Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4996
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Full Text of HB4996  99th General Assembly

HB4996ham002 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

Filed: 4/15/2016

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4996

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 4996, AS AMENDED, by
3replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
4following:
 
5    "Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
610-20.58 and 34-18.50 as follows:
 
7    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.58 new)
8    Sec. 10-20.58. DCFS liaison.
9    (a) Each school board may appoint at least one employee to
10act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of
11records of students in the legal custody of the Department of
12Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing
13schools. The school board may appoint any employee of the
14school district who is licensed under Article 21B of this Code
15to act as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of the
16following criteria must be prioritized for appointment:

 

 

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1        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student
2    populations or students in foster care.
3        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record
4    transfers, existing community services, and student
5    support services.
6        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
7        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience
8    with student counseling.
9        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare
10    policies.
11        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
12    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build
13capacity and infrastructure within their school district to
14support students in the legal custody of the Department of
15Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may
16include the following:
17        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students
18    in foster care;
19        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring
20    mechanisms;
21        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the
22    Department of Children and Family Services receive all
23    school nutrition and meal programs available;
24        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school,
25    record transfers, and credit recovery;
26        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and

 

 

09900HB4996ham002- 3 -LRB099 18316 MLM 47685 a

1    State laws and policies in place that support children
2    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and
3    Family Services;
4        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
5        (7) providing foster care-related information and
6    training to the school district;
7        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family
8    Services to help students maintain their school placement,
9    if appropriate;
10        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that
11    students are on track to graduate;
12        (10) encouraging a successful transition into
13    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
14        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular
15    activities; and
16        (12) knowing what support is available within the
17    school district and community for students in the legal
18    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
19    (c) A school district is encouraged to designate a liaison
20by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
21    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code
22acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties
23of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
 
24    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.50 new)
25    Sec. 34-18.50. DCFS liaison.

 

 

09900HB4996ham002- 4 -LRB099 18316 MLM 47685 a

1    (a) The board may appoint at least one employee to act as a
2liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of
3students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and
4Family Services when enrolling in or changing schools. The
5board may appoint any employee of the school district who is
6licensed under Article 21B of this Code to act as a liaison;
7however, employees who meet any of the following criteria must
8be prioritized for appointment:
9        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student
10    populations or students in foster care.
11        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record
12    transfers, existing community services, and student
13    support services.
14        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
15        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience
16    with student counseling.
17        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare
18    policies.
19        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
20    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build
21capacity and infrastructure within the school district to
22support students in the legal custody of the Department of
23Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may
24include the following:
25        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students
26    in foster care;

 

 

09900HB4996ham002- 5 -LRB099 18316 MLM 47685 a

1        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring
2    mechanisms;
3        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the
4    Department of Children and Family Services receive all
5    school nutrition and meal programs available;
6        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school,
7    record transfers, and credit recovery;
8        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and
9    State laws and policies in place that support children
10    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and
11    Family Services;
12        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
13        (7) providing foster care-related information and
14    training to the school district;
15        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family
16    Services to help students maintain their school placement,
17    if appropriate;
18        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that
19    students are on track to graduate;
20        (10) encouraging a successful transition into
21    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
22        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular
23    activities; and
24        (12) knowing what support is available within the
25    school district and community for students in the legal
26    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.

 

 

09900HB4996ham002- 6 -LRB099 18316 MLM 47685 a

1    (c) The school district is encouraged to designate a
2liaison by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
3    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code
4acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties
5of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
7becoming law.".