093_HB0222

 
                                     LRB093 04397 RCE 04447 b

 1        AN ACT concerning children.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.  The  Children  and  Family  Services  Act  is
 5    amended by adding Section 7.5 as follows:

 6        (20 ILCS 505/7.5 new)
 7        Sec. 7.5.  Adoption incentive loan program.
 8        (a)  The  Department  shall  develop and implement a loan
 9    program to assist in the payment of adoption-related expenses
10    incurred by persons attempting to  become  adoptive  parents.
11    From  funds  appropriated  for  this  purpose, the Department
12    shall loan current or prospective  adoptive  parents  amounts
13    necessary  to  meet  expenses required to secure and maintain
14    placement  of  an  adoptee,  including  but  not  limited  to
15    placement agency fees, legal fees that are the responsibility
16    of the adoptive parent, and an  adoptee's  medical  or  other
17    support  costs  that  are  the responsibility of the adoptive
18    parent.  The maximum aggregate amount that may be loaned  for
19    the adoption of one child is $10,000.
20        (b)  Loan   recipients   shall  be  selected  through  an
21    application process developed by the Department.  Eligibility
22    for a loan shall require determination by the Department that
23    the applicant's financial resources are such  that  placement
24    and  final  adoption  would  be  deterred  in  the absence of
25    financial  assistance.   Eligibility  shall  be  limited   to
26    Illinois residents seeking the adoption of children under the
27    Department's jurisdiction.
28        (c)  The  Department shall promulgate and adopt rules for
29    the administration of the loan program.  Rules shall  include
30    but need not be limited to the following:
31             (1)  the   requirement   that  loans  be  repaid  on
 
                            -2-      LRB093 04397 RCE 04447 b
 1        specified schedules with  interest  at  specified  rates,
 2        including 0% when deemed appropriate;
 3             (2)  penalties for late or no repayment of loans;
 4             (3)  the  requirement that a loan recipient actually
 5        incur  expenses  and  document  those  expenses  to   the
 6        Department,  or  that  a loan recipient submit claims for
 7        payment for services actually received, before moneys for
 8        those expenses or claims are loaned to a recipient;
 9             (4)  means for monitoring and verifying the  use  of
10        loans; and
11             (5)  means  for  preventing the use of loans for the
12        repayment of expenses covered or  eligible  for  coverage
13        through   a   recipient's  insurance  or  other  programs
14        available to the recipient.