IllinoisSB3196104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

DCFS-YOUTH TRANSITIONS

Sponsored By: Lakesia Collins (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In provisions requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to establish rules concerning transition planning for youth aging out of care, requires the Department to consult with the Statewide Youth Advisory Board to determine the effectiveness of existing programs, to identify new programming that supports youth transitions to independence, and to advise on how information about transitional services is communicated to youth in a clear, timely, and age-appropriate manner. Requires the Department to develop, by July 1, 2027, procedures setting forth a process by which: (i) a youth or a youth's representative can request an accounting or explanation of financial decisions made by the Department or child welfare contributing agency for any monies held on behalf of the youth; and (ii) the Department or child welfare contributing agency acknowledges receipt of the request, provides a written response within a defined period, and outlines steps for review or correction when an error or dispute regarding the accounting is identified. Requires the Department to ensure that each youth in care, if applicable, receives age-appropriate financial guidance designed to build financial literacy and informed decision-making regarding the youth's Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income benefits, veterans benefits, or Railroad Retirement benefits. Contains provisions on the development of tailored youth-driven transition plans; notification to youth on the location of necessary documents and any financial accounts open in their name; the development of a curriculum guided program for youth transitioning out of care; written and verbal notice on a youth's scheduled Successful Transition to Adulthood Review (STAR) hearings; requirements on residential treatment centers, group homes, transitional living programs, and the Department to ensure a youth's attendance at a scheduled STAR hearing; and other matters. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. In provisions concerning STAR hearings, requires the Department to allow a minor the opportunity to express to the court the minor's goals, preferences, and concerns regarding the minor's transition to independence. Requires the court to review and ensure the Department is in compliance with its statutory obligation to support the minor's meaningful engagement in STAR hearings.

assignmentsjudiciaryadoption & child welfare

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11 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

More foster care pay for relatives

Beginning July 1, 2025, relative homes caring for children placed by DCFS can receive foster care maintenance payments. Certified relative homes must receive at least the amount paid to licensed foster homes. Other relative homes that are neither certified nor licensed must receive at least 90% of that amount.

More support for guardianship and adoption

DCFS must provide information and support services for children under 18 who were in DCFS custody or guardianship just before adoption or guardianship. A staffed toll-free number must answer requests within one business day, and service information must be shared and updated each year. By July 1, 2026, DCFS must offer an electronic way to request information and coordinate with the health agency on resources.

More planning for youth leaving care

DCFS must make reasonable efforts to plan with each youth in care who is 15 or older. Plans address needs such as life skills, school, work, housing, health, money skills, documents, and supportive connections. Before a youth’s case closes, DCFS must help gather adult-life documents, including information about financial accounts. When the court closes wardship, DCFS must give the youth a copy of the final order.

More oversight of youth account money

DCFS must periodically verify accounts identified as belonging to a youth in care or held for that youth. A youth, parent, guardian, attorney, or guardian ad litem can ask DCFS for an accounting of money it holds, saves, or spends for the youth. The law does not set a verification schedule or response deadline.

More help for relative caregivers

DCFS must adopt rules by July 1, 2025, for a support program for relative caregivers. The program may repay or pay reasonable costs to make a home meet safety rules. DCFS may also provide short-term emergency money when adding a child in care causes extreme hardship. DCFS must seek federal funds for kinship navigator services and post progress updates twice a year until funding is approved.

Caregivers get children’s special education plans

When DCFS places a child who receives special education, it must share details of the child’s education plan with the caregiver, facility staff, or prospective adoptive parent. This gives the people responsible for the child access to information about the child’s school needs.

More court review of family connections

Beginning July 1, 2025, courts must review family-finding and relative-engagement plans and order changes when a plan is not in the minor’s best interest. For children in residential treatment, DCFS must report its family-finding efforts at status and permanency hearings. DCFS must also try to locate and assess former parents when rights ended at least 3 years ago, the child is at least 13, and the child is not in a placement likely to achieve permanency. A court can excuse those efforts if they would be futile or against the child’s best interests.

More youth input at transition hearings

The court must schedule a transition review hearing when a minor’s permanency goal is independence or the minor is at least 17. Youth must get a chance to share their goals and concerns, and the court must give their preferences considerable weight. DCFS must try to give eligible youth 10 days’ notice when practical and help with transportation or other accommodations. Courts must reasonably consider the youth’s schedule and preferred way to take part, and may schedule an extra hearing when the youth asks.

Youth help shape child welfare policies

The Statewide Youth Advisory Board can review and recommend changes to DCFS rules and child-welfare policies, procedures, and training. The DCFS Director or a designee must seek the Board’s input on actions that materially affect current or former youth in foster care. When practical, the Board must get time to review and comment, but DCFS does not have to adopt its recommendations.

More court oversight of youth life skills

In permanency cases, DCFS must report efforts to help minors build age-appropriate life skills and report assessment results when available. Courts review those efforts and may order service-plan changes. But when a child remains in residential treatment, DCFS no longer has to include life-skills activities, assessments, and responses to identified needs in its court evidence. That change removes a reporting duty; it does not end life-skills services.

Stricter checks for relative caregivers

Before approving certain nonlicensed relative caregivers who declined or were denied certification, DCFS must check abuse registries and run fingerprint-based background checks on adults in the home. Out-of-state registry checks are required when an adult lived in another state during the past 5 years. Specified serious convictions, including child abuse, sexual offenses, homicide, trafficking, and certain assault or drug felonies from the past 5 years, require denial. DCFS may grant a waiver after a full review of the household and placement safety.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lakesia Collins

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

    Democratic • Senate

  • Graciela Guzmán

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kimberly Du Buclet

    Democratic • House

  • Laura M. Murphy

    Democratic • Senate

  • Li Arellano, Jr.

    Republican • Senate

  • Mark L. Walker

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mattie Hunter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Michael Crawford

    Democratic • House

  • Michelle Mussman

    Democratic • House

  • Mike Porfirio

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Simmons

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rachel Ventura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rita Mayfield

    Democratic • House

  • Sara Feigenholtz

    Democratic • Senate

  • Suzanne M. Ness

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 194 • No: 0

House vote • 5/21/2026

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 111 • No: 0

House vote • 5/5/2026

Do Pass / Short Debate Adoption & Child Welfare Committee;

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/14/2026

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 54 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Judiciary;

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/11/2026

Do Pass Judiciary;

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0833

    8/10/2026Senate
  2. Effective Date January 1, 2027

    8/10/2026Senate
  3. Governor Approved

    8/10/2026Senate
  4. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

    6/30/2026Senate
  5. Sent to the Governor

    6/18/2026Senate
  6. Passed Both Houses

    5/21/2026Senate
  7. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 111-000-000

    5/21/2026House
  8. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

    5/19/2026House
  9. Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/19/2026House
  10. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman

    5/8/2026House
  11. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness

    5/7/2026House
  12. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy

    5/7/2026Senate
  13. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

    5/6/2026House
  14. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford

    5/5/2026House
  15. Do Pass / Short Debate Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 012-000-000

    5/5/2026House
  16. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet

    4/30/2026House
  17. Assigned to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee

    4/27/2026House
  18. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura

    4/15/2026Senate
  19. Referred to Rules Committee

    4/14/2026House
  20. First Reading

    4/14/2026House
  21. Chief House Sponsor Rep. Rita Mayfield

    4/14/2026House
  22. Arrived in House

    4/14/2026House
  23. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Li Arellano, Jr.

    4/14/2026Senate
  24. Third Reading - Passed; 054-000-000

    4/14/2026Senate
  25. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

    4/13/2026Senate

Bill Text

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