| ||||
| Public Act 096-1114 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
AN ACT concerning children.
| ||||
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
| ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
| ||||
Section 5. The Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act is | ||||
amended by changing Section 35 as follows: | ||||
(325 ILCS 2/35)
| ||||
Sec. 35. Information for relinquishing person. | ||||
(a) A hospital, police
station, fire station,
or emergency
| ||||
medical facility that receives a newborn infant relinquished in | ||||
accordance with
this
Act must offer an information packet to | ||||
the relinquishing person and, if
possible, must clearly inform | ||||
the relinquishing person that his or her
acceptance of the
| ||||
information is completely voluntary, that registration with | ||||
the Illinois
Adoption Registry and Medical Information | ||||
Exchange is voluntary, that the
person will remain anonymous if | ||||
he or she completes a Denial of Information
Exchange, and that | ||||
the person has the option to provide medical information
only | ||||
and still remain anonymous. The
information packet must include | ||||
all of
the following:
| ||||
(1) Blank All Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical | ||||
Information Exchange
application forms, including the | ||||
Medical Information
Exchange Questionnaire and
the web | ||||
site address and toll-free phone number of the Registry.
| ||||
(2) Written notice of the following:
| ||
(A) No sooner than 60 days following the date of | ||
the
initial relinquishment of the infant to a hospital, | ||
police station,
fire station, or emergency medical | ||
facility, the child-placing agency or the
Department | ||
will
commence proceedings for the termination of
| ||
parental rights and placement of the infant for
| ||
adoption.
| ||
(B) Failure of a parent of the
infant to contact | ||
the Department and
petition for the return of custody | ||
of the
infant before termination of parental rights
| ||
bars any future action asserting legal rights
with | ||
respect to the infant.
| ||
(3) A resource list of providers of counseling
services | ||
including grief counseling, pregnancy counseling, and
| ||
counseling regarding adoption and other available options | ||
for placement of the
infant.
| ||
Upon request of a parent, the Department of Public Health | ||
shall provide the
application forms for the Illinois Adoption | ||
Registry and Medical Information
Exchange to hospitals, police | ||
stations, fire stations, and emergency
medical facilities.
| ||
(b) The information packet given to a relinquishing parent | ||
in accordance with this Act shall include, in addition to other | ||
information required under this Act, the following: | ||
(1) A brochure (with a self-mailer attached) that | ||
describes this Act and the rights of birth parents, | ||
including an optional section for the parent to complete | ||
and mail to the Department of Children and Family Services, | ||
that shall ask for basic anonymous background information | ||
about the relinquished child. This brochure shall be | ||
maintained by the Department on its website. | ||
(2) A brochure that describes the Illinois Adoption | ||
Registry, including a toll-free number and website | ||
information. This brochure shall be maintained on the | ||
Office of Vital Records website. | ||
(3) A brochure describing postpartum health | ||
information for the mother. | ||
The information packet shall be designed in coordination | ||
between the Office of Vital Records and the Department of | ||
Children and Family Services, with the exception of the | ||
resource list of providers of counseling services and adoption | ||
agencies, which shall be provided by the hospital, fire | ||
station, police station, sheriff's office, or emergency | ||
medical facility. | ||
(Source: P.A. 92-408, eff. 8-17-01; 92-432, eff. 8-17-01; | ||
93-820, eff. 7-27-04.)
| ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
| ||