Article 215 - Youth Services


      (60 ILCS 1/Art. 215 heading)
ARTICLE 215. YOUTH SERVICES

    (60 ILCS 1/215‑5)
    Sec. 215‑5. Township committee on youth.
    (a) The township board may appoint a township committee on youth comprised of not less than 5 members. The board shall fix the length of the committee members' terms at one, 2, and 3 years initially, staggering the terms so that after the initial appointments, the term of each member shall be for 3 years and so that the smallest possible portion of the terms on the committee will expire in any single calendar year.
    (b) The township committee on youth may provide programs to combat and prevent juvenile delinquency and to meet the needs of local youth.
    (c) The township committee on youth may cooperate with other governmental entities and with any other organizations, associations, agencies, or persons in fostering, developing, and providing local programs designed to combat and prevent juvenile delinquency and to meet the needs of local youth.
    (d) The township committee on youth, with the approval of the township board, may contract with other governmental entities and with any other organizations, associations, agencies, or persons to provide programs to combat and prevent juvenile delinquency, to provide needed or required transportation services, and to meet the needs of local youth.
    (e) Members of the township committee on youth shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this Section.
    (f) The members of the township committee on youth shall select one of their number to serve as chairperson and may elect other officers they deem necessary.
(Source: P.A. 93‑398, eff. 7‑31‑03.)

    (60 ILCS 1/215‑10)
    Sec. 215‑10. Youth service bureaus.
    (a) The township board may provide for the establishment or maintenance (or may enter into contractual agreements with other townships, municipalities, or counties for the establishment or maintenance) of youth service bureaus or may enter into contractual agreements with established youth service bureaus, public or private, serving the general area of the township. The agreements shall be written and shall provide for services to residents of the township under 13 years of age, but agencies providing services to adults in addition to youths may qualify as youth service bureaus. "Youth service bureau" means any public or private agency providing, or arranging for the provision of, assistance to persons referred to the agency by law enforcement officials, court agencies and other agencies, and individuals with the intention of diverting the persons from formal processes of the court.
    (b) This Section shall not be construed to amend, modify, or have any effect on the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
    (c) For purposes of this Section, the township board may expend moneys in the general fund not appropriated for other purposes or funds made available from the federal State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972.
(Source: P.A. 85‑1209; 88‑62.)

    (60 ILCS 1/215‑15)
    Sec. 215‑15. Runaway or homeless youths. The township board annually may appropriate funds to private nonprofit organizations for the purpose of providing services to runaway or homeless youths and their families. The services may include temporary shelter, food, clothing, medical care, transportation, individual and family counseling, and any other service necessary to provide adequate temporary, protective care for runaway or homeless youths and to reunite the youths with their parents or guardians. For purposes of this Section, "runaway or homeless youth" means a person under the age of 18 years who is absent from his legal residence without the consent of his parent or legal guardian or who is without a place of shelter where supervision and care are available.
(Source: P.A. 83‑1284; 88‑62.)