Public Act 104-0254
 
HB2907 EnrolledLRB104 12052 KTG 22147 b

    AN ACT concerning children.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Child 
Welfare Disclosure to Parents Act.
 
    Section 5. Parental rights. It is the policy of this State 
that a parent involved with the Illinois child welfare system 
has the following rights:
        (1) To be treated with dignity and respect and as a 
    valued member of the child welfare team.
        (2) To be provided a copy of this Act at the time of 
    case opening or the parent's first contact with the 
    Department of Children and Family Services. 
        (3) To be consulted about relative placement options 
    for the child if placement becomes necessary. 
        (4) As it relates to a non-custodial parent, to be 
    assessed and considered for custody of the child prior to 
    the Department of Children and Family Services taking 
    protective custody. 
        (5) To not have financial means considered as a basis 
    for removal or reunification with the child. 
        (6) To be encouraged to participate in the development 
    and amendment of the parent's service plan.
        (7) To request amendments to the parent's service 
    plan.
        (8) Subject to and in accordance with State law, all 
    rules and procedures of the Department of Children and 
    Family Services, and all applicable court orders:
            (A) To receive timely visits with the child.
            (B) To have all canceled or postponed parent-child 
        visits rescheduled in a timely manner.
            (C) To have parent-child visits conducted in a 
        comfortable family-like setting.
            (D) To be notified of and invited to attend all of 
        the child's medical appointments and school meetings.
            (E) To be permitted to communicate with the 
        child's substitute caregiver for purposes of helping 
        the caregiver understand the child's needs and to 
        promote shared parenting, when feasible.
        (9) To request a child and family team meeting.
        (10) To be provided with the caseworker's supervisor's 
    contact information. 
        (11) To have all child welfare business-related calls, 
    emails, and texts responded to in a timely and 
    professional manner. 
        (12) To have all meetings scheduled at times and 
    places that allow the parent to participate.
        (13) To be provided transportation assistance when 
    necessary to attend meetings and parent-child visits.
        (14) To be consulted in the development of the hair 
    care plan for the child, if not contrary to the child's 
    wishes.
        (15) To be free of retaliation when asserting a right 
    within this Act.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.