All Roll Calls
Yes: 308 • No: 3
IllinoisHB0871104th General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET
STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH
Sponsored By: Amy Briel (Democratic)
Became Law
executiveadoption & child welfareassignmentschild welfare
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
22 provisions identified: 13 benefits, 4 costs, 5 mixed.
Equal pay and help for relative caregivers
Starting July 1, 2025, certified relative caregiver homes get at least the same monthly payment as licensed foster homes. Other relative homes caring for children placed by the Department get at least 90% of that payment. By July 1, 2025, the Department must set up a relative support program that can prepay or reimburse safety fixes, provide short‑term emergency funds, and offer kinship navigator help. The Department must also help relatives get approved, including mobile fingerprinting, translation, transport, child care for appointments, and payment or reimbursement for needed safety items. Before denying approval, the Department must give notice in the caregiver’s main language and a fair chance to fix problems, and it must offer appeals and fast reviews of placement decisions by July 1, 2025. Rules for certified relative homes must be in place by July 1, 2025, and agencies must keep 7‑day complaint intake and file procedures with the Department within 6 months of the law taking effect. Orientation must cover rights, supports, and expectations, be in the caregiver’s main language, and not delay approval; training is optional.
More family services and rides statewide
The Department provides services statewide, like case management, counseling, day care, respite, in‑home health, kinship navigator help, and more. It also provides transportation to the services it offers or refers families to. Family preservation services are available to help avoid removal, reunify families, or keep adoptive or subsidized guardianship placements when safe. Providers must submit capacity, staffing, and occupancy data so the State can find openings and plan placements. Staff and grantees must be trained to spot substance use problems and make referrals to licensed treatment.
Damage coverage for foster caregivers
The Department can run a program to repay licensed, certified, or approved caregivers for damage caused by children placed in their care. It can also provide third‑party coverage for harm to others. This coverage pays after the caregiver’s own insurance. The program uses state funds set aside for this purpose.
Faster adoptions and better caregiver info
The Department cannot delay an adoption if an approved family is available outside its region or outside Illinois. It keeps coded, confidential lists to help place hard‑to‑place children and shares them with agencies at no charge. At placement, caregivers must get written health, school, placement, and safety information, with signed receipt and a copy to the child’s guardian ad litem within 10 business days. The Department runs statewide subsidized guardianship and adoption supports, keeps a toll‑free number that answers within one business day, updates public information yearly, and adds an online request option by July 1, 2026. It may also give financial and education grants for adopting or becoming a subsidized guardian of eligible hard‑to‑place children; amounts are set by agreement and are inalienable.
Support for youth after foster care
If you are a former foster youth under 21 and you consent, the Department provides child welfare services until you turn 21, withdraw consent, or become self‑sufficient. Homeless shelters do not count as suitable housing. A caseworker must attend hearings for youth on aftercare release to keep services consistent.
Transition services from 14.5 to 21
Since July 22, 2010, a child with a disability who gets residential and school services from DCFS is eligible for transition services from age 14.5 through 21. This applies regardless of where the child lives and follows the federal IDEA definition.
Courts face limits on placing charged minors
Since January 1, 2017, courts generally cannot place minors charged with crimes into DCFS custody. Three exceptions apply: younger minors committed under Section 5-710, cases with an independent abuse, neglect, or dependency basis, or when wardship is reinstated under Section 2-33(2).
Tighter privacy and faster background checks
The Department uses certified computer links to the State Police criminal history system and has trained operators, including one Inspector General investigator. Staff must follow State Police rules on access and sharing. Background and child abuse report records used for certification are confidential and not public. Employees who share them illegally can face a Class A misdemeanor.
More subsidy access for certified relatives
By July 1, 2025, DCFS revises rules so certified relative caregivers qualify for State and federal guardianship and adoption assistance. Extra State requirements that exceed federal rules are removed. DCFS submits State plan changes to secure Title IV-E reimbursement and tracks spending for certified relatives separately from licensed placements.
Stricter checks for foster and kin
The Department now runs child abuse registry checks and fingerprint criminal checks before final approval of foster, adoptive, or relative placements. It also checks sex offender lists and, when needed, other states’ registries for the last five years. Certain felony convictions permanently bar approval, and felonies for physical assault, battery, or drugs within the past five years also block approval. A home cannot be certified if any adult refuses the required screening. For some unlicensed relatives, the Department may grant a waiver after a full evaluation. Rules for these processes are in place by July 1, 2025.
Caps and court costs in child care
When a child is placed in licensed care, Department payments are capped at the average per‑child cost used by its institutions, unless specialized care is needed and not available at that rate. Only foster family homes licensed under the Child Care Act are eligible for foster care payments; this rule has been in place since July 1, 1995. The Department performs court‑ordered home studies or supervised visits only if the court orders one or both parties to pay reasonable costs or finds neither can pay, and it must notify the court within 60 days with plans and projected monthly costs.
Stronger background checks for placements
Before final approval to place a child, the Department must run fingerprint‑based national criminal checks and check child abuse and neglect registries. It must also ask other states to check their registries if an adult lived there in the last 5 years. Certain felony convictions, and recent felony assault or drug felonies within 5 years, block final approval. For certified relative caregiver homes, the Department must make sure all required background screens are completed.
Rules on custody and secure placements
The Department may take temporary custody with a parent’s written consent, or if no parent or guardian can be found. It can place an authorized worker in the home for up to 12 hours until a parent or relative arrives, and it may keep custody up to 10 days after a signed surrender while filing a petition. When no suitable program will accept a youth, the Department must create an individualized plan to provide needed services or placement. Children under 18 may be placed in secure child care only when the facility director and the Director decide it is needed for health and safety, and other laws apply.
Annual credit checks for youth in care
Starting at age 12, the Department checks a youth’s credit each year while the youth is under its guardianship. If a check shows possible financial exploitation, the Department must notify law enforcement, the State’s Attorney, or the Attorney General.
Help for families of children with developmental disorders
The Department runs a family preservation program for families facing extreme hardship while caring for a child diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder. Services are voluntary and can be offered even if no report was filed. The size of the program depends on yearly funding.
Start-up advances for new child welfare contracts
DCFS can advance up to two months of operating costs for new program contracts if the agency posts a surety bond and has an approved contract. Advances are prorated over the contract or fiscal year and then deducted from future bills. After two straight fiscal years of operation, new-initiative advances stop, with narrow exceptions for some local public child day care and certain youth service grants.
Confidential matching for hard-to-place adoptions
DCFS keeps coded, confidential lists to help adoption agencies match approved parents with unplaced children, including children with disabilities. Agencies can submit names voluntarily. The lists are free for all adoption agencies.
Court-ordered home studies may cost you
DCFS performs home studies, investigations, and supervised visits only if a court orders it. The court must order one or both parties to pay DCFS’s reasonable costs, or find neither party can pay. DCFS must tell the court within 60 days about arrangements and expected monthly costs.
Fingerprint checks for DCFS job applicants
If you work for or apply to work with the Department, you must submit fingerprints for State and FBI criminal checks. The Illinois State Police may charge a fee for this check. The fee goes to the State Police Services Fund.
How the State handles kids' benefit money
The Department opens no‑cost, interest‑bearing accounts for children in its care who get payments like Social Security or Veterans’ benefits. It may use account funds to repay State‑paid board and care, uncovered medical care, and social services. Each month, up to 1/12 of $13 million (about $1.083 million) from all children’s accounts goes to the State’s General Revenue Fund; any extra goes to the DCFS Children’s Services Fund. After the State is repaid, remaining money is kept for the child and later paid out as the law requires.
Fingerprint checks and fee cap for DCFS hires
DCFS employees and applicants must submit fingerprints for Illinois State Police and FBI checks. The State Police may charge a fee, but it cannot be more than the actual cost of the check. Fees go to the State Police Services Fund.
Monthly rules for children's benefit accounts
DCFS holds interest-bearing, no-cost accounts for children’s funds, like Social Security, SSI, Veterans’ benefits, and court-ordered payments. DCFS may use these funds to reimburse State-paid care and certain medical or social services as allowed by law, and it keeps full records. Each month, up to about $1.083 million (1/12 of $13,000,000) in total disbursements goes to the General Revenue Fund; any extra goes to the DCFS Children’s Services Fund. Remaining balances are kept and paid to the child, guardian, or issuing agency as the law requires.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Amy Briel
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Dagmara Avelar
Democratic • House
Diane Blair-Sherlock
Democratic • House
Gregg Johnson
Democratic • House
Harry Benton
Democratic • House
Jason R. Bunting
Republican • House
Julie A. Morrison
Democratic • Senate
Li Arellano, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Lisa Davis
Democratic • House
Martha Deuter
Democratic • House
Matt Hanson
Democratic • House
Patrick Sheehan
Republican • House
Sharon Chung
Democratic • House
Stephanie A. Kifowit
Democratic • House
Sue Scherer
Democratic • House
Suzy Glowiak Hilton
Democratic • Senate
Tom Weber
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/30/2025
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs
Yes: 115 • No: 0
House vote • 5/29/2025
Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Adoption & Child Welfare Committee;
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/21/2025
Third Reading - Passed;
Yes: 58 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/14/2025
Do Pass as Amended Child Welfare;
Yes: 7 • No: 0
House vote • 4/10/2025
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed
Yes: 112 • No: 0
House vote • 3/18/2025
Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Adoption & Child Welfare Committee;
Yes: 8 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0165
8/15/2025HouseEffective Date August 15, 2025
8/15/2025HouseGovernor Approved
8/15/2025HouseSent to the Governor
6/24/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jason R. Bunting
5/30/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Sheehan
5/30/2025HousePassed Both Houses
5/30/2025HouseHouse Concurs
5/30/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 115-000-000
5/30/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sue Scherer
5/30/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
5/30/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
5/30/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Martha Deuter
5/30/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson
5/30/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar
5/30/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Harry Benton
5/30/2025HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung
5/30/2025HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
5/30/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 008-000-000
5/29/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee
5/28/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
5/21/2025HouseSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Amy Briel
5/21/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1
5/21/2025HouseArrived in House
5/21/2025HouseAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison
5/21/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Amendment 1
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1