Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB3507

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall provide, as required by the Act or any applicable State or federal law, child welfare services aimed at assisting minors in achieving sustainable self-sufficiency as adults for any minor for whom the Department is appointed the custodian or guardian pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that such services shall include, but shall not be limited to: transitional living programs; independent living programs; educational assistance, including Youth in College, community college tuition waivers, and scholarships awarded by the Department; case management; mentoring; Youth in Employment; counseling; support and services for pregnant and parenting youth; sibling and parent visitation services and support; vocational training; and, as appropriate, transitioning youth to appropriate adult placement services and guardianship and any other service included in the youth's case plan. Provides that this provision shall not be interpreted as creating a new obligation of the Department to provide services, but as recognizing an existing and continuing obligation to provide services to youth in the Department's care, including those between the ages of 18 and 21 and those over the age of 21 receiving assistance through scholarships awarded by the Department and Youth in College programs, and any other applicable programs. Makes other changes. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. In provisions concerning dispositional orders made in respect of wards of the court and permanency hearings, deletes language providing that unless otherwise specifically authorized by law, the court is not empowered to order specific placements, specific services, or specific service providers to be included in the child's service plan. In provisions concerning the duration of wardship and the discharge of proceedings, provides that all proceedings under the Act automatically terminate upon the minor attaining the age of 21; and that the clerk of the court shall at that time record all proceedings as finally closed and discharged for that reason (rather than all proceedings under the Act in respect of any minor for whom a petition was filed after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 automatically terminate upon his attaining the age of 19 years, except that a court may continue the wardship of a minor until age 21 for good cause when there is satisfactory evidence presented to the court and the court makes written factual findings that the health, safety, and best interest of the minor and the public require the continuation of the wardship). Provides that in ruling on a motion by any party requesting that the case of a minor over the age of 18 be closed to independence, the court, upon the request of any party, shall conduct a permanency hearing instanter; and that after conducting the permanency hearing, the court is authorized to enter any orders necessary to assist the minor in preparing to live independently, including orders requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to provide services and placement. Deletes a provision allowing for the automatic termination of the wardship of a minor and any custodianship or guardianship respecting the minor for whom a petition was filed after a specified date when the minor attains the age of 19 years.

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