All Roll Calls
Yes: 184 • No: 0
IllinoisSB1504104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET
DCFS-YOUTH INDEPENDENCE GOAL
Sponsored By: Lakesia Collins (Democratic)
Became Law
assignmentsjudiciaryadoption & child welfare
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 3 costs, 3 mixed.
More pay and help for kin
Starting July 1, 2025, certified relative caregivers get at least the same monthly foster payment as licensed foster homes. Non‑certified relative homes get at least 90% of that amount. DCFS must run a kinship support program that can pay for home safety fixes and short-term emergency costs, and add kinship navigator services statewide. If money is the main barrier to an emergency relative placement, DCFS must help the family find needed resources. By July 1, 2025, DCFS must set rules on what counts as diligent help and create a reconsideration process for denied relative certifications, placements, or visits.
Adoption help and faster matches
DCFS can give financial and education assistance to adoptive parents and subsidized guardians of hard‑to‑place children. DCFS must give new caretakers written health, school, and care‑plan records within 10 business days (verbal first in emergencies). It keeps coded lists to help match hard‑to‑place children with approved families and cannot delay adoption just because the family lives in another region or state. DCFS must also run a toll‑free line (answer within one business day) and, by July 1, 2026, offer an online way to request information about subsidized guardianship and adoption supports.
Backup coverage for caregiver damages
DCFS can reimburse foster and other caregivers for damage caused by children in their care. The program can also provide third‑party liability coverage, but it pays after your own insurance. The program runs only with money set aside by the State.
More family‑preservation services
DCFS provides family‑preservation help to prevent removals, support reunification, and keep adoptions or guardianships stable when safe. Staff and grantees get training to spot substance‑use problems and refer families to DHS‑licensed treatment. If no appropriate placement exists, DCFS must create an individualized program‑oriented plan so services continue. The law also defines “homeless youth” as under 19, without a safe, stable home, and unable to reunite with family, clarifying who can get help.
Court reviews and school help for teens in care
Courts hold STAR hearings for youth with a goal of independence and all youth 17 or older. The first hearing is within 6 months, then at least once a year, and it can be held with a permanency hearing. DCFS must send the youth’s service and transition plan to the court at least 14 days before each hearing. Children with disabilities who get DCFS residential or educational services are eligible for school transition services from age 14.5 through 21. This eligibility has applied since July 22, 2010.
Stronger support for teens leaving care
For every youth in care age 15+, DCFS must create a youth‑driven transition plan that covers life skills, school and work, housing, health, finances, and key documents. Before a case closes, DCFS helps the youth get ID, Social Security card, birth certificate, medical and Medicaid records, and student‑aid papers. If you are under 21 and eligible for wardship reinstatement and consent, DCFS provides services to reach self‑sufficiency; homeless shelters do not count as housing in this program. Courts can reinstate wardship before 18 (and in some cases before 21), and DCFS must act quickly on plans and hearings. The law also treats some youth under 21 as “children” so services can continue, and it requires transition planning including for youth who may need a guardian because of disability.
Tighter court checks on placements
Within 30 days of placing a child in a residential treatment program, DCFS must file a report; the court holds a hearing within 20 days and no later than 60 days from placement. Starting July 1, 2025, permanency reports must include family‑finding work; the court can order changes if the plan is not in the child’s best interest. If a child is stuck in a shelter over 30 days, in a hospital past medical need, or in detention only due to no placement, the agency must report to the court within 15 days. DCFS must file updated case plans every 6 months and provide an appeals process with fast reviews for placement changes. DCFS may use secure child‑care facilities, but only with required approvals and court limits.
State‑managed accounts for kids in care
DCFS opens no‑cost, interest‑bearing accounts for eligible children and credits interest to each account. DCFS can use account funds to repay State‑paid board, non‑Medicaid medical care, and social service costs, with approvals. Each month, disbursements from all children’s accounts go first to the General Revenue Fund up to 1/12 of $13,000,000. Any monthly amount over that goes to the DCFS Children’s Services Fund. Remaining balances, after reimbursements, are kept for the child and paid out as the law allows.
Data reporting and startup cash for providers
Residential providers that take State contracts or payments must report data like capacity, staffing, and occupancy. DCFS must protect this data under privacy laws. For new initiatives, DCFS can advance up to two months of operating money if you post a surety bond and have an approved contract; it is repaid by deductions. No advances are allowed after two straight fiscal years of operation. Some daycare and youth grants are excluded from this advance rule.
Yearly credit checks for kids in care
DCFS checks the credit of each youth in its guardianship every year starting at age 12. The Department looks for signs of identity theft or other financial exploitation. If it finds likely exploitation, DCFS notifies law enforcement or prosecutors.
Court-ordered home studies may cost parents
DCFS only does court-ordered home studies, investigations, and supervised visits when an Illinois court specifically orders them. The court must either order one or both parties to repay DCFS’s reasonable costs or find that neither party can pay. Within 60 days, DCFS must tell the court the visitation plan and projected monthly costs and send cost details unless the court has already found the parties unable to pay.
Stricter criminal checks for foster and adoptive homes
DCFS runs fingerprint-based national criminal checks on prospective foster and adoptive parents and all adults in the home before final approval. Final approval is barred for certain felonies: child abuse or neglect, spousal abuse, crimes against children, rape or homicide, and any felony assault, battery, or drug offense in the last 5 years.
Stronger background checks for DCFS staff
DCFS must fingerprint all employees and job applicants and check State Police, FBI, sex‑offender, and child‑abuse databases. The State Police may charge a fee up to actual cost. DCFS also sets up secure online access to criminal history records with trained, certified operators and follows State Police rules.
Stricter checks for foster homes
Before DCFS approves a foster, adoptive, or relative home, it must run fingerprint‑based national criminal checks. It must also check Illinois’ child abuse and neglect registry for all adults in the home and request other states’ registry checks if any adult lived out of state within 5 years. Certain felony convictions bar approval; for some relative caregivers, DCFS can grant a waiver after a full safety review. Certified relative homes must also meet screening standards in the Child Care Act. These rules can delay or prevent approval but are designed to protect children.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Lakesia Collins
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Adriane Johnson
Democratic • Senate
Celina Villanueva
Democratic • Senate
Cristina Castro
Democratic • Senate
Doris Turner
Democratic • Senate
Graciela Guzmán
Democratic • Senate
Javier L. Cervantes
Democratic • Senate
Kimberly Du Buclet
Democratic • House
Laura Ellman
Democratic • Senate
Li Arellano, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Lisa Davis
Democratic • House
Mark L. Walker
Democratic • Senate
Mary Edly-Allen
Democratic • Senate
Michael Crawford
Democratic • House
Mike Porfirio
Democratic • Senate
Mike Simmons
Democratic • Senate
Rachel Ventura
Democratic • Senate
Robert F. Martwick
Democratic • Senate
Robert Peters
Democratic • Senate
Sara Feigenholtz
Democratic • Senate
Terra Costa Howard
Democratic • House
Willie Preston
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/21/2025
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed
Yes: 111 • No: 0
House vote • 5/6/2025
Do Pass / Short Debate Adoption & Child Welfare Committee;
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/3/2025
Third Reading - Passed;
Yes: 55 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2025
Do Pass as Amended Judiciary;
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0107
8/1/2025SenateEffective Date July 1, 2026
8/1/2025SenateGovernor Approved
8/1/2025SenateSent to the Governor
6/18/2025SenatePassed Both Houses
5/21/2025SenateThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 111-000-000
5/21/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/16/2025HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
5/16/2025HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford
5/12/2025HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Terra Costa Howard
5/8/2025HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
5/8/2025HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
5/7/2025HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 011-000-000
5/6/2025HouseAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz
4/28/2025SenateAssigned to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee
4/17/2025HouseAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
4/11/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mark L. Walker
4/11/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva
4/10/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman
4/8/2025SenateReferred to Rules Committee
4/7/2025HouseFirst Reading
4/7/2025HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet
4/4/2025HouseArrived in House
4/4/2025HouseAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
4/4/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio
4/4/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1