Illinois § 35

§ 35.

Information for relinquishing person. (a) The hospital, police station, fire station, or emergency medical facility that receives a newborn infant relinquished in accordance with this Act shall offer to the relinquishing person information about the relinquishment process and, either in writing or by referring such person to a website or other electronic resource, such information shall state that the relinquishing person's acceptance of the information is completely voluntary. The information packet must include all of the following: (1) (Blank). (2) Written notice of the following: (A) No sooner than 60 days following the date of the initial relinquishment of the infant to a hospital, police station, fire station, or emergency medical facility, the child welfare agency or the Department will commence proceedings for the termination of parental rights and placement of the infant for adoption. (B) Failure of a parent of the infant to contact the Department and petition for the return of custody of the infant before termination of parental rights bars any future action asserting legal rights with respect to the infant. (3) A resource list of providers of counseling services including grief counseling, pregnancy counseling, and counseling regarding adoption and other available options for placement of the infant. Upon request of a parent, the Department of Public Health shall provide the application forms for the Illinois Adoption Registry and Medical Information Exchange. (b) The information offered to a relinquishing person in accordance with this Act shall include, in addition to other information required under this Act, the following: (1) Information that describes this Act and the rights of birth parents, including an option for the parent to complete and mail to the Department of Children and Family Services a form that shall ask for basic anonymous background information about the relinquished child. This form shall be maintained by the Department on its website. (2) Information about the Illinois Adoption Registry, including a toll-free number and website information. (3) Information about a mother's postpartum health. The information provided in writing or through electronic means shall be designed in coordination between the Office of Vital Records and the Department of Children and Family Services. The Failure to provide such information under this Section or the failure of the relinquishing person to accept such information shall not invalidate the relinquishment under this Act. (Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-501, eff. 1-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)