Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall make information about the availability of referral services to any other State or local agencies known to a parolee or releasee prior to his or her release from the correctional facility where the parolee or releasee has been residing. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, in determining income eligibility for child care benefits beginning in State fiscal year 2022, the income threshold shall be no less than 200% of the then-current federal poverty level for each family size. Effective July 1, 2021. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Provides that the income threshold established for the child care program in the amendatory Act shall be in effect notwithstanding any other provision of law or administrative rule to the contrary.
Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. In the Section concerning temporary custody of an abused or neglected minor, provides that nothing in the provisions shall restrict the Department of Children and Family Services from immediately restricting or terminating parent-child contact or sibling contacts if the Department or its assigns reasonably believe that continuation of the contact, as set out in the plan, would result in an immediate threat (instead of "would be contrary to") to the child's health, safety, and welfare. Provides that the reasonable belief must be based on credible evidence. Provides that such restrictions on parent-child contact and sibling contacts by the Department or its assigns shall only occur on an individual case-by-case basis. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill as introduced, with the following changes: Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services may immediately restrict or terminate parent-child contact or sibling contacts, without either amending the parent-child visiting plan or the sibling contact plan or obtaining a court order, where the Department or its assigns reasonably believe there is an immediate need to protect the child's health, safety, and welfare. Provides that such restrictions or terminations must be based on available facts to the Department and its assigns when viewed in light of the surrounding circumstances and shall only occur on an individual case-by-case basis.
Creates the Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force Act. Creates the Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force within the Department of Children and Family Services. Requires the Task Force to examine the historical and current role of mandatory reporting and its impact on the racial and gender disparities of families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services; examine the underlying factors that bring families into contact with the Department and the factors that lead to child removal; review the Department's progress on the planning and implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act; examine the current processes and policies, data, and data collection methods for families involved simultaneously in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or criminal justice systems; explore policies and protocols for race-blind child protection screenings and child removal reviews; and other duties. Contains provisions concerning the composition of the Task Force and Task Force meetings. Requires the Task Force to submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor within one year after the Task Force has its first meeting. Provides that the report shall contain policy recommendations that seek to prioritize preserving and reunifying families involved in the child welfare system, particularly Black families; reduce child welfare system involvement, particularly for Black families; and eliminate racial disproportionality in system involvement and the disproportionate impact of system involvement on families. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act repealed, on January 1, 2024. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the Task Force shall include one member (rather than 2 members) from an organization with expertise in the child welfare system that advocates to preserve and reunify families, appointed by the Governor's Office; 2 members who provide legal representation on behalf of the State of Illinois in child protection cases, one from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, appointed by the Governor's Office, and one from a State's Attorney's office outside of Cook County, appointed by the Governor's Office; and one member from a statewide organization advocating for the advancement of civil liberties for at least 80 years in Illinois, appointed by the Governor's Office. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall facilitate the prompt and timely collection and provision of data as requested by or on behalf of the Task Force. Requires the Task Force to explore policies and protocols that honor language, culture, and heritage in identity formation and familial relationships, including, but not limited to, race-blind child protection screenings and child removal reviews, as implemented in other jurisdictions around the United States, and to make recommendations for implementation in Illinois. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that any data provided by the Department of Children and Family Services to the Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force shall not contain any personally identifiable information of any clients or families in accordance with the provisions of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
Amends the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. Adds e-cigarettes and other vapor devices as one of the educational areas the Comprehensive Health Education Program must include. Effective immediately.
Amends the School Code and the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Revises language to make certain actions permissible rather than mandatory with respect to truancy. Eliminates the requirement that the Chicago Board of Education establish an Office of Chronic Truant Adjudication. Instead, requires the chief executive officer or the chief executive officer's designee to implement a socio-emotional focused attendance approach that targets the underlying causes of chronic truancy. Makes changes concerning the Chicago school district's truancy intervention services for a pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian. Makes other changes, including changes concerning penalties. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Restores current law with respect to the provisions concerning a truant officer's determination as to compliance. Instead, provides that those provisions do not apply to the Chicago school district.
Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to adopt written policies related to absences and missed homework or classwork assignments as a result of or related to a student's pregnancy. Effective immediately.
Amends the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a restaurant shall, by default, include a specified type of water, milk, milk alternative, or juice with a children's meal sold by the restaurant. Provides that a restaurant may include another beverage with a children's meal upon request. Provides that, during any inspection of a restaurant by a health officer or health inspector of a local health department, the health officer or health inspector shall inspect the restaurant to determine whether it complies with these provisions. Provides that restaurants that violate the provisions are subject to a warning and specified civil penalties. Allows the Department of Public Health to adopt any rules it deems necessary for the implementation, administration, and enforcement. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that water with no added natural or artificial sweeteners and sparkling water with no added natural or artificial sweeteners (rather than water and sparkling water) are default beverages.
Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. With respect to a charter school's retention of an outside, independent contractor to audit the charter school's finances, provides that the contractor shall not be an employee of the charter school or affiliated with the charter school or its authorizer in any way, other than to audit the charter school's finances. Effective July 1, 2021.
Creates the Advisory Commission on Reducing the Disproportionate Representation of African-American Children in Foster Care Act. Creates the Advisory Commission on Reducing the Disproportionate Representation of African-American Children in Foster Care. Provides that the Commission shall be a coordinating and advocating body that acts on behalf of the interests of African-American children who are at risk of placement within the State's child welfare system. Requires the Commission to advise the Governor and the General Assembly, as well as work directly with State agencies, to identify factors contributing to the overrepresentation of African-American children in foster care; to collaborate with State agencies and other social services organizations to develop effective strategies, policies, services, and programs that are aimed at providing African-American children and their families with the resources and preventive services they need to stay out of foster care and the child welfare system; and to assist in the development of child welfare policies and practices that advance more equitable outcomes for African-American children and their families who have contact with the Department of Children and Family Services. Sets forth specific duties including: examining and developing strategies and policies to address reported racial disproportionality during key stages of the child welfare decision-making process; assisting in the development of cultural competency training programs for child welfare workers; and identifying best practices to safely increase the number of family or relative placements for African-American children. Contains provisions on Commission membership; meetings; and reporting requirements. Effective immediately.
