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92_SB1303
LRB9208208EGfg
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 5. The Children and Family Services Act is
5 amended by adding Section 7.4 as follows:
6 (20 ILCS 505/7.4 new)
7 Sec. 7.4. Placement of siblings.
8 (a) Before placing a child for adoption, the Department
9 shall examine its files and other available resources and
10 attempt to determine whether any biological sibling of the
11 child has been adopted. If the Department determines that a
12 biological sibling of the child has been adopted, the
13 Department shall make a good faith effort to locate the
14 adoptive parents of the sibling and inform them of the
15 availability of the child for adoption.
16 (b) If the adoptive parents of a biological sibling of a
17 child available for adoption apply to adopt that child, the
18 Department shall give them preference and first consideration
19 over all other applicants for adoption of the child. The
20 Department's final decision, however, shall be based upon the
21 welfare and best interest of the child. In arriving at its
22 decision, the Department shall consider all relevant factors,
23 including but not limited to:
24 (1) the wishes of the child;
25 (2) the interaction and interrelationship of the
26 child with the applicant to adopt the child;
27 (3) the child's need for stability and continuity
28 of relationship with parent figures;
29 (4) the child's adjustment to his or her present
30 home, school, and community;
31 (5) the mental and physical health of all
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1 individuals involved;
2 (6) the family ties between the child and the
3 child's relatives, including siblings;
4 (7) the background, age, and living arrangements of
5 the applicant to adopt the child;
6 (8) a criminal background report of the applicant
7 to adopt the child.
8 (c) The Department may refuse to inform the adoptive
9 parents of a biological sibling of a child that the child is
10 available for adoption, as required under subsection (a),
11 only for a reason permitted under criteria adopted by the
12 Department by rule.
13 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
14 becoming law.