HB5643 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 18966 KTG 43355 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB5643

Introduced , by Rep. Patricia R. Bellock

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 505/39.4 new

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Creates the Enhanced Services for Children with Disabilities Task Force to examine and review the Department of Children and Family Services' protocols and procedures for interviewing children with disabilities who are victims of abuse or neglect. Sets forth the task force's duties which shall include: (i) examining reports made to the Department's statewide toll-free telephone number that concern children with disabilities who later interviewed in an abuse or neglect case; and (ii) developing best practices and strategies for Department caseworkers to utilize when interviewing children with disabilities, including disability-specific approaches and services designed to make the child more compliant and focused during the interview process. Provides that the task force shall consist of 21 appointed members who shall serve without compensation and shall be considered members with voting rights. Provides that the task force shall meet and hold hearings as it deems necessary and shall receive the cooperation of any State agency it deems appropriate to assist the task force in carrying out its duties. Requires the task force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Department, and the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2018 and provides that the task force is abolished and the provisions creating the task force are repealed on January 1, 2019. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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 adding Section 39.4 as follows:

(20 ILCS 505/39.4 new)

Sec. 39.4. Enhanced Services for Children with Disabilities Task Force.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Department" means the Department of Children and Family Services.

"Director" means the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services.

(b) The Enhanced Services for Children with Disabilities Task Force is created to examine and review the Department's protocols and procedures for interviewing children with disabilities who are victims of abuse or neglect.

(c) The task force shall have the following duties:

(1) Examine reports made to the statewide toll-free telephone number established under Section 7.6 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act that concern children with disabilities who later interviewed in an abuse or neglect case.

(2) Identify the specific disabilities of those children who interviewed in an abuse or neglect case.

(2) Review existing Department protocols for interviewing children with disabilities.

(3) Develop best practices and strategies for Department caseworkers to utilize when interviewing children with disabilities, including disability-specific approaches and services designed to make the child more compliant and focused during the interview process.

(4) Develop and provide recommendations to the Department regarding rules and procedures for interviewing children with disabilities.

(d) The task force shall consist of 21 members as follows:

(1) The Director of the Department, or his or her designee.

(2) Two investigators from the Department appointed by the Director.

(3) Two members of the Coalition Against Sexual Abuse of Children with Disabilities (CASACD) appointed by the Director.

(4) One staff member from the University of Illinois at Chicago's Institute on Disability and Human Development appointed by the Director.

(5) One forensic interviewer appointed by the Director.

(6) One representative from a group that advocates on behalf of children with disabilities appointed by the Director.

(7) Two licensed clinical social workers appointed by the Director.

(8) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services, or his or her designee.

(9) One representative from the Department of Human Services' Division of Developmental Disabilities appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Human Services.

(10) The Director of the Illinois Council of Developmental Disabilities, or his or her designee.

(11) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(12) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(13) Two members appointed by the President of the Senate.

(14) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

Members of the task force shall serve without compensation and shall be considered members with voting rights. A quorum of the task force shall consist of a majority of the members of the task force.

(e) The task force shall meet and hold hearings as it deems necessary and shall receive the cooperation of any State agency it deems appropriate to assist the task force in carrying out its duties.

(f) The Department shall provide administrative support to the task force.

(g) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Department, and the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2018.

(h) The task force is abolished and this Section is repealed on January 1, 2019.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.