Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB5459

Amends the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Provides that the information packet given to a relinquishing parent in accordance with the Act shall not exceed 5 pages and shall include, in addition to other required information, a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the Safe Haven Law; a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the Illinois Adoption Registry; and a one-page brochure describing health information for the mother and how she can get medical care if she needs it. Requires the information packet to be designed in coordination between the Office of Vital Records and the Department of Children and Family Services. Requires the Office of Vital Records to continue to maintain and distribute the information packet, and to hold on file all foundling records of relinquished newborns. Effective immediately.

Eliminates language requiring a hospital, police station, fire station, or emergency medical facility that receives an abandoned newborn infant to inform the relinquishing person that registration with the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange is voluntary, that the person will remain anonymous if he or she completes a Denial of Information Exchange, and that the person has the option to provide medical information only and still remain anonymous. Eliminates language providing that the information packet given to a relinquishing person must include all Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange application forms, including the Medical Information Exchange Questionnaire and the web site address and toll-free phone number of the Registry. Provides that the Information packet given to a relinquishing parent must include a brochure (with a self-mailer attached) that describes the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act and the rights of birth parents, including an optional section for the parent to complete and mail to the Department of Children and Family Services, that shall ask for basic anonymous background information about the relinquished child; a brochure that describes the Illinois Adoption Registry, including a toll-free number and website information; and a brochure describing postpartum health information for the mother (rather than, a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the provisions of the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act; a one-page brochure (self-mailer) that describes the Illinois Adoption Registry; and a one-page brochure describing health information for the mother and how she can get medical care if she needs it). Eliminate language concerning Foundling records. Provides that the information packet shall be designed in coordination between the Office of Vital Records and the Department of Children and Family Services, with the exception of the resource list of providers of counseling services and adoption agencies, which will be provided by the hospital, fire station, police station, sheriff's office, or emergency medical facility (rather than, the information packet shall be designed in coordination between the Office of Vital Records and the Department of Children and Family Services and that the Office of Vital Records shall continue to maintain and distribute the information packet).

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