Bill Text: IL HR0418 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Directs the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit on the Department of Children and Family Services to review and assess the Department's protocols for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-25 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. LaToya Greenwood [HR0418 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HR0418-Enrolled.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION 418
WHEREAS, The Department of Children and Family Services
("DCFS" or "Department") is responsible for providing child
protective services and programs to abused, neglected, and
dependent children and their families; and
WHEREAS, The shooting death of 17 year-old Laquan McDonald
by a Chicago police officer on October 20, 2014 shed light on
the inefficiencies that plague the DCFS foster care program as
media reports revealed the instability and abuse Laquan
McDonald experienced throughout his youth as he moved through
the foster care system; and
WHEREAS, Last month's suspicious death of 16 month-old
Semaj Crosby, whose body was found in her family's Joliet home
a day and a half after DCFS case workers visited the home to
investigate an allegation of child neglect, has elicited sharp
criticism on how DCFS investigates reports of child abuse and
neglect; and
WHEREAS, Illinois has an interest in ensuring that all
reports of child abuse and neglect are thoroughly investigated
and that the children of this State have access to adequate and
efficient protective services and programs; therefore, be it

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RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the
Auditor General is directed in accordance with Section 3-2 of
the Illinois State Auditing Act to conduct a performance audit
on the Department of Children and Family Services to review and
assess the Department's protocols for investigating reports of
child abuse and neglect; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the audit include a review of abuse and
neglect investigations conducted by the Department of Children
and Family Services in Fiscal Year 2015, Fiscal Year 2016, and
Fiscal Year 2017, including, but not limited to, a review of:
(1) the status of abuse and neglect investigations;
(2) the final determination or findings made by the
Department for abuse and neglect investigations;
(3) the time frame within which the Department
completed or closed abuse and neglect investigations;
(4) for sampled cases, recommendations made by the
Department to families who were the subject of an abuse or
neglect investigation, including any services provided by
the Department to the child or family; and
(5) demographic information on abuse and neglect
investigations, including the age, race, and gender of
children who were subjects of the abuse or neglect
investigations, and, if available, the zip code and county
where the abuse or neglect was alleged to have occurred;

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and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Auditor General compile a detailed
report that includes a full summary on the number of lawsuits
or other legal actions filed against the Department within the
past 3 fiscal years that concern an abuse or neglect
investigation and the number of lawsuits the Department settled
within the past 3 fiscal years that concern an abuse or neglect
investigation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Department of Children and Family
Services cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General
in the conduct of this audit; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Auditor General is not allowed or
authorized to release or disclose in his report any information
that is prohibited from public disclosure under the Abused and
Neglected Child Reporting Act or under any other State or
federal law; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as
soon as possible and submit his report, including his findings
and recommendations, upon completion in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act;
and be it further

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RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to
the Auditor General and the Department of Children and Family
Services.