August 26, 2018

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

100th General Assembly:

Today I veto Senate Bill 2407, which removes the authority of the Director of the department of Children and Family Services to appoint the members of the Department’s child death review teams.

This legislation would shift the appointment authority to the Department’s Inspector General, who already serves as an ex officio member of the Child Death Review Executive Council. The Director is in the best position to be a neutral party for these appointments. Furthermore, this bill otherwise codifies support to the teams and the Executive Council that largely reflects existing practice by the Department and is duplicative.

The work of these teams remains of utmost importance, and this administration along with the Department is committed to supporting them as they examine incredibly difficult situations and help educate the State on how to avoid such tragedies in the future.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 2407, entitled “AN ACT concerning State government,” with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR