State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_SB0216eng

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29        Section 65.  Evaluation.
30        (a)  The Department shall collect and analyze information
31    regarding the relinquishment of newborn infants and placement
32    of children under this Act.  Fire stations, emergency medical
 
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 1    facilities, and medical professionals accepting and providing
 2    services  to  a newborn infant under this Act shall report to
 3    the Department data necessary for the Department to  evaluate
 4    and  determine  the  effect of this Act in the  prevention of
 5    injury or death of newborn infants.   Child-placing  agencies
 6    shall report to the Department data necessary to evaluate and
 7    determine  the  effectiveness  of these agencies in providing
 8    child  protective  and  child  welfare  services  to  newborn
 9    infants relinquished under this Act.
10        (b)  The information collected shall  include,  but  need
11    not   be   limited   to:   the   number  of  newborn  infants
12    relinquished; the services provided to  relinquished  newborn
13    infants;  the  outcome  of  care for the relinquished newborn
14    infants; the number and disposition of cases of  relinquished
15    newborn  infants subject to placement; the number of children
16    accepted  and  served  by  child-placing  agencies;  and  the
17    services  provided  by   child-placing   agencies   and   the
18    disposition  of  the  cases of the children placed under this
19    Act.
20        (c)  The Department shall submit a report by  January  1,
21    2002, and on January 1 of each even-numbered year thereafter,
22    to the Governor and General Assembly regarding the prevention
23    of  injury  or  death  of  newborn  infants and the effect of
24    placements of children under  this  Act.   The  report  shall
25    include,  but  need not be limited to, a summary of collected
26    data, an analysis of the data and conclusions  regarding  the
27    Act's  effectiveness, a determination whether the purposes of
28    the Act are being achieved, and recommendations  for  changes
29    that   may   be   considered   necessary   to   improve   the
30    administration and enforcement of this Act.

31        Section  70.  Construction  of  Act.  Nothing in this Act
32    shall be construed to preclude the courts of this State  from
33    exercising  their discretion to protect the health and safety
 
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 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 90.  The Illinois Public Aid Code is  amended  by
 8    changing Section 4-1.2 as follows:

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

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

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

 9        Section 95.  The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 is amended by
10    changing Section 2-3 as follows:

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

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

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

21        (720 ILCS 5/12-21.6)
22        Sec. 12-21.6.  Endangering the life or health of a child.
23        (a)  It  is unlawful for any person to willfully cause or
24    permit the life or health of a child under the age of  18  to
25    be  endangered  or to willfully cause or permit a child to be
26    placed in circumstances that endanger  the  child's  life  or
27    health,  except  that  it  is  not  unlawful  for a person to
28    relinquish a child in accordance with the  Abandoned  Newborn
29    Infant Protection Act.
30        (b)  A   violation   of   this   Section  is  a  Class  A
31    misdemeanor.   A  second  or  subsequent  violation  of  this
32    Section is a Class 3 felony.  A  violation  of  this  Section
33    that  is  a  proximate  cause  of the death of the child is a
 
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 1    Class 3 felony for which a person, if sentenced to a term  of
 2    imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 2
 3    years and not more than 10 years.
 4    (Source: P.A. 90-687, eff. 7-31-98.)

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

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

10        Section  97.   The  Adoption  Act  is amended by changing
11    Section 1 as follows:

12        (750 ILCS 50/1) (from Ch. 40, par. 1501)
13        Sec. 1.  Definitions.  When used in this Act, unless  the
14    context otherwise requires:
15        A.  "Child"  means  a  person  under legal age subject to
16    adoption under this Act.
17        B.  "Related child" means a  child  subject  to  adoption
18    where either or both of the adopting parents stands in any of
19    the   following  relationships  to  the  child  by  blood  or
20    marriage: parent, grand-parent, brother, sister, step-parent,
21    step-grandparent,  step-brother,  step-sister,  uncle,  aunt,
22    great-uncle, great-aunt, or cousin of first degree.  A  child
23    whose  parent  has  executed  a  final irrevocable consent to
24    adoption or a final irrevocable  surrender  for  purposes  of
25    adoption,  or whose parent has had his or her parental rights
26    terminated, is not a related child to that person, unless the
27    consent is determined to be  void  or  is  void  pursuant  to
28    subsection O of Section 10.
29        C.  "Agency"  for  the purpose of this Act means a public
30    child welfare agency or a licensed child welfare agency.
31        D.  "Unfit person" means any person whom the court  shall
32    find  to  be  unfit  to  have  a child, without regard to the
 
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 1    likelihood that the child will be placed for  adoption.   The
 2    grounds  of  unfitness  are any one or more of the following,
 3    except that a person shall not be considered an unfit  person
 4    for  the sole reason that the person has relinquished a child
 5    in accordance with the Abandoned  Newborn  Infant  Protection
 6    Act:
 7             (a)  Abandonment of the child.
 8             (a-1)  Abandonment   of   a   newborn  infant  in  a
 9        hospital.
10             (a-2)  Abandonment  of  a  newborn  infant  in   any
11        setting  where  the  evidence  suggests  that  the parent
12        intended to relinquish his or her parental rights.
13             (b)  Failure to  maintain  a  reasonable  degree  of
14        interest,  concern  or  responsibility  as to the child's
15        welfare.
16             (c)  Desertion of the child for more than  3  months
17        next   preceding   the   commencement   of  the  Adoption
18        proceeding.
19             (d)  Substantial neglect of the child if  continuous
20        or repeated.
21             (d-1)  Substantial   neglect,   if   continuous   or
22        repeated,  of  any  child residing in the household which
23        resulted in the death of that child.
24             (e)  Extreme or repeated cruelty to the child.
25             (f)  Two or more findings of physical abuse  to  any
26        children  under  Section 4-8 of the Juvenile Court Act or
27        Section 2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the  most
28        recent  of  which  was  determined  by the juvenile court
29        hearing  the  matter  to  be  supported  by   clear   and
30        convincing  evidence;  a criminal conviction or a finding
31        of not guilty by reason of insanity  resulting  from  the
32        death  of any child by physical child abuse; or a finding
33        of physical child abuse resulting from the death  of  any
34        child  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.
 2             (g)  Failure to protect the  child  from  conditions
 3        within his environment injurious to the child's welfare.
 4             (h)  Other  neglect  of,  or  misconduct  toward the
 5        child; provided that in making a finding of unfitness the
 6        court hearing the adoption proceeding shall not be  bound
 7        by  any  previous finding, order or judgment affecting or
 8        determining the rights of the parents  toward  the  child
 9        sought  to be adopted in any other proceeding except such
10        proceedings terminating parental rights as shall  be  had
11        under  either  this  Act,  the  Juvenile Court Act or the
12        Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
13             (i)  Depravity.   Conviction  of  any  one  of   the
14        following crimes shall create a presumption that a parent
15        is  depraved  which  can  be  overcome  only by clear and
16        convincing evidence: (1) first degree murder in violation
17        of paragraph 1 or 2 of subsection (a) of Section  9-1  of
18        the  Criminal Code of 1961 or conviction of second degree
19        murder in violation of subsection (a) of Section  9-2  of
20        the  Criminal Code of 1961 of a parent of the child to be
21        adopted; (2) first degree murder or second degree  murder
22        of  any  child in violation of the Criminal Code of 1961;
23        (3) attempt or conspiracy to commit first  degree  murder
24        or  second degree murder of any child in violation of the
25        Criminal Code of 1961; (4) solicitation to commit  murder
26        of  any child, solicitation to commit murder of any child
27        for hire, or solicitation to commit second degree  murder
28        of  any  child in violation of the Criminal Code of 1961;
29        or (5) aggravated criminal sexual assault in violation of
30        Section 12-14(b)(1) of the Criminal Code of 1961.
31             There is a rebuttable presumption that a  parent  is
32        depraved  if  the parent has been criminally convicted of
33        at least 3 felonies under the laws of this State  or  any
34        other  state,  or under federal law, or the criminal laws
 
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 1        of any United States territory; and at least one of these
 2        convictions took place within 5 years of  the  filing  of
 3        the  petition  or  motion seeking termination of parental
 4        rights.
 5             There is a rebuttable presumption that a  parent  is
 6        depraved  if that parent has been criminally convicted of
 7        either first or second degree murder  of  any  person  as
 8        defined  in  the Criminal Code of 1961 within 10 years of
 9        the filing date of the petition or  motion  to  terminate
10        parental rights.
11             (j)  Open and notorious adultery or fornication.
12             (j-1)  (Blank).
13             (k)  Habitual  drunkenness  or  addiction  to drugs,
14        other than those prescribed by a physician, for at  least
15        one  year  immediately  prior  to the commencement of the
16        unfitness proceeding.
17             There is a rebuttable presumption that a  parent  is
18        unfit  under this subsection with respect to any child to
19        which that parent gives birth where there is a  confirmed
20        test  result  that  at birth the child's blood, urine, or
21        meconium contained any amount of a  controlled  substance
22        as  defined  in  subsection  (f)  of  Section  102 of the
23        Illinois Controlled Substances Act or metabolites of such
24        substances, the presence of which in the  newborn  infant
25        was  not  the result of medical treatment administered to
26        the mother or the  newborn  infant;  and  the  biological
27        mother of this child is the biological mother of at least
28        one  other  child  who  was adjudicated a neglected minor
29        under subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court
30        Act of 1987.
31             (l)  Failure to demonstrate a reasonable  degree  of
32        interest,  concern or responsibility as to the welfare of
33        a new born child during  the  first  30  days  after  its
34        birth.
 
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 1             (m)  Failure  by  a  parent  (i)  to make reasonable
 2        efforts to correct the conditions that were the basis for
 3        the removal of the child from the parent, or (ii) to make
 4        reasonable progress toward the return of the child to the
 5        parent within 9 months after an adjudication of neglected
 6        or abused minor under Section 2-3 of the  Juvenile  Court
 7        Act  of 1987 or dependent minor under Section 2-4 of that
 8        Act, or (iii) to  make  reasonable  progress  toward  the
 9        return  of  the  child  to  the parent during any 9-month
10        period after  the  end  of  the  initial  9-month  period
11        following  the  adjudication of neglected or abused minor
12        under Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act  of  1987  or
13        dependent  minor  under  Section  2-4  of  that Act. If a
14        service plan  has  been  established  as  required  under
15        Section  8.2  of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting
16        Act to correct the conditions that were the basis for the
17        removal of  the  child  from  the  parent  and  if  those
18        services  were available, then, for purposes of this Act,
19        "failure to make reasonable progress toward the return of
20        the child  to  the  parent"  includes  (I)  the  parent's
21        failure  to  substantially fulfill his or her obligations
22        under the service plan and correct  the  conditions  that
23        brought  the  child  into  care within 9 months after the
24        adjudication under Section 2-3 or  2-4  of  the  Juvenile
25        Court  Act  of  1987  and  (II)  the  parent's failure to
26        substantially fulfill his or her  obligations  under  the
27        service  plan and correct the conditions that brought the
28        child into care during any 9-month period after  the  end
29        of  the initial 9-month period following the adjudication
30        under Section 2-3 or 2-4 of the  Juvenile  Court  Act  of
31        1987.
32             (m-1)  Pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, a
33        child has been in foster care for 15 months out of any 22
34        month  period which begins on or after the effective date
 
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 1        of this amendatory Act of 1998 unless the child's  parent
 2        can  prove  by a preponderance of the evidence that it is
 3        more likely  than  not  that  it  will  be  in  the  best
 4        interests  of  the  child  to  be  returned to the parent
 5        within 6 months of the  date  on  which  a  petition  for
 6        termination   of  parental  rights  is  filed  under  the
 7        Juvenile Court Act of 1987.  The 15 month time  limit  is
 8        tolled  during  any  period  for  which  there is a court
 9        finding that the appointed custodian or  guardian  failed
10        to  make reasonable efforts to reunify the child with his
11        or her family,  provided  that  (i)  the  finding  of  no
12        reasonable  efforts  is made within 60 days of the period
13        when reasonable efforts were not made or (ii) the  parent
14        filed  a  motion  requesting  a  finding of no reasonable
15        efforts within 60 days  of  the  period  when  reasonable
16        efforts  were not made.  For purposes of this subdivision
17        (m-1), the date of entering foster care  is  the  earlier
18        of: (i) the date of a judicial finding at an adjudicatory
19        hearing  that  the  child  is  an  abused,  neglected, or
20        dependent minor; or (ii) 60 days after the date on  which
21        the child is removed from his or her parent, guardian, or
22        legal custodian.
23             (n)  Evidence of intent to forgo his or her parental
24        rights,  whether or not the child is a ward of the court,
25        (1) as manifested by his or her failure for a  period  of
26        12  months:  (i)  to visit the child, (ii) to communicate
27        with the child or agency, although able to do so and  not
28        prevented  from  doing so by an agency or by court order,
29        or (iii) to maintain contact with or plan for the  future
30        of  the  child, although physically able to do so, or (2)
31        as manifested by the father's failure, where he  and  the
32        mother  of  the child were unmarried to each other at the
33        time  of  the  child's  birth,  (i)  to  commence   legal
34        proceedings to establish his paternity under the Illinois
 
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 1        Parentage  Act  of 1984 or the law of the jurisdiction of
 2        the child's birth  within  30  days  of  being  informed,
 3        pursuant  to  Section  12a  of  this  Act, that he is the
 4        father or the likely father of the child or, after  being
 5        so  informed  where  the child is not yet born, within 30
 6        days of the child's birth, or (ii) to make a  good  faith
 7        effort to pay a reasonable amount of the expenses related
 8        to  the  birth  of  the child and to provide a reasonable
 9        amount for the financial support of the child, the  court
10        to   consider   in   its   determination   all   relevant
11        circumstances,  including the financial condition of both
12        parents;  provided  that  the  ground   for   termination
13        provided  in  this  subparagraph (n)(2)(ii) shall only be
14        available where the petition is brought by the mother  or
15        the husband of the mother.
16             Contact or communication by a parent with his or her
17        child  that  does  not  demonstrate affection and concern
18        does not constitute reasonable contact and planning under
19        subdivision (n).  In  the  absence  of  evidence  to  the
20        contrary,  the  ability  to  visit, communicate, maintain
21        contact, pay expenses and plan for the  future  shall  be
22        presumed.   The  subjective intent of the parent, whether
23        expressed or otherwise, unsupported by  evidence  of  the
24        foregoing  parental  acts  manifesting that intent, shall
25        not preclude a determination that the parent has intended
26        to forgo his or her  parental  rights.   In  making  this
27        determination,  the  court  may  consider  but  shall not
28        require a showing of diligent efforts  by  an  authorized
29        agency  to  encourage  the  parent  to  perform  the acts
30        specified in subdivision (n).
31             It shall be an affirmative defense to any allegation
32        under paragraph (2) of this subsection that the  father's
33        failure was due to circumstances beyond his control or to
34        impediments  created  by  the  mother or any other person
 
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 1        having legal custody.  Proof of that fact need only be by
 2        a preponderance of the evidence.
 3             (o)  Repeated or continuous failure by the  parents,
 4        although  physically and financially able, to provide the
 5        child with adequate food, clothing, or shelter.
 6             (p)  Inability      to      discharge       parental
 7        responsibilities  supported  by competent evidence from a
 8        psychiatrist,  licensed  clinical   social   worker,   or
 9        clinical   psychologist   of  mental  impairment,  mental
10        illness or mental retardation as defined in Section 1-116
11        of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code,
12        or developmental disability as defined in  Section  1-106
13        of  that  Code,  and there is sufficient justification to
14        believe  that  the  inability   to   discharge   parental
15        responsibilities  shall  extend  beyond a reasonable time
16        period.  However,  this  subdivision  (p)  shall  not  be
17        construed  so  as  to  permit  a licensed clinical social
18        worker to conduct  any  medical  diagnosis  to  determine
19        mental illness or mental impairment.
20             (q)  The  parent  has  been  criminally convicted of
21        aggravated battery, heinous battery, or attempted  murder
22        of any child.
23             (r)  The  child  is  in  the  temporary  custody  or
24        guardianship  of  the  Department  of Children and Family
25        Services, the parent  is  incarcerated  as  a  result  of
26        criminal  conviction  at  the time the petition or motion
27        for termination of parental rights  is  filed,  prior  to
28        incarceration  the  parent  had little or no contact with
29        the child or provided little or no support for the child,
30        and the parent's incarceration will  prevent  the  parent
31        from discharging his or her parental responsibilities for
32        the  child  for  a  period in excess of 2 years after the
33        filing of the  petition  or  motion  for  termination  of
34        parental rights.
 
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 1             (s)  The  child  is  in  the  temporary  custody  or
 2        guardianship  of  the  Department  of Children and Family
 3        Services, the parent is  incarcerated  at  the  time  the
 4        petition  or motion for termination of parental rights is
 5        filed, the parent has been repeatedly incarcerated  as  a
 6        result of criminal convictions, and the parent's repeated
 7        incarceration  has  prevented the parent from discharging
 8        his or her parental responsibilities for the child.
 9             (t)  A finding that  at  birth  the  child's  blood,
10        urine,  or  meconium contained any amount of a controlled
11        substance as defined in subsection (f) of Section 102  of
12        the  Illinois  Controlled Substances Act, or a metabolite
13        of  a  controlled  substance,  with  the   exception   of
14        controlled  substances or metabolites of such substances,
15        the presence of which  in  the  newborn  infant  was  the
16        result of medical treatment administered to the mother or
17        the  newborn  infant,  and  that the biological mother of
18        this child is the biological mother of at least one other
19        child  who  was  adjudicated  a  neglected  minor   under
20        subsection  (c)  of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act
21        of 1987,  after  which  the  biological  mother  had  the
22        opportunity  to enroll in and participate in a clinically
23        appropriate substance abuse  counseling,  treatment,  and
24        rehabilitation program.
25        E.  "Parent"  means  the father or mother of a legitimate
26    or illegitimate child.  For the purpose of this Act, a person
27    who has executed a final and irrevocable consent to  adoption
28    or   a  final  and  irrevocable  surrender  for  purposes  of
29    adoption, or whose parental rights have been terminated by  a
30    court,  is  not  a parent of the child who was the subject of
31    the consent or surrender, unless the consent is void pursuant
32    to subsection O of Section 10.
33        F.  A person is available for adoption  when  the  person
34    is:
 
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 1             (a)  a  child  who has been surrendered for adoption
 2        to an  agency  and  to  whose  adoption  the  agency  has
 3        thereafter consented;
 4             (b)  a  child  to whose adoption a person authorized
 5        by law, other than his  parents,  has  consented,  or  to
 6        whose adoption no consent is required pursuant to Section
 7        8 of this Act;
 8             (c)  a  child  who  is in the custody of persons who
 9        intend  to  adopt  him  through  placement  made  by  his
10        parents;
11             (c-1)  a child  for  whom  a  parent  has  signed  a
12        specific  consent pursuant to subsection O of Section 10;
13        or
14             (d)  an adult who meets the conditions set forth  in
15        Section 3 of this Act; or.
16             (e)  a child who has been relinquished as defined in
17        Section  10  of  the  Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection
18        Act.
19        A person who would otherwise be  available  for  adoption
20    shall not be deemed unavailable for adoption solely by reason
21    of his or her death.
22        G.  The  singular  includes  the  plural  and  the plural
23    includes the singular and the "male" includes  the  "female",
24    as the context of this Act may require.
25        H.  "Adoption   disruption"   occurs   when  an  adoptive
26    placement does not prove successful and it becomes  necessary
27    for  the  child  to  be  removed  from  placement  before the
28    adoption is finalized.
29        I.  "Foreign placing agency" is an agency  or  individual
30    operating in a country or territory outside the United States
31    that  is  authorized  by  its  country  to place children for
32    adoption either directly with families in the  United  States
33    or through United States based international agencies.
34        J.  "Immediate  relatives"  means the biological parents,
 
SB216 Engrossed             -36-               LRB9203754DJmb
 1    the parents of the biological parents  and  siblings  of  the
 2    biological parents.
 3        K.  "Intercountry adoption" is a process by which a child
 4    from a country other than the United States is adopted.
 5        L.  "Intercountry Adoption Coordinator" is a staff person
 6    of  the  Department of Children and Family Services appointed
 7    by the Director to coordinate the provision  of  services  by
 8    the  public  and  private  sector  to  prospective parents of
 9    foreign-born children.
10        M.  "Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children"  is
11    a  law enacted by most states for the purpose of establishing
12    uniform procedures for handling the interstate  placement  of
13    children in foster homes, adoptive homes, or other child care
14    facilities.
15        N.  "Non-Compact  state"  means  a  state  that  has  not
16    enacted the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
17        O.  "Preadoption   requirements"   are   any   conditions
18    established  by  the  laws  or  regulations  of  the  Federal
19    Government  or  of  each  state that must be met prior to the
20    placement of a child in an adoptive home.
21        P.  "Abused  child"  means  a  child  whose   parent   or
22    immediate  family  member,  or any person responsible for the
23    child's welfare,  or any individual residing in the same home
24    as the child, or a paramour of the child's parent:
25             (a)  inflicts, causes to be inflicted, or allows  to
26        be  inflicted  upon  the  child physical injury, by other
27        than accidental means, that causes death,  disfigurement,
28        impairment  of  physical  or emotional health, or loss or
29        impairment of any bodily function;
30             (b)  creates a substantial risk of  physical  injury
31        to  the  child by other than accidental means which would
32        be likely to cause death,  disfigurement,  impairment  of
33        physical  or  emotional  health, or loss or impairment of
34        any bodily function;
 
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 1             (c)  commits or  allows  to  be  committed  any  sex
 2        offense against the child, as sex offenses are defined in
 3        the Criminal Code of 1961 and extending those definitions
 4        of  sex  offenses  to  include children under 18 years of
 5        age;
 6             (d)  commits or allows to be  committed  an  act  or
 7        acts of torture upon the child; or
 8             (e)  inflicts excessive corporal punishment.
 9        Q.  "Neglected  child"  means  any  child whose parent or
10    other person responsible for the child's welfare withholds or
11    denies nourishment or medically indicated treatment including
12    food or care denied solely on the basis  of  the  present  or
13    anticipated  mental or physical impairment as determined by a
14    physician  acting  alone  or  in  consultation   with   other
15    physicians  or  otherwise  does  not  provide  the  proper or
16    necessary support, education as required by law,  or  medical
17    or   other  remedial  care  recognized  under  State  law  as
18    necessary for a child's well-being, or other  care  necessary
19    for  his or her well-being, including adequate food, clothing
20    and shelter; or who is abandoned by his  or  her  parents  or
21    other person responsible for the child's welfare.
22        A  child  shall not be considered neglected or abused for
23    the sole reason that  the  child's  parent  or  other  person
24    responsible  for  his  or  her welfare depends upon spiritual
25    means through prayer alone  for  the  treatment  or  cure  of
26    disease  or  remedial care as provided under Section 4 of the
27    Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
28        R.  "Putative father" means a man who may  be  a  child's
29    father,  but  who (1) is not married to the child's mother on
30    or before the date that the child was or is to  be  born  and
31    (2)  has  not  established  paternity of the child in a court
32    proceeding before the filing of a petition for  the  adoption
33    of  the  child.  The term includes a male who is less than 18
34    years of age.  "Putative father" does not mean a man  who  is
 
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 1    the  child's  father  as a result of criminal sexual abuse or
 2    assault as defined under Article 12 of the Criminal  Code  of
 3    1961.
 4        S.  "Standby  adoption"  means  an  adoption  in  which a
 5    terminally ill parent consents to custody and termination  of
 6    parental  rights to become effective upon the occurrence of a
 7    future event, which is either the death of the terminally ill
 8    parent or the request of the parent for the entry of a  final
 9    judgment of adoption.
10        T.  "Terminally  ill  parent"  means  a  person who has a
11    medical  prognosis  by  a  physician  licensed  to   practice
12    medicine  in  all  of  its  branches  that  the person has an
13    incurable and  irreversible  condition  which  will  lead  to
14    death.
15    (Source: P.A.  90-13,  eff.  6-13-97;  90-15,  eff.  6-13-97;
16    90-27, eff. 1-1-98 except subdiv. (D)(m) eff. 6-25-97; 90-28,
17    eff.  1-1-98 except subdiv. (D)(m) eff. 6-25-97; 90-443, eff.
18    8-16-97; 90-608, eff. 6-30-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98;  91-357,
19    eff.  7-29-99;  91-373,  eff.  1-1-00;  91-572,  eff. 1-1-00;
20    revised 8-31-99.)

21        Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes  effect  upon
22    becoming law.

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