IL SB3720

Establishes a 3-year Bias-Free Child Removal Pilot Program under the Department of Children and Family Services, to be implemented by January 1, 2024, in field offices located in DuPage, Champaign, and Williamson counties.

Creates a Bias-Free Case Review Team consisting of a child protection supervisor, area administrator, and regional administrator from outside the pilot area to review removal decisions without demographic identifiers (race, ethnicity, gender, location, socioeconomic status) to reduce implicit bias in child removal decisions.

Requires redaction of specific demographic and personal information from case files before Review Team evaluation, including names, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability status, marital status, income level, education level, and neighborhood/county location.

Mandates steering committee establishment by January 1, 2023, consisting of child welfare professionals, advocates, parents with lived experience, former youth in foster care, attorneys, and university partners to develop and oversee the pilot program implementation.

Requires annual evaluation reports to the General Assembly (due January 1, 2025, 2026, and 2027) analyzing the pilot program's effect on BIPOC child removal rates, with statewide expansion contingent upon demonstrated reduction in disproportionality; Act repeals January 1, 2027.