97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB0090

 

Introduced 1/12/2011, by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
45 ILCS 15/Act rep.

    Creates the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children Act of 2011. Provides that Illinois enters into the Compact. The purpose of the Compact is to provide a process through which children who are abused, neglected, or deprived or who have been adjudicated delinquent or unmanageable are placed in safe and suitable homes in a timely manner. The further purpose of the Compact is to facilitate supervision of interstate placement of those children, delivery of services, and communication. The Compact creates the Interstate Commission for the Placement of Children. The Compact provides that the Commission shall oversee the administration and operation of the Compact and that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce the Compact and the rules of the Interstate Commission and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the Compact's purposes and intent. Repeals the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children Act.


LRB097 00169 HLH 40184 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning placement of children.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children Act of 2011.
 
6    Section 5. Interstate Compact for the Placement of
7Children. The State of Illinois enters into the Interstate
8Compact for the Placement of Children in substantially the
9following form with all other states joining the Compact:
10
ARTICLE I. PURPOSE
11    The purpose of this Interstate Compact for the Placement of
12Children is to:
13    A. Provide a process through which children subject to this
14compact are placed in safe and suitable homes in a timely
15manner.
16    B. Facilitate ongoing supervision of a placement, the
17delivery of services, and communication between the states.
18    C. Provide operating procedures that will ensure that
19children are placed in safe and suitable homes in a timely
20manner.
21    D. Provide for the promulgation and enforcement of
22administrative rules implementing the provisions of this
23compact and regulating the covered activities of the member

 

 

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1states.
2    E. Provide for uniform data collection and information
3sharing between member states under this compact.
4    F. Promote coordination between this compact, the
5Interstate Compact for Juveniles, the Interstate Compact on
6Adoption and Medical Assistance and other compacts affecting
7the placement of and which provide services to children
8otherwise subject to this compact.
9    G. Provide for a state's continuing legal jurisdiction and
10responsibility for placement and care of a child that it would
11have had if the placement were intrastate.
12    H. Provide for the promulgation of guidelines, in
13collaboration with Indian tribes, for interstate cases
14involving Indian children as is or may be permitted by federal
15law.
16
ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS
17    As used in this compact,
18    A. "Approved placement" means the public child placing
19agency in the receiving state has determined that the placement
20is both safe and suitable for the child.
21    B. "Assessment" means an evaluation of a prospective
22placement by a public child placing agency in the receiving
23state to determine if the placement meets the individualized
24needs of the child, including but not limited to the child's
25safety and stability, health and well-being, and mental,
26emotional, and physical development. An assessment is only

 

 

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1applicable to a placement by a public child placing agency.
2    C. "Child" means an individual who has not attained the age
3of eighteen (18).
4    D. "Certification" means to attest, declare or swear to
5before a judge or notary public.
6    E. "Default" means the failure of a member state to perform
7the obligations or responsibilities imposed upon it by this
8compact, the bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission.
9    F. "Home Study" means an evaluation of a home environment
10conducted in accordance with the applicable requirements of the
11state in which the home is located, and documents the
12preparation and the suitability of the placement resource for
13placement of a child in accordance with the laws and
14requirements of the state in which the home is located.
15    G. "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or
16other organized group or community of Indians recognized as
17eligible for services provided to Indians by the Secretary of
18the Interior because of their status as Indians, including any
19Alaskan native village as defined in section 3 (c) of the
20Alaska Native Claims settlement Act at 43 USC §1602(c).
21    H. "Interstate Commission for the Placement of Children"
22means the commission that is created under Article VIII of this
23compact and which is generally referred to as the Interstate
24Commission.
25    I. "Jurisdiction" means the power and authority of a court
26to hear and decide matters.

 

 

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1    J. "Legal Risk Placement" ("Legal Risk Adoption") means a
2placement made preliminary to an adoption where the prospective
3adoptive parents acknowledge in writing that a child can be
4ordered returned to the sending state or the birth mother's
5state of residence, if different from the sending state, and a
6final decree of adoption shall not be entered in any
7jurisdiction until all required consents are obtained or are
8dispensed with in accordance with applicable law.
9    K. "Member state" means a state that has enacted this
10compact.
11    L. "Non-custodial parent" means a person who, at the time
12of the commencement of court proceedings in the sending state,
13does not have sole legal custody of the child or has joint
14legal custody of a child, and who is not the subject of
15allegations or findings of child abuse or neglect.
16    M. "Non-member state" means a state which has not enacted
17this compact.
18    N. "Notice of residential placement" means information
19regarding a placement into a residential facility provided to
20the receiving state including, but not limited to the name,
21date and place of birth of the child, the identity and address
22of the parent or legal guardian, evidence of authority to make
23the placement, and the name and address of the facility in
24which the child will be placed. Notice of residential placement
25shall also include information regarding a discharge and any
26unauthorized absence from the facility.

 

 

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1    O. "Placement" means the act by a public or private child
2placing agency intended to arrange for the care or custody of a
3child in another state.
4    P. "Private child placing agency" means any private
5corporation, agency, foundation, institution, or charitable
6organization, or any private person or attorney that
7facilitates, causes, or is involved in the placement of a child
8from one state to another and that is not an instrumentality of
9the state or acting under color of state law.
10    Q. "Provisional placement" means a determination made by
11the public child placing agency in the receiving state that the
12proposed placement is safe and suitable, and, to the extent
13allowable, the receiving state has temporarily waived its
14standards or requirements otherwise applicable to prospective
15foster or adoptive parents so as to not delay the placement.
16Completion of the receiving state requirements regarding
17training for prospective foster or adoptive parents shall not
18delay an otherwise safe and suitable placement.
19    R. "Public child placing agency" means any government child
20welfare agency or child protection agency or a private entity
21under contract with such an agency, regardless of whether they
22act on behalf of a state, county, municipality or other
23governmental unit and which facilitates, causes, or is involved
24in the placement of a child from one state to another.
25    S. "Receiving state" means the state to which a child is
26sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought.

 

 

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1    T. "Relative" means someone who is related to the child as
2a parent, step-parent, sibling by half or whole blood or by
3adoption, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin or a
4non-relative with such significant ties to the child that they
5may be regarded as relatives as determined by the court in the
6sending state.
7    U. "Residential Facility" means a facility providing a
8level of care that is sufficient to substitute for parental
9responsibility or foster care, and is beyond what is needed for
10assessment or treatment of an acute condition. For purposes of
11the compact, residential facilities do not include
12institutions primarily educational in character, hospitals or
13other medical facilities.
14    V. "Rule" means a written directive, mandate, standard or
15principle issued by the Interstate Commission promulgated
16pursuant to Article XI of this compact that is of general
17applicability and that implements, interprets or prescribes a
18policy or provision of the compact. "Rule" has the force and
19effect of an administrative rule in a member state, and
20includes the amendment, repeal, or suspension of an existing
21rule.
22    W. "Sending state" means the state from which the placement
23of a child is initiated.
24    X. "Service member's permanent duty station" means the
25military installation where an active duty Armed Services
26member is currently assigned and is physically located under

 

 

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1competent orders that do not specify the duty as temporary.
2    Y. "Service member's state of legal residence" means the
3state in which the active duty Armed Services member is
4considered a resident for tax and voting purposes.
5    Z. "State" means a state of the United States, the District
6of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
7Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands
8and any other territory of the United States.
9    AA. "State court" means a judicial body of a state that is
10vested by law with responsibility for adjudicating cases
11involving abuse, neglect, deprivation, delinquency or status
12offenses of individuals who have not attained the age of
13eighteen (18).
14    BB. "Supervision" means monitoring provided by the
15receiving state once a child has been placed in a receiving
16state pursuant to this compact.
17
ARTICLE III. APPLICABILITY
18    A. Except as otherwise provided in Article III, Section B,
19this compact shall apply to:
20    1. The interstate placement of a child subject to ongoing
21court jurisdiction in the sending state, due to allegations or
22findings that the child has been abused, neglected, or deprived
23as defined by the laws of the sending state, provided, however,
24that the placement of such a child into a residential facility
25shall only require notice of residential placement to the
26receiving state prior to placement.

 

 

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1    2. The interstate placement of a child adjudicated
2delinquent or unmanageable based on the laws of the sending
3state and subject to ongoing court jurisdiction of the sending
4state if:
5    a. the child is being placed in a residential facility in
6another member state and is not covered under another compact;
7or
8    b. the child is being placed in another member state and
9the determination of safety and suitability of the placement
10and services required is not provided through another compact.
11    3. The interstate placement of any child by a public child
12placing agency or private child placing agency as defined in
13this compact as a preliminary step to a possible adoption.
14    B. The provisions of this compact shall not apply to:
15    1. The interstate placement of a child in a custody
16proceeding in which a public child placing agency is not a
17party, provided, the placement is not intended to effectuate an
18adoption.
19    2. The interstate placement of a child with a non-relative
20in a receiving state by a parent with the legal authority to
21make such a placement provided, however, that the placement is
22not intended to effectuate an adoption.
23    3. The interstate placement of a child by one relative with
24the lawful authority to make such a placement directly with a
25relative in a receiving state.
26    4. The placement of a child, not subject to Article III,

 

 

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1Section A, into a residential facility by his parent.
2    5. The placement of a child with a non-custodial parent
3provided that:
4    a. The non-custodial parent proves to the satisfaction of a
5court in the sending state a substantial relationship with the
6child; and
7    b. The court in the sending state makes a written finding
8that placement with the non-custodial parent is in the best
9interests of the child; and
10    c. The court in the sending state dismisses its
11jurisdiction in interstate placements in which the public child
12placing agency is a party to the proceeding.
13    6. A child entering the United States from a foreign
14country for the purpose of adoption or leaving the United
15States to go to a foreign country for the purpose of adoption
16in that country.
17    7. Cases in which a U.S. citizen child living overseas with
18his family, at least one of whom is in the U.S. Armed Services,
19and who is stationed overseas, is removed and placed in a
20state.
21    8. The sending of a child by a public child placing agency
22or a private child placing agency for a visit as defined by the
23rules of the Interstate Commission.
24    C. For purposes of determining the applicability of this
25compact to the placement of a child with a family in the Armed
26Services, the public child placing agency or private child

 

 

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1placing agency may choose the state of the service member's
2permanent duty station or the service member's declared legal
3residence.
4    D. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prohibit
5the concurrent application of the provisions of this compact
6with other applicable interstate compacts including the
7Interstate Compact for Juveniles and the Interstate Compact on
8Adoption and Medical Assistance. The Interstate Commission may
9in cooperation with other interstate compact commissions
10having responsibility for the interstate movement, placement
11or transfer of children, promulgate like rules to ensure the
12coordination of services, timely placement of children, and the
13reduction of unnecessary or duplicative administrative or
14procedural requirements.
15
ARTICLE IV. JURISDICTION
16    A. Except as provided in Article IV, Section H and Article
17V, Section B, paragraph two and three concerning private and
18independent adoptions, and in interstate placements in which
19the public child placing agency is not a party to a custody
20proceeding, the sending state shall retain jurisdiction over a
21child with respect to all matters of custody and disposition of
22the child which it would have had if the child had remained in
23the sending state. Such jurisdiction shall also include the
24power to order the return of the child to the sending state.
25    B. When an issue of child protection or custody is brought
26before a court in the receiving state, such court shall confer

 

 

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1with the court of the sending state to determine the most
2appropriate forum for adjudication.
3    C. In cases that are before courts and subject to this
4compact, the taking of testimony for hearings before any
5judicial officer may occur in person or by telephone,
6audio-video conference, or such other means as approved by the
7rules of the Interstate Commission; and Judicial officers may
8communicate with other judicial officers and persons involved
9in the interstate process as may be permitted by their Canons
10of Judicial Conduct and any rules promulgated by the Interstate
11Commission.
12    D. In accordance with its own laws, the court in the
13sending state shall have authority to terminate its
14jurisdiction if:
15    1. The child is reunified with the parent in the receiving
16state who is the subject of allegations or findings of abuse or
17neglect, only with the concurrence of the public child placing
18agency in the receiving state; or
19    2. The child is adopted; or
20    3. The child reaches the age of majority under the laws of
21the sending state; or
22    4. The child achieves legal independence pursuant to the
23laws of the sending state; or
24    5. A guardianship is created by a court in the receiving
25state with the concurrence of the court in the sending state;
26or

 

 

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1    6. An Indian tribe has petitioned for and received
2jurisdiction from the court in the sending state; or
3    7. The public child placing agency of the sending state
4requests termination and has obtained the concurrence of the
5public child placing agency in the receiving the state.
6    E. When a sending state court terminates its jurisdiction,
7the receiving state child placing agency shall be notified.
8    F. Nothing in this article shall defeat a claim of
9jurisdiction by a receiving state court sufficient to deal with
10an act of truancy, delinquency, crime or behavior involving a
11child as defined by the laws of the receiving state committed
12by the child in the receiving state which would be a violation
13of its laws.
14    G. Nothing in this article shall limit the receiving
15state's ability to take emergency jurisdiction for the
16protection of the child.
17    H. The substantive laws of the state in which an adoption
18will be finalized shall solely govern all issues relating to
19the adoption of the child and the court in which the adoption
20proceeding is filed shall have subject matter jurisdiction
21regarding all substantive issues relating to the adoption,
22except:
23    1. when the child is a ward of another court that
24established jurisdiction over the child prior to the placement;
25or
26    2. when the child is in the legal custody of a public

 

 

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1agency in the sending state; or
2    3. when a court in the sending state has otherwise
3appropriately assumed jurisdiction over the child, prior to the
4submission of the request for approval of placement.
5    I. A final decree of adoption shall not be entered in any
6jurisdiction until the placement is authorized as an "approved
7placement" by the public child placing agency in the receiving
8state.
9
ARTICLE V. PLACEMENT EVALUATION
10    A. Prior to sending, bringing, or causing a child to be
11sent or brought into a receiving state, the public child
12placing agency shall provide a written request for assessment
13to the receiving state.
14    B. For placements by a private child placing agency, a
15child may be sent or brought, or caused to be sent or brought,
16into a receiving state, upon receipt and immediate review of
17the required content in a request for approval of a placement
18in both the sending and receiving state public child placing
19agency. The required content to accompany a request for
20approval shall include all of the following:
21    1. A request for approval identifying the child, birth
22parent(s), the prospective adoptive parent(s), and the
23supervising agency, signed by the person requesting approval;
24and
25    2. The appropriate consents or relinquishments signed by
26the birth-parents in accordance with the laws of the sending

 

 

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1state, or where permitted the laws of the state where the
2adoption will be finalized; and
3    3. Certification by a licensed attorney or authorized agent
4of a private adoption agency that the consent or relinquishment
5is in compliance with the applicable laws of the sending state,
6or where permitted the laws of the state where finalization of
7the adoption will occur; and
8    4. A home study; and
9    5. An acknowledgment of legal risk signed by the
10prospective adoptive parents.
11    C. The sending state and the receiving state may request
12additional information or documents prior to finalization of an
13approved placement, but they may not delay travel by the
14prospective adoptive parents with the child if the required
15content for approval has been submitted, received and reviewed
16by the public child placing agency in both the sending state
17and the receiving state.
18    D. Approval from the public child placing agency in the
19receiving state for a provisional or approved placement is
20required as provided for in the rules of the Interstate
21Commission.
22    E. The procedures for making and the request for an
23assessment shall contain all information and be in such form as
24provided for in the rules of the Interstate Commission.
25    F. Upon receipt of a request from the public child placing
26agency of the sending state, the receiving state shall initiate

 

 

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1an assessment of the proposed placement to determine its safety
2and suitability. If the proposed placement is a placement with
3a relative, the public child placing agency of the sending
4state may request a determination for a provisional placement.
5    G. The public child placing agency in the receiving state
6may request from the public child placing agency or the private
7child placing agency in the sending state, and shall be
8entitled to receive supporting or additional information
9necessary to complete the assessment or approve the placement.
10    H. The public child placing agency in the receiving state
11shall approve a provisional placement and complete or arrange
12for the completion of the assessment within the timeframes
13established by the rules of the Interstate Commission.
14    I. For a placement by a private child placing agency, the
15sending state shall not impose any additional requirements to
16complete the home study that are not required by the receiving
17state, unless the adoption is finalized in the sending state.
18    J. The Interstate Commission may develop uniform standards
19for the assessment of the safety and suitability of interstate
20placements.
21
ARTICLE VI. PLACEMENT AUTHORITY
22    A. Except as otherwise provided in this Compact, no child
23subject to this compact shall be placed into a receiving state
24until approval for such placement is obtained.
25    B. If the public child placing agency in the receiving
26state does not approve the proposed placement then the child

 

 

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1shall not be placed. The receiving state shall provide written
2documentation of any such determination in accordance with the
3rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission. Such
4determination is not subject to judicial review in the sending
5state.
6    C. If the proposed placement is not approved, any
7interested party shall have standing to seek an administrative
8review of the receiving state's determination.
9    1. The administrative review and any further judicial
10review associated with the determination shall be conducted in
11the receiving state pursuant to its applicable Administrative
12Procedures Act.
13    2. If a determination not to approve the placement of the
14child in the receiving state is overturned upon review, the
15placement shall be deemed approved, provided however that all
16administrative or judicial remedies have been exhausted or the
17time for such remedies has passed.
18
ARTICLE VII. PLACING AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY
19    A. For the interstate placement of a child made by a public
20child placing agency or state court:
21    1. The public child placing agency in the sending state
22shall have financial responsibility for:
23    a. the ongoing support and maintenance for the child during
24the period of the placement, unless otherwise provided for in
25the receiving state; and
26    b. as determined by the public child placing agency in the

 

 

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1sending state, services for the child beyond the public
2services for which the child is eligible in the receiving
3state.
4    2. The receiving state shall only have financial
5responsibility for:
6    a. any assessment conducted by the receiving state; and
7    b. supervision conducted by the receiving state at the
8level necessary to support the placement as agreed upon by the
9public child placing agencies of the receiving and sending
10state.
11    3. Nothing in this provision shall prohibit public child
12placing agencies in the sending state from entering into
13agreements with licensed agencies or persons in the receiving
14state to conduct assessments and provide supervision.
15    B. For the placement of a child by a private child placing
16agency preliminary to a possible adoption, the private child
17placing agency shall be:
18    1. Legally responsible for the child during the period of
19placement as provided for in the law of the sending state until
20the finalization of the adoption.
21    2. Financially responsible for the child absent a
22contractual agreement to the contrary.
23    C. The public child placing agency in the receiving state
24shall provide timely assessments, as provided for in the rules
25of the Interstate Commission.
26    D. The public child placing agency in the receiving state

 

 

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1shall provide, or arrange for the provision of, supervision and
2services for the child, including timely reports, during the
3period of the placement.
4    E. Nothing in this compact shall be construed as to limit
5the authority of the public child placing agency in the
6receiving state from contracting with a licensed agency or
7person in the receiving state for an assessment or the
8provision of supervision or services for the child or otherwise
9authorizing the provision of supervision or services by a
10licensed agency during the period of placement.
11    F. Each member state shall provide for coordination among
12its branches of government concerning the state's
13participation in, and compliance with, the compact and
14Interstate Commission activities, through the creation of an
15advisory council or use of an existing body or board.
16    G. Each member state shall establish a central state
17compact office, which shall be responsible for state compliance
18with the compact and the rules of the Interstate Commission.
19    H. The public child placing agency in the sending state
20shall oversee compliance with the provisions of the Indian
21Child Welfare Act (25 USC 1901 et seq.) for placements subject
22to the provisions of this compact, prior to placement.
23    I. With the consent of the Interstate Commission, states
24may enter into limited agreements that facilitate the timely
25assessment and provision of services and supervision of
26placements under this compact.

 

 

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1
ARTICLE VIII. INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR THE PLACEMENT OF
2
CHILDREN
3    The member states hereby establish, by way of this compact,
4a commission known as the "Interstate Commission for the
5Placement of Children." The activities of the Interstate
6Commission are the formation of public policy and are a
7discretionary state function. The Interstate Commission shall:
8    A. Be a joint commission of the member states and shall
9have the responsibilities, powers and duties set forth herein,
10and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by
11subsequent concurrent action of the respective legislatures of
12the member states.
13    B. Consist of one commissioner from each member state who
14shall be appointed by the executive head of the state human
15services administration with ultimate responsibility for the
16child welfare program. The appointed commissioner shall have
17the legal authority to vote on policy related matters governed
18by this compact binding the state.
19    1. Each member state represented at a meeting of the
20Interstate Commission is entitled to one vote.
21    2. A majority of the member states shall constitute a
22quorum for the transaction of business, unless a larger quorum
23is required by the bylaws of the Interstate Commission.
24    3. A representative shall not delegate a vote to another
25member state.
26    4. A representative may delegate voting authority to

 

 

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1another person from their state for a specified meeting.
2    C. In addition to the commissioners of each member state,
3the Interstate Commission shall include persons who are members
4of interested organizations as defined in the bylaws or rules
5of the Interstate Commission. Such members shall be ex officio
6and shall not be entitled to vote on any matter before the
7Interstate Commission.
8    D. Establish an executive committee which shall have the
9authority to administer the day-to-day operations and
10administration of the Interstate Commission. It shall not have
11the power to engage in rulemaking.
12
ARTICLE IX. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
13    The Interstate Commission shall have the following powers:
14    A. To promulgate rules and take all necessary actions to
15effect the goals, purposes and obligations as enumerated in
16this compact.
17    B. To provide for dispute resolution among member states.
18    C. To issue, upon request of a member state, advisory
19opinions concerning the meaning or interpretation of the
20interstate compact, its bylaws, rules or actions.
21    D. To enforce compliance with this compact or the bylaws or
22rules of the Interstate Commission pursuant to Article XII.
23    E. Collect standardized data concerning the interstate
24placement of children subject to this compact as directed
25through its rules which shall specify the data to be collected,
26the means of collection and data exchange and reporting

 

 

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1requirements.
2    F. To establish and maintain offices as may be necessary
3for the transacting of its business.
4    G. To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds.
5    H. To hire or contract for services of personnel or
6consultants as necessary to carry out its functions under the
7compact and establish personnel qualification policies, and
8rates of compensation.
9    I. To establish and appoint committees and officers
10including, but not limited to, an executive committee as
11required by Article X.
12    J. To accept any and all donations and grants of money,
13equipment, supplies, materials, and services, and to receive,
14utilize, and dispose thereof.
15    K. To lease, purchase, accept contributions or donations
16of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use any property,
17real, personal, or mixed.
18    L. To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange,
19abandon, or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal
20or mixed.
21    M. To establish a budget and make expenditures.
22    N. To adopt a seal and bylaws governing the management and
23operation of the Interstate Commission.
24    O. To report annually to the legislatures, governors, the
25judiciary, and state advisory councils of the member states
26concerning the activities of the Interstate Commission during

 

 

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1the preceding year. Such reports shall also include any
2recommendations that may have been adopted by the Interstate
3Commission.
4    P. To coordinate and provide education, training and public
5awareness regarding the interstate movement of children for
6officials involved in such activity.
7    Q. To maintain books and records in accordance with the
8bylaws of the Interstate Commission.
9    R. To perform such functions as may be necessary or
10appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact.
11
ARTICLE X. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF THE INTERSTATE
12
COMMISSION
13    A. Bylaws
14    1. Within 12 months after the first Interstate Commission
15meeting, the Interstate Commission shall adopt bylaws to govern
16its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the
17purposes of the compact.
18    2. The Interstate Commission's bylaws and rules shall
19establish conditions and procedures under which the Interstate
20Commission shall make its information and official records
21available to the public for inspection or copying. The
22Interstate Commission may exempt from disclosure information
23or official records to the extent they would adversely affect
24personal privacy rights or proprietary interests.
25    B. Meetings
26    1. The Interstate Commission shall meet at least once each

 

 

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1calendar year. The chairperson may call additional meetings
2and, upon the request of a simple majority of the member states
3shall call additional meetings.
4    2. Public notice shall be given by the Interstate
5Commission of all meetings and all meetings shall be open to
6the public, except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise
7provided in the compact. The Interstate Commission and its
8committees may close a meeting, or portion thereof, where it
9determines by two-thirds vote that an open meeting would be
10likely to:
11    a. relate solely to the Interstate Commission's internal
12personnel practices and procedures; or
13    b. disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure
14by federal law; or
15    c. disclose financial or commercial information which is
16privileged, proprietary or confidential in nature; or
17    d. involve accusing a person of a crime, or formally
18censuring a person; or
19    e. disclose information of a personal nature where
20disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
21personal privacy or physically endanger one or more persons; or
22    f. disclose investigative records compiled for law
23enforcement purposes; or
24    g. specifically relate to the Interstate Commission's
25participation in a civil action or other legal proceeding.
26    3. For a meeting, or portion of a meeting, closed pursuant

 

 

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1to this provision, the Interstate Commission's legal counsel or
2designee shall certify that the meeting may be closed and shall
3reference each relevant exemption provision. The Interstate
4Commission shall keep minutes which shall fully and clearly
5describe all matters discussed in a meeting and shall provide a
6full and accurate summary of actions taken, and the reasons
7therefore, including a description of the views expressed and
8the record of a roll call vote. All documents considered in
9connection with an action shall be identified in such minutes.
10All minutes and documents of a closed meeting shall remain
11under seal, subject to release by a majority vote of the
12Interstate Commission or by court order.
13    4. The bylaws may provide for meetings of the Interstate
14Commission to be conducted by telecommunication or other
15electronic communication.
16    C. Officers and Staff
17    1. The Interstate Commission may, through its executive
18committee, appoint or retain a staff director for such period,
19upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as the
20Interstate Commission may deem appropriate. The staff director
21shall serve as secretary to the Interstate Commission, but
22shall not have a vote. The staff director may hire and
23supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the
24Interstate Commission.
25    2. The Interstate Commission shall elect, from among its
26members, a chairperson and a vice chairperson of the executive

 

 

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1committee and other necessary officers, each of whom shall have
2such authority and duties as may be specified in the bylaws.
3    D. Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification
4    1. The Interstate Commission's staff director and its
5employees shall be immune from suit and liability, either
6personally or in their official capacity, for a claim for
7damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil
8liability caused or arising out of or relating to an actual or
9alleged act, error, or omission that occurred, or that such
10person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the
11scope of Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities;
12provided, that such person shall not be protected from suit or
13liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by a
14criminal act or the intentional or willful and wanton
15misconduct of such person.
16    a. The liability of the Interstate Commission's staff
17director and employees or Interstate Commission
18representatives, acting within the scope of such person's
19employment or duties for acts, errors, or omissions occurring
20within such person's state may not exceed the limits of
21liability set forth under the Constitution and laws of that
22state for state officials, employees, and agents. The
23Interstate Commission is considered to be an instrumentality of
24the states for the purposes of any such action. Nothing in this
25subsection shall be construed to protect such person from suit
26or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by a

 

 

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1criminal act or the intentional or willful and wanton
2misconduct of such person.
3    b. The Interstate Commission shall defend the staff
4director and its employees and, subject to the approval of the
5Attorney General or other appropriate legal counsel of the
6member state shall defend the commissioner of a member state in
7a civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of an
8actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within
9the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties or
10responsibilities, or that the defendant had a reasonable basis
11for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate
12Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided
13that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not
14result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the
15part of such person.
16    c. To the extent not covered by the state involved, member
17state, or the Interstate Commission, the representatives or
18employees of the Interstate Commission shall be held harmless
19in the amount of a settlement or judgment, including attorney's
20fees and costs, obtained against such persons arising out of an
21actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within
22the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or
23responsibilities, or that such persons had a reasonable basis
24for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate
25Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, provided
26that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not

 

 

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1result from intentional or willful and wanton misconduct on the
2part of such persons.
3
ARTICLE XI. RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
4    A. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate and publish
5rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the
6purposes of the compact.
7    B. Rulemaking shall occur pursuant to the criteria set
8forth in this article and the bylaws and rules adopted pursuant
9thereto. Such rulemaking shall substantially conform to the
10principles of the "Model State Administrative Procedures Act,"
111981 Act, Uniform Laws Annotated, Vol. 15, p.1 (2000), or such
12other administrative procedure acts as the Interstate
13Commission deems appropriate consistent with due process
14requirements under the United States Constitution as now or
15hereafter interpreted by the U. S. Supreme Court. All rules and
16amendments shall become binding as of the date specified, as
17published with the final version of the rule as approved by the
18Interstate Commission.
19    C. When promulgating a rule, the Interstate Commission
20shall, at a minimum:
21    1. Publish the proposed rule's entire text stating the
22reason(s) for that proposed rule; and
23    2. Allow and invite any and all persons to submit written
24data, facts, opinions and arguments, which information shall be
25added to the record, and be made publicly available; and
26    3. Promulgate a final rule and its effective date, if

 

 

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1appropriate, based on input from state or local officials, or
2interested parties.
3    D. Rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission shall
4have the force and effect of administrative rules and shall be
5binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the
6manner provided for in this compact.
7    E. Not later than 60 days after a rule is promulgated, an
8interested person may file a petition in the U.S. District
9Court for the District of Columbia or in the Federal District
10Court where the Interstate Commission's principal office is
11located for judicial review of such rule. If the court finds
12that the Interstate Commission's action is not supported by
13substantial evidence in the rulemaking record, the court shall
14hold the rule unlawful and set it aside.
15    F. If a majority of the legislatures of the member states
16rejects a rule, those states may by enactment of a statute or
17resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact cause
18that such rule shall have no further force and effect in any
19member state.
20    G. The existing rules governing the operation of the
21Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children superseded by
22this act shall be null and void no less than 12, but no more
23than 24 months after the first meeting of the Interstate
24Commission created hereunder, as determined by the members
25during the first meeting.
26    H. Within the first 12 months of operation, the Interstate

 

 

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1Commission shall promulgate rules addressing the following:
2    1. Transition rules
3    2. Forms and procedures
4    3. Time lines
5    4. Data collection and reporting
6    5. Rulemaking
7    6. Visitation
8    7. Progress reports/supervision
9    8. Sharing of information/confidentiality
10    9. Financing of the Interstate Commission
11    10. Mediation, arbitration and dispute resolution
12    11. Education, training and technical assistance
13    12. Enforcement
14    13. Coordination with other interstate compacts
15    I. Upon determination by a majority of the members of the
16Interstate Commission that an emergency exists:
17    1. The Interstate Commission may promulgate an emergency
18rule only if it is required to:
19    a. Protect the children covered by this compact from an
20imminent threat to their health, safety and well-being; or
21    b. Prevent loss of federal or state funds; or
22    c. Meet a deadline for the promulgation of an
23administrative rule required by federal law.
24    2. An emergency rule shall become effective immediately
25upon adoption, provided that the usual rulemaking procedures
26provided hereunder shall be retroactively applied to said rule

 

 

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1as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than 90 days after
2the effective date of the emergency rule.
3    3. An emergency rule shall be promulgated as provided for
4in the rules of the Interstate Commission.
5
ARTICLE XII. OVERSIGHT, DISPUTE RESOLUTION, ENFORCEMENT
6    A. Oversight
7    1. The Interstate Commission shall oversee the
8administration and operation of the compact.
9    2. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of
10state government in each member state shall enforce this
11compact and the rules of the Interstate Commission and shall
12take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the
13compact's purposes and intent. The compact and its rules shall
14be binding in the compacting states to the extent and in the
15manner provided for in this compact.
16    3. All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact and
17the rules in any judicial or administrative proceeding in a
18member state pertaining to the subject matter of this compact.
19    4. The Interstate Commission shall be entitled to receive
20service of process in any action in which the validity of a
21compact provision or rule is the issue for which a judicial
22determination has been sought and shall have standing to
23intervene in any proceedings. Failure to provide service of
24process to the Interstate Commission shall render any judgment,
25order or other determination, however so captioned or
26classified, void as to the Interstate Commission, this compact,

 

 

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1its bylaws or rules of the Interstate Commission.
2    B. Dispute Resolution
3    1. The Interstate Commission shall attempt, upon the
4request of a member state, to resolve disputes which are
5subject to the compact and which may arise among member states
6and between member and non-member states.
7    2. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate a rule
8providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for
9disputes among compacting states. The costs of such mediation
10or dispute resolution shall be the responsibility of the
11parties to the dispute.
12    C. Enforcement
13    1. If the Interstate Commission determines that a member
14state has defaulted in the performance of its obligations or
15responsibilities under this compact, its bylaws or rules, the
16Interstate Commission may:
17    a. Provide remedial training and specific technical
18assistance; or
19    b. Provide written notice to the defaulting state and other
20member states, of the nature of the default and the means of
21curing the default. The Interstate Commission shall specify the
22conditions by which the defaulting state must cure its default;
23or
24    c. By majority vote of the members, initiate against a
25defaulting member state legal action in the United States
26District Court for the District of Columbia or, at the

 

 

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1discretion of the Interstate Commission, in the federal
2district where the Interstate Commission has its principal
3office, to enforce compliance with the provisions of the
4compact, its bylaws or rules. The relief sought may include
5both injunctive relief and damages. In the event judicial
6enforcement is necessary the prevailing party shall be awarded
7all costs of such litigation including reasonable attorney's
8fees; or
9    d. Avail itself of any other remedies available under state
10law or the regulation of official or professional conduct.
11
ARTICLE XIII. FINANCING OF THE COMMISSION
12    A. The Interstate Commission shall pay, or provide for the
13payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment,
14organization and ongoing activities.
15    B. The Interstate Commission may levy on and collect an
16annual assessment from each member state to cover the cost of
17the operations and activities of the Interstate Commission and
18its staff which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover
19the Interstate Commission's annual budget as approved by its
20members each year. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall
21be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the
22Interstate Commission which shall promulgate a rule binding
23upon all member states.
24    C. The Interstate Commission shall not incur obligations of
25any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same;
26nor shall the Interstate Commission pledge the credit of any of

 

 

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1the member states, except by and with the authority of the
2member state.
3    D. The Interstate Commission shall keep accurate accounts
4of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and
5disbursements of the Interstate Commission shall be subject to
6the audit and accounting procedures established under its
7bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds
8handled by the Interstate Commission shall be audited yearly by
9a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the
10audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report
11of the Interstate Commission.
12
ARTICLE XIV. MEMBER STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT
13    A. Any state is eligible to become a member state.
14    B. The compact shall become effective and binding upon
15legislative enactment of the compact into law by no less than
1635 states. The effective date shall be the later of July 1,
172007 or upon enactment of the compact into law by the 35th
18state. Thereafter it shall become effective and binding as to
19any other member state upon enactment of the compact into law
20by that state. The executive heads of the state human services
21administration with ultimate responsibility for the child
22welfare program of non-member states or their designees shall
23be invited to participate in the activities of the Interstate
24Commission on a non-voting basis prior to adoption of the
25compact by all states.
26    C. The Interstate Commission may propose amendments to the

 

 

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1compact for enactment by the member states. No amendment shall
2become effective and binding on the member states unless and
3until it is enacted into law by unanimous consent of the member
4states.
5
ARTICLE XV. WITHDRAWAL AND DISSOLUTION
6    A. Withdrawal
7    1. Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and
8remain binding upon each and every member state; provided that
9a member state may withdraw from the compact specifically
10repealing the statute which enacted the compact into law.
11    2. Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment
12of a statute repealing the same. The effective date of
13withdrawal shall be the effective date of the repeal of the
14statute.
15    3. The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the
16president of the Interstate Commission in writing upon the
17introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the
18withdrawing state. The Interstate Commission shall then notify
19the other member states of the withdrawing state's intent to
20withdraw.
21    4. The withdrawing state is responsible for all
22assessments, obligations and liabilities incurred through the
23effective date of withdrawal.
24    5. Reinstatement following withdrawal of a member state
25shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact
26or upon such later date as determined by the members of the

 

 

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1Interstate Commission.
2    B. Dissolution of Compact
3    1. This compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of
4the withdrawal or default of the member state which reduces the
5membership in the compact to one member state.
6    2. Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact
7becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or
8effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate
9Commission shall be concluded and surplus funds shall be
10distributed in accordance with the bylaws.
11
ARTICLE XVI. SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION
12    A. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and
13if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is deemed
14unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the compact shall be
15enforceable.
16    B. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally
17construed to effectuate its purposes.
18    C. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prohibit
19the concurrent applicability of other interstate compacts to
20which the states are members.
21
ARTICLE XVII. BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS
22    A. Other Laws
23    1. Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law
24of a member state that is not inconsistent with this compact.
25    B. Binding Effect of the Compact
26    1. All lawful actions of the Interstate Commission,

 

 

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1including all rules and bylaws promulgated by the Interstate
2Commission, are binding upon the member states.
3    2. All agreements between the Interstate Commission and the
4member states are binding in accordance with their terms.
5    3. In the event any provision of this compact exceeds the
6constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any member
7state, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of the
8conflict with the constitutional provision in question in that
9member state.
10
ARTICLE XVIII. INDIAN TRIBES
11    Notwithstanding any other provision in this compact, the
12Interstate Commission may promulgate guidelines to permit
13Indian tribes to utilize the compact to achieve any or all of
14the purposes of the compact as specified in Article I. The
15Interstate Commission shall make reasonable efforts to consult
16with Indian tribes in promulgating guidelines to reflect the
17diverse circumstances of the various Indian tribes.
 
18    Section 10. Implementation; administration; rules. The
19Department of Children and Family Services, as directed by the
20Governor, is responsible for implementing and administering
21this Act and is authorized to adopt rules for those purposes.
 
22    (45 ILCS 15/Act rep.)
23    Section 15. The Interstate Compact on Placement of Children
24Act is repealed.