Bill Text: IL HB5487 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Amended

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Bill Title: Amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Provides that when a report involves a child with a developmental or cognitive disability or with a physical disability that impacts the child's ability to communicate, the Department of Children and Family Services' investigation team shall include a licensed clinical social worker and a speech language pathologist who have experience, either in a clinical setting or as a therapist in an educational setting, in working with the child's specific disability to help assess the information received from the child. Provides that these persons shall be directly involved in preparing for the investigation by building awareness of the child's communication needs, including the use of assistive technology, and reading abilities, assessing whether a reduced number of or shortened interviews are warranted, and determining the appropriate environment for interviewing the child. Provides that if a forensic interview is to be conducted, the Department shall ensure that the interviewer is trained to interview individuals with disabilities or is accompanied by the Department's licensed clinical social worker and speech language pathologist. Provides that the Department shall ensure that the interviewer has access to individualized information about the child's disability from personal records, family members or care providers, and others with relevant information prior to meeting the child. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2014-12-03 - Session Sine Die [HB5487 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HB5487-Amended.html

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Rep. Patricia R. Bellock

Filed: 4/1/2014

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AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 5487
AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 5487 by replacing
everything after the enacting clause with the following:
"Section 5. The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act is
amended by adding Section 7.23 as follows:
(325 ILCS 5/7.23 new)
Sec. 7.23. Reports involving children with developmental
disabilities; rules and procedures. The Department shall
establish rules and procedures, no later than June 1, 2015,
that investigators must follow when investigating a report of
abuse or neglect that involves a child with a developmental
disability or a physical disability that impacts the child's
ability to communicate. These rules and procedures shall
include, at a minimum, guidelines for when the Department's
child protection investigation team must consult with the
Department's Division of Clinical Practice's Specialty

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Services Programs Unit to help identify the best manner to
obtain information from the child and to assess the information
received from the child, taking into account the child's
specific disability.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.".