Bill Status of SB1696  104th General Assembly

Short Description:  IMMUNITY CHILD WELFARE AGENCIE

Senate Sponsors
Sen. Laura Fine - Christopher Belt - David Koehler, Adriane Johnson, Jil Tracy, Lakesia Collins, Dave Syverson, Sara Feigenholtz, Paul Faraci and Doris Turner

Last Action
DateChamber Action
  2/5/2025SenateReferred to Assignments

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act


Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Temporary Immunity for Child Welfare Agencies Act. Creates immunity from civil liability for a licensed child welfare agency that provides service for youth in foster care for a 2-year period unless the agency's acts or omissions constitute willful and wanton conduct. Provides that the immunity extends to the agency's employees, volunteers, and agents acting within the scope of their employment. Defines a "child welfare agency" to mean a public or private child care facility that receives a child or children for the purpose of placing or arranging for the placement or free care of the child or children in foster family homes, unlicensed pre-adoptive and adoptive homes, adoption-only homes, or other facilities for child care apart from the custody of the child's or children's parents. The term "child welfare agency" includes (i) all agencies established and maintained by a municipality or other political subdivision of the State to protect, guard, train or care for children outside their own homes; and (ii) all agencies, persons, groups of persons, organizations, corporations, institutions, centers, or group providing adoption services but does not include a circuit court, appointed juvenile probation officer, or youth counselor of the court who receive and place children under an order of the court. Creates the Child Welfare Agency Liability Task Force to develop and recommend a permanent solution to address the unavailability of liability insurance for child welfare agencies in the State. Requires that the Task Force submit its first report to the General Assembly no later than December 26, 2026. Effective immediately.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/5/2025SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Laura Fine
  2/5/2025SenateFirst Reading
  2/5/2025SenateReferred to Assignments
  2/6/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson
  2/6/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Jil Tracy
  2/6/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt
  2/6/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins
  2/7/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dave Syverson
  2/7/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz
  2/7/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler
  2/7/2025SenateChief Co-Sponsor Changed to Sen. David Koehler
  2/11/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Paul Faraci
  2/24/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner