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92_SB0843eng SB843 Engrossed LRB9202583TAtmA 1 AN ACT concerning child welfare services. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is 5 amended by changing Section 5c and adding Section 5d as 6 follows: 7 (20 ILCS 505/5c) 8 Sec. 5c. Direct child welfare service employee license. 9 By January 1, 2000, the Department, in consultation with 10 private child welfare agencies, shall develop and implement a 11 direct child welfare service employee license. By January 1, 12 2001 all child protective investigators and supervisors and 13 child welfare specialists and supervisors employed by the 14 Department or its contractors shall be required to 15 demonstrate sufficient knowledge and skills to obtain and 16 maintain the license. The Direct Child Welfare Service 17 Employee License Board of the DepartmentDepartmentshall 18 have the authority to revoke or suspend the license of anyone 19 who after a hearing is found to be guilty of misfeasance. 20 The Department shall promulgate such rules as necessary to 21 implement this Section. 22 On or before January 1, 2000, and every year thereafter, 23 the Department shall submit an annual report to the General 24 Assembly on the implementation of this Section. 25 (Source: P.A. 90-608, eff. 6-30-98.) 26 (20 ILCS 505/5d new) 27 Sec. 5d. The Direct Child Welfare Service Employee 28 License Board. 29 (a) For purposes of this Section: 30 (1) "Board" means the Direct Child Welfare Service SB843 Engrossed -2- LRB9202583TAtmA 1 Employee License Board. 2 (2) "Director" means the Director of Children and 3 Family Services. 4 (b) The Direct Child Welfare Service Employee License 5 Board is created within the Department of Children and Family 6 Services and shall consist of 9 members appointed by the 7 Director. The Director shall annually designate a 8 chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Board. The 9 membership of the Board must be composed as follows: (i) 5 10 licensed professionals from the field of human services with 11 a human services degree or equivalent course work as required 12 by rule of the Department and who are in good standing within 13 their profession, at least 2 of which must be employed in the 14 private not-for-profit sector and at least one of which in 15 the public sector; (ii) 2 faculty members of an accredited 16 university who have child welfare experience and are in good 17 standing within their profession and (iii) 2 members of the 18 general public who are not licensed under this Act or a 19 similar rule and will represent consumer interests. 20 In making the first appointments, the Director shall 21 appoint 3 members to serve for a term of one year, 3 members 22 to serve for a term of 2 years, and 3 members to serve for a 23 term of 3 years, or until their successors are appointed and 24 qualified. Their successors shall be appointed to serve 25 3-year terms, or until their successors are appointed and 26 qualified. Appointments to fill unexpired vacancies shall be 27 made in the same manner as original appointments. No member 28 may be reappointed if a reappointment would cause that member 29 to serve on the Board for longer than 6 consecutive years. 30 Board membership must have reasonable representation from 31 different geographic areas of Illinois, and all members must 32 be residents of this State. 33 The Director may terminate the appointment of any member 34 for good cause, including but not limited to (i) unjustified SB843 Engrossed -3- LRB9202583TAtmA 1 absences from Board meetings or other failure to meet Board 2 responsibilities, (ii) failure to recuse himself or herself 3 when required by subsection (c) of this Section or Department 4 rule, or (iii) failure to maintain the professional position 5 required by Department rule. No member of the Board may have 6 a pending or indicated report of child abuse or neglect or a 7 pending complaint or criminal conviction of any of the 8 offenses set forth in paragraph (b) of Section 4.2 of the 9 Child Care Act of 1969. 10 The members of the Board shall receive no compensation 11 for the performance of their duties as members, but each 12 member shall be reimbursed for his or her reasonable and 13 necessary expenses incurred in attending the meetings of the 14 Board. 15 (c) The Board shall make recommendations to the Director 16 regarding licensure rules. Board members must recuse 17 themselves from sitting on any matter involving an employee 18 of a child welfare agency at which the Board member is an 19 employee or contractual employee. The Board shall make a 20 final determination concerning revocation, suspension, or 21 reinstatement of an employee's direct child welfare service 22 license after a hearing conducted under the Department's 23 rules. Upon notification of the manner of the vote to all the 24 members, votes on a final determination may be cast in 25 person, by telephonic or electronic means, or by mail at the 26 discretion of the chairperson. A simple majority of the 27 members appointed and serving is required when Board members 28 vote by mail or by telephonic or electronic means. A 29 majority of the currently appointed and serving Board members 30 constitutes a quorum. A majority of a quorum is required 31 when a recommendation is voted on during a Board meeting. A 32 vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not impair the 33 right of a quorum to perform all the duties of the Board. 34 Board members are not personally liable in any action based SB843 Engrossed -4- LRB9202583TAtmA 1 upon a disciplinary proceeding or otherwise for any action 2 taken in good faith as a member of the Board. 3 (d) The Director may assign Department employees to 4 provide staffing services to the Board. The Department must 5 promulgate any rules necessary to implement and administer 6 the requirements of this Section. 7 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 8 becoming law.