DCFS-BIAS-FREE CHILD REMOVAL Senate SponsorsSen. Karina Villa, Laura Fine-Jacqueline Y. Collins, Robert Peters, Sara Feigenholtz-Mattie Hunter and Mike Simmons House Sponsors(Rep. Carol Ammons-Mary E. Flowers-Nicholas K. Smith, Michelle Mussman, Suzanne Ness, Lakesia Collins, Anne Stava-Murray, Maurice A. West, II, Maura Hirschauer, Marcus C. Evans, Jr. and Kambium Buckner) 6/10/2022SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 102-1087 New ActCreates the Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Children and Family Services shall establish a 3-year Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program no later than July 1, 2023 for the purpose of promoting unbiased decision-making in the child removal process with the goal of decreasing the overrepresentation of BIPOC children in out-of-home placements. Requires the Department to choose a county that, based on a county-based analysis, indicates the highest rates of racial disproportionality. Requires the identified county to utilize a bias-free child removal strategy when deciding whether a child should be removed from his or her parents' home. Requires the Department to identify a public university to develop an evaluation design which identifies a control group (a county that does not utilize a bias-free child removal strategy) and compare those results with the intervention group (a county that utilizes a bias-child removal strategy). Provides that no later than January 1, 2023, the Department shall establish a Bias-Free Child Removal Review Committee consisting of an interdisciplinary, diverse group of 9 child welfare professionals and advocates for the purpose of creating the pilot program and the pre-implementation plan for the pilot program. Requires the Department to establish other procedures and protocols concerning (i) which diverse group of professions should be represented on the Committee, including required degrees, credentials, and experience, (ii) the frequency of bias-free child removal meetings, and (iii) decision-making protocols concerning removal. Contains provisions concerning certain demographic information that must be redacted from a child's case notes report prior to a determination on removal; the Department's evaluation reports to the General Assembly; and other matters. Effective immediately.Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to: (1) require the Department of Children and Family Services to establish a 3-year, Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program for the purpose of promoting unbiased decision making in the child removal process, while maintaining the safety of children and reducing risk, with the goal of decreasing the overrepresentation of BIPOC children in out-of-home placements; (2) establish a pre-implementation steering committee to: (i) develop and implement the Bias-Free Removal Pilot Program by January 1, 2024; (ii) recruit members for the Bias-Free Case Review Team; and (iii) recruit members for the Bias-Free Child Removal Advisory Board; (3) establish a Bias-Free Case Review Team consisting of a child protection supervisor, an area administrator, and a regional administrator from an area other than the pilot area to: (i) review removal decisions absent specific demographic information; and (ii) determine whether removal of the child is necessary to avoid imminent risk to his or her safety, health, and well-being; and (4) establish a Bias-Free Child Removal Advisory Board to monitor and oversee the Bias-Free Case Review Team and ensure that the Bias-Free Case Review Team executes bias-free removals in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Contains provisions on the 3-year Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program and its implementation in field offices located in Cook County, Champaign County, and St. Clair County; Department reports to the General Assembly that detail the pilot program's implementation and that provide an analysis of the pilot program's effect and impact on the removal rates of BIPOC children; establishment of a steering committee by January 1, 2023; the steering committee's composition and duties, including the development of a written plan and requirements for the pilot program; the composition and duties of the Bias-Free Case Review Team; the requirement that certain demographic and identifiable information concerning children and parents be redacted from intake summaries, case notes, and investigations; the Department's development of a tool or rubric for the Review Team to fully document the decision-making process and what led to the final decision; the composition and duties of a Bias-Free Child Removal Advisory Board; the criteria that must be met to justify statewide expansion of the pilot program; and other matters. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules, policies, and procedures necessary to implement the Act with the assistance of the steering committee. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to: (1) require the Department of Children and Family Services to establish a 3-year, Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program for the purpose of promoting unbiased decision making in the child removal process, while maintaining the safety of children and reducing risk, with the goal of decreasing the overrepresentation of BIPOC children in out-of-home placements; (2) establish a steering committee to: (i) develop and implement the Bias-Free Removal Pilot Program by January 1, 2024; (ii) appoint members for the Bias-Free Case Review Team; and (iii) appoint members for the Bias-Free Child Removal Advisory Board; (3) establish a Bias-Free Case Review Team consisting of a child protection supervisor, an area administrator, and a regional administrator from an area other than the pilot area to: (i) review removal decisions absent specific demographic information; and (ii) determine whether removal of the child is necessary to avoid imminent risk to the child's safety, health, and well-being; and (4) establish a Bias-Free Child Removal Advisory Board to monitor and oversee the Bias-Free Case Review Team and ensure that the Bias-Free Case Review Team executes bias-free removals in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Contains provisions on the 3-year Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program and its implementation in field offices located in DuPage County, Champaign County, and Williamson County; Department reports to the General Assembly that detail the pilot program's implementation and that provide an analysis of the pilot program's effect and impact on the removal rates of BIPOC children; establishment of a steering committee by January 1, 2023; the steering committee's composition and duties, including the development of a written plan and requirements for the pilot program; the composition and duties of the Bias-Free Case Review Team; the requirement that certain demographic and identifiable information concerning children and parents be redacted from intake summaries, case notes, and investigations; the Department's development of a tool or rubric for the Review Team to fully document the decision-making process and what led to the final decision; the composition and duties of a Bias-Free Child Removal Advisory Board; the criteria that must be met to justify statewide expansion of the pilot program; and other matters. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules, policies, and procedures necessary to implement the Act with the assistance of the steering committee. Provides that the Act is repealed on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 2 with the following changes: Provides that the steering committee shall include 5 staff members from the Department of Children and Family Services (rather than 3 staff members from the Department) which shall include a child protection investigator and a child protection supervisor. Requires the steering committee to include in the development of the Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program (i) a decision regarding a timeline for convening the Bias-Free Case Review Team and (ii) how and when the child protection investigator or child protection supervisor shall present an investigation to the Bias-Free Case Review Team. Provides that the pilot program shall not prevent a child protection investigator or supervisor from performing routine assignments required under Department policy after taking protective custody of a child. Provides that the redaction of case file information or the preparation of case files for the Review Team shall not be completed by the child protection investigator or the child protection supervisor. In a provision requiring the Review Team to make a final decision on whether a child's removal should be upheld, removes language requiring the Review Team to make that final decision as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours prior to a shelter care hearing. Effective immediately. 1/21/2022SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Karina Villa 1/21/2022SenateFirst Reading 1/21/2022SenateReferred to Assignments 2/8/2022SenateAssigned to Executive 2/9/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Karina Villa 2/9/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 2/10/2022SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As February 18, 2022 2/15/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive 2/17/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Karina Villa 2/17/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments 2/18/2022SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As February 25, 2022 2/22/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Executive 2/22/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine 2/22/2022SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins 2/22/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters 2/23/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz 2/23/2022SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter 2/23/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted 2/23/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted 2/23/2022SenateDo Pass as Amended Executive; 016-000-000 2/23/2022SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 24, 2022 2/24/2022SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Karina Villa 2/24/2022SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments 2/24/2022SenateSecond Reading 2/24/2022SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading February 25, 2022 2/25/2022SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As March 11, 2022 3/2/2022SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Assignments Refers to Executive 3/4/2022SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 4 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Karina Villa 3/4/2022SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 4 Referred to Assignments 3/8/2022SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 4 Assignments Refers to Executive 3/9/2022SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 4 Recommend Do Adopt Executive; 016-000-000 3/9/2022SenateRecalled to Second Reading 3/9/2022SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 4 Adopted; Villa 3/9/2022SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading 3/9/2022SenateThird Reading - Passed; 038-000-000 3/9/2022SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) 3/9/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons 3/10/2022HouseArrived in House 3/10/2022HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Terra Costa Howard 3/10/2022HouseFirst Reading 3/10/2022HouseReferred to Rules Committee 3/14/2022HouseAlternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Carol Ammons 3/16/2022HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers 3/16/2022HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman 3/17/2022HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne Ness 3/17/2022HouseAssigned to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee 3/17/2022HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicholas K. Smith 3/17/2022HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Lakesia Collins 3/18/2022HouseRe-assigned to Human Services Committee 3/21/2022HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray 3/21/2022HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II 3/22/2022HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer 3/23/2022HouseCommittee Deadline Extended-Rule 9(b) March 31, 2022 3/23/2022HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. 3/23/2022HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kambium Buckner 3/30/2022HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Human Services Committee; 014-000-000 3/30/2022HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 3/30/2022HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 3/30/2022HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate 4/1/2022HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 4/1/2022HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 105-000-000 4/1/2022SenatePassed Both Houses 4/29/2022SenateSent to the Governor 6/10/2022SenateGovernor Approved 6/10/2022SenateEffective Date June 10, 2022 6/10/2022SenatePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 102-1087