Public Act 100-0705
 
SB2461 EnrolledLRB100 17070 KTG 32221 b


  
    AN ACT concerning State government.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
    Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended  
by changing Section 5.05 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 505/5.05)
    Sec. 5.05. Victims of sex trafficking. 
    (a) Legislative findings. Because of their histories of 
trauma, youth in the care of the Department of Children and 
Family Services are particularly vulnerable to sex 
traffickers. Sex traffickers often target child care 
facilities licensed by the Department to recruit their victims.  
Foster children who are victims of sex trafficking present 
unique treatment needs that existing treatment programs are not 
always able to address. The Department of Children and Family 
Services needs to develop a comprehensive strategy and 
continuum of care to treat foster children who are identified 
as victims of sex trafficking.
    (b) Multi-disciplinary workgroup. By January 1, 2016, the 
Department shall convene a multi-disciplinary workgroup to 
review treatment programs for youth in the Department's care 
who are victims of sex trafficking and to make recommendations 
regarding a continuum of care for these vulnerable youth.  The 
workgroup shall do all of the following:
        (1) Conduct a survey of literature and of existing 
    treatment program models available in the State and outside 
    the State for youth in the Department's care who are 
    victims of sex trafficking, taking into account whether the 
    programs have been subject to evaluation.
        (2) Evaluate the need for new programs in the State, 
    taking into account that youth in the Department's care who 
    are victims of sex trafficking can present a variety of 
    additional needs, including mental illness, medical needs, 
    emotional disturbance, and cognitive delays.
        (3) Review existing State laws and rules that permit 
    children to be placed in secured therapeutic residential 
    care and recommend (i) whether secured residential care 
    should be part of a continuum of care in the State for 
    foster youth who have been sexually trafficked and who 
    repeatedly run away from treatment facilities, and if so, 
    whether any amendments to existing State laws and rules 
    should be made; and (ii) the circumstances under which 
    youth should be considered for placement in secured 
    therapeutic residential care.
        (4) Make recommendations regarding a continuum of care 
    for children in the Department's care who are victims of 
    sex trafficking.
    (c) Composition of workgroup. The workgroup shall consist 
of a minimum of:
        (1) two representatives of the Department, including 
    at least one who is familiar with child care facilities 
    licensed by the Department under the Child Care Act of 1969 
    that provide residential services;
        (2) one representative of a child advocacy 
    organization; 
        (3) one licensed clinician with expertise in working 
    with youth in the Department's care;
        (4) one licensed clinician with expertise in working 
    with youth who are victims of sex trafficking;
        (5) one board-certified child and adolescent 
    psychiatrist;
        (6) two persons representing providers of residential 
    treatment programs operating in the State;
        (7) two persons representing providers of adolescent 
    foster care or specialized foster care programs operating 
    in the State;
        (8) one representative of the Department of Children 
    and Family Services' Statewide Youth Advisory Board;
        (9) one representative of an agency independent of the 
    Department who has experience in providing treatment to 
    children and youth who are victims of sex trafficking; and
        (10) one representative of a law enforcement agency 
    that works with youth who are victims of sex trafficking.
    (d) Records and information. Upon request, the Department 
shall provide the workgroup with all records and information in 
the Department's possession that are relevant to the 
workgroup's review of existing programs and to the workgroup's 
review of the need for new programs for victims of sex 
trafficking. The Department shall redact any confidential 
information from the records and information provided to the 
workgroup to maintain the confidentiality of persons served by 
the Department.
    (e) Workgroup report. The workgroup shall provide a report 
to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2017 with its 
findings and recommendations.
    (f) Department report. No later than March 1, 2017, the 
Department shall implement the workgroup's recommendations, as 
feasible and appropriate, and shall submit a written report to 
the General Assembly that explains the Department's decision to 
implement or to not implement each of the workgroup's 
recommendations.

    (g) Specialized placements. No later than July 1, 2019, the 
Department shall enter into contracts with public or private 
agencies or shall complete development for specialized 
placements for youth in the Department's care who are victims 
of sex trafficking. Such specialized placements may include, 
but not be limited to, licensed foster homes, group homes, 
residential facilities, and secure residential facilities that 
specialize in providing treatment to children who are victims 
of sex trafficking. 
(Source: P.A. 99-350, eff. 1-1-16.)