97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5129

 

Introduced 2/8/2012, by Rep. Patricia R. Bellock

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
325 ILCS 5/7.4  from Ch. 23, par. 2057.4
325 ILCS 5/7.14  from Ch. 23, par. 2057.14
325 ILCS 5/7.16  from Ch. 23, par. 2057.16
325 ILCS 5/7.21

    Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to convene a multi-disciplinary committee to review application of the Department's investigation procedures to investigations involving children with custody cases pending pursuant to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Requires the Department to promulgate rules, by June 1, 2013, establishing criteria and standards for labeling a child abuse or neglect report as false in the state central register. Requires the Department's investigation team to include a licensed clinical social worker with experience in working with a child's specific disability when a report involves a child with a cognitive or physical disability. Provides that if the child named in the report was in the temporary custody or guardianship of the Department when the report was received, then the child named in the report shall be a party to another's request for expungement of the final findings. Contains provisions concerning a mandated reporter's request for a review of an unfounded report; appeals requested by parents, personal guardians, or legal custodians who are not also subjects of the report; appeals conducted by a neutral third party; appeals or reviews requested via U.S. Mail; and Department rules limiting the rights of a reporter to request an appeal. Effective immediately.


LRB097 18626 KTG 65576 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5129LRB097 18626 KTG 65576 b

1    AN ACT concerning children.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act is
5amended by changing Sections 7.4, 7.14, 7.16, and 7.21 as
6follows:
 
7    (325 ILCS 5/7.4)  (from Ch. 23, par. 2057.4)
8    Sec. 7.4. (a) The Department shall be capable of receiving
9reports of suspected child abuse or neglect 24 hours a day, 7
10days a week. Whenever the Department receives a report alleging
11that a child is a truant as defined in Section 26-2a of The
12School Code, as now or hereafter amended, the Department shall
13notify the superintendent of the school district in which the
14child resides and the appropriate superintendent of the
15educational service region. The notification to the
16appropriate officials by the Department shall not be considered
17an allegation of abuse or neglect under this Act.
18    (a-5) Beginning January 1, 2010, the Department of Children
19and Family Services may implement a 5-year demonstration of a
20"differential response program" in accordance with criteria,
21standards, and procedures prescribed by rule. The program may
22provide that, upon receiving a report, the Department shall
23determine whether to conduct a family assessment or an

 

 

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1investigation as appropriate to prevent or provide a remedy for
2child abuse or neglect.
3    For purposes of this subsection (a-5), "family assessment"
4means a comprehensive assessment of child safety, risk of
5subsequent child maltreatment, and family strengths and needs
6that is applied to a child maltreatment report that does not
7allege substantial child endangerment. "Family assessment"
8does not include a determination as to whether child
9maltreatment occurred but does determine the need for services
10to address the safety of family members and the risk of
11subsequent maltreatment.
12    For purposes of this subsection (a-5), "investigation"
13means fact-gathering related to the current safety of a child
14and the risk of subsequent abuse or neglect that determines
15whether a report of suspected child abuse or neglect should be
16indicated or unfounded and whether child protective services
17are needed.
18    Under the "differential response program" implemented
19under this subsection (a-5), the Department:
20        (1) Shall conduct an investigation on reports
21    involving substantial child abuse or neglect.
22        (2) Shall begin an immediate investigation if, at any
23    time when it is using a family assessment response, it
24    determines that there is reason to believe that substantial
25    child abuse or neglect or a serious threat to the child's
26    safety exists.

 

 

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1        (3) May conduct a family assessment for reports that do
2    not allege substantial child endangerment. In determining
3    that a family assessment is appropriate, the Department may
4    consider issues including, but not limited to, child
5    safety, parental cooperation, and the need for an immediate
6    response.
7        (4) Shall promulgate criteria, standards, and
8    procedures that shall be applied in making this
9    determination, taking into consideration the Child
10    Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol of the Department.
11        (5) May conduct a family assessment on a report that
12    was initially screened and assigned for an investigation.
13    In determining that a complete investigation is not
14required, the Department must document the reason for
15terminating the investigation and notify the local law
16enforcement agency or the Department of State Police if the
17local law enforcement agency or Department of State Police is
18conducting a joint investigation.
19    Once it is determined that a "family assessment" will be
20implemented, the case shall not be reported to the central
21register of abuse and neglect reports.
22    During a family assessment, the Department shall collect
23any available and relevant information to determine child
24safety, risk of subsequent abuse or neglect, and family
25strengths.
26    Information collected includes, but is not limited to, when

 

 

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1relevant: information with regard to the person reporting the
2alleged abuse or neglect, including the nature of the
3reporter's relationship to the child and to the alleged
4offender, and the basis of the reporter's knowledge for the
5report; the child allegedly being abused or neglected; the
6alleged offender; the child's caretaker; and other collateral
7sources having relevant information related to the alleged
8abuse or neglect. Information relevant to the assessment must
9be asked for, and may include:
10        (A) The child's sex and age, prior reports of abuse or
11    neglect, information relating to developmental
12    functioning, credibility of the child's statement, and
13    whether the information provided under this paragraph (A)
14    is consistent with other information collected during the
15    course of the assessment or investigation.
16        (B) The alleged offender's age, a record check for
17    prior reports of abuse or neglect, and criminal charges and
18    convictions. The alleged offender may submit supporting
19    documentation relevant to the assessment.
20        (C) Collateral source information regarding the
21    alleged abuse or neglect and care of the child. Collateral
22    information includes, when relevant: (i) a medical
23    examination of the child; (ii) prior medical records
24    relating to the alleged maltreatment or care of the child
25    maintained by any facility, clinic, or health care
26    professional, and an interview with the treating

 

 

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1    professionals; and (iii) interviews with the child's
2    caretakers, including the child's parent, guardian, foster
3    parent, child care provider, teachers, counselors, family
4    members, relatives, and other persons who may have
5    knowledge regarding the alleged maltreatment and the care
6    of the child.
7        (D) Information on the existence of domestic abuse and
8    violence in the home of the child, and substance abuse.
9    Nothing in this subsection (a-5) precludes the Department
10from collecting other relevant information necessary to
11conduct the assessment or investigation. Nothing in this
12subsection (a-5) shall be construed to allow the name or
13identity of a reporter to be disclosed in violation of the
14protections afforded under Section 7.19 of this Act.
15    After conducting the family assessment, the Department
16shall determine whether services are needed to address the
17safety of the child and other family members and the risk of
18subsequent abuse or neglect.
19    Upon completion of the family assessment, if the Department
20concludes that no services shall be offered, then the case
21shall be closed. If the Department concludes that services
22shall be offered, the Department shall develop a family
23preservation plan and offer or refer services to the family.
24    At any time during a family assessment, if the Department
25believes there is any reason to stop the assessment and conduct
26an investigation based on the information discovered, the

 

 

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1Department shall do so.
2    The procedures available to the Department in conducting
3investigations under this Act shall be followed as appropriate
4during a family assessment.
5    The Department shall arrange for an independent evaluation
6of the "differential response program" authorized and
7implemented under this subsection (a-5) to determine whether it
8is meeting the goals in accordance with Section 2 of this Act.
9The Department may adopt administrative rules necessary for the
10execution of this Section, in accordance with Section 4 of the
11Children and Family Services Act.
12    The demonstration conducted under this subsection (a-5)
13shall become a permanent program on January 1, 2015, upon
14completion of the demonstration project period.
15    (b) (1) The following procedures shall be followed in the
16    investigation of all reports of suspected abuse or neglect
17    of a child, except as provided in subsection (c) of this
18    Section.
19        (2) If, during a family assessment authorized by
20    subsection (a-5) or an investigation, it appears that the
21    immediate safety or well-being of a child is endangered,
22    that the family may flee or the child disappear, or that
23    the facts otherwise so warrant, the Child Protective
24    Service Unit shall commence an investigation immediately,
25    regardless of the time of day or night. All other
26    investigations shall be commenced within 24 hours of

 

 

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1    receipt of the report. Upon receipt of a report, the Child
2    Protective Service Unit shall conduct a family assessment
3    authorized by subsection (a-5) or begin an initial
4    investigation and make an initial determination whether
5    the report is a good faith indication of alleged child
6    abuse or neglect.
7        (3) Based on an initial investigation, if the Unit
8    determines the report is a good faith indication of alleged
9    child abuse or neglect, then a formal investigation shall
10    commence and, pursuant to Section 7.12 of this Act, may or
11    may not result in an indicated report. The formal
12    investigation shall include: direct contact with the
13    subject or subjects of the report as soon as possible after
14    the report is received; an evaluation of the environment of
15    the child named in the report and any other children in the
16    same environment; a determination of the risk to such
17    children if they continue to remain in the existing
18    environments, as well as a determination of the nature,
19    extent and cause of any condition enumerated in such
20    report; the name, age and condition of other children in
21    the environment; and an evaluation as to whether there
22    would be an immediate and urgent necessity to remove the
23    child from the environment if appropriate family
24    preservation services were provided. After seeing to the
25    safety of the child or children, the Department shall
26    forthwith notify the subjects of the report in writing, of

 

 

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1    the existence of the report and their rights existing under
2    this Act in regard to amendment or expungement. To fulfill
3    the requirements of this Section, the Child Protective
4    Service Unit shall have the capability of providing or
5    arranging for comprehensive emergency services to children
6    and families at all times of the day or night.
7        (4) If (i) at the conclusion of the Unit's initial
8    investigation of a report, the Unit determines the report
9    to be a good faith indication of alleged child abuse or
10    neglect that warrants a formal investigation by the Unit,
11    the Department, any law enforcement agency or any other
12    responsible agency and (ii) the person who is alleged to
13    have caused the abuse or neglect is employed or otherwise
14    engaged in an activity resulting in frequent contact with
15    children and the alleged abuse or neglect are in the course
16    of such employment or activity, then the Department shall,
17    except in investigations where the Director determines
18    that such notification would be detrimental to the
19    Department's investigation, inform the appropriate
20    supervisor or administrator of that employment or activity
21    that the Unit has commenced a formal investigation pursuant
22    to this Act, which may or may not result in an indicated
23    report. The Department shall also notify the person being
24    investigated, unless the Director determines that such
25    notification would be detrimental to the Department's
26    investigation.

 

 

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1    (c) In an investigation of a report of suspected abuse or
2neglect of a child by a school employee at a school or on
3school grounds, the Department shall make reasonable efforts to
4follow the following procedures:
5        (1) Investigations involving teachers shall not, to
6    the extent possible, be conducted when the teacher is
7    scheduled to conduct classes. Investigations involving
8    other school employees shall be conducted so as to minimize
9    disruption of the school day. The school employee accused
10    of child abuse or neglect may have his superior, his
11    association or union representative and his attorney
12    present at any interview or meeting at which the teacher or
13    administrator is present. The accused school employee
14    shall be informed by a representative of the Department, at
15    any interview or meeting, of the accused school employee's
16    due process rights and of the steps in the investigation
17    process. The information shall include, but need not
18    necessarily be limited to the right, subject to the
19    approval of the Department, of the school employee to
20    confront the accuser, if the accuser is 14 years of age or
21    older, or the right to review the specific allegations
22    which gave rise to the investigation, and the right to
23    review all materials and evidence that have been submitted
24    to the Department in support of the allegation. These due
25    process rights shall also include the right of the school
26    employee to present countervailing evidence regarding the

 

 

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1    accusations.
2        (2) If a report of neglect or abuse of a child by a
3    teacher or administrator does not involve allegations of
4    sexual abuse or extreme physical abuse, the Child
5    Protective Service Unit shall make reasonable efforts to
6    conduct the initial investigation in coordination with the
7    employee's supervisor.
8        If the Unit determines that the report is a good faith
9    indication of potential child abuse or neglect, it shall
10    then commence a formal investigation under paragraph (3) of
11    subsection (b) of this Section.
12        (3) If a report of neglect or abuse of a child by a
13    teacher or administrator involves an allegation of sexual
14    abuse or extreme physical abuse, the Child Protective Unit
15    shall commence an investigation under paragraph (2) of
16    subsection (b) of this Section.
17    (c-5) In any instance in which a report is made or caused
18to made by a school district employee involving the conduct of
19a person employed by the school district, at the time the
20report was made, as required under Section 4 of this Act, the
21Child Protective Service Unit shall send a copy of its final
22finding report to the general superintendent of that school
23district.
24    (d) If the Department has contact with an employer, or with
25a religious institution or religious official having
26supervisory or hierarchical authority over a member of the

 

 

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1clergy accused of the abuse of a child, in the course of its
2investigation, the Department shall notify the employer or the
3religious institution or religious official, in writing, when a
4report is unfounded so that any record of the investigation can
5be expunged from the employee's or member of the clergy's
6personnel or other records. The Department shall also notify
7the employee or the member of the clergy, in writing, that
8notification has been sent to the employer or to the
9appropriate religious institution or religious official
10informing the employer or religious institution or religious
11official that the Department's investigation has resulted in an
12unfounded report.
13    (e) Upon request by the Department, the Department of State
14Police and law enforcement agencies are authorized to provide
15criminal history record information as defined in the Illinois
16Uniform Conviction Information Act and information maintained
17in the adjudicatory and dispositional record system as defined
18in Section 2605-355 of the Department of State Police Law (20
19ILCS 2605/2605-355) to properly designated employees of the
20Department of Children and Family Services if the Department
21determines the information is necessary to perform its duties
22under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, the Child
23Care Act of 1969, and the Children and Family Services Act. The
24request shall be in the form and manner required by the
25Department of State Police. Any information obtained by the
26Department of Children and Family Services under this Section

 

 

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1is confidential and may not be transmitted outside the
2Department of Children and Family Services other than to a
3court of competent jurisdiction or unless otherwise authorized
4by law. Any employee of the Department of Children and Family
5Services who transmits confidential information in violation
6of this Section or causes the information to be transmitted in
7violation of this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor
8unless the transmittal of the information is authorized by this
9Section or otherwise authorized by law.
10    (f) For purposes of this Section "child abuse or neglect"
11includes abuse or neglect of an adult resident as defined in
12this Act.
13    (g) The Department shall convene a multi-disciplinary
14committee to review application of the Department's
15investigation procedures to investigations involving children
16with custody cases pending pursuant to the Illinois Marriage
17and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The committee shall include
18Department staff, a licensed clinical social worker
19specializing in working with children who have experienced
20trauma, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in
21working with children involved in custody disputes, a
22professional child custody evaluator, and child advocacy
23organizations. The committee shall develop recommendations for
24policy changes and training regarding investigations of these
25cases. Reference to and guidance on parental alienation
26syndrome shall be removed from existing procedures and

 

 

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1policies. Analysis of influence on a child's statements and
2behavior shall be case-specific and supported by details. The
3committee shall prepare a report by December 1, 2013. The
4Department shall tender the committee's report and the
5Department's response and plan for implementation to the
6General Assembly by March 1, 2014.
7    (h) By June 1, 2013, the Department shall promulgate rules
8establishing criteria and standards for labeling a report as
9false in the state central register. The rules shall permit the
10reporter to submit a statement regarding the report, unless the
11reporter has been convicted of knowingly transmitting a false
12report to the Department under paragraph (7) of subsection (a)
13of Section 26-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961.
14    (i) When a report involves a child with a cognitive or
15physical disability, the Department's investigation team shall
16include a licensed clinical social worker with experience in
17working with the specific disability to help assess the
18information received from the child. This person shall be
19directly involved in preparing for the investigation by
20building awareness of the child's communication, including use
21of assistive technology, and reading abilities, assessing
22whether a reduced number of or shortened interviews are
23warranted, and determining the appropriate environment for
24interviewing the child. If a forensic interview is to be
25completed, the Department shall ensure that the interviewer is
26trained to interview individuals with disabilities, and the

 

 

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1Department shall ensure that the interviewer has access to
2individualized information about the victim's disability from
3personal records, family members or care providers, and others
4with relevant information prior to meeting the child.
5(Source: P.A. 95-908, eff. 8-26-08; 96-760, eff. 1-1-10;
696-1446, eff. 8-20-10.)
 
7    (325 ILCS 5/7.14)  (from Ch. 23, par. 2057.14)
8    Sec. 7.14. All reports in the central register shall be
9classified in one of three categories: "indicated",
10"unfounded" or "undetermined", as the case may be. After the
11report is classified, the person making the classification
12shall determine whether the child named in the report is the
13subject of an action under Article II of the Juvenile Court Act
14of 1987. If the child is the subject of an action under Article
15II of the Juvenile Court Act, the Department shall, within 30
16days after classification, transmit a copy of the report to the
17guardian ad litem appointed for the child under Section 2-17 of
18the Juvenile Court Act. All information identifying the
19subjects of an unfounded report shall be expunged from the
20register forthwith, except as provided in Section 7.7.
21Unfounded reports may only be made available to the Child
22Protective Service Unit when investigating a subsequent report
23of suspected abuse or maltreatment involving a child named in
24the unfounded report; and to the subject of the report,
25provided the Department has not expunged the file in accordance

 

 

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1with Section 7.7. The Child Protective Service Unit shall not
2indicate the subsequent report solely based upon the existence
3of the prior unfounded report or reports. Notwithstanding any
4other provision of law to the contrary, an unfounded report
5shall not be admissible in any judicial or administrative
6proceeding or action. Identifying information on all other
7records shall be removed from the register no later than 5
8years after the report is indicated. However, if another report
9is received involving the same child, his sibling or offspring,
10or a child in the care of the persons responsible for the
11child's welfare, or involving the same alleged offender, the
12identifying information may be maintained in the register until
135 years after the subsequent case or report is closed.
14    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section,
15identifying information in indicated reports involving serious
16physical injury to a child as defined by the Department in
17rules, may be retained longer than 5 years after the report is
18indicated or after the subsequent case or report is closed, and
19may not be removed from the register except as provided by the
20Department in rules. Identifying information in indicated
21reports involving sexual penetration of a child, sexual
22molestation of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, torture
23of a child, or the death of a child, as defined by the
24Department in rules, shall be retained for a period of not less
25than 50 years after the report is indicated or after the
26subsequent case or report is closed.

 

 

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1    For purposes of this Section "child" includes an adult
2resident as defined in this Act.
3(Source: P.A. 96-1164, eff. 7-21-10; 96-1446, eff. 8-20-10;
497-333, eff. 8-12-11.)
 
5    (325 ILCS 5/7.16)  (from Ch. 23, par. 2057.16)
6    Sec. 7.16. For any investigation or appeal initiated on or
7after, or pending on July 1, 1998, the following time frames
8shall apply. Within 60 days after the notification of the
9completion of the Child Protective Service Unit investigation,
10determined by the date of the notification sent by the
11Department, a subject of a report may request the Department to
12amend the record or remove the record of the report from the
13register. Such request shall be in writing and directed to such
14person as the Department designates in the notification. If the
15Department disregards any request to do so or does not act
16within 10 days, the subject shall have the right to a hearing
17within the Department to determine whether the record of the
18report should be amended or removed on the grounds that it is
19inaccurate or it is being maintained in a manner inconsistent
20with this Act, except that there shall be no such right to a
21hearing on the ground of the report's inaccuracy if there has
22been a court finding of child abuse or neglect, the report's
23accuracy being conclusively presumed on such finding. Such
24hearing shall be held within a reasonable time after the
25subject's request and at a reasonable place and hour. The

 

 

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1appropriate Child Protective Service Unit shall be given notice
2of the hearing. If the child named in the report was in the
3temporary custody or guardianship of the Department pursuant to
4Article II of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 when the report
5was received, then the child named in the report shall be a
6party to another subject's request for expungement of the final
7findings. In such hearings, the burden of proving the accuracy
8and consistency of the record shall be on the Department and
9the appropriate Child Protective Service Unit. The hearing
10shall be conducted by the Director or his designee, who is
11hereby authorized and empowered to order the amendment or
12removal of the record to make it accurate and consistent with
13this Act. The decision shall be made, in writing, at the close
14of the hearing, or within 45 days thereof, and shall state the
15reasons upon which it is based. Decisions of the Department
16under this Section are administrative decisions subject to
17judicial review under the Administrative Review Law.
18    Should the Department grant the request of the subject of
19the report pursuant to this Section either on administrative
20review or after administrative hearing to amend an indicated
21report to an unfounded report, the report shall be released and
22expunged in accordance with the standards set forth in Section
237.14 of this Act.
24(Source: P.A. 90-15, eff. 6-13-97; 90-608, eff. 6-30-98.)
 
25    (325 ILCS 5/7.21)

 

 

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1    Sec. 7.21. Multidisciplinary Review Committee.
2    (a) Reviews requested by mandated reporters. The
3Department may establish multidisciplinary review committees
4in each region of the State to assure that mandated reporters
5have the ability to have a review conducted on any situation
6where a child abuse or neglect report made by them was
7"unfounded", and they have concerns about the adequacy of the
8investigation. These committees shall draw upon the expertise
9of the Child Death Review Teams as necessary and practicable.
10Each committee will be composed of the following: a health care
11professional, a Department employee, a law enforcement
12official, a licensed social worker, and a representative of the
13State's attorney's office. In appointing members of a
14committee, primary consideration shall be given to a
15prospective member's prior experience in dealing with cases of
16suspected child abuse or neglect. Whenever the Department
17determines that a reported incident of child abuse or neglect
18from a mandated reporter is "unfounded", the mandated reporter
19may request a review of the investigation within 10 days after
20the notification of the final finding. Within 60 days, the
21committee shall make recommendations to the Department as to
22the adequacy of the investigation and the accuracy of the final
23finding determination. These findings shall be forwarded to the
24Regional Child Protection Manager. A summary of the result of
25the committee's findings, including whether the finding was
26recommended, reversed, or upheld and the rationale for the

 

 

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1determination, shall be provided to the mandated reporter
2within 60 days. The summary shall inform the mandated reporter
3that if he or she disagrees with the findings of the committee,
4the mandated reporter may submit a request for investigation
5with the Department's Office of the Inspector General.
6    (b) Reviews requested by guardians ad litem appointed
7pursuant to Section 2-17 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
8Whenever the Department determines that a reported incident of
9child abuse or neglect from a mandated reporter is "unfounded",
10the mandated reporter may request a review of the investigation
11within 10 days of the notification of the final finding.
12Whenever the Department determines that a reported incident of
13child abuse or neglect from a mandated reporter or any other
14reporter is "unfounded", the minor's guardian ad litem
15appointed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 may request an
16appeal a review of the investigation within 10 days of the
17notification of the final finding if the subject of the report
18is also a the minor as defined by Section 1-3 of the Juvenile
19Court Act of 1987 for whom the guardian ad litem has been
20appointed. The review of the investigation requested by the
21guardian ad litem may be conducted by the Regional Child
22Protection Manager.
23    A review under this subsection will be conducted by the
24committee, except those requests for review that are made by
25the guardian ad litem, which shall be conducted by the Regional
26Child Protection Manager. The Department shall make available

 

 

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1to the committee all information in the Department's possession
2concerning the case. The committee shall make recommendations
3to the Department as to the adequacy of the investigation and
4of the accuracy of the final finding determination. These
5findings shall be forwarded to the Regional Child Protection
6Manager.
7    (b-1) Appeals requested by parents, personal guardians, or
8legal custodians who are not also subjects of the report.
9Whenever the Department determines that a reported incident of
10child abuse involving abuse allegations of death, head
11injuries, internal injuries, burns, wounds, bone fractures,
12torture, sexually transmitted disease, sexual penetration,
13sexual exploitation, sexual molestation, substantial risk of
14sexual injury, or human trafficking of children is unfounded, a
15parent, personal guardian, or legal custodian of the alleged
16victim, who is not the subject perpetrator of the report, may
17request an appeal of the final finding within 10 days after
18notification of the final finding.
19    (b-2) Appeals under subsections (b) and (b-1) shall be
20conducted by a neutral third party. The neutral third party
21shall make recommendations to the Department as to the adequacy
22of the investigation and the accuracy of the final finding
23determination. These findings shall be forwarded to the
24Regional Child Protection Manager.
25    (b-3) Appeals or reviews requested under subsection (a),
26(b), or (b-1) may be requested by sending a request via U.S.

 

 

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1Mail, postmarked within 10 days after notice of the final
2finding. The Department may, by rule, establish additional
3methods of receiving appeals.
4    (c) The Department shall provide complete records of these
5investigations to the committee or the neutral third party
6hearing an appeal. Records provided to the committee or the
7neutral third party hearing an appeal and recommendation
8reports generated by the committee or the neutral third party
9hearing an appeal shall not be public record. Recommendation
10reports shall be provided to a guardian ad litem appointed
11under Section 2-17 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 to
12represent a minor named as a subject of the report.
13    (c-5) On or before October 1 of each year, the Department
14shall prepare a report setting forth (i) the number of
15investigations reviewed pursuant to subsection (a) by each
16committee during the previous fiscal year, and (ii) the number
17of appeals requested pursuant to subsections (b) and (b-1),
18(iii) the number of those investigations that the committee
19found to be inadequate, (iv) a summary of the committee's or
20neutral third party's comments, (v) . The report shall also
21include a summary of the committee's comments and a summary of
22the corrective action, if any, that was taken in response to
23the committee's or the neutral third party's recommendations,
24and (vi) the number of recommendations made to reverse final
25findings. The report shall be a public record. The Department
26shall submit the report to the General Assembly and shall make

 

 

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1the report available to the public upon request.
2    (d) The Department shall adopt rules to implement this
3Section by October 1, 2013. The rules may limit the rights of a
4reporter to request an appeal pursuant to subsection (b-1) when
5the reporter has been convicted of making false reports under
6paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 26-1 of the Criminal
7Code of 1961.
8(Source: P.A. 90-239, eff. 7-28-97; 91-812, eff. 6-13-00.)
 
9    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
10becoming law.