Section 225 ILCS 10/8.3 - Tax Exempt Agency(a) The Department shall revoke or refuse to renew the license of any child welfare agency providing adoption services that is not (i) officially recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of federal tax law) and (ii) in compliance with all of the standards necessary to maintain its status as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of federal tax law). (b) The Department shall grant a grace period of 24 months from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly for existing child welfare agencies providing adoption services to obtain 501(c)(3) status. The Department shall permit an existing child welfare agency that converts from its current structure in order to be recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization as required by this Section to either retain its current license or transfer its current license to a newly formed entity, if the creation of a new entity is required in order to comply with this Section, provided that the child welfare agency demonstrates that it continues to meet all other licensing requirements and that the principal officers and directors and programs of the converted child welfare agency or newly organized child welfare agency are substantially the same as the original. The Department shall have the sole discretion to grant a one year extension to any agency unable to obtain 501(c)(3) status within the timeframe specified in this Section, provided that such agency has filed an application for 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service within the 2-year timeframe specified in this Section. (c) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a licensed child welfare agency from using the services of any person, group of persons, agency, association, organization, corporation, institution, center, or group as an independent contractor to perform services on behalf of the licensed agency, provided that the licensed agency has a written agreement with the independent contractor specifying the terms of remuneration, the services to be performed, the personnel performing those services, and the qualifications of the personnel, in addition to any other information or requirements the Department may specify by rule. The licensed agency is not exempt, by reason of the use of the contractor, from compliance with all of the provisions of this Act. The Department has the authority to disapprove the use of any contractor if the Department is not satisfied with the agency's agreement with the contractor, the personnel of the contractor who are performing the services, or the qualifications of the personnel or if the contractor violates any provision of this Act or the Adoption Act.Added by P.A. 094-0586, § 5, eff. 8/15/2005.