Senate Sponsors: MADIGAN,L AND TROTTER. House Sponsors: FEIGENHOLTZ-DAVIS,MONIQUE-MAY Short description: DCFS-CHILD PLACEMENT-SIBLINGS Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department, when placing a child for adoption, to give preference to the adoptive parents of a biological sibling of the child. Requires the Department to attempt to notify those adoptive parents of the availability of the child for adoption. Provides that the final decision of the Department must be based on the best interests of the child. Effective immediately. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Provides that when adoptive parents of a biological sibling of a child available for adoption apply to adopt that child, the Department shall consider them as adoptive applicants rather than giving them preference and first consideration over other applicants for adoption of the child. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 505/7 from Ch. 23, par. 5007 Provides that a second cousin or godparent of a child under the care or jurisdiction of the Department of Children and Family Services is within the definition of a relative who is eligible to be a foster parent of that child, so long as a check of the second cousin's or godparent's background does not identify that person as having a prior conviction for any one of a number of specified criminal offenses. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: JAN-07-2003 Location: Senate Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 1 SENATE - 1 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status