New Illinois Children and Family Laws for 2017

“More than 200 new Illinois laws scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1. Here are the new laws governing Children and Families:

• The bill provides that the intended parent is the legal parent of any resulting child and may seek a court order confirming the existence of a parent-child relationship. Currently, without these clarifying provisions, children who are born of assisted reproductive may be the subject of legal disputes over who has parental rights and obligations. (HB 3898/PA 99-0763)
• Amends Probate Act (HB 5924/PA 99-0821): Unless court order to the contrary, guardian shall use reasonable efforts to notify the ward’s known adult children, who have requested notification and provided contact information, of the ward’s admission to a hospital or hospice program, the ward’s death, and the arrangements for the disposition of the ward’s remains. (HB 5924/PA 99-0821)
• Amends the Child Care Act of 1969 (HB 4641/PA 99-0833: Makes it easier for birth parents surrendering children for adoption to voluntarily provide medical information and other background information for the benefit of the adoptee and his or her adoptive parents; requires adoptive parents to be given a statement of their rights and responsibilities, including the right to voluntarily connect and exchange information with birth parents; creates background check and other requirements for private adoptions.
• Children and Family Services Act (HB 5551/PA 99-0836): Expands definition of “fictive kin” to include an individual who has been the foster parent of a ward of the state for at least one year; recognizes that incarcerated parents should be able to participate in case plan reviews for children in foster care.
• Amends the Children and Family Services Act (HB 5656/PA 99-0838): Requires DCFS to make reasonable efforts and accommodations to grant visitation privileges to a non-custodial grandparent or great-grandparent of a child who is in the care and custody of the Department.
• Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (HB 4425/PA 99-0638): Creates procedures to coordinate with federal regulations if children of military parents suffer child abuse.
• Land Trust Beneficiary Rights Act (HB 4697/PA 99-0609: Provides protections for owners or beneficiary of a land trust)
• Juvenile Court Act of 1987 ( (SB 2512/PA 99-0625): Ensures the parent, guardian or responsible relative of abused minors relay contact information for the minor’s living relatives to DCFS.
• States the Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity and other fors must include full tax ID or Social Security number of the parents and may only be challenged upon showing of fraud or maternal mistake, and must be brought within two years of completion of the form. Court order for genetic testing must specify how results may be used for purposes of protecting child’s best interests. Trailer bill for HB 1531 (HB 4447/PA 99-0769)
• Adoption Act-Information Disclosure (HB 4590/PA 99-0832): Adds to list of adoption disclosures: reasons the birth parents stated for placing the child for adoption; how and why the adoptive parents were selected and who selected them; and whether the birth parents requested or agreed to post-adoption contact with the child at the time of placement, and, if so, the frequency and type of contact.
• Amends the Child Care Act of 1987 ( (HB 4641/PA 99-0833)):Makes it easier for birth parents surrendering children for adoption to voluntarily provide medical information and other background information for the benefit of the adoptee and his or her adoptive parents; requires adoptive parents to be given a statement of their rights and responsibilities, including the right to voluntarily connect and exchange information with birth parents; creates background check and other requirements for private adoptions.”

New Illinois Laws 2017: CHILDREN AND FAMILIES[Chicago Patch 1/1/17 by Lorraine Swanson]

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