Lake County Gazette

State Representative Tom Weber (R-Fox Lake) saw crucial legislation he sponsored pass the Illinois House today. House Bill 871 implements safeguards against child trafficking in Illinois by tightening the Department of Children and Family Services’ background check process.

“This legislation should have been passed a couple of years ago after we learned about the horrific situation of a teen girl who was a victim of sex trafficking and DCFS placed with a 24-year-old man who turned out to be a sex trafficker,” said Weber. “This individual did not go through the normal background check process. But even worse, this terrible situation revealed that prior convictions for human trafficking or sex trafficking were not already part of the background check process prior to DCFS placing a child in a home. ”

The language found within House Bill 871 was originally included within House Bill 4095, filed by Representative Weber during the previous General Assembly in response to the 2023 incident he referenced. The teenager was placed with a man who had a criminal record and trafficked the teen. House Bill 871 would amend the Children and Family Services Act and Child Care Act of 1969 to updatemandatory criminal background checks DCFS must conduct prior to approving theplacement of a child with a relative, foster, or adoptive parent. Under thenew law, final approval may only be granted if the background check reveals nofelony convictions for human or sex trafficking for any adult in th ehousehold.