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92_SB0843enr
SB843 Enrolled 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 Department Department shall
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
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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
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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
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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.
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