) has
21not established paternity of the child in a court proceeding
22before the filing of a petition for the adoption of the child.
23The term includes a male who is less than 18 years of age.
24"Putative father" does not mean a man who is the child's father
25as a result of criminal sexual abuse or assault as defined
26under Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 35 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    S. "Standby adoption" means an adoption in which a parent
2consents to custody and termination of parental rights to
3become effective upon the occurrence of a future event, which
4is either the death of the parent or the request of the parent
5for the entry of a final judgment of adoption.
6    T. (Blank).
7    T-5. "Biological parent", "birth parent", or "natural
8parent" of a child are interchangeable terms that mean a person
9who is biologically or genetically related to that child as a
10parent.
11    U. "Interstate adoption" means the placement of a minor
12child with a prospective adoptive parent for the purpose of
13pursuing an adoption for that child that is subject to the
14provisions of the Interstate Compact on Placement of Children.
15    V. (Blank).
16    W. (Blank).
17    X. "Legal father" of a child means a man who is recognized
18as or presumed to be that child's father:
19        (1) because of his marriage to or civil union with the
20    child's parent at the time of the child's birth or within
21    300 days prior to that child's birth, unless he signed a
22    denial of paternity pursuant to Section 12 of the Vital
23    Records Act or a waiver pursuant to Section 10 of this Act;
24    or
25        (2) because his paternity of the child has been
26    established pursuant to the Illinois Parentage Act, the

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 36 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    Illinois Parentage Act of 1984, or the Gestational
2    Surrogacy Act; or
3        (3) because he is listed as the child's father or
4    parent on the child's birth certificate, unless he is
5    otherwise determined by an administrative or judicial
6    proceeding not to be the parent of the child or unless he
7    rescinds his acknowledgment of paternity pursuant to the
8    Illinois Parentage Act of 1984; or
9        (4) because his paternity or adoption of the child has
10    been established by a court of competent jurisdiction.
11    The definition in this subsection X shall not be construed
12to provide greater or lesser rights as to the number of parents
13who can be named on a final judgment order of adoption or
14Illinois birth certificate that otherwise exist under Illinois
15law.
16    Y. "Legal mother" of a child means a woman who is
17recognized as or presumed to be that child's mother:
18        (1) because she gave birth to the child except as
19    provided in the Gestational Surrogacy Act; or
20        (2) because her maternity of the child has been
21    established pursuant to the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984
22    or the Gestational Surrogacy Act; or
23        (3) because her maternity or adoption of the child has
24    been established by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
25        (4) because of her marriage to or civil union with the
26    child's other parent at the time of the child's birth or

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 37 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    within 300 days prior to the time of birth; or
2        (5) because she is listed as the child's mother or
3    parent on the child's birth certificate unless she is
4    otherwise determined by an administrative or judicial
5    proceeding not to be the parent of the child.
6    The definition in this subsection Y shall not be construed
7to provide greater or lesser rights as to the number of parents
8who can be named on a final judgment order of adoption or
9Illinois birth certificate that otherwise exist under Illinois
10law.
11    Z. "Department" means the Illinois Department of Children
12and Family Services.
13    AA. "Placement disruption" means a circumstance where the
14child is removed from an adoptive placement before the adoption
15is finalized.
16    BB. "Secondary placement" means a placement, including but
17not limited to the placement of a ward of the Department, that
18occurs after a placement disruption or an adoption dissolution.
19"Secondary placement" does not mean secondary placements
20arising due to the death of the adoptive parent of the child.
21    CC. "Adoption dissolution" means a circumstance where the
22child is removed from an adoptive placement after the adoption
23is finalized.
24    DD. "Unregulated placement" means the secondary placement
25of a child that occurs without the oversight of the courts, the
26Department, or a licensed child welfare agency.

 

 

09900HB5551ham002- 38 -LRB099 20520 KTG 47316 a

1    EE. "Post-placement and post-adoption support services"
2means support services for placed or adopted children and
3families that include, but are not limited to, counseling for
4emotional, behavioral, or developmental needs.
5(Source: P.A. 98-455, eff. 1-1-14; 98-532, eff. 1-1-14; 98-804,
6eff. 1-1-15; 99-49, eff. 7-15-15; 99-85, eff. 1-1-16; revised
78-4-15.)".