New Illinois Laws 2018: Children and Families

Foster Children Rights (HB 3542): Adds a new provision to the Foster Children's Bill of Rights Act to provide for the best settings for foster care placements.

Parental Rights for the Blind (HB 2626): Provides that a person cannot be denied parenting time, participation in private or public adoption, or foster care or guardianship because they are blind.

DCFS Differential Response (HB 2556): Allows the Department of Children and Family Services to implement a differential response program that will address the underlying causes of the family strain.

Child Death Investigation (SB 320): Adds a representative of the Department of Public Health to each child death review team.

Domestic Violence Location (SB 646): Creates a pilot program DCFS may implement meant to help get kids out of abusive homes.

Probate Act-Posthumous Act (SB 883): Allows children born within 36 months of the death of a parent to inherit from the deceased parent if the child was born with the decedent's consent.

Juvenile Shelter Placements (SB 931): Prohibits jurors from being excluded from jury service on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or economic status.

Group Insurance Adoption Placement (HB 817): Creates a special enrollment period for state insurance for an adopted child.

Youths in Care (SB 973): Requires DCFS to submit an annual report to the GA including information on the number of youth in the agency's care waiting for placement.

Adult Guardianship Video Harings (SB 1319): Allows people to testify via video conferencing in adult guardianship hearings if all parties approve.

Missing Minors Hotline (SB 1439): Requires law enforcement to provide individuals that contact them about missing minors with the national missing persons’ hotline and other relevant information.

Long-Term Care Claims (SB 1544): Extends the 15‐day deadline for long‐term care facilities to submit a resident’s admission documents to 45 days.

Home Health Agency Referrals (SB 1676): Requires health care providers to only refer patients to other providers that are properly licensed by the state.

Also Watch: New Illinois Laws in 2018 That Could Change Your Life