State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_HB0632eng

 
HB0632 Engrossed                               LRB9203754DJmb

 1        AN ACT in relation to children.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  1.  Short  title.  This  Act may be cited as the
 5    Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.

 6        Section  5.  Public  policy.  Illinois  recognizes   that
 7    newborn  infants have been abandoned to the environment or to
 8    other circumstances that may be unsafe to the newborn infant.
 9    These circumstances have caused injury and death  to  newborn
10    infants   and  give  rise  to  potential  civil  or  criminal
11    liability to  parents  who  may  be  under  severe  emotional
12    distress.  This  Act is intended to provide a mechanism for a
13    newborn infant to be relinquished to a safe  environment  and
14    for  the  parents  of  the infant to remain anonymous if they
15    choose and to avoid civil or criminal liability for  the  act
16    of   relinquishing   the   infant.   It  is  recognized  that
17    establishing an adoption plan is preferable to  relinquishing
18    a  child  using  the  procedures outlined in this Act, but to
19    reduce the chance of injury to a  newborn  infant,  this  Act
20    provides a safer alternative.
21        A  public  information  campaign  on  this delicate issue
22    shall  be  implemented  to  encourage   parents   considering
23    abandonment  of  their  newborn child to relinquish the child
24    under the procedures  outlined  in  this  Act,  to  choose  a
25    traditional  adoption  plan,  or to parent a child themselves
26    rather than place the newborn infant in harm's way.

27        Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
28        "Abandon" has the same  meaning  as  in  the  Abused  and
29    Neglected Child Reporting Act.
30        "Abused  child" has the same meaning as in the Abused and
 
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 1    Neglected Child Reporting Act.
 2        "Child-placing agency" means a licensed public or private
 3    agency that receives a child for the purpose  of  placing  or
 4    arranging  for  the placement of the child in a foster family
 5    home or other facility for child care, apart from the custody
 6    of the child's parents.
 7        "Department" or "DCFS" means the Illinois  Department  of
 8    Children and Family Services.
 9        "Emergency   medical   facility"   means  a  freestanding
10    emergency  center  or  trauma  center,  as  defined  in   the
11    Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.
12        "Emergency   medical   professional"   includes  licensed
13    physicians,  and  any  emergency  medical   technician-basic,
14    emergency  medical technician-intermediate, emergency medical
15    technician-paramedic,   trauma    nurse    specialist,    and
16    pre-hospital RN, as defined in the Emergency Medical Services
17    (EMS) Systems Act.
18        "Fire station" means a fire station within the State that
19    is  staffed  with  at  least  one full-time emergency medical
20    professional.
21        "Hospital" has  the  same  meaning  as  in  the  Hospital
22    Licensing Act.
23        "Legal custody" means the relationship created by a court
24    order  in  the best interest of a newborn infant that imposes
25    on the infant's  custodian  the  responsibility  of  physical
26    possession  of  the  infant,  the duty to protect, train, and
27    discipline the infant, and the duty  to  provide  the  infant
28    with  food,  shelter,  education, and medical care, except as
29    these are limited by parental rights and responsibilities.
30        "Neglected child" has the same meaning as in  the  Abused
31    and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
32        "Newborn  infant"  means a child who a licensed physician
33    reasonably believes is 72 hours old or less at the  time  the
34    child  is initially relinquished to a hospital, fire station,
 
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 1    or emergency medical facility, and who is not an abused or  a
 2    neglected child.
 3        "Relinquish"  means  to  bring  a  newborn  infant, who a
 4    licensed physician reasonably believes is  72  hours  old  or
 5    less,  to  a  hospital,  fire  station,  or emergency medical
 6    facility and to  leave  the  infant  with  personnel  of  the
 7    facility,  if  the person leaving the infant does not express
 8    an intent to return for the infant or states that he  or  she
 9    will  not  return for the infant. In the case of a mother who
10    gives birth to an infant in a hospital, the mother's  act  of
11    leaving  that  newborn  infant  at  the  hospital (i) without
12    expressing an intent to return for the infant or (ii) stating
13    that  she  will  not  return  for  the  infant   is   not   a
14    "relinquishment" under this Act.
15        "Temporary   protective   custody"  means  the  temporary
16    placement of a newborn infant  within  a  hospital  or  other
17    medical facility out of the custody of the infant's parent.

18        Section 15. Presumptions.
19        (a)  There  is  a  presumption  that  by  relinquishing a
20    newborn infant in accordance  with  this  Act,  the  infant's
21    parent  consents  to  the  termination of his or her parental
22    rights with respect to the infant.
23        (b)  There is a presumption that a person relinquishing a
24    newborn infant in accordance with this Act:
25             (1)  is the newborn infant's biological parent; and
26             (2)  either without expressing an intent  to  return
27        for  the infant or expressing an intent not to return for
28        the infant, did intend to relinquish the  infant  to  the
29        hospital,  fire station, or emergency medical facility to
30        treat, care for, and provide for the infant in accordance
31        with this Act.
32        (c)  A parent of a relinquished newborn infant may  rebut
33    the  presumption  set  forth  in  either  subsection  (a)  or
 
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 1    subsection (b) pursuant to Section 55, at any time before the
 2    termination of the parent's parental rights.

 3        Section  20.  Procedures  with  respect  to  relinquished
 4    newborn infants.
 5        (a)  Hospitals.  Every  hospital  must accept and provide
 6    all necessary emergency services and care to  a  relinquished
 7    newborn infant, in accordance with this Act.
 8        The  act  of  relinquishing  a  newborn  infant serves as
 9    implied consent for the hospital and  its  medical  personnel
10    and  physicians  on  staff  to treat and provide care for the
11    infant.
12        The hospital shall be deemed to have temporary protective
13    custody of a relinquished newborn infant until the infant  is
14    discharged  to  the  custody of a child-placing agency or the
15    Department.
16        (b)  Fire  stations  and  emergency  medical  facilities.
17    Every fire station and emergency medical facility must accept
18    and provide all necessary emergency services and  care  to  a
19    relinquished newborn infant, in accordance with this Act.
20        The  act  of  relinquishing  a  newborn  infant serves as
21    implied consent for the fire  station  or  emergency  medical
22    facility and its emergency medical professionals to treat and
23    provide  care  for  the  infant,  to  the  extent  that those
24    emergency medical professionals are trained to provide  those
25    services.
26        After  the  relinquishment  of a newborn infant to a fire
27    station or emergency medical facility, the  fire  station  or
28    emergency  medical  facility's personnel must arrange for the
29    transportation of the infant to the nearest hospital as  soon
30    as transportation can be arranged.
31        If the parent of a new born infant returns to reclaim the
32    child within 72 hours after relinquishing the child to a fire
33    station  or  emergency  medical facility, the fire station or
 
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 1    emergency medical facility must inform the parent of the name
 2    and  location  of  the  hospital  to  which  the  infant  was
 3    transported.

 4        Section 25. Immunity for relinquishing person.
 5        (a)  The act of  relinquishing  a  newborn  infant  to  a
 6    hospital,  fire  station,  or  emergency  medical facility in
 7    accordance with this Act does not, by  itself,  constitute  a
 8    basis  for a finding of abuse, neglect, or abandonment of the
 9    infant pursuant to the laws of this State  nor  does  it,  by
10    itself,  constitute a violation of Section 12-21.5 or 12-21.6
11    of the Criminal Code of 1961.
12        (b)  If there is suspected child abuse or neglect that is
13    not based solely on the newborn infant's relinquishment to  a
14    hospital,  fire  station,  or emergency medical facility, the
15    personnel of the hospital, fire station, or emergency medical
16    facility who are mandated  reporters  under  the  Abused  and
17    Neglected  Child  Reporting  Act  must  report  the  abuse or
18    neglect pursuant to that Act.
19        (c)  Neither  a  child  protective  investigation  nor  a
20    criminal investigation may  be  initiated  solely  because  a
21    newborn infant is relinquished pursuant to this Act.

22        Section  27.  Immunity  of  facility  and  personnel.   A
23    hospital, fire station, or emergency  medical  facility,  and
24    any  personnel  of  a  hospital,  fire  station, or emergency
25    medical facility, are immune from criminal or civil liability
26    for acting in good faith in accordance with this Act. Nothing
27    in  this  Act,  however,  limits  a  person's  liability  for
28    negligence.

29        Section 30. Anonymity of relinquishing person.  If  there
30    is  no evidence of abuse or neglect of a relinquished newborn
31    infant, the relinquishing person  has  the  right  to  remain
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -6-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1    anonymous  and  to  leave  the  hospital,  fire  station,  or
 2    emergency  medical facility at any time and not be pursued or
 3    followed.   Before  the  relinquishing  person   leaves   the
 4    hospital,  fire  station,  or emergency medical facility, the
 5    hospital, fire station, or emergency medical  facility  shall
 6    offer   the   relinquishing   person  an  information  packet
 7    described in Section 35 of this Act. However, nothing in this
 8    Act shall be construed as precluding the relinquishing person
 9    from  providing  his  or  her  identity  or  completing   the
10    application  forms  for  the  Illinois  Adoption Registry and
11    Medical  Information  Exchange  and   requesting   that   the
12    hospital, fire station, or emergency medical facility forward
13    those  forms  to  the  Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical
14    information Exchange.

15        Section 35.  Information  for  relinquishing  person.   A
16    hospital,  fire  station,  or emergency medical facility that
17    receives a newborn infant  relinquished  in  accordance  with
18    this   Act   must   offer   an   information  packet  to  the
19    relinquishing person and, if possible,  must  clearly  inform
20    the  relinquishing  person  that his or her acceptance of the
21    information is completely voluntary, that  registration  with
22    the   Illinois  Adoption  Registry  and  Medical  Information
23    Exchange is voluntary, that the person will remain  anonymous
24    if  he or she completes a Denial of Information Exchange, and
25    that the person has the option to provide medical information
26    only and still remain anonymous.  The information packet must
27    include all of the following:
28             (1)  All  Illinois  Adoption  Registry  and  Medical
29        Information Exchange  application  forms,  including  the
30        Medical  Information  Exchange  Questionnaire and the web
31        site address and toll free phone number of the Registry.
32             (2)  Written notice of the following:
33                  (A)  No sooner than 60 days following the  date
 
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 1             of  the  initial  relinquishment  of the infant to a
 2             hospital,  fire  station,   or   emergency   medical
 3             facility, the child-placing agency or the Department
 4             will  commence  proceedings  for  the termination of
 5             parental rights and  placement  of  the  infant  for
 6             adoption.
 7                  (B)  Failure  of  a  parent  of  the  infant to
 8             contact the Department and petition for  the  return
 9             of  custody  of  the  infant  before  termination of
10             parental rights bars  any  future  action  asserting
11             legal rights with respect to the infant.
12             (3)  A  resource  list  of  providers  of counseling
13        services   including    grief    counseling,    pregnancy
14        counseling,  and  counseling regarding adoption and other
15        available options for placement of the infant.
16        Upon request,  the  Department  of  Public  Health  shall
17    provide  the  application  forms  for  the  Illinois Adoption
18    Registry and Medical Information Exchange to hospitals,  fire
19    stations, and emergency medical facilities.

20        Section 40. Reporting requirements.
21        (a)  Within  12  hours  after  accepting a newborn infant
22    from a  relinquishing  person  or  from  a  fire  station  or
23    emergency  medical  facility  in  accordance with this Act, a
24    hospital  must  report  to  the  Department's  State  Central
25    Registry for the purpose of transferring physical custody  of
26    the infant from the hospital to either a child-placing agency
27    or the Department.
28        (b)  Within  24  hours  after  receiving  a  report under
29    subsection (a), the Department must request  assistance  from
30    law enforcement officials to investigate the matter using the
31    National   Crime   Information  Center  to  ensure  that  the
32    relinquished newborn infant is not a missing child.
33        (c)  Once a hospital has made a report to the  Department
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -8-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1    under  subsection  (a),  the  Department  must provide to the
 2    hospital the name of a licensed  child-placing  agency.   The
 3    hospital  must  then  arrange for the child-placing agency to
 4    accept physical custody of the relinquished newborn infant.
 5        (d)  If a relinquished child is not a newborn  infant  as
 6    defined  in  this  Act,  the hospital and the Department must
 7    proceed as if the child is an abused or neglected child.

 8        Section  45.  Medical  assistance.   Notwithstanding  any
 9    other provision of law,  a  newborn  infant  relinquished  in
10    accordance with this Act shall be deemed eligible for medical
11    assistance under the Illinois Public Aid Code, and a hospital
12    providing  medical  services  to  such  an  infant  shall  be
13    reimbursed  for those services in accordance with the payment
14    methodologies authorized under that Code.  In  addition,  for
15    any  day  that  a  hospital  has  custody of a newborn infant
16    relinquished in accordance with this Act and the infant  does
17    not  require  medically necessary care, the hospital shall be
18    reimbursed by the Illinois Department of Public  Aid  at  the
19    general  acute care per diem rate, in accordance with 89 Ill.
20    Adm. Code 148.270(c).

21        Section 50. Child-placing agency procedures.
22        (a)  The  Department's  State   Central   Registry   must
23    maintain a list of licensed child-placing agencies willing to
24    take   legal  custody  of  newborn  infants  relinquished  in
25    accordance with this Act. The child-placing agencies  on  the
26    list  must be contacted by the Department on a rotating basis
27    upon notice from a hospital that a newborn  infant  has  been
28    relinquished in accordance with this Act.
29        (b)  Upon  notice  from  the  Department  that  a newborn
30    infant has been relinquished in accordance with this  Act,  a
31    child-placing  agency  must  accept the newborn infant if the
32    agency has the accommodations to do  so.   The  child-placing
 
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 1    agency  must  seek  an  order for legal custody of the infant
 2    upon its acceptance of the infant.
 3        (c)  In order to secure legal custody, the  child-placing
 4    agency  shall  file a petition seeking custody, alleging that
 5    the newborn infant has been  relinquished  pursuant  to  this
 6    Act.    This  petition shall be filed in the circuit court in
 7    the division in which petitions for adoption  would  normally
 8    be heard.  The standard of proof and rules of evidence in the
 9    nature  of  civil proceedings in this State are applicable to
10    proceedings under this subsection.
11        (d)  If no  licensed  child-placing  agency  is  able  to
12    accept  the  relinquished newborn infant, then the Department
13    must  assume  responsibility  for  the  infant  as  soon   as
14    practicable.
15        (e)  A  custody  order  issued under subsection (b) shall
16    remain in effect until a final adoption order  based  on  the
17    relinquished  newborn  infant's  best  interests is issued in
18    accordance with this Act and the Adoption Act.
19        (f)  When possible, the child-placing agency must place a
20    relinquished newborn infant in a prospective adoptive home.
21        (g)  The Department or child-placing agency must initiate
22    proceedings to (i)  terminate  the  parental  rights  of  the
23    relinquished  newborn infant's known or unknown parents, (ii)
24    appoint a guardian for the infant, and (iii)  obtain  consent
25    to  the  infant's  adoption  in  accordance  with this Act no
26    sooner than  60  days  following  the  date  of  the  initial
27    relinquishment  of  the infant to the hospital, fire station,
28    or emergency medical facility.
29        (h)  Before filing a petition for termination of parental
30    rights, the Department or child-placing agency  must  do  the
31    following:
32             (1)  Search  its  Putative  Father  Registry for the
33        purpose of determining the identity and location  of  the
34        putative  father  of  the relinquished newborn infant who
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -10-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1        is, or is expected to be,  the  subject  of  an  adoption
 2        proceeding,  in order to provide notice of the proceeding
 3        to the putative  father.  At  least  one  search  of  the
 4        Registry  must  be  conducted, at least 30 days after the
 5        relinquished newborn infant's estimated  date  of  birth;
 6        earlier searches may be conducted, however. Notice to any
 7        potential  putative  father discovered in a search of the
 8        Registry  according  to  the   estimated   age   of   the
 9        relinquished  newborn  infant  must be in accordance with
10        Section 12a of the Adoption Act.
11             (2)  Verify with law  enforcement  officials,  using
12        the   National   Crime   Information   Center,  that  the
13        relinquished newborn infant is not a missing child.

14        Section 55. Petition for return of custody.
15        (a)  In compliance with Section 9 of the Adoption Act, if
16    the  parent  returns  to  the  hospital,  emergency   medical
17    facility,  or fire station to reclaim a child within 72 hours
18    after the child's birth, the provisions of the  Adoption  Act
19    shall  apply,  and  the abandonment of the child shall not be
20    considered a relinquishment under  this  Act.   In  cases  in
21    which  the  newborn  infant was not born in a hospital or not
22    born in the  hospital  where  he  or  she  was  relinquished,
23    however,  the  parent  shall  be  required to undergo genetic
24    testing to confirm that he or she is the biological parent of
25    the child before the child can be released by the hospital.
26        (b)  A  parent  of  a  newborn  infant  relinquished   in
27    accordance  with  this  Act  may  petition  for the return of
28    custody of the infant  before  the  termination  of  parental
29    rights with respect to the infant.
30        (c)  A   parent  of  a  newborn  infant  relinquished  in
31    accordance with this Act  may  petition  for  the  return  of
32    custody  of  the  infant by contacting the Department for the
33    purpose of obtaining the name of the child-placing agency and
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -11-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    then filing a petition for return of custody in  the  circuit
 2    court in which the proceeding for the termination of parental
 3    rights is pending.
 4        (d)  If a petition for the termination of parental rights
 5    has  not  been  filed  by the Department or the child-placing
 6    agency, the parent of the relinquished  newborn  infant  must
 7    contact  the  Department, which must notify the parent of the
 8    appropriate court in which the petition for return of custody
 9    must be filed.
10        (e)  The circuit court may hold the  proceeding  for  the
11    termination  of  parental rights in abeyance for a period not
12    to exceed 60 days from the date that the petition for  return
13    of custody was filed without a showing of good cause.  During
14    that period:
15             (1)  The   court  shall  order  genetic  testing  to
16        establish maternity or paternity, or both.
17             (2)  The Department shall conduct a child protective
18        investigation and home study to  develop  recommendations
19        to the court.
20             (3)  When  indicated as a result of the Department's
21        investigation and home study, further  proceedings  under
22        the  Juvenile  Court  Act of 1987 as the court determines
23        appropriate, may be conducted.   However,  relinquishment
24        of  a newborn infant in accordance with this Act does not
25        render the infant abused, neglected, or abandoned  solely
26        because   the   newborn  infant  was  relinquished  to  a
27        hospital, fire station, or emergency medical facility  in
28        accordance with this Act.
29        (f)  Failure to file a petition for the return of custody
30    of  a  relinquished  newborn infant before the termination of
31    parental rights bars any future action asserting legal rights
32    with respect  to  the  infant  unless  the  parent's  act  of
33    relinquishment that led to the termination of parental rights
34    involved  fraud  perpetrated against and not stemming from or
 
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 1    involving the parent.   No  action  to  void  or  revoke  the
 2    termination  of  parental  rights  of  a  parent of a newborn
 3    infant relinquished in accordance with this Act, including an
 4    action based on fraud, may be commenced after 12 months after
 5    the date that the newborn infant was  initially  relinquished
 6    to a hospital, fire station, or emergency medical facility.

 7        Section  60.  Department's  duties.  The  Department must
 8    implement  a  public  information  program  to  promote  safe
 9    placement  alternatives  for  newborn  infants.  The   public
10    information program must inform the public of the following:
11             (1)  The  relinquishment alternative provided for in
12        this Act, which results in  the  adoption  of  a  newborn
13        infant  72  hours  old or less and which provides for the
14        parent's anonymity if the parent so chooses.
15             (2)  The alternative of adoption through a public or
16        private agency, in which the parent's identity may or may
17        not be known to the agency, but is  kept  anonymous  from
18        the adoptive parents, if the birth parent so desires, and
19        which  allows  the  parent to be actively involved in the
20        child's adoption plan.
21        The public information program may include, but need  not
22    be limited to, the following elements:
23             (i)   Educational  and  informational  materials  in
24        print, audio, video, electronic or other media.
25             (ii) Establishment of a web site.
26             (iii)    Public    service     announcements     and
27        advertisements.
28             (iv)  Establishment  of toll-free telephone hotlines
29        to provide information.

30        Section 65. Construction of  Act.  Nothing  in  this  Act
31    shall  be construed to preclude the courts of this State from
32    exercising their discretion to protect the health and  safety
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -13-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    of  children  in  individual  cases.  The  best interests and
 2    welfare of a child shall be a paramount consideration in  the
 3    construction  and  interpretation  of  this Act. It is in the
 4    child's  best  interests  that  this  Act  be  construed  and
 5    interpreted so as not to  result  in  extending  time  limits
 6    beyond those set forth in this Act.

 7        Section 70.  Evaluation.
 8        (a)  The Department shall collect and analyze information
 9    regarding the relinquishment of newborn infants and placement
10    of children under this Act.  Fire stations, emergency medical
11    facilities, and medical professionals accepting and providing
12    services  to  a newborn infant under this Act shall report to
13    the Department data necessary for the Department to  evaluate
14    and  determine  the  effect of this Act in the  prevention of
15    injury or death of newborn infants.   Child-placing  agencies
16    shall report to the Department data necessary to evaluate and
17    determine  the  effectiveness  of these agencies in providing
18    child  protective  and  child  welfare  services  to  newborn
19    infants relinquished under this Act.
20        (b)  The information collected shall  include,  but  need
21    not   be   limited   to:   the   number  of  newborn  infants
22    relinquished;  the  outcome  of  care  for  the  relinquished
23    newborn infants; the  number  and  disposition  of  cases  of
24    relinquished newborn infants subject to placement; the number
25    of  children  accepted  and served by child-placing agencies;
26    and the services provided by child-placing agencies  and  the
27    disposition  of  the  cases of the children placed under this
28    Act.
29        (c)  The Department shall submit a report by  January  1,
30    2002,  and  on  January  1  of  each  year thereafter, to the
31    Governor and General Assembly  regarding  the  prevention  of
32    injury  or  death  of  newborn  infants  and  the  effect  of
33    placements  of  children  under  this  Act.  The report shall
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -14-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    include, but need not be limited to, a summary  of  collected
 2    data,  an  analysis of the data and conclusions regarding the
 3    Act's effectiveness, a determination whether the purposes  of
 4    the  Act  are being achieved, and recommendations for changes
 5    that   may   be   considered   necessary   to   improve   the
 6    administration and enforcement of this Act.

 7        Section 75.  Repeal.  This Act is  repealed  on  July  1,
 8    2007.

 9        Section  90.   The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
10    changing Section 4-1.2 as follows:

11        (305 ILCS 5/4-1.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.2)
12        Sec. 4-1.2. Living Arrangements - Parents -  Relatives  -
13    Foster Care.
14        (a)  The child or children must (1) be living with his or
15    their  father,  mother,  grandfather,  grandmother,  brother,
16    sister,   stepfather,  stepmother,  stepbrother,  stepsister,
17    uncle or aunt, or other relative  approved  by  the  Illinois
18    Department, in a place of residence maintained by one or more
19    of  such relatives as his or their own home, or (2) have been
20    (a) removed from the home of the parents or  other  relatives
21    by  judicial  order  under  the  Juvenile  Court  Act  or the
22    Juvenile Court Act of 1987, as amended, (b) placed under  the
23    guardianship   of  the  Department  of  Children  and  Family
24    Services, and (c) under such guardianship, placed in a foster
25    family home, group home or child  care  institution  licensed
26    pursuant  to  the  "Child Care Act of 1969", approved May 15,
27    1969, as amended, or approved by that Department  as  meeting
28    standards  established  for  licensing under that Act, or (3)
29    have been  relinquished  in  accordance  with  the  Abandoned
30    Newborn  Infant  Protection  Act. A child so placed in foster
31    care who was not receiving aid under this Article in  or  for
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -15-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    the  month  in  which  the  court proceedings leading to that
 2    placement were initiated may qualify only if he lived in  the
 3    home  of  his  parents  or  other  relatives  at the time the
 4    proceedings were initiated, or within 6 months prior  to  the
 5    month  of  initiation, and would have received aid in and for
 6    that month if application had been made therefor.
 7        (b)  The Illinois  Department  may,  by  rule,  establish
 8    those persons who are living together who must be included in
 9    the  same assistance unit in order to receive cash assistance
10    under this Article and the income and assets of those persons
11    in an assistance unit which must be considered in determining
12    eligibility.
13        (c)  The conditions  of  qualification  herein  specified
14    shall  not  prejudice  aid granted under this Code for foster
15    care prior to the effective date of this 1969 Amendatory Act.
16    (Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

17        Section 92.  The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act
18    is amended by changing Section 3 as follows:

19        (325 ILCS 5/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 2053)
20        Sec. 3.  As used in this Act unless the context otherwise
21    requires:
22        "Child" means any person  under  the  age  of  18  years,
23    unless  legally  emancipated  by  reason of marriage or entry
24    into a branch of the United States armed services.
25        "Department" means  Department  of  Children  and  Family
26    Services.
27        "Local  law  enforcement  agency"  means  the police of a
28    city, town, village or other incorporated area or the sheriff
29    of an  unincorporated  area  or  any  sworn  officer  of  the
30    Illinois Department of State Police.
31        "Abused  child"  means  a child whose parent or immediate
32    family member, or any  person  responsible  for  the  child's
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -16-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    welfare,   or any individual residing in the same home as the
 2    child, or a paramour of the child's parent:
 3             a.  inflicts, causes to be inflicted, or  allows  to
 4        be  inflicted  upon  such child physical injury, by other
 5        than accidental means, which 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        such  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
12        any bodily function;
13             c.  commits  or  allows  to  be  committed  any  sex
14        offense  against  such  child,  as  such sex offenses are
15        defined in the Criminal Code of  1961,  as  amended,  and
16        extending  those  definitions  of sex offenses to include
17        children under 18 years of age;
18             d.  commits or allows to be committed an act or acts
19        of torture upon such child;
20             e.  inflicts excessive corporal punishment;
21             f.  commits or allows to be committed the offense of
22        female genital mutilation, as defined in Section 12-34 of
23        the Criminal Code of 1961, against the child; or
24             g.  causes to be sold, transferred, distributed,  or
25        given  to  such child under 18 years of age, a controlled
26        substance as defined  in  Section  102  of  the  Illinois
27        Controlled   Substances Act in violation of Article IV of
28        the  Illinois  Controlled  Substances  Act,  except   for
29        controlled  substances  that are prescribed in accordance
30        with Article III of the  Illinois  Controlled  Substances
31        Act  and  are  dispensed  to  such child in a manner that
32        substantially complies with the prescription.
33        A child shall not  be  considered  abused  for  the  sole
34    reason  that  the  child  has been relinquished in accordance
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -17-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
 2        "Neglected child" means any child who  is  not  receiving
 3    the  proper  or  necessary nourishment or medically indicated
 4    treatment including food or care not provided solely  on  the
 5    basis  of  the  present  or  anticipated  mental  or physical
 6    impairment as determined by a physician acting  alone  or  in
 7    consultation  with  other  physicians  or  otherwise  is  not
 8    receiving the proper or necessary support or medical or other
 9    remedial  care  recognized under State law as necessary for a
10    child's well-being, or other care necessary for  his  or  her
11    well-being, including adequate food, clothing and shelter; or
12    who  is  abandoned  by  his  or  her  parents or other person
13    responsible for the child's welfare without a proper plan  of
14    care;  or  who  is  a  newborn  infant whose blood, urine, or
15    meconium contains any amount of  a  controlled  substance  as
16    defined  in  subsection  (f)  of  Section 102 of the Illinois
17    Controlled Substances Act or a metabolite thereof,  with  the
18    exception  of  a  controlled  substance or metabolite thereof
19    whose presence in the newborn infant is the result of medical
20    treatment administered to the mother or the newborn infant. A
21    child shall not be considered neglected for the  sole  reason
22    that  the  child's parent or other person responsible for his
23    or her welfare has left the child in the  care  of  an  adult
24    relative  for  any  period  of  time.  A  child  shall not be
25    considered neglected for the sole reason that the  child  has
26    been  relinquished  in  accordance with the Abandoned Newborn
27    Infant Protection Act.   A  child  shall  not  be  considered
28    neglected  or  abused  for  the sole reason that such child's
29    parent or other person responsible for  his  or  her  welfare
30    depends  upon  spiritual  means  through prayer alone for the
31    treatment or cure of disease or  remedial  care  as  provided
32    under Section 4 of this Act.  A child shall not be considered
33    neglected or abused solely because the child is not attending
34    school  in  accordance with the requirements of Article 26 of
 
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 1    The School Code, as amended.
 2        "Child Protective Service Unit" means certain specialized
 3    State employees of the Department assigned by the Director to
 4    perform the duties and  responsibilities  as  provided  under
 5    Section 7.2 of this Act.
 6        "Person  responsible  for  the child's welfare" means the
 7    child's parent; guardian; foster parent; relative  caregiver;
 8    any person responsible for the child's welfare in a public or
 9    private   residential   agency  or  institution;  any  person
10    responsible for  the  child's  welfare  within  a  public  or
11    private  profit or not for profit child care facility; or any
12    other person responsible for the child's welfare at the  time
13    of  the  alleged  abuse or neglect, or any person who came to
14    know the child through an official capacity  or  position  of
15    trust,   including   but   not   limited   to   health   care
16    professionals,     educational     personnel,    recreational
17    supervisors, and  volunteers  or  support  personnel  in  any
18    setting where children may be subject to abuse or neglect.
19        "Temporary  protective  custody"  means  custody within a
20    hospital or other medical  facility  or  a  place  previously
21    designated  for  such  custody  by the Department, subject to
22    review by the Court, including a licensed foster home,  group
23    home,  or  other  institution;  but such place shall not be a
24    jail or other place for the detention of criminal or juvenile
25    offenders.
26        "An unfounded report" means any report  made  under  this
27    Act for which it is determined after an investigation that no
28    credible evidence of abuse or neglect exists.
29        "An  indicated report" means a report made under this Act
30    if an investigation determines that credible evidence of  the
31    alleged abuse or neglect exists.
32        "An undetermined report" means any report made under this
33    Act  in  which it was not possible to initiate or complete an
34    investigation on the basis of  information  provided  to  the
 
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 1    Department.
 2        "Subject  of  report"  means  any  child  reported to the
 3    central register of child abuse and neglect established under
 4    Section 7.7 of this Act and his or her  parent,  guardian  or
 5    other person responsible who is also named in the report.
 6        "Perpetrator"   means  a  person  who,  as  a  result  of
 7    investigation, has been determined by the Department to  have
 8    caused child abuse or neglect.
 9    (Source:  P.A.  90-239,  eff.  7-28-97; 90-684, eff. 7-31-98;
10    91-802, eff. 1-1-01.)

11        Section 95.  The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 is amended by
12    changing Sections 2-3 and 2-4 as follows:

13        (705 ILCS 405/2-3) (from Ch. 37, par. 802-3)
14        Sec. 2-3.  Neglected or abused minor.
15        (1)  Those who are neglected include:
16             (a)  any minor under 18 years  of  age  who  is  not
17        receiving  the  proper or necessary support, education as
18        required by  law,  or  medical  or  other  remedial  care
19        recognized  under  State  law  as necessary for a minor's
20        well-being, or  other  care  necessary  for  his  or  her
21        well-being,   including   adequate   food,  clothing  and
22        shelter, or who is abandoned by his  or  her  parents  or
23        other  person responsible for the minor's welfare, except
24        that a minor shall not be considered  neglected  for  the
25        sole  reason  that  the  minor's  parent  or other person
26        responsible for the minor's welfare has left the minor in
27        the care of an adult relative for any period of time; or
28             (b)  any  minor  under  18  years   of   age   whose
29        environment is injurious to his or her welfare; or
30             (c)  any  newborn  infant  whose  blood,  urine,  or
31        meconium contains any amount of a controlled substance as
32        defined  in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the Illinois
 
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 1        Controlled Substances Act, as now or  hereafter  amended,
 2        or  a  metabolite  of  a  controlled  substance, with the
 3        exception of controlled substances or metabolites of such
 4        substances, the presence of which in the  newborn  infant
 5        is  the  result  of medical treatment administered to the
 6        mother or the newborn infant; or
 7             (d)  any minor under  the  age  of  14  years  whose
 8        parent  or  other  person  responsible  for  the  minor's
 9        welfare  leaves  the  minor  without  supervision  for an
10        unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental
11        or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor.
12        Whether the minor was left without regard for the  mental
13    or  physical  health, safety, or welfare of that minor or the
14    period of  time  was  unreasonable  shall  be  determined  by
15    considering  the following factors, including but not limited
16    to:
17             (1)  the age of the minor;
18             (2)  the number of minors left at the location;
19             (3)  special needs of the minor,  including  whether
20        the  minor  is  physically  or  mentally  handicapped, or
21        otherwise in need of ongoing prescribed medical treatment
22        such as periodic doses of insulin or other medications;
23             (4)  the duration of time in  which  the  minor  was
24        left without supervision;
25             (5)  the  condition  and location of the place where
26        the minor was left without supervision;
27             (6)  the time of day or night  when  the  minor  was
28        left without supervision;
29             (7)  the  weather  conditions, including whether the
30        minor was left in a  location  with  adequate  protection
31        from the natural elements such as adequate heat or light;
32             (8)  the  location  of the parent or guardian at the
33        time the minor was left without supervision, the physical
34        distance the minor was from the parent or guardian at the
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -21-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1        time the minor was without supervision;
 2             (9)  whether the minor's movement was restricted, or
 3        the minor was otherwise locked within  a  room  or  other
 4        structure;
 5             (10)  whether  the minor was given a phone number of
 6        a person or location to call in the event of an emergency
 7        and whether the minor was capable of making an  emergency
 8        call;
 9             (11)  whether  there  was  food  and other provision
10        left for the minor;
11             (12)  whether any of the conduct is attributable  to
12        economic  hardship or illness and the parent, guardian or
13        other person having physical custody or  control  of  the
14        child  made a good faith effort to provide for the health
15        and safety of the minor;
16             (13)  the age and physical and  mental  capabilities
17        of the person or persons who provided supervision for the
18        minor;
19             (14)  whether   the   minor   was   left  under  the
20        supervision of another person;
21             (15)  any  other  factor  that  would  endanger  the
22        health and safety of that particular minor.
23        A minor shall not be considered neglected  for  the  sole
24    reason  that  the  minor  has been relinquished in accordance
25    with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
26        (2)  Those who are abused  include  any  minor  under  18
27    years  of age whose parent or immediate family member, or any
28    person responsible for the minor's welfare, or any person who
29    is in the same family or  household  as  the  minor,  or  any
30    individual  residing  in  the  same  home  as the minor, or a
31    paramour of the minor's parent:
32             (i)  inflicts, causes to be inflicted, or allows  to
33        be  inflicted  upon  such minor physical injury, by other
34        than accidental means, which causes death, disfigurement,
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -22-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1        impairment of physical or emotional health,  or  loss  or
 2        impairment of any bodily function;
 3             (ii)  creates  a substantial risk of physical injury
 4        to such minor by other than accidental means which  would
 5        be  likely  to  cause death, disfigurement, impairment of
 6        emotional health, or loss or  impairment  of  any  bodily
 7        function;
 8             (iii)  commits  or  allows  to  be committed any sex
 9        offense against such minor,  as  such  sex  offenses  are
10        defined  in  the  Criminal  Code of 1961, as amended, and
11        extending those definitions of sex  offenses  to  include
12        minors under 18 years of age;
13             (iv)  commits  or  allows  to be committed an act or
14        acts of torture upon such minor; or
15             (v)  inflicts excessive corporal punishment.
16        A minor shall not  be  considered  abused  for  the  sole
17    reason  that  the  minor  has been relinquished in accordance
18    with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
19        (3)  This Section does not apply to a minor who would  be
20    included  herein  solely  for  the  purpose of qualifying for
21    financial assistance for himself, his  parents,  guardian  or
22    custodian.
23    (Source: P.A. 89-21, eff. 7-1-95; 90-239, eff. 7-28-97.)

24        (705 ILCS 405/2-4) (from Ch. 37, par. 802-4)
25        Sec. 2-4.  Dependent minor.
26        (1)  Those  who  are dependent include any minor under 18
27    years of age:
28             (a)  who is without  a  parent,  guardian  or  legal
29        custodian;
30             (b)  who  is  without  proper  care  because  of the
31        physical or mental disability of his parent, guardian  or
32        custodian;
33             (c)  who is without proper medical or other remedial
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -23-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1        care  recognized  under State law or other care necessary
 2        for his or her well being through no  fault,  neglect  or
 3        lack  of  concern  by his parents, guardian or custodian,
 4        provided that no order may be made  terminating  parental
 5        rights,  nor  may  a minor be removed from the custody of
 6        his or her parents for longer than 6 months, pursuant  to
 7        an   adjudication   as   a  dependent  minor  under  this
 8        subdivision (c), unless it is found to be in his  or  her
 9        best  interest  by  the  court  or the case automatically
10        closes as provided under Section 2-31 of this Act; or
11             (d)   who has a parent, guardian or legal  custodian
12        who  with  good   cause  wishes  to  be  relieved  of all
13        residual   parental    rights    and    responsibilities,
14        guardianship  or custody, and who desires the appointment
15        of a guardian of the person with power to consent to  the
16        adoption of the minor under Section 2-29; or.
17             (e)  who  has  been  relinquished  as defined in the
18        Abandoned  Newborn  Infant  Protection  Act  and,   after
19        diligent  efforts by the child-placing agency responsible
20        for the minor's care, an adoptive family cannot be  found
21        for  the  minor because of the minor's medical, physical,
22        or developmental special needs.
23        (2)  This Section does not apply to a minor who would  be
24    included  herein  solely  for  the  purpose of qualifying for
25    financial assistance for himself, his  parents,  guardian  or
26    custodian  or  to a minor solely because his or her parent or
27    guardian has left the minor for any period  of  time  in  the
28    care of an adult relative.
29    (Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

30        Section  96.   The  Criminal  Code  of 1961 is amended by
31    changing Sections 12-21.5 and 12-21.6 as follows:

32        (720 ILCS 5/12-21.5)
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -24-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1        Sec. 12-21.5. Child Abandonment.
 2        (a)  A person commits the offense  of  child  abandonment
 3    when he or she, as a parent, guardian, or other person having
 4    physical  custody  or  control of a child, without regard for
 5    the mental or physical health, safety,  or  welfare  of  that
 6    child, knowingly leaves that child who is under the age of 13
 7    without  supervision  by a responsible person over the age of
 8    14 for a period of 24 hours or more,  except  that  a  person
 9    does  not  commit the offense of child abandonment when he or
10    she relinquishes a child in  accordance  with  the  Abandoned
11    Newborn Infant Protection Act.
12        (b)  For  the  purposes  of determining whether the child
13    was left without regard for the mental  or  physical  health,
14    safety,  or  welfare  of  that child, the trier of fact shall
15    consider the following factors:
16             (1)  the age of the child;
17             (2)  the number of children left at the location;
18             (3)  special needs of the child,  including  whether
19        the  child  is  physically  or  mentally  handicapped, or
20        otherwise in need of ongoing prescribed medical treatment
21        such as periodic doses of insulin or other medications;
22             (4)  the duration of time in  which  the  child  was
23        left without supervision;
24             (5)  the  condition  and location of the place where
25        the child was left without supervision;
26             (6)  the time of day or night  when  the  child  was
27        left without supervision;
28             (7)  the  weather  conditions, including whether the
29        child was left in a  location  with  adequate  protection
30        from the natural elements such as adequate heat or light;
31             (8)  the  location of the parent, guardian, or other
32        person having physical custody or control of the child at
33        the time the child  was  left  without  supervision,  the
34        physical   distance   the  child  was  from  the  parent,
 
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 1        guardian, or other  person  having  physical  custody  or
 2        control  of  the  child at the time the child was without
 3        supervision;
 4             (9)  whether the child's movement was restricted, or
 5        the child was otherwise locked within  a  room  or  other
 6        structure;
 7             (10)  whether  the child was given a phone number of
 8        a person or location to call in the event of an emergency
 9        and whether the child was capable of making an  emergency
10        call;
11             (11)  whether  there  was  food  and other provision
12        left for the child;
13             (12)  whether any of the conduct is attributable  to
14        economic  hardship or illness and the parent, guardian or
15        other person having physical custody or  control  of  the
16        child  made a good faith effort to provide for the health
17        and safety of the child;
18             (13)  the age and physical and  mental  capabilities
19        of the person or persons who provided supervision for the
20        child;
21             (14)  any  other  factor  that  would  endanger  the
22        health or safety of that particular child;
23             (15)  whether   the   child   was   left  under  the
24        supervision of another person.
25        (d)  Child abandonment is a Class 4 felony.  A second  or
26    subsequent  offense  after  a  prior  conviction is a Class 3
27    felony.
28    (Source: P.A. 88-479.)

29        (720 ILCS 5/12-21.6)
30        Sec. 12-21.6.  Endangering the life or health of a child.
31        (a)  It is unlawful for any person to willfully cause  or
32    permit  the  life or health of a child under the age of 18 to
33    be endangered or to willfully cause or permit a child  to  be
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -26-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    placed  in  circumstances  that  endanger the child's life or
 2    health, except that it  is  not  unlawful  for  a  person  to
 3    relinquish  a  child in accordance with the Abandoned Newborn
 4    Infant Protection Act.
 5        (b)  A  violation  of  this  Section   is   a   Class   A
 6    misdemeanor.   A  second  or  subsequent  violation  of  this
 7    Section  is  a  Class  3 felony.  A violation of this Section
 8    that is a proximate cause of the death  of  the  child  is  a
 9    Class  3 felony for which a person, if sentenced to a term of
10    imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 2
11    years and not more than 10 years.
12    (Source: P.A. 90-687, eff. 7-31-98.)

13        Section 96.5.  The  Neglected  Children  Offense  Act  is
14    amended by changing Section 2 as follows:

15        (720 ILCS 130/2) (from Ch. 23, par. 2361)
16        Sec.  2.  Any parent, legal guardian or person having the
17    custody of a child under the age of 18 years,  who  knowingly
18    or  wilfully  causes, aids or encourages such person to be or
19    to become a dependent  and  neglected  child  as  defined  in
20    section 1, who knowingly or wilfully does acts which directly
21    tend  to render any such child so dependent and neglected, or
22    who knowingly  or  wilfully  fails  to  do  that  which  will
23    directly tend to prevent such state of dependency and neglect
24    is  guilty  of the Class A misdemeanor of contributing to the
25    dependency and neglect of children, except that a person  who
26    relinquishes a child in accordance with the Abandoned Newborn
27    Infant  Protection  Act  is  not  guilty of that misdemeanor.
28    Instead of imposing the punishment hereinbefore provided, the
29    court may release the defendant from custody on probation for
30    one year upon his or her entering into recognizance  with  or
31    without  surety  in  such  sum  as  the  court  directs.  The
32    conditions  of  the  recognizance  shall  be such that if the
 
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 1    defendant appears personally in court whenever ordered to  do
 2    so  within the year and provides and cares for such neglected
 3    and  dependent  child  in  such  manner  as  to   prevent   a
 4    continuance  or  repetition  of  such state of dependency and
 5    neglect or as otherwise may be directed by the court then the
 6    recognizance shall be void, otherwise it  shall  be  of  full
 7    force  and  effect.  If the court is satisfied by information
 8    and due proof under oath that at any time during the year the
 9    defendant has  violated  the  terms  of  such  order  it  may
10    forthwith  revoke the order and sentence him or her under the
11    original conviction. Unless so sentenced, the defendant shall
12    at the end of the year be discharged. In case  of  forfeiture
13    on  the  recognizance  the  sum  recovered thereon may in the
14    discretion of the court be  paid  in  whole  or  in  part  to
15    someone  designated  by  the  court  for  the support of such
16    dependent and neglected child.
17    (Source: P.A. 77-2350.)

18        Section 97.  The Adoption  Act  is  amended  by  changing
19    Section 1 as follows:

20        (750 ILCS 50/1) (from Ch. 40, par. 1501)
21        Sec.  1.  Definitions.  When used in this Act, unless the
22    context otherwise requires:
23        A.  "Child" means a person under  legal  age  subject  to
24    adoption under this Act.
25        B.  "Related  child"  means  a  child subject to adoption
26    where either or both of the adopting parents stands in any of
27    the  following  relationships  to  the  child  by  blood   or
28    marriage: parent, grand-parent, brother, sister, step-parent,
29    step-grandparent,  step-brother,  step-sister,  uncle,  aunt,
30    great-uncle,  great-aunt, or cousin of first degree.  A child
31    whose parent has executed  a  final  irrevocable  consent  to
32    adoption  or  a  final  irrevocable surrender for purposes of
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -28-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    adoption, or whose parent has had his or her parental  rights
 2    terminated, is not a related child to that person, unless the
 3    consent  is  determined  to  be  void  or is void pursuant to
 4    subsection O of Section 10.
 5        C.  "Agency" for the purpose of this Act means  a  public
 6    child welfare agency or a licensed child welfare agency.
 7        D.  "Unfit  person" means any person whom the court shall
 8    find to be unfit to have  a  child,  without  regard  to  the
 9    likelihood  that  the child will be placed for adoption.  The
10    grounds of unfitness are any one or more  of  the  following,
11    except  that a person shall not be considered an unfit person
12    for the sole reason that the person has relinquished a  child
13    in  accordance  with  the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection
14    Act:
15             (a)  Abandonment of the child.
16             (a-1)  Abandonment  of  a  newborn   infant   in   a
17        hospital.
18             (a-2)  Abandonment   of  a  newborn  infant  in  any
19        setting where  the  evidence  suggests  that  the  parent
20        intended to relinquish his or her parental rights.
21             (b)  Failure  to  maintain  a  reasonable  degree of
22        interest, concern or responsibility  as  to  the  child's
23        welfare.
24             (c)  Desertion  of  the child for more than 3 months
25        next  preceding  the   commencement   of   the   Adoption
26        proceeding.
27             (d)  Substantial  neglect of the child if continuous
28        or repeated.
29             (d-1)  Substantial   neglect,   if   continuous   or
30        repeated, of any child residing in  the  household  which
31        resulted in the death of that child.
32             (e)  Extreme or repeated cruelty to the child.
33             (f)  Two  or  more findings of physical abuse to any
34        children under Section 4-8 of the Juvenile Court  Act  or
 
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 1        Section  2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the most
 2        recent of which was  determined  by  the  juvenile  court
 3        hearing   the   matter  to  be  supported  by  clear  and
 4        convincing evidence; a criminal conviction or  a  finding
 5        of  not  guilty  by reason of insanity resulting from the
 6        death of any child by physical child abuse; or a  finding
 7        of  physical  child abuse resulting from the death of any
 8        child under Section 4-8 of  the  Juvenile  Court  Act  or
 9        Section 2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
10             (g)  Failure  to  protect  the child from conditions
11        within his environment injurious to the child's welfare.
12             (h)  Other neglect  of,  or  misconduct  toward  the
13        child; provided that in making a finding of unfitness the
14        court  hearing the adoption proceeding shall not be bound
15        by any previous finding, order or judgment  affecting  or
16        determining  the  rights  of the parents toward the child
17        sought to be adopted in any other proceeding except  such
18        proceedings  terminating  parental rights as shall be had
19        under either this Act, the  Juvenile  Court  Act  or  the
20        Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
21             (i)  Depravity.    Conviction  of  any  one  of  the
22        following crimes shall create a presumption that a parent
23        is depraved which can  be  overcome  only  by  clear  and
24        convincing evidence: (1) first degree murder in violation
25        of  paragraph  1 or 2 of subsection (a) of Section 9-1 of
26        the Criminal Code of 1961 or conviction of second  degree
27        murder  in  violation of subsection (a) of Section 9-2 of
28        the Criminal Code of 1961 of a parent of the child to  be
29        adopted;  (2) first degree murder or second degree murder
30        of any child in violation of the Criminal Code  of  1961;
31        (3)  attempt  or conspiracy to commit first degree murder
32        or second degree murder of any child in violation of  the
33        Criminal  Code of 1961; (4) solicitation to commit murder
34        of any child, solicitation to commit murder of any  child
 
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 1        for  hire, or solicitation to commit second degree murder
 2        of any child in violation of the Criminal Code  of  1961;
 3        or (5) aggravated criminal sexual assault in violation of
 4        Section 12-14(b)(1) of the Criminal Code of 1961.
 5             There  is  a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
 6        depraved if the parent has been criminally  convicted  of
 7        at  least  3 felonies under the laws of this State or any
 8        other state, or under federal law, or the  criminal  laws
 9        of any United States territory; and at least one of these
10        convictions  took  place  within 5 years of the filing of
11        the petition or motion seeking  termination  of  parental
12        rights.
13             There  is  a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
14        depraved if that parent has been criminally convicted  of
15        either  first  or  second  degree murder of any person as
16        defined in the Criminal Code of 1961 within 10  years  of
17        the  filing  date  of the petition or motion to terminate
18        parental rights.
19             (j)  Open and notorious adultery or fornication.
20             (j-1)  (Blank).
21             (k)  Habitual drunkenness  or  addiction  to  drugs,
22        other  than those prescribed by a physician, for at least
23        one year immediately prior to  the  commencement  of  the
24        unfitness proceeding.
25             There  is  a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
26        unfit under this subsection with respect to any child  to
27        which  that parent gives birth where there is a confirmed
28        test result that at birth the child's  blood,  urine,  or
29        meconium  contained  any amount of a controlled substance
30        as defined in  subsection  (f)  of  Section  102  of  the
31        Illinois Controlled Substances Act or metabolites of such
32        substances,  the  presence of which in the newborn infant
33        was not the result of medical treatment  administered  to
34        the  mother  or  the  newborn  infant; and the biological
 
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 1        mother of this child is the biological mother of at least
 2        one other child who was  adjudicated  a  neglected  minor
 3        under subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court
 4        Act of 1987.
 5             (l)  Failure  to  demonstrate a reasonable degree of
 6        interest, concern or responsibility as to the welfare  of
 7        a  new  born  child  during  the  first 30 days after its
 8        birth.
 9             (m)  Failure by a  parent  (i)  to  make  reasonable
10        efforts to correct the conditions that were the basis for
11        the removal of the child from the parent, or (ii) to make
12        reasonable progress toward the return of the child to the
13        parent within 9 months after an adjudication of neglected
14        or  abused  minor under Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court
15        Act of 1987 or dependent minor under Section 2-4 of  that
16        Act,  or  (iii)  to  make  reasonable progress toward the
17        return of the child to  the  parent  during  any  9-month
18        period  after  the  end  of  the  initial  9-month period
19        following the adjudication of neglected or  abused  minor
20        under  Section  2-3  of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or
21        dependent minor under Section  2-4  of  that  Act.  If  a
22        service  plan  has  been  established  as  required under
23        Section 8.2 of the Abused and Neglected  Child  Reporting
24        Act to correct the conditions that were the basis for the
25        removal  of  the  child  from  the  parent  and  if those
26        services were available, then, for purposes of this  Act,
27        "failure to make reasonable progress toward the return of
28        the  child  to  the  parent"  includes  (I)  the parent's
29        failure to substantially fulfill his or  her  obligations
30        under  the  service  plan and correct the conditions that
31        brought the child into care within  9  months  after  the
32        adjudication  under  Section  2-3  or 2-4 of the Juvenile
33        Court Act of  1987  and  (II)  the  parent's  failure  to
34        substantially  fulfill  his  or her obligations under the
 
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 1        service plan and correct the conditions that brought  the
 2        child  into  care during any 9-month period after the end
 3        of the initial 9-month period following the  adjudication
 4        under  Section  2-3  or  2-4 of the Juvenile Court Act of
 5        1987.
 6             (m-1)  Pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, a
 7        child has been in foster care for 15 months out of any 22
 8        month period which begins on or after the effective  date
 9        of  this amendatory Act of 1998 unless the child's parent
10        can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that  it  is
11        more  likely  than  not  that  it  will  be  in  the best
12        interests of the child  to  be  returned  to  the  parent
13        within  6  months  of  the  date  on which a petition for
14        termination  of  parental  rights  is  filed  under   the
15        Juvenile  Court  Act of 1987.  The 15 month time limit is
16        tolled during any period  for  which  there  is  a  court
17        finding  that  the appointed custodian or guardian failed
18        to make reasonable efforts to reunify the child with  his
19        or  her  family,  provided  that  (i)  the  finding of no
20        reasonable efforts is made within 60 days of  the  period
21        when  reasonable efforts were not made or (ii) the parent
22        filed a motion requesting  a  finding  of  no  reasonable
23        efforts  within  60  days  of  the period when reasonable
24        efforts were not made.  For purposes of this  subdivision
25        (m-1),  the  date  of entering foster care is the earlier
26        of: (i) the date of a judicial finding at an adjudicatory
27        hearing that  the  child  is  an  abused,  neglected,  or
28        dependent  minor; or (ii) 60 days after the date on which
29        the child is removed from his or her parent, guardian, or
30        legal custodian.
31             (n)  Evidence of intent to forgo his or her parental
32        rights, whether or not the child is a ward of the  court,
33        (1)  as  manifested by his or her failure for a period of
34        12 months: (i) to visit the child,  (ii)  to  communicate
 
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 1        with  the child or agency, although able to do so and not
 2        prevented from doing so by an agency or by  court  order,
 3        or  (iii) to maintain contact with or plan for the future
 4        of the child, although physically able to do so,  or  (2)
 5        as  manifested  by the father's failure, where he and the
 6        mother of the child were unmarried to each other  at  the
 7        time   of  the  child's  birth,  (i)  to  commence  legal
 8        proceedings to establish his paternity under the Illinois
 9        Parentage Act of 1984 or the law of the  jurisdiction  of
10        the  child's  birth  within  30  days  of being informed,
11        pursuant to Section 12a of  this  Act,  that  he  is  the
12        father  or the likely father of the child or, after being
13        so informed where the child is not yet  born,  within  30
14        days  of  the child's birth, or (ii) to make a good faith
15        effort to pay a reasonable amount of the expenses related
16        to the birth of the child and  to  provide  a  reasonable
17        amount  for the financial support of the child, the court
18        to   consider   in   its   determination   all   relevant
19        circumstances, including the financial condition of  both
20        parents;   provided   that  the  ground  for  termination
21        provided in this subparagraph (n)(2)(ii)  shall  only  be
22        available  where the petition is brought by the mother or
23        the husband of the mother.
24             Contact or communication by a parent with his or her
25        child that does not  demonstrate  affection  and  concern
26        does not constitute reasonable contact and planning under
27        subdivision  (n).   In  the  absence  of  evidence to the
28        contrary, the ability  to  visit,  communicate,  maintain
29        contact,  pay  expenses  and plan for the future shall be
30        presumed.  The subjective intent of the  parent,  whether
31        expressed  or  otherwise,  unsupported by evidence of the
32        foregoing parental acts manifesting  that  intent,  shall
33        not preclude a determination that the parent has intended
34        to  forgo  his  or  her  parental rights.  In making this
 
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 1        determination, the  court  may  consider  but  shall  not
 2        require  a  showing  of diligent efforts by an authorized
 3        agency to  encourage  the  parent  to  perform  the  acts
 4        specified in subdivision (n).
 5             It shall be an affirmative defense to any allegation
 6        under  paragraph (2) of this subsection that the father's
 7        failure was due to circumstances beyond his control or to
 8        impediments created by the mother  or  any  other  person
 9        having legal custody.  Proof of that fact need only be by
10        a preponderance of the evidence.
11             (o)  Repeated  or continuous failure by the parents,
12        although physically and financially able, to provide  the
13        child with adequate food, clothing, or shelter.
14             (p)  Inability       to      discharge      parental
15        responsibilities supported by competent evidence  from  a
16        psychiatrist,   licensed   clinical   social  worker,  or
17        clinical  psychologist  of  mental   impairment,   mental
18        illness or mental retardation as defined in Section 1-116
19        of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code,
20        or  developmental  disability as defined in Section 1-106
21        of that Code, and there is  sufficient  justification  to
22        believe   that   the   inability  to  discharge  parental
23        responsibilities shall extend beyond  a  reasonable  time
24        period.   However,  this  subdivision  (p)  shall  not be
25        construed so as to  permit  a  licensed  clinical  social
26        worker  to  conduct  any  medical  diagnosis to determine
27        mental illness or mental impairment.
28             (q)  The parent has  been  criminally  convicted  of
29        aggravated  battery, heinous battery, or attempted murder
30        of any child.
31             (r)  The  child  is  in  the  temporary  custody  or
32        guardianship of the Department  of  Children  and  Family
33        Services,  the  parent  is  incarcerated  as  a result of
34        criminal conviction at the time the  petition  or  motion
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -35-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1        for  termination  of  parental  rights is filed, prior to
 2        incarceration the parent had little or  no  contact  with
 3        the child or provided little or no support for the child,
 4        and  the  parent's  incarceration will prevent the parent
 5        from discharging his or her parental responsibilities for
 6        the child for a period in excess of  2  years  after  the
 7        filing  of  the  petition  or  motion  for termination of
 8        parental rights.
 9             (s)  The  child  is  in  the  temporary  custody  or
10        guardianship of the Department  of  Children  and  Family
11        Services,  the  parent  is  incarcerated  at the time the
12        petition or motion for termination of parental rights  is
13        filed,  the  parent has been repeatedly incarcerated as a
14        result of criminal convictions, and the parent's repeated
15        incarceration has prevented the parent  from  discharging
16        his or her parental responsibilities for the child.
17             (t)  A  finding  that  at  birth  the child's blood,
18        urine, or meconium contained any amount of  a  controlled
19        substance  as defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of
20        the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or  a  metabolite
21        of   a   controlled  substance,  with  the  exception  of
22        controlled substances or metabolites of such  substances,
23        the  presence  of  which  in  the  newborn infant was the
24        result of medical treatment administered to the mother or
25        the newborn infant, and that  the  biological  mother  of
26        this child is the biological mother of at least one other
27        child   who  was  adjudicated  a  neglected  minor  under
28        subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile  Court  Act
29        of  1987,  after  which  the  biological  mother  had the
30        opportunity to enroll in and participate in a  clinically
31        appropriate  substance  abuse  counseling, treatment, and
32        rehabilitation program.
33        E.  "Parent" means the father or mother of  a  legitimate
34    or illegitimate child.  For the purpose of this Act, a person
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -36-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    who  has executed a final and irrevocable consent to adoption
 2    or  a  final  and  irrevocable  surrender  for  purposes   of
 3    adoption,  or whose parental rights have been terminated by a
 4    court, is not a parent of the child who was  the  subject  of
 5    the consent or surrender, unless the consent is void pursuant
 6    to subsection O of Section 10.
 7        F.  A  person  is  available for adoption when the person
 8    is:
 9             (a)  a child who has been surrendered  for  adoption
10        to  an  agency  and  to  whose  adoption  the  agency has
11        thereafter consented;
12             (b)  a child to whose adoption a  person  authorized
13        by  law,  other  than  his  parents, has consented, or to
14        whose adoption no consent is required pursuant to Section
15        8 of this Act;
16             (c)  a child who is in the custody  of  persons  who
17        intend  to  adopt  him  through  placement  made  by  his
18        parents;
19             (c-1)  a  child  for  whom  a  parent  has  signed a
20        specific consent pursuant to subsection O of Section  10;
21        or
22             (d)  an  adult who meets the conditions set forth in
23        Section 3 of this Act; or.
24             (e)  a child who has been relinquished as defined in
25        Section 10 of the  Abandoned  Newborn  Infant  Protection
26        Act.
27        A  person  who  would otherwise be available for adoption
28    shall not be deemed unavailable for adoption solely by reason
29    of his or her death.
30        G.  The singular  includes  the  plural  and  the  plural
31    includes  the  singular and the "male" includes the "female",
32    as the context of this Act may require.
33        H.  "Adoption  disruption"  occurs   when   an   adoptive
34    placement  does not prove successful and it becomes necessary
 
HB0632 Engrossed            -37-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    for the  child  to  be  removed  from  placement  before  the
 2    adoption is finalized.
 3        I.  "Foreign  placing  agency" is an agency or individual
 4    operating in a country or territory outside the United States
 5    that is authorized by  its  country  to  place  children  for
 6    adoption  either  directly with families in the United States
 7    or through United States based international agencies.
 8        J.  "Immediate relatives" means the  biological  parents,
 9    the  parents  of  the  biological parents and siblings of the
10    biological parents.
11        K.  "Intercountry adoption" is a process by which a child
12    from a country other than the United States is adopted.
13        L.  "Intercountry Adoption Coordinator" is a staff person
14    of the Department of Children and Family  Services  appointed
15    by  the  Director  to coordinate the provision of services by
16    the public and  private  sector  to  prospective  parents  of
17    foreign-born children.
18        M.  "Interstate  Compact on the Placement of Children" is
19    a law enacted by most states for the purpose of  establishing
20    uniform  procedures  for handling the interstate placement of
21    children in foster homes, adoptive homes, or other child care
22    facilities.
23        N.  "Non-Compact  state"  means  a  state  that  has  not
24    enacted the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
25        O.  "Preadoption   requirements"   are   any   conditions
26    established  by  the  laws  or  regulations  of  the  Federal
27    Government or of each state that must be  met  prior  to  the
28    placement of a child in an adoptive home.
29        P.  "Abused   child"   means  a  child  whose  parent  or
30    immediate family member, or any person  responsible  for  the
31    child's welfare,  or any individual residing in the same home
32    as the child, or a paramour of the child's parent:
33             (a)  inflicts,  causes to be inflicted, or allows to
34        be inflicted upon the child  physical  injury,  by  other
 
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 1        than  accidental means, that causes death, disfigurement,
 2        impairment of physical or emotional health,  or  loss  or
 3        impairment of any bodily function;
 4             (b)  creates  a  substantial risk of physical injury
 5        to the child by other than accidental means  which  would
 6        be  likely  to  cause death, disfigurement, impairment of
 7        physical or emotional health, or loss  or  impairment  of
 8        any bodily function;
 9             (c)  commits  or  allows  to  be  committed  any sex
10        offense against the child, as sex offenses are defined in
11        the Criminal Code of 1961 and extending those definitions
12        of sex offenses to include children  under  18  years  of
13        age;
14             (d)  commits  or  allows  to  be committed an act or
15        acts of torture upon the child; or
16             (e)  inflicts excessive corporal punishment.
17        Q.  "Neglected child" means any  child  whose  parent  or
18    other person responsible for the child's welfare withholds or
19    denies nourishment or medically indicated treatment including
20    food  or  care  denied  solely on the basis of the present or
21    anticipated mental or physical impairment as determined by  a
22    physician   acting   alone  or  in  consultation  with  other
23    physicians or  otherwise  does  not  provide  the  proper  or
24    necessary  support,  education as required by law, or medical
25    or  other  remedial  care  recognized  under  State  law   as
26    necessary  for  a child's well-being, or other care necessary
27    for his or her well-being, including adequate food,  clothing
28    and  shelter;  or  who  is abandoned by his or her parents or
29    other person responsible for the child's welfare.
30        A child shall not be considered neglected or  abused  for
31    the  sole  reason  that  the  child's  parent or other person
32    responsible for his or her  welfare  depends  upon  spiritual
33    means  through  prayer  alone  for  the  treatment or cure of
34    disease or remedial care as provided under Section 4  of  the
 
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 1    Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
 2        R.  "Putative  father"  means  a man who may be a child's
 3    father, but who (1) is not married to the child's  mother  on
 4    or  before  the  date that the child was or is to be born and
 5    (2) has not established paternity of the  child  in  a  court
 6    proceeding  before  the filing of a petition for the adoption
 7    of the child.  The term includes a male who is less  than  18
 8    years  of  age.  "Putative father" does not mean a man who is
 9    the child's father as a result of criminal  sexual  abuse  or
10    assault  as  defined under Article 12 of the Criminal Code of
11    1961.
12        S.  "Standby adoption"  means  an  adoption  in  which  a
13    terminally  ill parent consents to custody and termination of
14    parental rights to become effective upon the occurrence of  a
15    future event, which is either the death of the terminally ill
16    parent  or the request of the parent for the entry of a final
17    judgment of adoption.
18        T.  "Terminally ill parent" means  a  person  who  has  a
19    medical   prognosis  by  a  physician  licensed  to  practice
20    medicine in all of  its  branches  that  the  person  has  an
21    incurable  and  irreversible  condition  which  will  lead to
22    death.
23    (Source: P.A.  90-13,  eff.  6-13-97;  90-15,  eff.  6-13-97;
24    90-27, eff. 1-1-98 except subdiv. (D)(m) eff. 6-25-97; 90-28,
25    eff. 1-1-98 except subdiv. (D)(m) eff. 6-25-97; 90-443,  eff.
26    8-16-97;  90-608, eff. 6-30-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98; 91-357,
27    eff. 7-29-99;  91-373,  eff.  1-1-00;  91-572,  eff.  1-1-00;
28    revised 8-31-99.)

29        Section  999.  Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
30    becoming law.

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