101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2559

 

Introduced 1/29/2020, by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
750 ILCS 50/1  from Ch. 40, par. 1501
750 ILCS 50/2  from Ch. 40, par. 1502
750 ILCS 50/11  from Ch. 40, par. 1513
750 ILCS 50/13  from Ch. 40, par. 1516
750 ILCS 50/14  from Ch. 40, par. 1517

    Amends the Adoption Act. Provides that the residence requirement for adoption shall not apply to: an adoption of a child placed by a State-licensed child welfare agency performing adoption services (rather than an adoption of a child placed by an agency); and an adoption of a child born in the State who has resided in the State continuously since birth, or a child who has continuously resided in the State for at least 6 months immediately preceding the commencement of the adoption proceeding. Includes additional information for the affidavit of identification to be given by the biological mother in an adoption proceeding. Provides that, in specified proceedings, in the case of a related adoption where the child sought to be adopted is not a youth in care, the court shall have the discretion to waive the appointment of a guardian ad litem. Provides that the ability for the petitioners to apply for judgment of adoption 6 months after the date of any interim order vesting temporary care, custody, and control of a child in the petitioners does not apply to a judgment for adoption of a related child, an adult, or a child as to whose adoption a State-licensed child welfare agency, or person authorized by law, has the right of authority to consent. Deletes language providing that a judgment for adoption of an adult or a child as to whose adoption an agency or person authorized by law has the right of authority to consent may be entered at any time after service of process and after the return day designated therein. Provides instead that a judgment for adoption of: an adult may be entered at any time after the adult has consented to his or her adoption; or a child as to whose adoption a State-licensed child welfare agency, or person authorized by law, has the right of authority to consent may be entered at any time after placement and completion of investigation. Makes other changes.


LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2559LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Adoption Act is amended by changing Sections
51, 2, 11, 13, and 14 as follows:
 
6    (750 ILCS 50/1)  (from Ch. 40, par. 1501)
7    Sec. 1. Definitions. When used in this Act, unless the
8context otherwise requires:
9    A. "Child" means a person under legal age subject to
10adoption under this Act.
11    B. "Related child" means a child subject to adoption where
12either or both of the adopting parents stands in any of the
13following relationships to the child by blood, marriage,
14adoption, or civil union: parent, grand-parent,
15great-grandparent, brother, sister, step-parent,
16step-grandparent, step-brother, step-sister, uncle, aunt,
17great-uncle, great-aunt, first cousin, or second cousin. A
18person is related to the child as a first cousin or second
19cousin if they are both related to the same ancestor as either
20grandchild or great-grandchild. A child whose parent has
21executed a consent to adoption, a surrender, or a waiver
22pursuant to Section 10 of this Act or whose parent has signed a
23denial of paternity pursuant to Section 12 of the Vital Records

 

 

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1Act or Section 12a of this Act, or whose parent has had his or
2her parental rights terminated, is not a related child to that
3person, unless (1) the consent is determined to be void or is
4void pursuant to subsection O of Section 10 of this Act; or (2)
5the parent of the child executed a consent to adoption by a
6specified person or persons pursuant to subsection A-1 of
7Section 10 of this Act and a court of competent jurisdiction
8finds that such consent is void; or (3) the order terminating
9the parental rights of the parent is vacated by a court of
10competent jurisdiction.
11    C. "Agency" for the purpose of this Act means a public
12child welfare agency or a licensed child welfare agency.
13    D. "Unfit person" means any person whom the court shall
14find to be unfit to have a child, without regard to the
15likelihood that the child will be placed for adoption. The
16grounds of unfitness are any one or more of the following,
17except that a person shall not be considered an unfit person
18for the sole reason that the person has relinquished a child in
19accordance with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act:
20        (a) Abandonment of the child.
21        (a-1) Abandonment of a newborn infant in a hospital.
22        (a-2) Abandonment of a newborn infant in any setting
23    where the evidence suggests that the parent intended to
24    relinquish his or her parental rights.
25        (b) Failure to maintain a reasonable degree of
26    interest, concern or responsibility as to the child's

 

 

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1    welfare.
2        (c) Desertion of the child for more than 3 months next
3    preceding the commencement of the Adoption proceeding.
4        (d) Substantial neglect of the child if continuous or
5    repeated.
6        (d-1) Substantial neglect, if continuous or repeated,
7    of any child residing in the household which resulted in
8    the death of that child.
9        (e) Extreme or repeated cruelty to the child.
10        (f) There is a rebuttable presumption, which can be
11    overcome only by clear and convincing evidence, that a
12    parent is unfit if:
13            (1) Two or more findings of physical abuse have
14        been entered regarding any children under Section 2-21
15        of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, the most recent of
16        which was determined by the juvenile court hearing the
17        matter to be supported by clear and convincing
18        evidence; or
19            (2) The parent has been convicted or found not
20        guilty by reason of insanity and the conviction or
21        finding resulted from the death of any child by
22        physical abuse; or
23            (3) There is a finding of physical child abuse
24        resulting from the death of any child under Section
25        2-21 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
26        No conviction or finding of delinquency pursuant to

 

 

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1    Article V of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall be
2    considered a criminal conviction for the purpose of
3    applying any presumption under this item (f).
4        (g) Failure to protect the child from conditions within
5    his environment injurious to the child's welfare.
6        (h) Other neglect of, or misconduct toward the child;
7    provided that in making a finding of unfitness the court
8    hearing the adoption proceeding shall not be bound by any
9    previous finding, order or judgment affecting or
10    determining the rights of the parents toward the child
11    sought to be adopted in any other proceeding except such
12    proceedings terminating parental rights as shall be had
13    under either this Act, the Juvenile Court Act or the
14    Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
15        (i) Depravity. Conviction of any one of the following
16    crimes shall create a presumption that a parent is depraved
17    which can be overcome only by clear and convincing
18    evidence: (1) first degree murder in violation of paragraph
19    (1) 1 or (2) 2 of subsection (a) of Section 9-1 of the
20    Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or
21    conviction of second degree murder in violation of
22    subsection (a) of Section 9-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961
23    or the Criminal Code of 2012 of a parent of the child to be
24    adopted; (2) first degree murder or second degree murder of
25    any child in violation of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the
26    Criminal Code of 2012; (3) attempt or conspiracy to commit

 

 

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1    first degree murder or second degree murder of any child in
2    violation of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code
3    of 2012; (4) solicitation to commit murder of any child,
4    solicitation to commit murder of any child for hire, or
5    solicitation to commit second degree murder of any child in
6    violation of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code
7    of 2012; (5) predatory criminal sexual assault of a child
8    in violation of Section 11-1.40 or 12-14.1 of the Criminal
9    Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (6) heinous
10    battery of any child in violation of the Criminal Code of
11    1961; (7) aggravated battery of any child in violation of
12    the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (8)
13    any violation of Section 11-1.20 or Section 12-13 of the
14    Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (9) any
15    violation of subsection (a) of Section 11-1.50 or Section
16    12-16 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of
17    2012; (10) any violation of Section 11-9.1 of the Criminal
18    Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; (11) any
19    violation of Section 11-9.1A of the Criminal Code of 1961
20    or the Criminal Code of 2012; or (12) an offense in any
21    other state the elements of which are similar and bear a
22    substantial relationship to any of the enumerated offenses
23    in this subsection (i).
24        There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
25    depraved if the parent has been criminally convicted of at
26    least 3 felonies under the laws of this State or any other

 

 

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1    state, or under federal law, or the criminal laws of any
2    United States territory; and at least one of these
3    convictions took place within 5 years of the filing of the
4    petition or motion seeking termination of parental rights.
5        There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
6    depraved if that parent has been criminally convicted of
7    either first or second degree murder of any person as
8    defined in the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code
9    of 2012 within 10 years of the filing date of the petition
10    or motion to terminate parental rights.
11        No conviction or finding of delinquency pursuant to
12    Article 5 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall be
13    considered a criminal conviction for the purpose of
14    applying any presumption under this item (i).
15        (j) Open and notorious adultery or fornication.
16        (j-1) (Blank).
17        (k) Habitual drunkenness or addiction to drugs, other
18    than those prescribed by a physician, for at least one year
19    immediately prior to the commencement of the unfitness
20    proceeding.
21        There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent is
22    unfit under this subsection with respect to any child to
23    which that parent gives birth where there is a confirmed
24    test result that at birth the child's blood, urine, or
25    meconium contained any amount of a controlled substance as
26    defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the Illinois

 

 

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1    Controlled Substances Act or metabolites of such
2    substances, the presence of which in the newborn infant was
3    not the result of medical treatment administered to the
4    mother or the newborn infant; and the biological mother of
5    this child is the biological mother of at least one other
6    child who was adjudicated a neglected minor under
7    subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of
8    1987.
9        (l) Failure to demonstrate a reasonable degree of
10    interest, concern or responsibility as to the welfare of a
11    new born child during the first 30 days after its birth.
12        (m) Failure by a parent (i) to make reasonable efforts
13    to correct the conditions that were the basis for the
14    removal of the child from the parent during any 9-month
15    period following the adjudication of neglected or abused
16    minor under Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987
17    or dependent minor under Section 2-4 of that Act, or (ii)
18    to make reasonable progress toward the return of the child
19    to the parent during any 9-month period following the
20    adjudication of neglected or abused minor under Section 2-3
21    of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or dependent minor under
22    Section 2-4 of that Act. If a service plan has been
23    established as required under Section 8.2 of the Abused and
24    Neglected Child Reporting Act to correct the conditions
25    that were the basis for the removal of the child from the
26    parent and if those services were available, then, for

 

 

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1    purposes of this Act, "failure to make reasonable progress
2    toward the return of the child to the parent" includes the
3    parent's failure to substantially fulfill his or her
4    obligations under the service plan and correct the
5    conditions that brought the child into care during any
6    9-month period following the adjudication under Section
7    2-3 or 2-4 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
8    Notwithstanding any other provision, when a petition or
9    motion seeks to terminate parental rights on the basis of
10    item (ii) of this subsection (m), the petitioner shall file
11    with the court and serve on the parties a pleading that
12    specifies the 9-month period or periods relied on. The
13    pleading shall be filed and served on the parties no later
14    than 3 weeks before the date set by the court for closure
15    of discovery, and the allegations in the pleading shall be
16    treated as incorporated into the petition or motion.
17    Failure of a respondent to file a written denial of the
18    allegations in the pleading shall not be treated as an
19    admission that the allegations are true.
20        (m-1) (Blank).
21        (n) Evidence of intent to forgo his or her parental
22    rights, whether or not the child is a ward of the court,
23    (1) as manifested by his or her failure for a period of 12
24    months: (i) to visit the child, (ii) to communicate with
25    the child or agency, although able to do so and not
26    prevented from doing so by an agency or by court order, or

 

 

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1    (iii) to maintain contact with or plan for the future of
2    the child, although physically able to do so, or (2) as
3    manifested by the father's failure, where he and the mother
4    of the child were unmarried to each other at the time of
5    the child's birth, (i) to commence legal proceedings to
6    establish his paternity under the Illinois Parentage Act of
7    1984, the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015, or the law of the
8    jurisdiction of the child's birth within 30 days of being
9    informed, pursuant to Section 12a of this Act, that he is
10    the father or the likely father of the child or, after
11    being so informed where the child is not yet born, within
12    30 days of the child's birth, or (ii) to make a good faith
13    effort to pay a reasonable amount of the expenses related
14    to the birth of the child and to provide a reasonable
15    amount for the financial support of the child, the court to
16    consider in its determination all relevant circumstances,
17    including the financial condition of both parents;
18    provided that the ground for termination provided in this
19    subparagraph (n)(2)(ii) shall only be available where the
20    petition is brought by the mother or the husband of the
21    mother.
22        Contact or communication by a parent with his or her
23    child that does not demonstrate affection and concern does
24    not constitute reasonable contact and planning under
25    subdivision (n). In the absence of evidence to the
26    contrary, the ability to visit, communicate, maintain

 

 

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1    contact, pay expenses and plan for the future shall be
2    presumed. The subjective intent of the parent, whether
3    expressed or otherwise, unsupported by evidence of the
4    foregoing parental acts manifesting that intent, shall not
5    preclude a determination that the parent has intended to
6    forgo his or her parental rights. In making this
7    determination, the court may consider but shall not require
8    a showing of diligent efforts by an authorized agency to
9    encourage the parent to perform the acts specified in
10    subdivision (n).
11        It shall be an affirmative defense to any allegation
12    under paragraph (2) of this subsection that the father's
13    failure was due to circumstances beyond his control or to
14    impediments created by the mother or any other person
15    having legal custody. Proof of that fact need only be by a
16    preponderance of the evidence.
17        (o) Repeated or continuous failure by the parents,
18    although physically and financially able, to provide the
19    child with adequate food, clothing, or shelter.
20        (p) Inability to discharge parental responsibilities
21    supported by competent evidence from a psychiatrist,
22    licensed clinical social worker, or clinical psychologist
23    of mental impairment, mental illness or an intellectual
24    disability as defined in Section 1-116 of the Mental Health
25    and Developmental Disabilities Code, or developmental
26    disability as defined in Section 1-106 of that Code, and

 

 

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1    there is sufficient justification to believe that the
2    inability to discharge parental responsibilities shall
3    extend beyond a reasonable time period. However, this
4    subdivision (p) shall not be construed so as to permit a
5    licensed clinical social worker to conduct any medical
6    diagnosis to determine mental illness or mental
7    impairment.
8        (q) (Blank).
9        (r) The child is in the temporary custody or
10    guardianship of the Department of Children and Family
11    Services, the parent is incarcerated as a result of
12    criminal conviction at the time the petition or motion for
13    termination of parental rights is filed, prior to
14    incarceration the parent had little or no contact with the
15    child or provided little or no support for the child, and
16    the parent's incarceration will prevent the parent from
17    discharging his or her parental responsibilities for the
18    child for a period in excess of 2 years after the filing of
19    the petition or motion for termination of parental rights.
20        (s) The child is in the temporary custody or
21    guardianship of the Department of Children and Family
22    Services, the parent is incarcerated at the time the
23    petition or motion for termination of parental rights is
24    filed, the parent has been repeatedly incarcerated as a
25    result of criminal convictions, and the parent's repeated
26    incarceration has prevented the parent from discharging

 

 

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1    his or her parental responsibilities for the child.
2        (t) A finding that at birth the child's blood, urine,
3    or meconium contained any amount of a controlled substance
4    as defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the Illinois
5    Controlled Substances Act, or a metabolite of a controlled
6    substance, with the exception of controlled substances or
7    metabolites of such substances, the presence of which in
8    the newborn infant was the result of medical treatment
9    administered to the mother or the newborn infant, and that
10    the biological mother of this child is the biological
11    mother of at least one other child who was adjudicated a
12    neglected minor under subsection (c) of Section 2-3 of the
13    Juvenile Court Act of 1987, after which the biological
14    mother had the opportunity to enroll in and participate in
15    a clinically appropriate substance abuse counseling,
16    treatment, and rehabilitation program.
17    E. "Parent" means a person who is the legal mother or legal
18father of the child as defined in subsection X or Y of this
19Section. For the purpose of this Act, a parent who has executed
20a consent to adoption, a surrender, or a waiver pursuant to
21Section 10 of this Act, who has signed a Denial of Paternity
22pursuant to Section 12 of the Vital Records Act or Section 12a
23of this Act, or whose parental rights have been terminated by a
24court, is not a parent of the child who was the subject of the
25consent, surrender, waiver, or denial unless (1) the consent is
26void pursuant to subsection O of Section 10 of this Act; or (2)

 

 

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1the person executed a consent to adoption by a specified person
2or persons pursuant to subsection A-1 of Section 10 of this Act
3and a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the consent is
4void; or (3) the order terminating the parental rights of the
5person is vacated by a court of competent jurisdiction.
6    F. A person is available for adoption when the person is:
7        (a) a child who has been surrendered for adoption to an
8    agency and to whose adoption the agency has thereafter
9    consented;
10        (b) a child to whose adoption a person authorized by
11    law, other than his parents, has consented, or to whose
12    adoption no consent is required pursuant to Section 8 of
13    this Act;
14        (c) a child who is in the custody of persons who intend
15    to adopt him through placement made by his parents;
16        (c-1) a child for whom a parent has signed a specific
17    consent pursuant to subsection O of Section 10;
18        (d) an adult who meets the conditions set forth in
19    Section 3 of this Act; or
20        (e) a child who has been relinquished as defined in
21    Section 10 of the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
22    A person who would otherwise be available for adoption
23shall not be deemed unavailable for adoption solely by reason
24of his or her death.
25    G. The singular includes the plural and the plural includes
26the singular and the "male" includes the "female", as the

 

 

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1context of this Act may require.
2    H. (Blank).
3    I. "Habitual residence" has the meaning ascribed to it in
4the federal Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 and regulations
5promulgated thereunder.
6    J. "Immediate relatives" means the biological parents, the
7parents of the biological parents and siblings of the
8biological parents.
9    K. "Intercountry adoption" is a process by which a child
10from a country other than the United States is adopted by
11persons who are habitual residents of the United States, or the
12child is a habitual resident of the United States who is
13adopted by persons who are habitual residents of a country
14other than the United States.
15    L. (Blank).
16    M. "Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children" is a
17law enacted by all states and certain territories for the
18purpose of establishing uniform procedures for handling the
19interstate placement of children in foster homes, adoptive
20homes, or other child care facilities.
21    N. (Blank).
22    O. "Preadoption requirements" means any conditions or
23standards established by the laws or administrative rules of
24this State that must be met by a prospective adoptive parent
25prior to the placement of a child in an adoptive home.
26    P. "Abused child" means a child whose parent or immediate

 

 

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1family member, or any person responsible for the child's
2welfare, or any individual residing in the same home as the
3child, or a paramour of the child's parent:
4        (a) inflicts, causes to be inflicted, or allows to be
5    inflicted upon the child physical injury, by other than
6    accidental means, that causes death, disfigurement,
7    impairment of physical or emotional health, or loss or
8    impairment of any bodily function;
9        (b) creates a substantial risk of physical injury to
10    the child by other than accidental means which would be
11    likely to cause death, disfigurement, impairment of
12    physical or emotional health, or loss or impairment of any
13    bodily function;
14        (c) commits or allows to be committed any sex offense
15    against the child, as sex offenses are defined in the
16    Criminal Code of 2012 and extending those definitions of
17    sex offenses to include children under 18 years of age;
18        (d) commits or allows to be committed an act or acts of
19    torture upon the child; or
20        (e) inflicts excessive corporal punishment.
21    Q. "Neglected child" means any child whose parent or other
22person responsible for the child's welfare withholds or denies
23nourishment or medically indicated treatment including food or
24care denied solely on the basis of the present or anticipated
25mental or physical impairment as determined by a physician
26acting alone or in consultation with other physicians or

 

 

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1otherwise does not provide the proper or necessary support,
2education as required by law, or medical or other remedial care
3recognized under State law as necessary for a child's
4well-being, or other care necessary for his or her well-being,
5including adequate food, clothing and shelter; or who is
6abandoned by his or her parents or other person responsible for
7the child's welfare.
8    A child shall not be considered neglected or abused for the
9sole reason that the child's parent or other person responsible
10for his or her welfare depends upon spiritual means through
11prayer alone for the treatment or cure of disease or remedial
12care as provided under Section 4 of the Abused and Neglected
13Child Reporting Act. A child shall not be considered neglected
14or abused for the sole reason that the child's parent or other
15person responsible for the child's welfare failed to vaccinate,
16delayed vaccination, or refused vaccination for the child due
17to a waiver on religious or medical grounds as permitted by
18law.
19    R. "Putative father" means a man who may be a child's
20father, but who (1) is not married to the child's mother on or
21before the date that the child was or is to be born and (2) has
22not established paternity of the child in a court proceeding
23before the filing of a petition for the adoption of the child.
24The term includes a male who is less than 18 years of age.
25"Putative father" does not mean a man who is the child's father
26as a result of criminal sexual abuse or assault as defined

 

 

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1under Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
2    S. "Standby adoption" means an adoption in which a parent
3consents to custody and termination of parental rights to
4become effective upon the occurrence of a future event, which
5is either the death of the parent or the request of the parent
6for the entry of a final judgment of adoption.
7    T. (Blank).
8    T-5. "Biological parent", "birth parent", or "natural
9parent" of a child are interchangeable terms that mean a person
10who is biologically or genetically related to that child as a
11parent.
12    U. "Interstate adoption" means the placement of a minor
13child with a prospective adoptive parent for the purpose of
14pursuing an adoption for that child that is subject to the
15provisions of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of
16Children.
17    V. (Blank).
18    W. (Blank).
19    X. "Legal father" of a child means a man who is recognized
20as or presumed to be that child's father:
21        (1) because of his marriage to or civil union with the
22    child's parent at the time of the child's birth or within
23    300 days prior to that child's birth, unless he signed a
24    denial of paternity pursuant to Section 12 of the Vital
25    Records Act or a waiver pursuant to Section 10 of this Act;
26    or

 

 

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1        (2) because his paternity of the child has been
2    established pursuant to the Illinois Parentage Act, the
3    Illinois Parentage Act of 1984, or the Gestational
4    Surrogacy Act; or
5        (3) because he is listed as the child's father or
6    parent on the child's birth certificate, unless he is
7    otherwise determined by an administrative or judicial
8    proceeding not to be the parent of the child or unless he
9    rescinds his acknowledgment of paternity pursuant to the
10    Illinois Parentage Act of 1984; or
11        (4) because his paternity or adoption of the child has
12    been established by a court of competent jurisdiction.
13    The definition in this subsection X shall not be construed
14to provide greater or lesser rights as to the number of parents
15who can be named on a final judgment order of adoption or
16Illinois birth certificate that otherwise exist under Illinois
17law.
18    Y. "Legal mother" of a child means a woman who is
19recognized as or presumed to be that child's mother:
20        (1) because she gave birth to the child except as
21    provided in the Gestational Surrogacy Act; or
22        (2) because her maternity of the child has been
23    established pursuant to the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984
24    or the Gestational Surrogacy Act; or
25        (3) because her maternity or adoption of the child has
26    been established by a court of competent jurisdiction; or

 

 

SB2559- 19 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1        (4) because of her marriage to or civil union with the
2    child's other parent at the time of the child's birth or
3    within 300 days prior to the time of birth; or
4        (5) because she is listed as the child's mother or
5    parent on the child's birth certificate unless she is
6    otherwise determined by an administrative or judicial
7    proceeding not to be the parent of the child.
8    The definition in this subsection Y shall not be construed
9to provide greater or lesser rights as to the number of parents
10who can be named on a final judgment order of adoption or
11Illinois birth certificate that otherwise exist under Illinois
12law.
13    Z. "Department" means the Illinois Department of Children
14and Family Services.
15    AA. "Placement disruption" means a circumstance where the
16child is removed from an adoptive placement before the adoption
17is finalized.
18    BB. "Secondary placement" means a placement, including but
19not limited to the placement of a youth in care as defined in
20Section 4d of the Children and Family Services Act, that occurs
21after a placement disruption or an adoption dissolution.
22"Secondary placement" does not mean secondary placements
23arising due to the death of the adoptive parent of the child.
24    CC. "Adoption dissolution" means a circumstance where the
25child is removed from an adoptive placement after the adoption
26is finalized.

 

 

SB2559- 20 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1    DD. "Unregulated placement" means the secondary placement
2of a child that occurs without the oversight of the courts, the
3Department, or a licensed child welfare agency.
4    EE. "Post-placement and post-adoption support services"
5means support services for placed or adopted children and
6families that include, but are not limited to, mental health
7treatment, including counseling and other support services for
8emotional, behavioral, or developmental needs, and treatment
9for substance abuse.
10    FF. "Youth in care" has the meaning provided in Section 4d
11of the Children and Family Services Act.
12(Source: P.A. 100-159, eff. 8-18-17; 101-155, eff. 1-1-20;
13101-529, eff. 1-1-20; revised 9-17-19.)
 
14    (750 ILCS 50/2)  (from Ch. 40, par. 1502)
15    Sec. 2. Who may adopt a child.
16    A. Any of the following persons, who is under no legal
17disability (except the minority specified in sub-paragraph
18(b)) and who has resided in the State of Illinois continuously
19for a period of at least 6 months immediately preceding the
20commencement of an adoption proceeding, or any member of the
21armed forces of the United States who has been domiciled in the
22State of Illinois for 90 days, may institute such proceeding:
23        (a) A reputable person of legal age and of either sex,
24    provided that if such person is married or in a civil union
25    and has not been living separate and apart from his or her

 

 

SB2559- 21 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1    spouse or civil union partner for 12 months or longer, his
2    or her spouse or civil union partner shall be a party to
3    the adoption proceeding, including a spouse or civil union
4    partner desiring to adopt a child of the other spouse or
5    civil union partner, in all of which cases the adoption
6    shall be by both spouses or civil union partners jointly;
7        (b) A minor, by leave of court upon good cause shown.
8    Notwithstanding sub-paragraph (a) of this subsection, a
9spouse or civil union partner is not required to join in a
10petition for adoption to re-adopt a child after an intercountry
11adoption if the spouse or civil union partner did not
12previously adopt the child as set forth in subsections (c) and
13(e) of Section 4.1 of this Act.
14    B. The residence requirement specified in paragraph A of
15this Section shall not apply to:
16        (a) an adoption of a related child or child previously
17    adopted in a foreign country by the petitioner; or
18        (b) an adoption of a child placed by an
19    Illinois-licensed child welfare an agency performing
20    adoption services; or .
21        (c) an adoption of a child born in this State who has
22    resided continuously in this State since birth, or a child
23    who has continuously resided in this State for at least 6
24    months immediately preceding the commencement of the
25    adoption proceeding, if:
26            (1) an Illinois-licensed child welfare agency

 

 

SB2559- 22 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1        performing adoption services has acknowledged a
2        consent or surrender of one or both of the biological
3        or legal parents of the child under this Act and the
4        Child Care Act of 1969; or
5            (2) an authorized person under Section 10 has
6        acknowledged a consent of one or both of the biological
7        or legal parents of the child and an Illinois-licensed
8        child welfare agency performing adoption services has
9        counseled the biological or legal parent or parents of
10        the child as to the birth parent rights and
11        responsibilities under the Child Care Act of 1969 and
12        the rules adopted thereunder.
13    C. Nothing in this Section overrides the requirements
14contained in Public Act 94-586.
15(Source: P.A. 98-804, eff. 1-1-15; 99-49, eff. 7-15-15.)
 
16    (750 ILCS 50/11)  (from Ch. 40, par. 1513)
17    Sec. 11. Consents, surrenders, waivers, irrevocability.
18    (a) A consent to adoption or standby adoption by a parent,
19including a minor, executed and acknowledged in accordance with
20the provisions of Section 10 of this Act, or a surrender of a
21child by a parent, including a minor, to an agency for the
22purpose of adoption shall be irrevocable unless it shall have
23been obtained by fraud or duress on the part of the person
24before whom such consent, surrender, or other document
25equivalent to a surrender is acknowledged pursuant to the

 

 

SB2559- 23 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1provisions of Section 10 of this Act or on the part of the
2adopting parents or their agents and a court of competent
3jurisdiction shall so find. No action to void or revoke a
4consent to or surrender for adoption, including an action based
5on fraud or duress, may be commenced after 12 months from the
6date the consent or surrender was executed. The consent or
7surrender of a parent who is a minor shall not be voidable
8because of such minority.
9    (a-1) A waiver signed by a putative or legal father,
10including a minor, executed and acknowledged in accordance with
11Section 10 of this Act, shall be irrevocable unless it shall
12have been obtained by fraud or duress on the part of the
13adopting parents or their agents and a court of competent
14jurisdiction shall so find. No action to void a waiver may be
15commenced after 12 months from the date the waiver was
16executed. The waiver of a putative or legal father who is a
17minor shall not be voidable because of such minority.
18    (b) The petitioners in an adoption proceeding are entitled
19to rely upon a sworn statement of the biological mother of the
20child to be adopted identifying the father of her child. The
21affidavit shall be conclusive evidence as to the biological
22mother regarding the facts stated therein, and shall create a
23rebuttable presumption of truth as to the biological father
24only. Except as provided in Section 11 of this Act, the
25biological mother of the child shall be permanently barred from
26attacking the proceeding thereafter. The biological mother,

 

 

SB2559- 24 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1including a biological mother who is a petitioner, shall
2execute such affidavit in writing and under oath. The affidavit
3shall be executed by the biological mother before or at the
4time of execution of the consent or surrender, and shall be
5retained by the court and be a part of the Court's files. The
6form of affidavit shall be substantially as follows:
7
AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTIFICATION
8    I, ................., the mother of a (male or female)
9child, state under oath or affirm as follows:
10    (1) That the child was born, or is expected to be born, on
11(insert date), at ......................., in the State of
12...................
13    (2) That I reside at .................., in the City or
14Village of ..........., State of ...................
15    (3) That I am of the age of ....... years.
16    (4) That I acknowledge that I have been asked to identify
17the father of my child.
18    (5) (CHECK ONE)
19    .... I know and am identifying the biological father.
20    .... I do not know the identity of the biological father.
21    .... I am unwilling to identify the biological father.
22    (6A) If I know and am identifying the father:
23    That the name of the biological father is
24....................; his last known home address is
25............; his last known work address is
26....................; and he is ..... years of age; or he is

 

 

SB2559- 25 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1deceased, having died on (insert date) at .............., in
2the State of ..................
3    (6B) If I do not know the identity of the biological
4father:
5    I do not know who the biological father is; the following
6is an explanation of why I am unable to identify him:
7.............................................................
8.............................................................
9..............................................................
10    (6C) If I am unwilling to identify the biological father:
11    I do not wish to name the biological father of the child
12for the following reasons:
13.............................................................
14.............................................................
15.............................................................
16    (7) (CHECK ONE)
17    .... I am married to the biological father.
18    .... I am not and have not been married to the biological
19father within 300 days of the child's birth.
20    .... The child has another legal parent who is not the
21biological parent (please explain):
22.
23..............................
24..............................
25    (8) Regarding whether a court order has been entered by any
26court finding any person to be the biological father or legal

 

 

SB2559- 26 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1parent of the child: (CHECK ONE)
2    .... No, a court order has not been entered.
3    .... Yes, a court order has been entered and it is Case No.
4..... in the Circuit Court located in ............... County
5(if the case number and county is known).
6    .... I do not know whether there are any court or other
7proceedings related to a finding of any person to be the
8biological father or legal parent of the child.
9    (9) (7) The physical description of the biological father
10is: .........................................................
11.............................................................
12.............................................................
13    (10) (8) I reaffirm that the information contained in this
14Affidavit paragraphs 5, 6, and 7, inclusive, is true and
15correct.
16    (11) (9) I have been informed and understand that if I am
17unwilling, refuse to identify, or misidentify the biological
18father of the child, absent fraud or duress, I am permanently
19barred from attacking the proceedings for the adoption of the
20child at any time after I sign a final and irrevocable consent
21to adoption or surrender for purposes of adoption.
22    (12) (10) I have read this Affidavit and have had the
23opportunity to review and question it; it was explained to me
24by ............................; and I am signing it as my free
25and voluntary act and understand the contents and the results
26of signing it.

 

 

SB2559- 27 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1    Dated (insert date).
2
...................................
3
Signature
4    Under penalties as provided by law under Section 1-109 of
5the Code of Civil Procedure, the undersigned certifies that the
6statements set forth in this Affidavit are true and correct.
7
...................................
8
Signature
9(Source: P.A. 97-493, eff. 8-22-11.)
 
10    (750 ILCS 50/13)  (from Ch. 40, par. 1516)
11    Sec. 13. Interim order. As soon as practicable after the
12filing of a petition for adoption the court shall hold a
13hearing for the following purposes:
14    A. In other than an adoption of a related child or an
15adoption through an agency, or of an adult:
16        (a) To determine the validity of the consent, provided
17    that the execution of a consent pursuant to this Act shall
18    be prima facie evidence of its validity, and provided that
19    the validity of a consent shall not be affected by the
20    omission therefrom of the names of the petitioners or
21    adopting parents at the time the consent is executed or
22    acknowledged, and further provided that the execution of a
23    consent prior to the filing of a petition for adoption
24    shall not affect its validity.
25        (b) To determine whether there is available suitable

 

 

SB2559- 28 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1    temporary custodial care for a child sought to be adopted.
2    B. In all cases except standby adoptions and re-adoptions:
3        (a) The court shall appoint some licensed attorney
4    other than the State's attorney acting in his or her
5    official capacity as guardian ad litem to represent a child
6    sought to be adopted. Such guardian ad litem shall have
7    power to consent to the adoption of the child, if such
8    consent is required. In the case of a related adoption
9    where the child sought to be adopted is not a youth in
10    care, the court shall have the discretion to waive the
11    appointment of a guardian ad litem.
12        (b) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for all
13    named minors or defendants who are persons under legal
14    disability, if any. In the case of a related adoption where
15    the child sought to be adopted is not a youth in care, the
16    court shall have the discretion to waive the appointment of
17    a guardian ad litem.
18        (c) If the petition alleges a person to be unfit
19    pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (p) of paragraph
20    D of Section 1 of this Act, such person shall be
21    represented by counsel. If such person is indigent or an
22    appearance has not been entered on his behalf at the time
23    the matter is set for hearing, the court shall appoint as
24    counsel for him either the Guardianship and Advocacy
25    Commission, the public defender, or, only if no attorney
26    from the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission or the public

 

 

SB2559- 29 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1    defender is available, an attorney licensed to practice law
2    in this State.
3        (d) If it is proved to the satisfaction of the court,
4    after such investigation as the court deems necessary, that
5    termination of parental rights and temporary commitment of
6    the child to an agency or to a person deemed competent by
7    the court, including petitioners, will be for the welfare
8    of the child, the court may order the child to be so
9    committed and may terminate the parental rights of the
10    parents and declare the child a ward of the court or, if it
11    is not so proved, the court may enter such other order as
12    it shall deem necessary and advisable.
13        (e) Before an interim custody order is granted under
14    this Section, service of summons shall be had upon the
15    parent or parents whose rights have not been terminated,
16    except as provided in subsection (f). Reasonable notice and
17    opportunity to be heard shall be given to the parent or
18    parents after service of summons when the address of the
19    parent or parents is available. The party seeking an
20    interim custody order shall make all reasonable efforts to
21    locate the parent or parents of the child or children they
22    are seeking to adopt and to notify the parent or parents of
23    the party's request for an interim custody order pursuant
24    to this Section.
25        (f) An interim custody order may be granted without
26    notice upon presentation to the court of a written

 

 

SB2559- 30 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1    petition, accompanied by an affidavit, stating that there
2    is an immediate danger to the child and that irreparable
3    harm will result to the child if notice is given to the
4    parent or parents or legal guardian. Upon making a finding
5    that there is an immediate danger to the child if service
6    of process is had upon and notice of hearing is given to
7    the parent or parents or legal guardian prior to the entry
8    of an order granting temporary custody to someone other
9    than a parent or legal guardian, the court may enter an
10    order of temporary custody which shall expire not more than
11    10 days after its entry. Every ex parte custody order
12    granted without notice shall state the injury which the
13    court sought to avoid by granting the order, the
14    irreparable injury that would have occurred had notice been
15    given, and the reason the order was granted without notice.
16    The matter shall be set down for full hearing before the
17    expiration of the ex parte order and will be heard after
18    service of summons is had upon and notice of hearing is
19    given to the parent or parents or legal guardian. At the
20    hearing the burden of proof shall be upon the party seeking
21    to extend the interim custody order to show that the order
22    was properly granted without notice and that custody should
23    remain with the party seeking to adopt during the pendency
24    of the adoption proceeding. If the interim custody order is
25    extended, the reasons for granting the extension shall be
26    stated in the order.

 

 

SB2559- 31 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1    C. In the case of a child born outside the United States or
2a territory thereof, if the petitioners have previously been
3appointed guardians of such child by a court of competent
4jurisdiction in a country other than the United States or a
5territory thereof, the court may order that the petitioners
6continue as guardians of such child.
7    D. In standby adoption cases:
8        (a) The court shall appoint a licensed attorney other
9    than the State's Attorney acting in his or her official
10    capacity as guardian ad litem to represent a child sought
11    to be adopted. The guardian ad litem shall have power to
12    consent to the adoption of the child, if consent is
13    required.
14        (b) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for all
15    named minors or defendants who are persons under legal
16    disability, if any. In the case of a related adoption where
17    the child sought to be adopted is not a youth in care, the
18    court shall have the discretion to waive the appointment of
19    a guardian ad litem.
20        (c) The court lacks jurisdiction to proceed on the
21    petition for standby adoption if the child has a living
22    parent, adoptive parent, or adjudicated parent whose
23    rights have not been terminated and whose whereabouts are
24    known, unless the parent consents to the standby adoption
25    or, after receiving notice of the hearing on the standby
26    adoption petition, fails to object to the appointment of a

 

 

SB2559- 32 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1    standby adoptive parent at the hearing on the petition.
2        (d) The court shall investigate as needed for the
3    welfare of the child and shall determine whether the
4    petitioner or petitioners shall be permitted to adopt.
5(Source: P.A. 99-49, eff. 7-15-15.)
 
6    (750 ILCS 50/14)  (from Ch. 40, par. 1517)
7    Sec. 14. Judgment.
8    (a) Prior to the entry of the judgment for order of
9adoption in any case other than an adoption of a related child
10or of an adult, each petitioner and each person, agency,
11association, corporation, institution, society or organization
12involved in the adoption of the child, except a child welfare
13agency, shall execute an affidavit setting forth the hospital
14and medical costs, legal fees, counseling fees, and any other
15fees or expenditures paid in accordance with the Adoption
16Compensation Prohibition Act or Section 12C-70 of the Criminal
17Code of 2012.
18    (b) Before the entry of the judgment for adoption, each
19child welfare agency involved in the adoption of the child
20shall file an affidavit concerning the costs, expenses,
21contributions, fees, compensation, or other things of value
22which have been given, promised, or received including but not
23limited to hospital and medical costs, legal fees, social
24services, living expenses, or any other expenses related to the
25adoption paid in accordance with the Adoption Compensation

 

 

SB2559- 33 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1Prohibition Act or Section 12C-70 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
2    If the total amount paid by the child welfare agency is
3$4,500 or more, the affidavit shall contain an itemization of
4expenditures.
5    If the total amount paid by the child welfare agency is
6less than $4,500, the agency may file an unitemized affidavit
7stating that the total amount paid is less than $4,500 unless
8the court, in its discretion, requires that agency to file an
9itemized affidavit.
10    (c) No affidavit need be filed in the case of an adoption
11of a related child or an adult, nor shall an affidavit be
12required to be filed by a non-consenting parent, or by any
13judge, or clerk, involved in an official capacity in the
14adoption proceedings.
15    (d) All affidavits filed in accordance with this Section
16shall be under penalty of perjury and shall include, but are
17not limited to, hospital and medical costs, legal fees, social
18services, living expenses or any other expenses related to the
19adoption or to the placement of the child, whether or not the
20payments are permitted by applicable laws.
21    (e) Except as provided in subsections (f), (f-1), (f-2),
22and (f-5), upon Upon the expiration of 6 months after the date
23of any interim order vesting temporary care, custody and
24control of a child, other than a related child, in the
25petitioners, entered pursuant to this Act, the petitioners may
26apply to the court for a judgment of adoption. Notice of such

 

 

SB2559- 34 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1application shall be served by the petitioners upon the
2investigating agency or the person making such investigation,
3and the guardian ad litem. After the hearing on such
4application, at which the petitioners and the child shall
5appear in person, unless their presence is waived by the court
6for good cause shown, the court may enter a judgment for
7adoption, provided the court is satisfied from the report of
8the investigating agency or the person making the
9investigation, and from the evidence, if any, introduced, that
10the adoption is for the welfare of the child and that there is
11a valid consent, or that no consent is required as provided in
12Section 8 of this Act.
13    (f) A judgment for adoption of a related child, an adult,
14or a child as to whose adoption an agency or person authorized
15by law has the right of authority to consent may be entered at
16any time after service of process and after the return day
17designated therein.
18    (f-1) A judgment for adoption of an adult may be entered at
19any time after the adult has consented to the adoption.
20    (f-2) A judgment for adoption of a child as to whose
21adoption an Illinois-licensed child welfare agency, or person
22authorized by law, has the right of authority to consent may be
23entered at any time after placement and completion of
24investigation as required by this Act.
25    (f-5) A standby adoption judgment may be entered upon
26notice of the death of the consenting parent or upon the

 

 

SB2559- 35 -LRB101 16217 LNS 69212 b

1consenting parent's request that a final judgment for adoption
2be entered. The notice must be provided to the court within 60
3days after the standby adoptive parent's receipt of knowledge
4of death of the consenting parent or the consenting parent's
5request that a final judgment for adoption be entered. If the
6court finds that adoption is for the welfare of the child and
7that there is a valid consent, including consent for standby
8adoption, which is still in effect, or that no consent is
9required under Section 8 of the Act, a judgment for adoption
10shall be entered unless the court finds by clear and convincing
11evidence that it is no longer in the best interest of the child
12for the adoption to be finalized.
13    (g) No special findings of fact or certificate of evidence
14shall be necessary in any case to support the judgment.
15    (h) Only the circuit court that entered the judgment of the
16adoption may order the issuance of any contents of the court
17file or that the original birth record of the adoptee be
18provided to any persons.
19(Source: P.A. 97-1109, eff. 1-1-13; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)