Rep. Weber, who chairs the House Republican working group on Sustaining & Protecting At-Risk Kids, said, “This isn’t about funding. It’s about a culture of mismanagement that continues to put children at risk.”
Rep. Nicole La Ha, a member of the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee, emphasized the need for bipartisan urgency. “This isn’t a partisan issue,” Rep. La Ha said. “DCFS placed Mackenzi in a home where she was abused for years. When concerns were raised, as they should have been, the Governor dismissed them as political talking points. That’s unacceptable and extremely concerning.”
HB1797, introduced by Rep. Weber and co-sponsored by Rep. La Ha, updates the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to require that any report received by DCFS alleging child abuse or neglect, regardless of who the alleged perpetrator is, be immediately shared with the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Currently, only specific categories of alleged abusers prompt automatic notification to law enforcement.
Rep. Steve Reick, who has long called for systemic reform following the death of AJ Freund in 2019, reiterated the need for legislative oversight. He is championing two bills, HB2497 and HB2498, aimed at improving transparency and workload equity within the DCFS. HB2497 directs DCFS to establish a comprehensive caseload tracking system that monitors the relationship between client case plans, departmental workflows, and staff responsibilities. The system must prioritize equal distribution of caseloads across personnel and trigger reorganization if disparities emerge. HB2498 builds on this effort by requiring DCFS to submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing active case files, staffing ratios, and recommendations for how appropriations can be structured to reduce individual burdens and improve case management.
All three lawmakers urged Governor JB Pritzker and DCFS Director Heidi Mueller to implement the recommendations outlined in the Auditor General’s report and to support legislation that prioritizes transparency, caseworker accountability, and child safety.
HB1797, introduced by Rep. Weber and co-sponsored by Rep. La Ha, updates the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to require that any report received by DCFS alleging child abuse or neglect, regardless of who the alleged perpetrator is, be immediately shared with the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Currently, only specific categories of alleged abusers prompt automatic notification to law enforcement.
Rep. Steve Reick, who has long called for systemic reform following the death of AJ Freund in 2019, reiterated the need for legislative oversight. He is championing two bills, HB2497 and HB2498, aimed at improving transparency and workload equity within the DCFS. HB2497 directs DCFS to establish a comprehensive caseload tracking system that monitors the relationship between client case plans, departmental workflows, and staff responsibilities. The system must prioritize equal distribution of caseloads across personnel and trigger reorganization if disparities emerge. HB2498 builds on this effort by requiring DCFS to submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing active case files, staffing ratios, and recommendations for how appropriations can be structured to reduce individual burdens and improve case management.
All three lawmakers urged Governor JB Pritzker and DCFS Director Heidi Mueller to implement the recommendations outlined in the Auditor General’s report and to support legislation that prioritizes transparency, caseworker accountability, and child safety.