Illinois legislation · 104th General Assembly
Illinois HB4966: DCFS-SECURE ACT
Status: Signed into law, July 10, 2026
Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Safeguards to Ensure Continuity and Uphold Rights and Equity (SECURE) Act. Sets forth several legislative findings, including that (i) Illinois retains a non-delegable duty to safeguard the safety, health, dignity, and well-being of all youth in the care or custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, and (ii) the Department must respect and meaningfully consider a youth's expressed preferences in placement options while conducting transparent, individualized risk assessments. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Adds provisions concerning case plans for youth in care and the specific tasks and responsibilities a caregiver must complete to ensure each youth is provided with safe, proper, and supportive care based on the youth's needs and best interests, including, but not limited to, the youth's protected characteristics as defined under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Contains provisions concerning requirements for interstate placements of youth age 8 or older, including, but not limited to: protecting a youth's access to lawful health care and civil immunities for Department employees who protect a youth's access to lawful health care; individualized assessments on the suitability and risks of the proposed interstate placement; ongoing Illinois-based case worker contact and monitoring; and a prohibition on consent to conversion therapy. Contains provisions on youth requested in-state or out-of-state placement and other related matters; annual Department reports on out-of-state placements; performance audits; private right of action; and other matters. Amends the Child Care Act of 1969 by adding provisions on supportive care for youth in care; youth-directed placement rights; licensure and contractual compliance. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Adds provisions on the appointment of an attorney for a youth in care with special needs; required Department attestations on caregiver conduct when
What the bill says
A bill FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4966Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. CassidySYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index See Index Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Safeguards to EnsureContinuity and Uphold Rights and Equity (SECURE) Act…
From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:
A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4966Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. CassidySYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index See Index Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Safeguards to EnsureContinuity and Uphold Rights and Equity (SECURE) Act. Sets forth severallegislative findings, including that (i) Illinois retains a non-delegableduty to safeguard the safety, health, dignity, and well-being of all youthin the care or custody of the Department of Children and Family Services,and (ii) the Department must respect and meaningfully consider a youth'sexpressed preferences in placement options while conducting transparent,individualized risk assessments. Amends the Children and Family ServicesAct. Adds provisions concerning case plans for youth in care and thespecific tasks and responsibilities a caregiver must complete to ensureeach youth is provided with safe, proper, and supportive care based on theyouth's needs and best interests, including, but not limited to, theyouth's protected characteristics as defined under the Illinois HumanRights Act. Contains provisions concerning requirements for interstateplacements of youth age 8 or older, including, but not limited individualized assessments on the suitability and risks of the proposedinterstate placement; ongoing Illinois-based case worker contact andmonitoring; and a prohibition on consent to conversion therapy. Containsprovisions on youth requested in-state or out-of-state placement and otherrelated matters; annual Department reports on out-of-state placements;performance audits; private right of action; and …
Sponsors
- Kelly M. Cassidy (D, 14) · primary sponsor
- Dagmara Avelar (D, 85)
- Mary Beth Canty (D, 54)
- Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D, 17)
- Edgar González (D, 23)
- Anna Moeller (D, 43)
- Maura Hirschauer (D, 49)
- Carol Ammons (D, 103)
- Anne Stava-Murray (D, 81)
- Michelle Mussman (D, 56)
- Amy Briel (D, 76)
- Sharon Chung (D, 91)
Latest actions
- : Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0559
- : Effective Date July 10, 2026
- : Governor Approved
- : Sent to the Governor
- : Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
- : Passed Both Houses
- : House Concurs
- : Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 075-040-000
- : Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin
- : Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 008-004-000
Votes
- Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs (May 31, 2026): 75 yea, 40 nay, passed
- Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Adoption & Child Welfare Committee (May 30, 2026): 8 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Third Reading - Passed (May 29, 2026): 35 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Pass as Amended Judiciary (May 13, 2026): 6 yea, 3 nay, passed
- Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed (April 16, 2026): 71 yea, 34 nay, passed
- House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Adoption & Child Welfare Committee (April 16, 2026): 8 yea, 4 nay, passed
Subjects: ILCS 225 - Professions, ILCS 705 - Courts, ILCS 20 - Executive Branch
Common questions
- What is HB4966?
- HB4966 is a bill in the Illinois Legislature (104th General Assembly): DCFS-SECURE ACT.
- What does HB4966 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4966Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. CassidySYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index See Index Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Safeguards to EnsureContinuity and Uphold Rights and Equity (SECURE) Act…
- What is the status of HB4966?
- Signed into law as of July 10, 2026. Latest action: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0559 (July 10, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB4966?
- Kelly M. Cassidy (D, 14), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB4966?
- On the Illinois Legislature website: https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4966&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114
Source: official Illinois record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.