HB3950 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 05173 KTG 25203 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB3950

Introduced , by Rep. Monique D. Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 505/17a-16 new

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall establish and administer a program aimed at placing foster children with a permanent foster parent or foster family as an alternative to group home or institutional care. Provides that, to achieve this purpose, the Department shall purchase and rehabilitate single-family homes that are subject to a foreclosure sale and place no more than 3 foster children in each rehabilitated home with an individual or family that is eligible to foster a child in the custody of the Department. Provides that an eligible individual or family assigned to foster a child or children in a home purchased and rehabilitated under the program shall reside at the home for the duration of the Department's custody over any foster child placed in the home or until the individual or family is no longer eligible to foster a child in the custody of the Department. Requires the Department to apply for any applicable federal funds or grants to assist in implementing the program; and to adopt any rules necessary to implement the program, including rules on recruiting individuals or families to participate in the program and rules concerning a stipend payable to foster parents or foster families participating in the program which shall be used to cover any costs not covered by the Department in connection with the basic maintenance and upkeep of the home.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended by adding Section 17a-16 as follows:

(20 ILCS 505/17a-16 new)

Sec. 17a-16. Homes for foster children.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Rehabilitate" means the process of improving the property, including, but not limited to, bringing the property into compliance with applicable fire, housing, and building codes.

(b) The Department shall establish and administer a program aimed at placing foster children with a permanent foster parent or foster family as an alternative to group home or institutional care. To achieve this purpose, the Department shall purchase and rehabilitate single-family homes that are subject to a foreclosure sale and place no more than 3 foster children in each rehabilitated home with an individual or family that is eligible to foster a child in the custody of the Department. An eligible individual or family assigned to foster a child or children in a home purchased and rehabilitated under the program shall reside at the home for the duration of the Department's custody over any foster child placed in the home or until the individual or family is no longer eligible to foster a child in the custody of the Department. The Department shall apply for any applicable federal funds or grants to assist in implementing the program. The Department shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the program, including rules on recruiting eligible individuals or families to participate in the program and rules concerning a stipend payable to foster parents or foster families participating in the program which shall be used to cover any costs not covered by the Department in connection with the basic maintenance and upkeep of the home.