Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB3684

Creates the Foster Children's Bill of Rights Act. Provides that it is the policy of this State that every child and adult in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services who is placed in foster care shall have certain rights, including the right to: (i) live in a safe, healthy, and comfortable home where he or she is treated with respect; (ii) be free from physical, sexual, emotional, or other abuse, or corporal punishment; (iii) receive adequate and healthy food, adequate clothing, and, for youth in group homes, an allowance; (iv) receive medical, dental, vision, and mental health services; (v) be free of the administration of medication or chemical substances, unless authorized by a physician; (vi) contact family members, unless prohibited by court order, and social workers, attorneys, foster youth advocates, and other specified persons; (vii) contact the Advocacy Office for Children and Families established under the Children and Family Services Act or the Department of Children and Family Services' Office of the Inspector General regarding violations of rights, speak to representatives of these offices confidentially, and be free from threats or punishment for making complaints; (viii) attend court hearings and speak to the judge; (ix) review his or her own case plan and plan for permanent placement, and receive information about his or her out-of-home placement and case plan, including being told of changes to the case plan; and (x) receive a copy of the Act and have it fully explained to him or her when he or she is placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that nothing in the Act shall be interpreted to require a foster care provider to take any action that would impair the health and safety of children in out-of-home placement.

Expands the list of rights under the Foster Children's Bill of Rights to include the right to have caregivers and child welfare personnel who have received sensitivity training and instruction on matters concerning race and ethnicity.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, as amended by House Amendment No. 1, and makes the following change: Provides that every child or adult in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services shall have the right to receive a copy of the Foster Children's Bill of Rights Act from and have it fully explained by the Department of Children and Family Services when the child or adult is placed in the care of the Department (rather than the right to receive a copy of the Act and have it fully explained to the child or adult when he or she is placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services).

Provides that every child and adult in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services who is placed in foster care shall have the right to (i) receive adequate and healthy food, adequate clothing, and for youth in group homes, residential treatment facilities, and foster homes, an allowance (rather than for youth in group homes, an allowance); (ii) to not be locked in a room, building, or facility licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Child Care Act of 1969 and placed pursuant to a specified provision of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (rather than to not be locked in a room, building, or facility licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Child Care Act of 1969); and (iii) to have caregivers and child welfare personnel who have received sensitivity training and instruction on matters concerning race, ethnicity, national origin, color, ancestry, religion, mental and physical disability, and HIV status (rather than to have caregivers and child welfare personnel who have received sensitivity training and instruction on matters concerning race and ethnicity).

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