Bill Text: IL SB1778 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Chaptered


Bill Title: Reinserts the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 1, but with the following changes: Provides that educational personnel required to report under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act must do so only to the extent required under a specified provision of the Act (rather than only to the extent required in accordance with other provisions expressly concerning the duty of school board members to report suspected child abuse). Provides that when 2 or more persons who work within the same workplace and are required to report under the Act share a reasonable cause to believe that a child may be an abused or neglected child, one of those reporters may be designated to make a single report (rather than a single report may be made by a designated reporter). In a provision requiring mandated reporters to complete reporter training within 3 months of their date of engagement in a professional or official capacity as a mandated reporter, provides that the 3-month requirement may be extended to 6 months pursuant to any other applicable State law that governs training requirements for a specific profession. Requires certain medical personnel who work with children in their professional or official capacity to complete mandated reporter training at least every 6 years. Requires such medical personnel to attest at each time of licensure renewal on their renewal form that they understand they are a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect, that they are aware of the process for making a report, that they know how to respond to a child in a trauma-informed manner, and that they are aware of the role of child protective services and the role of a reporter after a call has been made. Requires medical personnel who do not work with children in their professional or official capacity to make similar affirmations in lieu of repeated training.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 47-3)

Status: (Passed) 2019-08-23 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 101-0564 [SB1778 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SB1778-Chaptered.html



Public Act 101-0564
SB1778 EnrolledLRB101 09333 KTG 54429 b
AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. The Illinois Police Training Act is amended by
changing Section 7 as follows:
(50 ILCS 705/7) (from Ch. 85, par. 507)
Sec. 7. Rules and standards for schools. The Board shall
adopt rules and minimum standards for such schools which shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
a. The curriculum for probationary police officers
which shall be offered by all certified schools shall
include, but not be limited to, courses of procedural
justice, arrest and use and control tactics, search and
seizure, including temporary questioning, civil rights,
human rights, human relations, cultural competency,
including implicit bias and racial and ethnic sensitivity,
criminal law, law of criminal procedure, constitutional
and proper use of law enforcement authority, vehicle and
traffic law including uniform and non-discriminatory
enforcement of the Illinois Vehicle Code, traffic control
and accident investigation, techniques of obtaining
physical evidence, court testimonies, statements, reports,
firearms training, training in the use of electronic
control devices, including the psychological and
physiological effects of the use of those devices on
humans, first-aid (including cardiopulmonary
resuscitation), training in the administration of opioid
antagonists as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (e)
of Section 5-23 of the Substance Use Disorder Act, handling
of juvenile offenders, recognition of mental conditions
and crises, including, but not limited to, the disease of
addiction, which require immediate assistance and response
and methods to safeguard and provide assistance to a person
in need of mental treatment, recognition of abuse, neglect,
financial exploitation, and self-neglect of adults with
disabilities and older adults, as defined in Section 2 of
the Adult Protective Services Act, crimes against the
elderly, law of evidence, the hazards of high-speed police
vehicle chases with an emphasis on alternatives to the
high-speed chase, and physical training. The curriculum
shall include specific training in techniques for
immediate response to and investigation of cases of
domestic violence and of sexual assault of adults and
children, including cultural perceptions and common myths
of sexual assault and sexual abuse as well as interview
techniques that are age sensitive and are trauma informed,
victim centered, and victim sensitive. The curriculum
shall include training in techniques designed to promote
effective communication at the initial contact with crime
victims and ways to comprehensively explain to victims and
witnesses their rights under the Rights of Crime Victims
and Witnesses Act and the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
The curriculum shall also include training in effective
recognition of and responses to stress, trauma, and
post-traumatic stress experienced by police officers. The
curriculum shall include a block of instruction addressing
the mandatory reporting requirements under the Abused and
Neglected Child Reporting Act. The curriculum shall also
include a block of instruction aimed at identifying and
interacting with persons with autism and other
developmental or physical disabilities, reducing barriers
to reporting crimes against persons with autism, and
addressing the unique challenges presented by cases
involving victims or witnesses with autism and other
developmental disabilities. The curriculum for permanent
police officers shall include, but not be limited to: (1)
refresher and in-service training in any of the courses
listed above in this subparagraph, (2) advanced courses in
any of the subjects listed above in this subparagraph, (3)
training for supervisory personnel, and (4) specialized
training in subjects and fields to be selected by the
board. The training in the use of electronic control
devices shall be conducted for probationary police
officers, including University police officers.
b. Minimum courses of study, attendance requirements
and equipment requirements.
c. Minimum requirements for instructors.
d. Minimum basic training requirements, which a
probationary police officer must satisfactorily complete
before being eligible for permanent employment as a local
law enforcement officer for a participating local
governmental agency. Those requirements shall include
training in first aid (including cardiopulmonary
resuscitation).
e. Minimum basic training requirements, which a
probationary county corrections officer must
satisfactorily complete before being eligible for
permanent employment as a county corrections officer for a
participating local governmental agency.
f. Minimum basic training requirements which a
probationary court security officer must satisfactorily
complete before being eligible for permanent employment as
a court security officer for a participating local
governmental agency. The Board shall establish those
training requirements which it considers appropriate for
court security officers and shall certify schools to
conduct that training.
A person hired to serve as a court security officer
must obtain from the Board a certificate (i) attesting to
his or her successful completion of the training course;
(ii) attesting to his or her satisfactory completion of a
training program of similar content and number of hours
that has been found acceptable by the Board under the
provisions of this Act; or (iii) attesting to the Board's
determination that the training course is unnecessary
because of the person's extensive prior law enforcement
experience.
Individuals who currently serve as court security
officers shall be deemed qualified to continue to serve in
that capacity so long as they are certified as provided by
this Act within 24 months of June 1, 1997 (the effective
date of Public Act 89-685). Failure to be so certified,
absent a waiver from the Board, shall cause the officer to
forfeit his or her position.
All individuals hired as court security officers on or
after June 1, 1997 (the effective date of Public Act
89-685) shall be certified within 12 months of the date of
their hire, unless a waiver has been obtained by the Board,
or they shall forfeit their positions.
The Sheriff's Merit Commission, if one exists, or the
Sheriff's Office if there is no Sheriff's Merit Commission,
shall maintain a list of all individuals who have filed
applications to become court security officers and who meet
the eligibility requirements established under this Act.
Either the Sheriff's Merit Commission, or the Sheriff's
Office if no Sheriff's Merit Commission exists, shall
establish a schedule of reasonable intervals for
verification of the applicants' qualifications under this
Act and as established by the Board.
g. Minimum in-service training requirements, which a
police officer must satisfactorily complete every 3 years.
Those requirements shall include constitutional and proper
use of law enforcement authority, procedural justice,
civil rights, human rights, mental health awareness and
response, reporting child abuse and neglect, and cultural
competency.
h. Minimum in-service training requirements, which a
police officer must satisfactorily complete at least
annually. Those requirements shall include law updates and
use of force training which shall include scenario based
training, or similar training approved by the Board.
(Source: P.A. 99-352, eff. 1-1-16; 99-480, eff. 9-9-15; 99-642,
eff. 7-28-16; 99-801, eff. 1-1-17; 100-121, eff. 1-1-18;
100-247, eff. 1-1-18; 100-759, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff.
8-14-18; 100-910, eff. 1-1-19; revised 9-28-19.)
Section 5. The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act is
amended by changing Sections 4 and 11.5 as follows:
(325 ILCS 5/4)
Sec. 4. Persons required to report; privileged
communications; transmitting false report.
(a) The following persons are required to immediately
report to the Department when they have reasonable cause to
believe that a child known to them in their professional or
official capacities may be an abused child or a neglected
child:
(1) Medical personnel, including any: physician
licensed to practice medicine in any of its branches
(medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy); resident;
intern; medical administrator or personnel engaged in the
examination, care, and treatment of persons; psychiatrist;
surgeon; dentist; dental hygienist; chiropractic
physician; podiatric physician; physician assistant;
emergency medical technician; acupuncturist; registered
nurse; licensed practical nurse; advanced practice
registered nurse; genetic counselor; respiratory care
practitioner; home health aide; or certified nursing
assistant.
(2) Social services and mental health personnel,
including any: licensed professional counselor; licensed
clinical professional counselor; licensed social worker;
licensed clinical social worker; licensed psychologist or
assistant working under the direct supervision of a
psychologist; associate licensed marriage and family
therapist; licensed marriage and family therapist; field
personnel of the Departments of Healthcare and Family
Services, Public Health, Human Services, Human Rights, or
Children and Family Services; supervisor or administrator
of the General Assistance program established under
Article VI of the Illinois Public Aid Code; social services
administrator; or substance abuse treatment personnel.
(3) Crisis intervention personnel, including any:
crisis line or hotline personnel; or domestic violence
program personnel.
(4) Education personnel, including any: school
personnel (including administrators and certified and
non-certified school employees); personnel of institutions
of higher education; educational advocate assigned to a
child in accordance with the School Code; member of a
school board or the Chicago Board of Education or the
governing body of a private school (but only to the extent
required under subsection (d)); or truant officer.
(5) Recreation or athletic program or facility
personnel.
(6) Child care personnel, including any: early
intervention provider as defined in the Early Intervention
Services System Act; director or staff assistant of a
nursery school or a child day care center; or foster
parent, homemaker, or child care worker.
(7) Law enforcement personnel, including any: law
enforcement officer; field personnel of the Department of
Juvenile Justice; field personnel of the Department of
Corrections; probation officer; or animal control officer
or field investigator of the Department of Agriculture's
Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare.
(8) Any funeral home director; funeral home director
and embalmer; funeral home employee; coroner; or medical
examiner.
(9) Any member of the clergy.
(10) Any physician, physician assistant, registered
nurse, licensed practical nurse, medical technician,
certified nursing assistant, licensed social worker,
licensed clinical social worker, or licensed professional
counselor of any office, clinic, or any other physical
location that provides abortions, abortion referrals, or
contraceptives.
(b) When 2 or more persons who work within the same
workplace and are required to report under this Act share a
reasonable cause to believe that a child may be an abused or
neglected child, one of those reporters may be designated to
make a single report. The report shall include the names and
contact information for the other mandated reporters sharing
the reasonable cause to believe that a child may be an abused
or neglected child. The designated reporter must provide
written confirmation of the report to those mandated reporters
within 48 hours. If confirmation is not provided, those
mandated reporters are individually responsible for
immediately ensuring a report is made. Nothing in this Section
precludes or may be used to preclude any person from reporting
child abuse or child neglect.
(c)(1) As used in this Section, "a child known to them in
their professional or official capacities" means:
(A) the mandated reporter comes into contact with the
child in the course of the reporter's employment or
practice of a profession, or through a regularly scheduled
program, activity, or service;
(B) the mandated reporter is affiliated with an agency,
institution, organization, school, school district,
regularly established church or religious organization, or
other entity that is directly responsible for the care,
supervision, guidance, or training of the child; or
(C) a person makes a specific disclosure to the
mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim
of child abuse or child neglect, and the disclosure happens
while the mandated reporter is engaged in his or her
employment or practice of a profession, or in a regularly
scheduled program, activity, or service.
(2) Nothing in this Section requires a child to come before
the mandated reporter in order for the reporter to make a
report of suspected child abuse or child neglect.
Any physician, resident, intern, hospital, hospital
administrator and personnel engaged in examination, care and
treatment of persons, surgeon, dentist, dentist hygienist,
osteopath, chiropractor, podiatric physician, physician
assistant, substance abuse treatment personnel, funeral home
director or employee, coroner, medical examiner, emergency
medical technician, acupuncturist, crisis line or hotline
personnel, school personnel (including administrators and both
certified and non-certified school employees), personnel of
institutions of higher education, educational advocate
assigned to a child pursuant to the School Code, member of a
school board or the Chicago Board of Education or the governing
body of a private school (but only to the extent required in
accordance with other provisions of this Section expressly
concerning the duty of school board members to report suspected
child abuse), truant officers, social worker, social services
administrator, domestic violence program personnel, registered
nurse, licensed practical nurse, genetic counselor,
respiratory care practitioner, advanced practice registered
nurse, home health aide, director or staff assistant of a
nursery school or a child day care center, recreational or
athletic program or facility personnel, early intervention
provider as defined in the Early Intervention Services System
Act, law enforcement officer, licensed professional counselor,
licensed clinical professional counselor, registered
psychologist and assistants working under the direct
supervision of a psychologist, psychiatrist, or field
personnel of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services,
Juvenile Justice, Public Health, Human Services (acting as
successor to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities, Rehabilitation Services, or Public Aid),
Corrections, Human Rights, or Children and Family Services,
supervisor and administrator of general assistance under the
Illinois Public Aid Code, probation officer, animal control
officer or Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal
Health and Welfare field investigator, or any other foster
parent, homemaker or child care worker having reasonable cause
to believe a child known to them in their professional or
official capacity may be an abused child or a neglected child
shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the
Department.
Any member of the clergy having reasonable cause to believe
that a child known to that member of the clergy in his or her
professional capacity may be an abused child as defined in item
(c) of the definition of "abused child" in Section 3 of this
Act shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to
the Department.
Any physician, physician's assistant, registered nurse,
licensed practical nurse, medical technician, certified
nursing assistant, social worker, or licensed professional
counselor of any office, clinic, or any other physical location
that provides abortions, abortion referrals, or contraceptives
having reasonable cause to believe a child known to him or her
in his or her professional or official capacity may be an
abused child or a neglected child shall immediately report or
cause a report to be made to the Department.
(d) If an allegation is raised to a school board member
during the course of an open or closed school board meeting
that a child who is enrolled in the school district of which he
or she is a board member is an abused child as defined in
Section 3 of this Act, the member shall direct or cause the
school board to direct the superintendent of the school
district or other equivalent school administrator to comply
with the requirements of this Act concerning the reporting of
child abuse. For purposes of this paragraph, a school board
member is granted the authority in his or her individual
capacity to direct the superintendent of the school district or
other equivalent school administrator to comply with the
requirements of this Act concerning the reporting of child
abuse.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if an
employee of a school district has made a report or caused a
report to be made to the Department under this Act involving
the conduct of a current or former employee of the school
district and a request is made by another school district for
the provision of information concerning the job performance or
qualifications of the current or former employee because he or
she is an applicant for employment with the requesting school
district, the general superintendent of the school district to
which the request is being made must disclose to the requesting
school district the fact that an employee of the school
district has made a report involving the conduct of the
applicant or caused a report to be made to the Department, as
required under this Act. Only the fact that an employee of the
school district has made a report involving the conduct of the
applicant or caused a report to be made to the Department may
be disclosed by the general superintendent of the school
district to which the request for information concerning the
applicant is made, and this fact may be disclosed only in cases
where the employee and the general superintendent have not been
informed by the Department that the allegations were unfounded.
An employee of a school district who is or has been the subject
of a report made pursuant to this Act during his or her
employment with the school district must be informed by that
school district that if he or she applies for employment with
another school district, the general superintendent of the
former school district, upon the request of the school district
to which the employee applies, shall notify that requesting
school district that the employee is or was the subject of such
a report.
(e) Whenever such person is required to report under this
Act in his capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or
other public or private institution, school, facility or
agency, or as a member of the clergy, he shall make report
immediately to the Department in accordance with the provisions
of this Act and may also notify the person in charge of such
institution, school, facility or agency, or church, synagogue,
temple, mosque, or other religious institution, or his
designated agent that such report has been made. Under no
circumstances shall any person in charge of such institution,
school, facility or agency, or church, synagogue, temple,
mosque, or other religious institution, or his designated agent
to whom such notification has been made, exercise any control,
restraint, modification or other change in the report or the
forwarding of such report to the Department.
(f) In addition to the persons required to report suspected
cases of child abuse or child neglect under this Section, any
other person may make a report if such person has reasonable
cause to believe a child may be an abused child or a neglected
child.
(g) The privileged quality of communication between any
professional person required to report and his patient or
client shall not apply to situations involving abused or
neglected children and shall not constitute grounds for failure
to report as required by this Act or constitute grounds for
failure to share information or documents with the Department
during the course of a child abuse or neglect investigation. If
requested by the professional, the Department shall confirm in
writing that the information or documents disclosed by the
professional were gathered in the course of a child abuse or
neglect investigation.
The reporting requirements of this Act shall not apply to
the contents of a privileged communication between an attorney
and his or her client or to confidential information within the
meaning of Rule 1.6 of the Illinois Rules of Professional
Conduct relating to the legal representation of an individual
client.
A member of the clergy may claim the privilege under
Section 8-803 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(h) Any office, clinic, or any other physical location that
provides abortions, abortion referrals, or contraceptives
shall provide to all office personnel copies of written
information and training materials about abuse and neglect and
the requirements of this Act that are provided to employees of
the office, clinic, or physical location who are required to
make reports to the Department under this Act, and instruct
such office personnel to bring to the attention of an employee
of the office, clinic, or physical location who is required to
make reports to the Department under this Act any reasonable
suspicion that a child known to him or her in his or her
professional or official capacity may be an abused child or a
neglected child. In addition to the above persons required to
report suspected cases of abused or neglected children, any
other person may make a report if such person has reasonable
cause to believe a child may be an abused child or a neglected
child.
(i) Any person who enters into employment on and after July
1, 1986 and is mandated by virtue of that employment to report
under this Act, shall sign a statement on a form prescribed by
the Department, to the effect that the employee has knowledge
and understanding of the reporting requirements of this Act. On
and after January 1, 2019, the statement shall also include
information about available mandated reporter training
provided by the Department. The statement shall be signed prior
to commencement of the employment. The signed statement shall
be retained by the employer. The cost of printing,
distribution, and filing of the statement shall be borne by the
employer.
(j) Persons Within one year of initial employment and at
least every 5 years thereafter, school personnel required to
report child abuse or child neglect as provided under this
Section must complete an initial mandated reporter training
within 3 months of their date of engagement in a professional
or official capacity as a mandated reporter, or within the time
frame of any other applicable State law that governs training
requirements for a specific profession, and at least every 3
years thereafter. The initial requirement only applies to the
first time they engage in their professional or official
capacity. In lieu of training every 3 years, medical personnel,
as listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (a), must meet the
requirements described in subsection (k).
The trainings shall be in-person or web-based, and shall
include, at a minimum, information on the following topics: (i)
indicators for recognizing child abuse and child neglect, as
defined under this Act; (ii) the process for reporting
suspected child abuse and child neglect in Illinois as required
by this Act and the required documentation; (iii) responding to
a child in a trauma-informed manner; and (iv) understanding the
response of child protective services and the role of the
reporter after a call has been made. Child-serving
organizations are encouraged to provide in-person annual
trainings.
The mandated reporter training shall be provided through
the Department, through an entity authorized to provide
continuing education for professionals licensed through the
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the State
Board of Education, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training
Standards Board, or the Department of State Police, or through
an organization approved by the Department to provide mandated
reporter training. The Department must make available a free
web-based training for reporters.
Each mandated reporter shall report to his or her employer
and, when applicable, to his or her licensing or certification
board that he or she received the mandated reporter training.
The mandated reporter shall maintain records of completion.
Beginning January 1, 2021, if a mandated reporter receives
licensure from the Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation or the State Board of Education, and his or her
profession has continuing education requirements, the training
mandated under this Section shall count toward meeting the
licensee's required continuing education hours.
by a provider or agency with expertise in recognizing and
reporting child abuse.
(k)(1) Medical personnel, as listed in paragraph (1) of
subsection (a), who work with children in their professional or
official capacity, must complete mandated reporter training at
least every 6 years. Such medical personnel, if licensed, must
attest at each time of licensure renewal on their renewal form
that they understand they are a mandated reporter of child
abuse and neglect, that they are aware of the process for
making a report, that they know how to respond to a child in a
trauma-informed manner, and that they are aware of the role of
child protective services and the role of a reporter after a
call has been made.
(2) In lieu of repeated training, medical personnel, as
listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (a), who do not work with
children in their professional or official capacity, may
instead attest each time at licensure renewal on their renewal
form that they understand they are a mandated reporter of child
abuse and neglect, that they are aware of the process for
making a report, that they know how to respond to a child in a
trauma-informed manner, and that they are aware of the role of
child protective services and the role of a reporter after a
call has been made. Nothing in this paragraph precludes medical
personnel from completing mandated reporter training and
receiving continuing education credits for that training.
(l) The Department shall provide copies of this Act, upon
request, to all employers employing persons who shall be
required under the provisions of this Section to report under
this Act.
(m) Any person who knowingly transmits a false report to
the Department commits the offense of disorderly conduct under
subsection (a)(7) of Section 26-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
A violation of this provision is a Class 4 felony.
Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any
provision of this Section other than a second or subsequent
violation of transmitting a false report as described in the
preceding paragraph, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a
first violation and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent
violation; except that if the person acted as part of a plan or
scheme having as its object the prevention of discovery of an
abused or neglected child by lawful authorities for the purpose
of protecting or insulating any person or entity from arrest or
prosecution, the person is guilty of a Class 4 felony for a
first offense and a Class 3 felony for a second or subsequent
offense (regardless of whether the second or subsequent offense
involves any of the same facts or persons as the first or other
prior offense).
(n) A child whose parent, guardian or custodian in good
faith selects and depends upon spiritual means through prayer
alone for the treatment or cure of disease or remedial care may
be considered neglected or abused, but not for the sole reason
that his parent, guardian or custodian accepts and practices
such beliefs.
(o) A child shall not be considered neglected or abused
solely because the child is not attending school in accordance
with the requirements of Article 26 of the School Code, as
amended.
(p) Nothing in this Act prohibits a mandated reporter who
reasonably believes that an animal is being abused or neglected
in violation of the Humane Care for Animals Act from reporting
animal abuse or neglect to the Department of Agriculture's
Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare.
(q) A home rule unit may not regulate the reporting of
child abuse or neglect in a manner inconsistent with the
provisions of this Section. This Section is a limitation under
subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois
Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of
powers and functions exercised by the State.
(r) For purposes of this Section "child abuse or neglect"
includes abuse or neglect of an adult resident as defined in
this Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-513, eff. 1-1-18; 100-1071, eff. 1-1-19.)
(325 ILCS 5/11.5) (from Ch. 23, par. 2061.5)
Sec. 11.5. Public awareness program.
(a) No later than 6 months after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Department of
Children and Family Services shall develop culturally
sensitive materials on child abuse and child neglect, the
statewide toll-free telephone number established under Section
7.6, and the process for reporting any reasonable suspicion of
child abuse or child neglect.
The Department shall reach out to businesses and
organizations to seek assistance in raising awareness about
child abuse and child neglect and the statewide toll-free
telephone number established under Section 7.6, including
posting notices. The Department shall make a model notice
available for download on the Department's website. The model
notice shall:
(1) be available in English, Spanish, and the 2 other
languages most widely spoken in the State;
(2) be at least 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches in size and
written in a 16-point font;
(3) include the following statement:
"Protecting children is a responsibility we all
share. It is important for every person to take child
abuse and child neglect seriously, to be able to
recognize when it happens, and to know what to do next.
If you have reason to believe a child you know is being
abused or neglected, call the State's child abuse
hotline; and
(4) include the statewide toll-free telephone number
established under Section 7.6, and the Department's
website address where more information about child abuse
and child neglect is available.
(b) Within the appropriation available, the Department
shall conduct a continuing education and training program for
State and local staff, persons and officials required to
report, the general public, and other persons engaged in or
intending to engage in the prevention, identification, and
treatment of child abuse and neglect. The program shall be
designed to encourage the fullest degree of reporting of known
and suspected child abuse and neglect, and to improve
communication, cooperation, and coordination among all
agencies in the identification, prevention, and treatment of
child abuse and neglect. The program shall inform the general
public and professionals of the nature and extent of child
abuse and neglect and their responsibilities, obligations,
powers and immunity from liability under this Act. It may
include information on the diagnosis of child abuse and neglect
and the roles and procedures of the Child Protective Service
Unit, the Department and central register, the courts and of
the protective, treatment, and ameliorative services available
to children and their families. Such information may also
include special needs of mothers at risk of delivering a child
whose life or development may be threatened by a disabling
condition, to ensure informed consent to treatment of the
condition and understanding of the unique child care
responsibilities required for such a child. The program may
also encourage parents and other persons having responsibility
for the welfare of children to seek assistance on their own in
meeting their child care responsibilities and encourage the
voluntary acceptance of available services when they are
needed. It may also include publicity and dissemination of
information on the existence and number of the 24 hour,
State-wide, toll-free telephone service to assist persons
seeking assistance and to receive reports of known and
suspected abuse and neglect.
(c) Within the appropriation available, the Department
also shall conduct a continuing education and training program
for State and local staff involved in investigating reports of
child abuse or neglect made under this Act. The program shall
be designed to train such staff in the necessary and
appropriate procedures to be followed in investigating cases
which it appears may result in civil or criminal charges being
filed against a person. Program subjects shall include but not
be limited to the gathering of evidence with a view toward
presenting such evidence in court and the involvement of State
or local law enforcement agencies in the investigation. The
program shall be conducted in cooperation with State or local
law enforcement agencies, State's Attorneys and other
components of the criminal justice system as the Department
deems appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
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