225 ILCS 420/ Child Protective Investigator and Child Welfare Specialist Certification Act of 1987.

(225 ILCS 420/1) (from Ch. 111, par. 7651)

Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Child Protective Investigator and Child Welfare Specialist Certification Act of 1987.

(Source: P.A. 85-206.)

(225 ILCS 420/2) (from Ch. 111, par. 7652)

Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section:

(a) "Department" means the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

(b) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services.

(c) "Child Protective Investigator" means any person qualified as such pursuant to this Act.

(d) "Child Welfare Specialist" means any person qualified as such pursuant to this Act.

(Source: P.A. 85-206.)

(225 ILCS 420/3) (from Ch. 111, par. 7653)

Sec. 3. The Department shall certify as a qualified child protective investigator or child welfare specialist, each applicant for the respective certification who proves to the satisfaction of the Department his fitness to be certified under the terms of this Act. It shall continue to issue to each person a certified status document, which shall be prima facie evidence of the right of the person to whom it is issued to present himself as a certified child protective investigator or a certified child welfare specialist, as the case may be, subject to the conditions and limitations of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 85-206.)

(225 ILCS 420/4) (from Ch. 111, par. 7654)

Sec. 4. The Department, with the cooperation of any community colleges or public entities located in this State, which the Department requests to assist it, shall develop guidelines or criteria for educational and professional requirements and a curriculum in child protection investigation and child welfare services.

(Source: P.A. 85-206.)

(225 ILCS 420/5) (from Ch. 111, par. 7655)

Sec. 5. In addition to the requirements of Section 4, a person shall be qualified to be certified if he or she:

(a) has passed an examination approved by the Department to determine his fitness to perform the duties of or otherwise function as a child protective investigator or child welfare specialist;

(b) is at least 18 years of age;

(c) has completed the curriculum of study or training, developed pursuant to Section 4, at the Department, college or other institution that is approved to do business in this State; and

(d) has a bachelor's degree in an area related to human services such as law enforcement, police science, criminology, social work, early childhood development or psychology, provided that this subsection (d) shall not apply to persons employed by the Department prior to the effective date of this Act.

The Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but such conviction shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to certification.

(Source: P.A. 85-206.)

(225 ILCS 420/6) (from Ch. 111, par. 7656)

Sec. 6. Whoever desires to obtain certification as a child protective investigator or child welfare specialist shall apply to the Department in writing, on forms prepared and furnished by the State of Illinois. Each application shall contain proof of the particular qualifications required of the applicant and shall be verified by the applicant under oath or affirmation.

(Source: P.A. 85-206.)

(225 ILCS 420/7) (from Ch. 111, par. 7657)

Sec. 7. The Department shall give a written examination to qualified applicants for certified status.

Any applicant failing the examination may not be certified but shall be allowed to reapply.

(Source: P.A. 85-206.)

(225 ILCS 420/8) (from Ch. 111, par. 7658)

Sec. 8. The Department shall formulate such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law, as are necessary to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 85-206.)

(225 ILCS 420/9) (from Ch. 111, par. 7659)

Sec. 9. (a) The Department may refuse to certify, or may revoke, suspend, place on probation, censure, reprimand or take other disciplinary action against a certification status in accordance with grievance and due process procedures applicable to existing collective bargaining agreements for any of the following reasons:

(1) material misstatement in furnishing information to the Department;

(2) willfully violating this Act, or of the rules promulgated thereunder;

(3) conviction of any crime under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof which is a felony or which is a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is dishonesty, or of any crime which is directly related to the duties of a child protective investigator or a child welfare specialist;

(4) making any misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining certification;

(5) having demonstrated incompetence to act as a child protective investigator or child welfare specialist in such a manner as to endanger the safety of the public;

(6) willfully aiding or assisting another person in violating any provisions of this Act or rules;

(7) engaging in unethical or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public;

(8) willfully making or filing false records or reports in the capacity of a child protective investigator or child welfare specialist, including but not limited to false records filed with the State agencies or department;

(9) physical or mental deterioration which results in the inability to perform the duties of the profession with reasonable judgment, skill or safety as determined by a qualified physician;

(10) gross negligence;

(11) accepting commissions or rebates or other forms of remuneration for referring persons to other professionals, persons or institutions, during the course of duties.

(b) The determination by a circuit court that a certified child protective investigator or child welfare specialist is subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, as now or hereafter amended, operates as an automatic suspension. Such suspension will end only upon a release of the patient from such involuntary admission or judicial admission.

(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)