104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4298
 
Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Jed Davis
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 505/5c-1 new
    Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the purpose of the amendatory Act is to ensure that individuals with felony convictions are not assigned to child protective investigations or issued a Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL). Prohibits persons with a felony conviction from holding a CWEL, performing child protection investigations, or supervising investigation staff. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services and every purchase of service agency that contracts with the Department to require all child welfare employees to undergo a fingerprint-based background check, a statewide criminal history search, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation national criminal history background check every 3 years during the term of employment. Requires the Department to revoke a child welfare employee's CWEL immediately upon discovery that the employee has a felony conviction. Prohibits POS agencies that contract with the Department from employing any person convicted of a felony to work as a child welfare employee and sets forth certain penalties for violations of the prohibition. Effective January 1, 2027.


LRB104 16911 KTG 30322 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
HB4298LRB104 16911 KTG 30322 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended 
5by adding Section 5c-1 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 505/5c-1 new)
7    Sec. 5c-1. Child protection investigator integrity.
8    (a) Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to ensure that 
9individuals with felony convictions are not assigned to child 
10protective investigations or issued a Child Welfare Employee 
11License (CWEL).
12    (b) Prohibition. No person who has been convicted of any 
13felony offense may:
14        (1) hold a Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL);
15        (2) perform child protection investigations; or
16        (3) supervise investigation staff.
17    (c) Background checks. 
18        (1) All employees of the Department or a purchase of 
19    service (POS) agency that contracts with the Department 
20    who are employed to perform child welfare duties shall 
21    undergo:
22            (A) a fingerprint-based background check;
23            (B) a statewide criminal history search; and
 
 
HB4298- 2 -LRB104 16911 KTG 30322 b

1            (C) a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal 
2        history background check.
3        (2) The background checks required under paragraph (1) 
4    shall be repeated every 3 years during the employee's term 
5    of employment.
6    (d) Revocation of CWEL. The Department shall revoke a 
7child welfare employee's CWEL immediately upon discovery that 
8the employee has a felony conviction.
9    (e) POS agency obligations. POS agencies that contract 
10with the Department may not employ as a child welfare employee 
11any person with a felon conviction. Any POS agency that 
12violates this subsection is subject to: 
13        (1) a civil penalty of $10,000 per violation;
14        (2) contract termination; and
15        (3) referral to the Attorney General for civil action.
 
16    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
172, 2027.