State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Engrossed ][ Enrolled ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]
[ Senate Amendment 002 ]

90_SB0853

      325 ILCS 5/11.1a new
          Amends the Abused  and  Neglected  Child  Reporting  Act.
      Provides that the  Department of Children and Family Services
      may  disclose  information regarding the abuse and neglect of
      children, the investigation thereof, and any services related
      thereto if  the  disclosure  is  not  contrary  to  the  best
      interests  of  the  child,  the  child's  siblings,  or other
      children in the  household  and  other  conditions  are  met.
      Prescribes information to be disclosed.
                                                     LRB9002519SMcw
                                               LRB9002519SMcw
 1        AN  ACT to amend the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting
 2    Act by adding Section 11.1a.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section  5.  The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act
 6    is amended by adding Section 11.1a as follows:
 7        (325 ILCS 5/11.1a new)
 8        Sec. 11.1a.  Disclosure of information.
 9        (a)  The  Director   or   his   designee   may   disclose
10    information  regarding the abuse or neglect of a child as set
11    forth in this Section, the  investigation  thereof,  and  any
12    services  related  thereto, if he or she determines that such
13    disclosure is not contrary  to  the  best  interests  of  the
14    child,  the  child's  siblings,  or  other  children  in  the
15    household, and one of the following factors are present:
16             (1)  The  subject  of the report has been criminally
17        charged with committing a  crime  related  to  the  child
18        abuse or neglect report; or
19             (2)  A law enforcement agency or official, a State's
20        Attorney,  or  a  judge  of  the  State  court system has
21        publicly disclosed in a report as  part  of  his  or  her
22        official duty, information regarding the investigation of
23        a  report or the provision of services by the Department;
24        or
25             (3)  An adult subject of the  report  has  knowingly
26    and  voluntarily  made a public disclosure concerning a Child
27    Abuse and Neglect Tracking System report; or
28             (4)  The  child  named  in  the  report   has   been
29        critically injured or died.
30        (b)  Information   may  be  disclosed  pursuant  to  this
31    Section as follows:
                            -2-                LRB9002519SMcw
 1             (1)  The name of the  alleged  abused  or  neglected
 2        child.
 3             (2)  The   current   status  of  the  investigation,
 4        including whether a determination  of  credible  evidence
 5        has been made.
 6             (3)  Identification  of  child  protective  or other
 7        services provided or actions taken  regarding  the  child
 8        named  in the report and his or her family as a result of
 9        this report.
10             (4)  Whether there have been past reports  of  child
11        abuse or neglect involving this child or family, or both.
12        Any  such  reports  shall  be clearly identified as being
13        "Indicated", "Unfounded", or "Pending".
14             (5)  Whether the Department has a  current  or  past
15        open  service case with the family, and a history of what
16        types of services have been, or are being, provided.
17             (6)  Any  extraordinary  or  pertinent   information
18        concerning  the  circumstances  of  the  report,  if  the
19        Director  determines  such  disclosure is consistent with
20        the public interest.
21        (c)  Any  disclosure  of  information  pursuant  to  this
22    Section shall not identify the name of or provide identifying
23    information regarding the source of the report.
24        (d)  In determining pursuant to subsection  (a)  of  this
25    Section,  whether  disclosure  will  be  contrary to the best
26    interests of  the  child,  the  child's  siblings,  or  other
27    children  in  the  household, the Director shall consider the
28    interest in privacy of the child and the child's  family  and
29    the  effects  which disclosure may have on efforts to reunite
30    and provide services to the family.
31        (e)  Except as it applies directly to the  cause  of  the
32    abuse  or neglect of the child, nothing in this Section shall
33    be deemed to authorize  the  release  or  disclosure  of  the
34    substance  or  content  of  any  psychological,  psychiatric,
                            -3-                LRB9002519SMcw
 1    therapeutic,  clinical,  or  medical reports, evaluations, or
 2    like materials pertaining to the child or the child's family.
 3    Prior to the release  or  disclosure  of  any  psychological,
 4    psychiatric,   or   therapeutic   reports  pursuant  to  this
 5    subsection, the Deputy Director of  Clinical  Services  shall
 6    review  such materials and make recommendations regarding its
 7    release.
 8        (f)  Regarding child abuse or neglect reports which occur
 9    at a facility licensed by  the  Department  of  Children  and
10    Family  Services,  only  the  following  information  may  be
11    disclosed or released:
12             (1)  The name of the facility.
13             (2)  The  nature  of  the  allegations  of  abuse or
14        neglect.
15             (3)  The number and ages of child victims  involved,
16        and their relationship to the perpetrator.
17             (4)  Actions  the Department has taken to ensure the
18        safety of the  children  during  and  subsequent  to  the
19        investigation.
20             (5)  The final finding status of the investigation.

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