State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_SB0216enr

 
SB216 Enrolled                                 LRB9203754DJmb

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

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

26        Section 27.  Immunity of  facility  and  personnel.     A
27    hospital,  fire  station,  or emergency medical facility, and
28    any personnel of  a  hospital,  fire  station,  or  emergency
29    medical facility, are immune from criminal or civil liability
30    for acting in good faith in accordance with this Act. Nothing
31    in  this  Act  limits  liability  for negligence for care and
32    medical treatment.
 
SB216 Enrolled             -6-                 LRB9203754DJmb
 1        Section 30. Anonymity of relinquishing person.  If  there
 2    is  no evidence of abuse or neglect of a relinquished newborn
 3    infant, the relinquishing person  has  the  right  to  remain
 4    anonymous  and  to  leave  the  hospital,  fire  station,  or
 5    emergency  medical facility at any time and not be pursued or
 6    followed.   Before  the  relinquishing  person   leaves   the
 7    hospital,  fire  station,  or emergency medical facility, the
 8    hospital,  fire  station,  or  emergency   medical   facility
 9    personnel  shall  i) verbally inform the relinquishing person
10    that by relinquishing the child anonymously, he or  she  will
11    have  to  petition  the court if he or she desires to prevent
12    the termination of parental rights and regain custody of  the
13    child  and  ii)  shall  offer  the  relinquishing  person the
14    information packet described  in  Section  35  of  this  Act.
15    However, nothing in this Act shall be construed as precluding
16    the  relinquishing  person from providing his or her identity
17    or completing the application forms for the Illinois Adoption
18    Registry and Medical Information Exchange and requesting that
19    the hospital, fire station,  or  emergency  medical  facility
20    forward  those  forms  to  the Illinois Adoption Registry and
21    Medical information Exchange.

22        Section 35.  Information  for  relinquishing  person.   A
23    hospital,  fire  station,  or emergency medical facility that
24    receives a newborn infant  relinquished  in  accordance  with
25    this   Act   must   offer   an   information  packet  to  the
26    relinquishing person and, if possible,  must  clearly  inform
27    the  relinquishing  person  that his or her acceptance of the
28    information is completely voluntary, that  registration  with
29    the   Illinois  Adoption  Registry  and  Medical  Information
30    Exchange is voluntary, that the person will remain  anonymous
31    if  he or she completes a Denial of Information Exchange, and
32    that the person has the option to provide medical information
33    only and still remain anonymous.  The information packet must
 
SB216 Enrolled             -7-                 LRB9203754DJmb
 1    include all of the following:
 2             (1)  All  Illinois  Adoption  Registry  and  Medical
 3        Information Exchange  application  forms,  including  the
 4        Medical  Information  Exchange  Questionnaire and the web
 5        site address and toll-free phone number of the Registry.
 6             (2)  Written notice of the following:
 7                  (A)  No sooner than 60 days following the  date
 8             of  the  initial  relinquishment  of the infant to a
 9             hospital,  fire  station,   or   emergency   medical
10             facility, the child-placing agency or the Department
11             will  commence  proceedings  for  the termination of
12             parental rights and  placement  of  the  infant  for
13             adoption.
14                  (B)  Failure  of  a  parent  of  the  infant to
15             contact the Department and petition for  the  return
16             of  custody  of  the  infant  before  termination of
17             parental rights bars  any  future  action  asserting
18             legal rights with respect to the infant.
19             (3)  A  resource  list  of  providers  of counseling
20        services   including    grief    counseling,    pregnancy
21        counseling,  and  counseling regarding adoption and other
22        available options for placement of the infant.
23        Upon request,  the  Department  of  Public  Health  shall
24    provide  the  application  forms  for  the  Illinois Adoption
25    Registry and Medical Information Exchange to hospitals,  fire
26    stations, and emergency medical facilities.

27        Section 40. Reporting requirements.
28        (a)  Within  12  hours  after  accepting a newborn infant
29    from a  relinquishing  person  or  from  a  fire  station  or
30    emergency  medical  facility  in  accordance with this Act, a
31    hospital  must  report  to  the  Department's  State  Central
32    Registry for the purpose of transferring physical custody  of
33    the infant from the hospital to either a child-placing agency
 
SB216 Enrolled             -8-                 LRB9203754DJmb
 1    or the Department.
 2        (b)  Within  24  hours  after  receiving  a  report under
 3    subsection (a), the Department must request  assistance  from
 4    law enforcement officials to investigate the matter using the
 5    National   Crime   Information  Center  to  ensure  that  the
 6    relinquished newborn infant is not a missing child.
 7        (c)  Once a hospital has made a report to the  Department
 8    under  subsection  (a),  the  Department  must  arrange for a
 9    licensed child-placing agency to accept physical  custody  of
10    the relinquished newborn infant.
11        (d)  If  a  relinquished child is not a newborn infant as
12    defined in this Act, the hospital  and  the  Department  must
13    proceed as if the child is an abused or neglected child.

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

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

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

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

25        Section 65.  Evaluation.
26        (a)  The Department shall collect and analyze information
27    regarding the relinquishment of newborn infants and placement
28    of children under this Act.  Fire stations, emergency medical
29    facilities, and medical professionals accepting and providing
30    services  to  a newborn infant under this Act shall report to
31    the Department data necessary for the Department to  evaluate
32    and  determine  the  effect of this Act in the  prevention of
 
SB216 Enrolled             -13-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1    injury or death of newborn infants.   Child-placing  agencies
 2    shall report to the Department data necessary to evaluate and
 3    determine  the  effectiveness  of these agencies in providing
 4    child  protective  and  child  welfare  services  to  newborn
 5    infants relinquished under this Act.
 6        (b)  The information collected shall  include,  but  need
 7    not   be   limited   to:   the   number  of  newborn  infants
 8    relinquished; the services provided to  relinquished  newborn
 9    infants;  the  outcome  of  care for the relinquished newborn
10    infants; the number and disposition of cases of  relinquished
11    newborn  infants subject to placement; the number of children
12    accepted  and  served  by  child-placing  agencies;  and  the
13    services  provided  by   child-placing   agencies   and   the
14    disposition  of  the  cases of the children placed under this
15    Act.
16        (c)  The Department shall submit a report by  January  1,
17    2002,  and  on  January  1  of  each  year thereafter, to the
18    Governor and General Assembly  regarding  the  prevention  of
19    injury  or  death  of  newborn  infants  and  the  effect  of
20    placements  of  children  under  this  Act.  The report shall
21    include, but need not be limited to, a summary  of  collected
22    data,  an  analysis of the data and conclusions regarding the
23    Act's effectiveness, a determination whether the purposes  of
24    the  Act  are being achieved, and recommendations for changes
25    that   may   be   considered   necessary   to   improve   the
26    administration and enforcement of this Act.

27        Section 70. Construction of  Act.  Nothing  in  this  Act
28    shall  be construed to preclude the courts of this State from
29    exercising their discretion to protect the health and  safety
30    of  children  in  individual  cases.  The  best interests and
31    welfare of a child shall be a paramount consideration in  the
32    construction  and  interpretation  of  this Act. It is in the
33    child's  best  interests  that  this  Act  be  construed  and
 
SB216 Enrolled             -14-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1    interpreted so as not to  result  in  extending  time  limits
 2    beyond those set forth in this Act.


 3        Section 75. Repeal. This Act is repealed on July 1, 2007.

 4        Section  90.   The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
 5    changing Section 4-1.2 as follows:

 6        (305 ILCS 5/4-1.2) (from Ch. 23, par. 4-1.2)
 7        Sec. 4-1.2. Living Arrangements - Parents -  Relatives  -
 8    Foster Care.
 9        (a)  The child or children must (1) be living with his or
10    their  father,  mother,  grandfather,  grandmother,  brother,
11    sister,   stepfather,  stepmother,  stepbrother,  stepsister,
12    uncle or aunt, or other relative  approved  by  the  Illinois
13    Department, in a place of residence maintained by one or more
14    of  such relatives as his or their own home, or (2) have been
15    (a) removed from the home of the parents or  other  relatives
16    by  judicial  order  under  the  Juvenile  Court  Act  or the
17    Juvenile Court Act of 1987, as amended, (b) placed under  the
18    guardianship   of  the  Department  of  Children  and  Family
19    Services, and (c) under such guardianship, placed in a foster
20    family home, group home or child  care  institution  licensed
21    pursuant  to  the  "Child Care Act of 1969", approved May 15,
22    1969, as amended, or approved by that Department  as  meeting
23    standards  established  for  licensing under that Act, or (3)
24    have been  relinquished  in  accordance  with  the  Abandoned
25    Newborn  Infant  Protection  Act. A child so placed in foster
26    care who was not receiving aid under this Article in  or  for
27    the  month  in  which  the  court proceedings leading to that
28    placement were initiated may qualify only if he lived in  the
29    home  of  his  parents  or  other  relatives  at the time the
30    proceedings were initiated, or within 6 months prior  to  the
 
SB216 Enrolled             -15-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1    month  of  initiation, and would have received aid in and for
 2    that month if application had been made therefor.
 3        (b)  The Illinois  Department  may,  by  rule,  establish
 4    those persons who are living together who must be included in
 5    the  same assistance unit in order to receive cash assistance
 6    under this Article and the income and assets of those persons
 7    in an assistance unit which must be considered in determining
 8    eligibility.
 9        (c)  The conditions  of  qualification  herein  specified
10    shall  not  prejudice  aid granted under this Code for foster
11    care prior to the effective date of this 1969 Amendatory Act.
12    (Source: P.A. 90-17, eff. 7-1-97.)

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

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

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

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

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

22        (720 ILCS 5/12-21.5)
23        Sec. 12-21.5. Child Abandonment.
24        (a)  A person commits the offense  of  child  abandonment
25    when he or she, as a parent, guardian, or other person having
26    physical  custody  or  control of a child, without regard for
27    the mental or physical health, safety,  or  welfare  of  that
28    child, knowingly leaves that child who is under the age of 13
29    without  supervision  by a responsible person over the age of
30    14 for a period of 24 hours or more,  except  that  a  person
31    does  not  commit the offense of child abandonment when he or
32    she relinquishes a child in  accordance  with  the  Abandoned
 
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 1    Newborn Infant Protection Act.
 2        (b)  For  the  purposes  of determining whether the child
 3    was left without regard for the mental  or  physical  health,
 4    safety,  or  welfare  of  that child, the trier of fact shall
 5    consider the following factors:
 6             (1)  the age of the child;
 7             (2)  the number of children left at the location;
 8             (3)  special needs of the child,  including  whether
 9        the  child  is  physically  or  mentally  handicapped, or
10        otherwise in need of ongoing prescribed medical treatment
11        such as periodic doses of insulin or other medications;
12             (4)  the duration of time in  which  the  child  was
13        left without supervision;
14             (5)  the  condition  and location of the place where
15        the child was left without supervision;
16             (6)  the time of day or night  when  the  child  was
17        left without supervision;
18             (7)  the  weather  conditions, including whether the
19        child was left in a  location  with  adequate  protection
20        from the natural elements such as adequate heat or light;
21             (8)  the  location of the parent, guardian, or other
22        person having physical custody or control of the child at
23        the time the child  was  left  without  supervision,  the
24        physical   distance   the  child  was  from  the  parent,
25        guardian, or other  person  having  physical  custody  or
26        control  of  the  child at the time the child was without
27        supervision;
28             (9)  whether the child's movement was restricted, or
29        the child was otherwise locked within  a  room  or  other
30        structure;
31             (10)  whether  the child was given a phone number of
32        a person or location to call in the event of an emergency
33        and whether the child was capable of making an  emergency
34        call;
 
SB216 Enrolled             -24-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1             (11)  whether  there  was  food  and other provision
 2        left for the child;
 3             (12)  whether any of the conduct is attributable  to
 4        economic  hardship or illness and the parent, guardian or
 5        other person having physical custody or  control  of  the
 6        child  made a good faith effort to provide for the health
 7        and safety of the child;
 8             (13)  the age and physical and  mental  capabilities
 9        of the person or persons who provided supervision for the
10        child;
11             (14)  any  other  factor  that  would  endanger  the
12        health or safety of that particular child;
13             (15)  whether   the   child   was   left  under  the
14        supervision of another person.
15        (d)  Child abandonment is a Class 4 felony.  A second  or
16    subsequent  offense  after  a  prior  conviction is a Class 3
17    felony.
18    (Source: P.A. 88-479.)

19        (720 ILCS 5/12-21.6)
20        Sec. 12-21.6.  Endangering the life or health of a child.
21        (a)  It is unlawful for any person to willfully cause  or
22    permit  the  life or health of a child under the age of 18 to
23    be endangered or to willfully cause or permit a child  to  be
24    placed  in  circumstances  that  endanger the child's life or
25    health, except that it  is  not  unlawful  for  a  person  to
26    relinquish  a  child in accordance with the Abandoned Newborn
27    Infant Protection Act.
28        (b)  A  violation  of  this  Section   is   a   Class   A
29    misdemeanor.   A  second  or  subsequent  violation  of  this
30    Section  is  a  Class  3 felony.  A violation of this Section
31    that is a proximate cause of the death  of  the  child  is  a
32    Class  3 felony for which a person, if sentenced to a term of
33    imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 2
 
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 1    years and not more than 10 years.
 2    (Source: P.A. 90-687, eff. 7-31-98.)

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

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

 8        Section 97.  The Adoption  Act  is  amended  by  changing
 9    Section 1 as follows:

10        (750 ILCS 50/1) (from Ch. 40, par. 1501)
11        Sec.  1.  Definitions.  When used in this Act, unless the
12    context otherwise requires:
13        A.  "Child" means a person under  legal  age  subject  to
14    adoption under this Act.
15        B.  "Related  child"  means  a  child subject to adoption
16    where either or both of the adopting parents stands in any of
17    the  following  relationships  to  the  child  by  blood   or
18    marriage: parent, grand-parent, brother, sister, step-parent,
19    step-grandparent,  step-brother,  step-sister,  uncle,  aunt,
20    great-uncle,  great-aunt, or cousin of first degree.  A child
21    whose parent has executed  a  final  irrevocable  consent  to
22    adoption  or  a  final  irrevocable surrender for purposes of
23    adoption, or whose parent has had his or her parental  rights
24    terminated, is not a related child to that person, unless the
25    consent  is  determined  to  be  void  or is void pursuant to
26    subsection O of Section 10.
27        C.  "Agency" for the purpose of this Act means  a  public
28    child welfare agency or a licensed child welfare agency.
29        D.  "Unfit  person" means any person whom the court shall
30    find to be unfit to have  a  child,  without  regard  to  the
31    likelihood  that  the child will be placed for adoption.  The
32    grounds of unfitness are any one or more  of  the  following,
 
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 1    except  that a person shall not be considered an unfit person
 2    for the sole reason that the person has relinquished a  child
 3    in  accordance  with  the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection
 4    Act:
 5             (a)  Abandonment of the child.
 6             (a-1)  Abandonment  of  a  newborn   infant   in   a
 7        hospital.
 8             (a-2)  Abandonment   of  a  newborn  infant  in  any
 9        setting where  the  evidence  suggests  that  the  parent
10        intended to relinquish his or her parental rights.
11             (b)  Failure  to  maintain  a  reasonable  degree of
12        interest, concern or responsibility  as  to  the  child's
13        welfare.
14             (c)  Desertion  of  the child for more than 3 months
15        next  preceding  the   commencement   of   the   Adoption
16        proceeding.
17             (d)  Substantial  neglect of the child if continuous
18        or repeated.
19             (d-1)  Substantial   neglect,   if   continuous   or
20        repeated, of any child residing in  the  household  which
21        resulted in the death of that child.
22             (e)  Extreme or repeated cruelty to the child.
23             (f)  Two  or  more findings of physical abuse to any
24        children under Section 4-8 of the Juvenile Court  Act  or
25        Section  2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the most
26        recent of which was  determined  by  the  juvenile  court
27        hearing   the   matter  to  be  supported  by  clear  and
28        convincing evidence; a criminal conviction or  a  finding
29        of  not  guilty  by reason of insanity resulting from the
30        death of any child by physical child abuse; or a  finding
31        of  physical  child abuse resulting from the death of any
32        child under Section 4-8 of  the  Juvenile  Court  Act  or
33        Section 2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
34             (g)  Failure  to  protect  the child from conditions
 
SB216 Enrolled             -28-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1        within his environment injurious to the child's welfare.
 2             (h)  Other neglect  of,  or  misconduct  toward  the
 3        child; provided that in making a finding of unfitness the
 4        court  hearing the adoption proceeding shall not be bound
 5        by any previous finding, order or judgment  affecting  or
 6        determining  the  rights  of the parents toward the child
 7        sought to be adopted in any other proceeding except  such
 8        proceedings  terminating  parental rights as shall be had
 9        under either this Act, the  Juvenile  Court  Act  or  the
10        Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
11             (i)  Depravity.    Conviction  of  any  one  of  the
12        following crimes shall create a presumption that a parent
13        is depraved which can  be  overcome  only  by  clear  and
14        convincing evidence: (1) first degree murder in violation
15        of  paragraph  1 or 2 of subsection (a) of Section 9-1 of
16        the Criminal Code of 1961 or conviction of second  degree
17        murder  in  violation of subsection (a) of Section 9-2 of
18        the Criminal Code of 1961 of a parent of the child to  be
19        adopted;  (2) first degree murder or second degree murder
20        of any child in violation of the Criminal Code  of  1961;
21        (3)  attempt  or conspiracy to commit first degree murder
22        or second degree murder of any child in violation of  the
23        Criminal  Code of 1961; (4) solicitation to commit murder
24        of any child, solicitation to commit murder of any  child
25        for  hire, or solicitation to commit second degree murder
26        of any child in violation of the Criminal Code  of  1961;
27        or (5) aggravated criminal sexual assault in violation of
28        Section 12-14(b)(1) of the Criminal Code of 1961.
29             There  is  a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
30        depraved if the parent has been criminally  convicted  of
31        at  least  3 felonies under the laws of this State or any
32        other state, or under federal law, or the  criminal  laws
33        of any United States territory; and at least one of these
34        convictions  took  place  within 5 years of the filing of
 
SB216 Enrolled             -29-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1        the petition or motion seeking  termination  of  parental
 2        rights.
 3             There  is  a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
 4        depraved if that parent has been criminally convicted  of
 5        either  first  or  second  degree murder of any person as
 6        defined in the Criminal Code of 1961 within 10  years  of
 7        the  filing  date  of the petition or motion to terminate
 8        parental rights.
 9             (j)  Open and notorious adultery or fornication.
10             (j-1)  (Blank).
11             (k)  Habitual drunkenness  or  addiction  to  drugs,
12        other  than those prescribed by a physician, for at least
13        one year immediately prior to  the  commencement  of  the
14        unfitness proceeding.
15             There  is  a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
16        unfit under this subsection with respect to any child  to
17        which  that parent gives birth where there is a confirmed
18        test result that at birth the child's  blood,  urine,  or
19        meconium  contained  any amount of a controlled substance
20        as defined in  subsection  (f)  of  Section  102  of  the
21        Illinois Controlled Substances Act or metabolites of such
22        substances,  the  presence of which in the newborn infant
23        was not the result of medical treatment  administered  to
24        the  mother  or  the  newborn  infant; and the biological
25        mother of this child is the biological mother of at least
26        one other child who was  adjudicated  a  neglected  minor
27        under subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court
28        Act of 1987.
29             (l)  Failure  to  demonstrate a reasonable degree of
30        interest, concern or responsibility as to the welfare  of
31        a  new  born  child  during  the  first 30 days after its
32        birth.
33             (m)  Failure by a  parent  (i)  to  make  reasonable
34        efforts to correct the conditions that were the basis for
 
SB216 Enrolled             -30-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1        the removal of the child from the parent, or (ii) to make
 2        reasonable progress toward the return of the child to the
 3        parent within 9 months after an adjudication of neglected
 4        or  abused  minor under Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court
 5        Act of 1987 or dependent minor under Section 2-4 of  that
 6        Act,  or  (iii)  to  make  reasonable progress toward the
 7        return of the child to  the  parent  during  any  9-month
 8        period  after  the  end  of  the  initial  9-month period
 9        following the adjudication of neglected or  abused  minor
10        under  Section  2-3  of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or
11        dependent minor under Section  2-4  of  that  Act.  If  a
12        service  plan  has  been  established  as  required under
13        Section 8.2 of the Abused and Neglected  Child  Reporting
14        Act to correct the conditions that were the basis for the
15        removal  of  the  child  from  the  parent  and  if those
16        services were available, then, for purposes of this  Act,
17        "failure to make reasonable progress toward the return of
18        the  child  to  the  parent"  includes  (I)  the parent's
19        failure to substantially fulfill his or  her  obligations
20        under  the  service  plan and correct the conditions that
21        brought the child into care within  9  months  after  the
22        adjudication  under  Section  2-3  or 2-4 of the Juvenile
23        Court Act of  1987  and  (II)  the  parent's  failure  to
24        substantially  fulfill  his  or her obligations under the
25        service plan and correct the conditions that brought  the
26        child  into  care during any 9-month period after the end
27        of the initial 9-month period following the  adjudication
28        under  Section  2-3  or  2-4 of the Juvenile Court Act of
29        1987.
30             (m-1)  Pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, a
31        child has been in foster care for 15 months out of any 22
32        month period which begins on or after the effective  date
33        of  this amendatory Act of 1998 unless the child's parent
34        can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that  it  is
 
SB216 Enrolled             -31-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1        more  likely  than  not  that  it  will  be  in  the best
 2        interests of the child  to  be  returned  to  the  parent
 3        within  6  months  of  the  date  on which a petition for
 4        termination  of  parental  rights  is  filed  under   the
 5        Juvenile  Court  Act of 1987.  The 15 month time limit is
 6        tolled during any period  for  which  there  is  a  court
 7        finding  that  the appointed custodian or guardian failed
 8        to make reasonable efforts to reunify the child with  his
 9        or  her  family,  provided  that  (i)  the  finding of no
10        reasonable efforts is made within 60 days of  the  period
11        when  reasonable efforts were not made or (ii) the parent
12        filed a motion requesting  a  finding  of  no  reasonable
13        efforts  within  60  days  of  the period when reasonable
14        efforts were not made.  For purposes of this  subdivision
15        (m-1),  the  date  of entering foster care is the earlier
16        of: (i) the date of a judicial finding at an adjudicatory
17        hearing that  the  child  is  an  abused,  neglected,  or
18        dependent  minor; or (ii) 60 days after the date on which
19        the child is removed from his or her parent, guardian, or
20        legal custodian.
21             (n)  Evidence of intent to forgo his or her parental
22        rights, whether or not the child is a ward of the  court,
23        (1)  as  manifested by his or her failure for a period of
24        12 months: (i) to visit the child,  (ii)  to  communicate
25        with  the child or agency, although able to do so and not
26        prevented from doing so by an agency or by  court  order,
27        or  (iii) to maintain contact with or plan for the future
28        of the child, although physically able to do so,  or  (2)
29        as  manifested  by the father's failure, where he and the
30        mother of the child were unmarried to each other  at  the
31        time   of  the  child's  birth,  (i)  to  commence  legal
32        proceedings to establish his paternity under the Illinois
33        Parentage Act of 1984 or the law of the  jurisdiction  of
34        the  child's  birth  within  30  days  of being informed,
 
SB216 Enrolled             -32-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1        pursuant to Section 12a of  this  Act,  that  he  is  the
 2        father  or the likely father of the child or, after being
 3        so informed where the child is not yet  born,  within  30
 4        days  of  the child's birth, or (ii) to make a good faith
 5        effort to pay a reasonable amount of the expenses related
 6        to the birth of the child and  to  provide  a  reasonable
 7        amount  for the financial support of the child, the court
 8        to   consider   in   its   determination   all   relevant
 9        circumstances, including the financial condition of  both
10        parents;   provided   that  the  ground  for  termination
11        provided in this subparagraph (n)(2)(ii)  shall  only  be
12        available  where the petition is brought by the mother or
13        the husband of the mother.
14             Contact or communication by a parent with his or her
15        child that does not  demonstrate  affection  and  concern
16        does not constitute reasonable contact and planning under
17        subdivision  (n).   In  the  absence  of  evidence to the
18        contrary, the ability  to  visit,  communicate,  maintain
19        contact,  pay  expenses  and plan for the future shall be
20        presumed.  The subjective intent of the  parent,  whether
21        expressed  or  otherwise,  unsupported by evidence of the
22        foregoing parental acts manifesting  that  intent,  shall
23        not preclude a determination that the parent has intended
24        to  forgo  his  or  her  parental rights.  In making this
25        determination, the  court  may  consider  but  shall  not
26        require  a  showing  of diligent efforts by an authorized
27        agency to  encourage  the  parent  to  perform  the  acts
28        specified in subdivision (n).
29             It shall be an affirmative defense to any allegation
30        under  paragraph (2) of this subsection that the father's
31        failure was due to circumstances beyond his control or to
32        impediments created by the mother  or  any  other  person
33        having legal custody.  Proof of that fact need only be by
34        a preponderance of the evidence.
 
SB216 Enrolled             -33-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1             (o)  Repeated  or continuous failure by the parents,
 2        although physically and financially able, to provide  the
 3        child with adequate food, clothing, or shelter.
 4             (p)  Inability       to      discharge      parental
 5        responsibilities supported by competent evidence  from  a
 6        psychiatrist,   licensed   clinical   social  worker,  or
 7        clinical  psychologist  of  mental   impairment,   mental
 8        illness or mental retardation as defined in Section 1-116
 9        of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code,
10        or  developmental  disability as defined in Section 1-106
11        of that Code, and there is  sufficient  justification  to
12        believe   that   the   inability  to  discharge  parental
13        responsibilities shall extend beyond  a  reasonable  time
14        period.   However,  this  subdivision  (p)  shall  not be
15        construed so as to  permit  a  licensed  clinical  social
16        worker  to  conduct  any  medical  diagnosis to determine
17        mental illness or mental impairment.
18             (q)  The parent has  been  criminally  convicted  of
19        aggravated  battery, heinous battery, or attempted murder
20        of any child.
21             (r)  The  child  is  in  the  temporary  custody  or
22        guardianship of the Department  of  Children  and  Family
23        Services,  the  parent  is  incarcerated  as  a result of
24        criminal conviction at the time the  petition  or  motion
25        for  termination  of  parental  rights is filed, prior to
26        incarceration the parent had little or  no  contact  with
27        the child or provided little or no support for the child,
28        and  the  parent's  incarceration will prevent the parent
29        from discharging his or her parental responsibilities for
30        the child for a period in excess of  2  years  after  the
31        filing  of  the  petition  or  motion  for termination of
32        parental rights.
33             (s)  The  child  is  in  the  temporary  custody  or
34        guardianship of the Department  of  Children  and  Family
 
SB216 Enrolled             -34-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1        Services,  the  parent  is  incarcerated  at the time the
 2        petition or motion for termination of parental rights  is
 3        filed,  the  parent has been repeatedly incarcerated as a
 4        result of criminal convictions, and the parent's repeated
 5        incarceration has prevented the parent  from  discharging
 6        his or her parental responsibilities for the child.
 7             (t)  A  finding  that  at  birth  the child's blood,
 8        urine, or meconium contained any amount of  a  controlled
 9        substance  as defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of
10        the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or  a  metabolite
11        of   a   controlled  substance,  with  the  exception  of
12        controlled substances or metabolites of such  substances,
13        the  presence  of  which  in  the  newborn infant was the
14        result of medical treatment administered to the mother or
15        the newborn infant, and that  the  biological  mother  of
16        this child is the biological mother of at least one other
17        child   who  was  adjudicated  a  neglected  minor  under
18        subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile  Court  Act
19        of  1987,  after  which  the  biological  mother  had the
20        opportunity to enroll in and participate in a  clinically
21        appropriate  substance  abuse  counseling, treatment, and
22        rehabilitation program.
23        E.  "Parent" means the father or mother of  a  legitimate
24    or illegitimate child.  For the purpose of this Act, a person
25    who  has executed a final and irrevocable consent to adoption
26    or  a  final  and  irrevocable  surrender  for  purposes   of
27    adoption,  or whose parental rights have been terminated by a
28    court, is not a parent of the child who was  the  subject  of
29    the consent or surrender, unless the consent is void pursuant
30    to subsection O of Section 10.
31        F.  A  person  is  available for adoption when the person
32    is:
33             (a)  a child who has been surrendered  for  adoption
34        to  an  agency  and  to  whose  adoption  the  agency has
 
SB216 Enrolled             -35-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1        thereafter consented;
 2             (b)  a child to whose adoption a  person  authorized
 3        by  law,  other  than  his  parents, has consented, or to
 4        whose adoption no consent is required pursuant to Section
 5        8 of this Act;
 6             (c)  a child who is in the custody  of  persons  who
 7        intend  to  adopt  him  through  placement  made  by  his
 8        parents;
 9             (c-1)  a  child  for  whom  a  parent  has  signed a
10        specific consent pursuant to subsection O of Section  10;
11        or
12             (d)  an  adult who meets the conditions set forth in
13        Section 3 of this Act; or.
14             (e)  a child who has been relinquished as defined in
15        Section 10 of the  Abandoned  Newborn  Infant  Protection
16        Act.
17        A  person  who  would otherwise be available for adoption
18    shall not be deemed unavailable for adoption solely by reason
19    of his or her death.
20        G.  The singular  includes  the  plural  and  the  plural
21    includes  the  singular and the "male" includes the "female",
22    as the context of this Act may require.
23        H.  "Adoption  disruption"  occurs   when   an   adoptive
24    placement  does not prove successful and it becomes necessary
25    for the  child  to  be  removed  from  placement  before  the
26    adoption is finalized.
27        I.  "Foreign  placing  agency" is an agency or individual
28    operating in a country or territory outside the United States
29    that is authorized by  its  country  to  place  children  for
30    adoption  either  directly with families in the United States
31    or through United States based international agencies.
32        J.  "Immediate relatives" means the  biological  parents,
33    the  parents  of  the  biological parents and siblings of the
34    biological parents.
 
SB216 Enrolled             -36-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1        K.  "Intercountry adoption" is a process by which a child
 2    from a country other than the United States is adopted.
 3        L.  "Intercountry Adoption Coordinator" is a staff person
 4    of the Department of Children and Family  Services  appointed
 5    by  the  Director  to coordinate the provision of services by
 6    the public and  private  sector  to  prospective  parents  of
 7    foreign-born children.
 8        M.  "Interstate  Compact on the Placement of Children" is
 9    a law enacted by most states for the purpose of  establishing
10    uniform  procedures  for handling the interstate placement of
11    children in foster homes, adoptive homes, or other child care
12    facilities.
13        N.  "Non-Compact  state"  means  a  state  that  has  not
14    enacted the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
15        O.  "Preadoption   requirements"   are   any   conditions
16    established  by  the  laws  or  regulations  of  the  Federal
17    Government or of each state that must be  met  prior  to  the
18    placement of a child in an adoptive home.
19        P.  "Abused   child"   means  a  child  whose  parent  or
20    immediate family member, or any person  responsible  for  the
21    child's welfare,  or any individual residing in the same home
22    as the child, or a paramour of the child's parent:
23             (a)  inflicts,  causes to be inflicted, or allows to
24        be inflicted upon the child  physical  injury,  by  other
25        than  accidental means, that causes death, disfigurement,
26        impairment of physical or emotional health,  or  loss  or
27        impairment of any bodily function;
28             (b)  creates  a  substantial risk of physical injury
29        to the child by other than accidental means  which  would
30        be  likely  to  cause death, disfigurement, impairment of
31        physical or emotional health, or loss  or  impairment  of
32        any bodily function;
33             (c)  commits  or  allows  to  be  committed  any sex
34        offense against the child, as sex offenses are defined in
 
SB216 Enrolled             -37-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1        the Criminal Code of 1961 and extending those definitions
 2        of sex offenses to include children  under  18  years  of
 3        age;
 4             (d)  commits  or  allows  to  be committed an act or
 5        acts of torture upon the child; or
 6             (e)  inflicts excessive corporal punishment.
 7        Q.  "Neglected child" means any  child  whose  parent  or
 8    other person responsible for the child's welfare withholds or
 9    denies nourishment or medically indicated treatment including
10    food  or  care  denied  solely on the basis of the present or
11    anticipated mental or physical impairment as determined by  a
12    physician   acting   alone  or  in  consultation  with  other
13    physicians or  otherwise  does  not  provide  the  proper  or
14    necessary  support,  education as required by law, or medical
15    or  other  remedial  care  recognized  under  State  law   as
16    necessary  for  a child's well-being, or other care necessary
17    for his or her well-being, including adequate food,  clothing
18    and  shelter;  or  who  is abandoned by his or her parents or
19    other person responsible for the child's welfare.
20        A child shall not be considered neglected or  abused  for
21    the  sole  reason  that  the  child's  parent or other person
22    responsible for his or her  welfare  depends  upon  spiritual
23    means  through  prayer  alone  for  the  treatment or cure of
24    disease or remedial care as provided under Section 4  of  the
25    Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
26        R.  "Putative  father"  means  a man who may be a child's
27    father, but who (1) is not married to the child's  mother  on
28    or  before  the  date that the child was or is to be born and
29    (2) has not established paternity of the  child  in  a  court
30    proceeding  before  the filing of a petition for the adoption
31    of the child.  The term includes a male who is less  than  18
32    years  of  age.  "Putative father" does not mean a man who is
33    the child's father as a result of criminal  sexual  abuse  or
34    assault  as  defined under Article 12 of the Criminal Code of
 
SB216 Enrolled             -38-                LRB9203754DJmb
 1    1961.
 2        S.  "Standby adoption"  means  an  adoption  in  which  a
 3    terminally  ill parent consents to custody and termination of
 4    parental rights to become effective upon the occurrence of  a
 5    future event, which is either the death of the terminally ill
 6    parent  or the request of the parent for the entry of a final
 7    judgment of adoption.
 8        T.  "Terminally ill parent" means  a  person  who  has  a
 9    medical   prognosis  by  a  physician  licensed  to  practice
10    medicine in all of  its  branches  that  the  person  has  an
11    incurable  and  irreversible  condition  which  will  lead to
12    death.
13    (Source: P.A.  90-13,  eff.  6-13-97;  90-15,  eff.  6-13-97;
14    90-27, eff. 1-1-98 except subdiv. (D)(m) eff. 6-25-97; 90-28,
15    eff. 1-1-98 except subdiv. (D)(m) eff. 6-25-97; 90-443,  eff.
16    8-16-97;  90-608, eff. 6-30-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98; 91-357,
17    eff. 7-29-99;  91-373,  eff.  1-1-00;  91-572,  eff.  1-1-00;
18    revised 8-31-99.)

19        Section  999.  Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
20    becoming law.

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