Kane County Reporter

State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is working to make sure all the details about House Bill 369 – a bill extending protections for at-risk children – are clearly understood.

“I remember our dialogue on this in committee. I want to cover a couple of things. Can you help point out a situation where we would need this youth to be considered (for protection) from age 18?” Keicher asked from the House floor during a recent hearing on the bill that ultimately passed 84 to 31.

After witness Gong Gershawitz explained that the population outlined in the bill is incredibly vulnerable and Congress determined that this group was in need of special protection, Keicher wondered “why can’t an adult at 18 take this responsibility on their own?” and “what would happen if this was revealed and someone is 18, is there an adult track that they would be on currently?”

Gershawitz explained how these cases sometimes take years to unfold and a guardian would be necessary.

As currently written, HB 369 seeks to amend the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 by relocating a provision related to special immigrant minors from the Abused, Neglected or Dependent Minors Article to the General Provisions Article.

Slated to take effect immediately, the measure also amends the Probate Act of 1975 to stipulate that a petition for guardianship of the person of a minor who is 18 years of age or older, but who has not yet attained 21 years of age, may be filed by a parent, relative, or nonrelative person over the age of 21. It also outlines that a court making determinations concerning such a petition shall consider the best interest of the minor and provides that an appointed guardian shall have responsibility for the custody, nurture, and tuition of the minor.