HJ0029

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 

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    WHEREAS, The Department of Children and Family Services is 
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charged with acting in the best interest of every child it 
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serves, helping families by
increasing their
ability to provide 
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a safe environment for their children, and strengthening

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families who
are at risk of abuse or neglect; and

 

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    WHEREAS, A significant function of government is to promote 
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the health,
safety, and welfare of its citizens; and

 

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    WHEREAS, The General Assembly has taken notice of many 
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issues surrounding
the operations, funding, and execution of 
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the foster care system that must be
addressed to
ensure 
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continued action as well as establish a higher standard for 
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serving the
needs of
both foster children and parents; 
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therefore, be it

 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Joint Task Force on Foster 
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Care is created and shall be comprised of 8 members of the 
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Illinois General Assembly appointed as follows: 2 members of 
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the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members 
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of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 2 
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members of the House of Representatives appointed by the 
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Speaker of the House of Representatives; and 2 members of the 
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House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of 
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the House of Representatives; all Joint Task Force members 
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shall serve without compensation; and be it further

 

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    RESOLVED, That the chairperson of the Joint Task Force 
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shall be selected by the
members from among its membership and 
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the Joint Task Force shall meet at the call of
the chairperson; 
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and be it further

 

 


 






HJ0029
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    RESOLVED, That it is the duty of the Joint Task Force to 
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undertake a comprehensive
and thorough review of the operations 
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of the Illinois Department of Children
and Family
Services in 
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relation to substitute care and related laws and rules 
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impacting the Illinois
foster care
system, with the intent of 
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making recommendations that would improve the system
of

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Department and private agency accountability, improve 
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Department functioning
within the
constraints of limited 
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budgets, guarantee necessary medical and psychiatric care to 
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wards
within the Department, and increase foster parent 
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support; and be it further

 

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    RESOLVED, That the Department of Children and Family 
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Services is urged to provide assistance to and cooperate with 
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the Joint Task Force, and the Joint Task Force shall request 
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assistance
from any other entity as necessary or useful for the 
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performance of its duties; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the Joint Task Force shall present a report 
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to the General Assembly no later than December 15, 2005; a copy 
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of the report shall be provided to the Director of the 
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Department of Children and Family Services and the Governor 
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within 2 weeks of the presentation of the report to the General 
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Assembly.