Thanks to State Senator Karen McConnaughay, McHenry County Blog continues to publish synopises of laws that go into effect New Year’s Day.
Children and Families
Youth Diversion Task Force (SB 320/PA 99-0894): Creates a youth diversion task force within DHS to identify existing diversion programs, available funding sources, and any possible barriers to the program.
Teen REACH Program Act (SB 2407/PA 99-0700): Establishes a state grant program called Teen Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring, and Hope (Teen REACH) Grant Program. This grant program is intended to support local communities by providing grant funding to after-school activities for children ages 6-17.
Adoption Information Additions (HB 4590/PA 99-0832): Includes facts surrounding adoption to the list of non-identifying information that is provided to adult adoptees upon request. Adds the reason or reasons the birth parent or parents stated for placing the child for adoption, how and why the adoptive parent or parents were selected and who selected the adoptive parent or parents, and whether the birth parent or parents requested or agreed to post-adoption contact with the child at the time of placement and, if so, the frequency and type of contact.
Adoption-only Homes (HB 4641/PA 99-0833): Provides a process for adoption-only homes that does not require the home to be licensed as a foster care home.
Foster Care Records and Licensing (HB 4966/PA 99-0779): Provides a guardian or attorney for the child access to foster care licensing records of the home a child was placed in. Also provides a process for review of past performance of foster care license applicants through a quality of care concerns preliminary application process.
Incarcerated Parents Rights (HB 5551/PA 99-0836): Includes foster parents in the definition of fictive kin and requires incarcerated parents be included in DCFS case planning and to allow DCFS to not seek termination of parental rights when a parent is incarcerated if specific efforts by the parent are shown.
Grandparent Visitation (HB 5656/PA 99-0838): Allows grandparent and great-grandparent visitation of children who are in DCFS care.
Ward Children Notification (HB 5924/PA 99-0821): Unless there is a court order to the contrary, a guardian must use reasonable efforts to notify a ward’s known adult children who have requested notification and provided contact information of the ward’s admission to a hospital or hospice program, the ward’s death, and the arrangements for the disposition of the ward’s remains.