Court Opinion

ID: 1057185
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 16:35:52.747111+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:04:23.370580
License: Public Domain

2013 IL 113783

                             IN THE
                        SUPREME COURT
                               OF
                      THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

                            (Docket No. 113783)
     JULIE Q., Appellee, v. THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
                 FAMILY SERVICES et al., Appellants.

                        Opinion filed March 21, 2013.

        JUSTICE GARMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with
     opinion.
        Chief Justice Kilbride and Justices Freeman, Thomas, Karmeier,
     and Theis concurred in the judgment and opinion.
        Justice Burke took no part in the decision.

                                   OPINION

¶1        Plaintiff Julie Q. filed an administrative review action against the
     Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
     appealing DCFS’s indicated finding of child neglect. The indicated
     finding resulted from an incident occurring at plaintiff’s home on
     January 29, 2009. DCFS based its finding on its Allegation No. 10/60
     titled “Substantial Risk of Physical Injury/Environment Injurious to
     Health and Welfare” (Allegation 60).
¶2        The circuit court of Lake County found that the finding was not
     against the manifest weight of the evidence, upheld the validity of
     Allegation 60, and concluded that the hearing was timely held within
     90 days pursuant to DCFS rules. The appellate court reversed,
     concluding that Allegation 60 was void and that the finding was
     against the manifest weight of the evidence. 2011 IL App (2d)
     100643. The appellate court did not consider the timeliness issue. We
     granted DCFS’s petition for leave to appeal. Ill. S. Ct. R. 315 (eff.
     Feb. 26, 2010). For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment of
     the appellate court.

¶3                                BACKGROUND
¶4        On February 17, 2009, Julie Q. received a phone call from Lavern
     Robinson, an investigator with DCFS. Robinson informed Julie Q.
     that DCFS was investigating a report of possible child abuse or
     neglect by Julie Q. for her actions toward her daughter M.Q. on
     January 29, 2009. Julie Q.’s husband and M.Q.’s father, Chris Q.,
     made the report to DCFS after M.Q. informed him of events taking
     place on the evening of January 29, 2009. M.Q. reportedly told Chris
     Q. that her mother, who had a history of alcoholism, had been
     drinking and locked M.Q. in her room and prevented her from
     making phone calls. At that time Chris Q. and Julie Q. were separated
     and Chris Q. was not living at Julie Q.’s home.
¶5        DCFS investigated the report and indicated Julie Q. for neglect
     due to her history of drinking in the home, the injurious environment
     it created, and the substantial risk of injury to M.Q. On March 13,
     2009, DCFS entered its initial indicated finding of neglect against
     Julie Q. based on Allegation 60. Allegation 60 is found in title 89,
     section 300.Appendix B (hereinafter, Appendix B) of the Illinois
     Administrative Code. Appendix B lists specific incidents of harm,
     one of which must be alleged before DCFS will accept a report of
     child abuse or neglect. Under Allegation 60 a specific incident of
     neglect occurs when an individual “plac[es] a child in an environment
     that is injurious to the child’s health and welfare.” Appendix B then
     lists examples of factors to be considered in determining if the child
     has been placed in an environment injurious to his or her health. Julie
     Q. filed a notice of appeal on March 27, 2009. The hearing was
     delayed on multiple occasions due to continuances, the causes of
     which are disputed by the parties.
¶6        The administrative hearing began on June 23, 2009. The June 23,
     2009, hearing date provided insufficient time for the parties to present
     their evidence, and the hearing was continued until July 20, 2009.
     Julie Q. first testified that she was a recovering alcoholic and that she
     had participated in inpatient substance abuse programs on two
     occasions. She acknowledged two prior arrests for driving under the
     influence. In 2004, she was acquitted of driving under the influence,
     and in 2005 she pled guilty to the same charge. Julie Q. also testified

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     that the police were called to her home in 2005 for a call of domestic
     violence after she was drinking and slammed the door on Chris Q.’s
     leg. Julie Q. stated that she had been sober since January 29, 2006.
     DCFS then asked Julie Q. about the events taking place on January
     29, 2009. Julie Q. acknowledged that she had a disagreement with
     M.Q. after M.Q. repeatedly got out of her bed between 9 and 11 p.m.
     that day. While stating that she restricted M.Q. to her bedroom, she
     denied preventing M.Q. from using the phone.
¶7       Robinson then testified as the primary investigator for DCFS.
     During Robinson’s testimony, DCFS was permitted to admit DCFS’s
     investigation file. Julie Q. objected to the admission of the file as
     hearsay because the file included notes written by another
     investigator, Analia Cobrda, regarding Cobrda’s meeting with M.Q.
     Cobrda was not called to testify at the hearing. Robinson admitted
     that she had not met with Cobrda, but that she used Cobrda’s notes
     when reaching her conclusion that Julie Q. should be indicated for
     neglect. Specifically, Cobrda’s notes included statements made by
     M.Q. to Cobrda that Julie Q. had been drinking on January 29, 2009,
     and that she knew this because her mom’s speech was slurred. M.Q.
     also told Cobrda that her mother was angry and made M.Q. stay in
     her room. Robinson then testified that the factors listed in Allegation
     60 led her to recommend an indicated finding. She specifically
     referred to the history of Julie’s past alcohol abuse and the credible
     statements made by M.Q.
¶8       DCFS also introduced testimony by two officers who had been
     called to Julie Q.’s home on previous occasions. This testimony was
     admitted over objection by Julie Q. Officer Lisa Davidson testified
     that on July 26, 2008, she responded to a call made by M.Q. saying
     that she could not wake up her mother and that she was frightened.
     Upon arriving to Julie Q.’s home, M.Q. showed Officer Davidson a
     glass containing a clear liquid smelling like alcohol. Officer Davidson
     testified that Julie Q.’s speech was slurred and that she refused to take
     a portable Breathalyzer test. These statements were corroborated by
     Officer Keith Landy, who was also called to the scene. Officer Landy
     testified that in addition to slurred speech, Julie Q. had glassy eyes
     and appeared intoxicated. He also stated that he believed Julie Q. had
     a drinking problem and that this drinking problem put M.Q. in an
     environment injurious to M.Q.’s health and wellness.
¶9       Officer Davidson also testified to events taking place in May 2009
     when officers were called back to Julie Q.’s home. Arriving at the

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       home, Officer Davidson testified that M.Q. was visibly upset and told
       the officer that her mom was drinking and that she was afraid of her
       mom. According to Officer Davidson, M.Q. said that her mom threw
       a glass at her. Julie Q. again denied drinking and agreed to take a
       portable Breathalyzer test, but one was not given because the officers
       received another serious call. Officer Davidson testified that he did
       not smell alcohol on Julie Q. but that another officer reported that he
       did smell alcohol on Julie Q.’s breath. Finally, Officer Davidson
       noted that they took M.Q. to the police station to wait for her father
       to take her home.
¶ 10       DCFS also questioned Dr. Frances Pacheco, a court-appointed
       evaluator. Dr. Pacheco was appointed to provide an evaluation
       regarding the couple’s custody dispute in their dissolution action. Dr.
       Pacheco testified that she had interviewed Chris Q., Julie Q., and
       M.Q. She stated that she recommended Chris Q. be awarded sole
       custody due to concerns of Julie Q.’s drinking and statements made
       by M.Q. that she was afraid of being left alone with her mother. Dr.
       Pacheco also testified that she did not believe that M.Q. had issues
       with telling the truth.
¶ 11       At the hearing, Julie Q. presented testimony by Dr. David Gates,
       a private therapist. Dr. Gates counseled Julie Q. from December 2008
       until several months before the hearing. Dr. Gates testified that during
       that time he met with Julie Q. weekly and that she tested negative for
       alcohol at each random alcohol test administered during this time. He
       also stated that it was highly unlikely that Julie Q. was able to drink
       intermittently due to the severity of her alcoholism and that he had no
       reason to believe that Julie Q. had not been honest with him
       concerning her sobriety.
¶ 12       Ann Ramos, a counselor with the Northern Illinois Council on
       Alcohol and Substance Abuse (NICASA) also testified for Julie Q.
       Ramos stated that she met with Julie Q. in March and April 2009 and
       that each alcohol test administered to Julie Q. during this time came
       back negative. Julie Q.’s Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, Magrit
       Burke, testified next. She stated that she was Julie Q.’s sponsor for
       three years and that during this time she spoke to Julie daily.
       According to Burke, Julie Q. has shown no indication of drinking and
       has attended twice weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
       throughout her sponsorship.
¶ 13       Finally, a social worker from M.Q.’s school, Jennifer Perlis-
       Goassman, testified that M.Q. told her that she did not feel safe with

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       her mother in November and December of 2007 because Julie Q.
       would drink and then pass out. Perlis-Goassman stated that M.Q. had
       occasionally made false statements in the past, but that it was limited
       to small white lies that were “extremely common with kids.”
¶ 14       On August 13, 2009, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued
       a recommendation and opinion. The ALJ concluded that “[a]
       preponderance of the evidence reveals that [Julie Q.] created an
       environment injurious to health and welfare of the minor.” In
       reaching this conclusion, the ALJ found Dr. Pacheco and both
       officers to be credible witnesses in their corroboration of M.Q.’s
       statements, but that Julie Q. was not credible when she claimed she
       had been sober since 2006. Therefore, the ALJ recommended that
       DCFS had carried its burden of proof with regard to Allegation 60.
¶ 15       On October 2, 2009, Julie Q. filed a complaint for administrative
       review arguing that the ALJ’s finding was against the manifest weight
       of the evidence, and that the indicated finding was in violation of the
       Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (Act) (325 ILCS 5/1 et
       seq. (West 2008)). The trial court found that the ALJ’s finding was
       not against the manifest weight of the evidence, upheld the validity
       of Allegation 60 pursuant to the Act, and concluded that the finding
       was timely issued within 90 days of Julie Q.’s request for a hearing.
¶ 16       The appellate court reversed, finding that the ALJ’s decision was
       against the manifest weight of the evidence as the court had
       improperly admitted the investigation file containing hearsay
       evidence and the collateral evidence relating to the events of July
       2008 and May 2009. The appellate court also held that Allegation 60
       exceeded the statutory authority granted to DCFS under the Act. The
       appellate court did not address whether the hearing was timely held.

¶ 17                                 ANALYSIS
¶ 18       DCFS argues that it was within its authority under the Act to
       promulgate Allegation 60. It maintains that it was within its express
       authority under the Act to define neglect using the “environment
       injurious” language. In the alternative, DCFS maintains that
       Allegation 60 was within its implicit authority under its power to
       make all rules necessary to effectuate its statutory authority. DCFS
       also argues that the ALJ’s finding was not against the manifest weight
       of the evidence as the evidence relating to the July 2008 and May
       2009 incidents was admissible as substantive evidence as to whether
       Julie Q. neglected M.Q. Finally, DCFS argues that Julie Q. has no

                                        -5-
       due process claim as to the untimeliness of the hearing because Julie
       Q. failed to assert a due process interest and, furthermore, any delays
       in the case were not DCFS’s responsibility.
¶ 19        Julie Q. argues that DCFS exceeded its statutory authority in
       promulgating Allegation 60. She notes that prior to this case, the
       legislature specifically removed the “environment injurious” language
       from its definition of neglect in the Act. Julie Q. also argues that the
       finding was against the manifest weight of the evidence as the ALJ
       improperly relied on hearsay and collateral bad acts evidence in
       reaching its finding. Finally, Julie Q. argues that her due process
       rights were violated as DCFS failed to render a decision within 90
       days of her request for a hearing as required by DCFS rules.
¶ 20        The scope of powers conferred on an administrative agency by its
       enabling legislation is a question of statutory interpretation which we
       review de novo. Genius v. County of Cook, 2011 IL 110239, ¶ 25.
¶ 21        The parties initially dispute whether DCFS exceeded its statutory
       authority in promulgating Allegation 60. The Act directs DCFS to
       protect the health, safety, and best interests of a child after receiving
       a report of possible child abuse or neglect. 325 ILCS 5/1 et seq. (West
       2008). The Act provides a list of mandatory reporters and authorizes
       DCFS to maintain a registry of persons found to have abused or
       neglected a child.
¶ 22        Section 3 of the Act provides the definition of a “neglected child.”
       In 2009 when the incidents relevant to this case took place, the Act
       listed four circumstances constituting a neglected child: (1) a child
       not receiving adequate medical care or “other care necessary for his
       or her well-being including adequate food, clothing, and shelter;” (2)
       a child abandoned by his or her parents; (3) a child who has been
       provided with interim crisis intervention services under the Juvenile
       Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/1-1 et seq. (West 2008)), and
       whose parents refuse to allow the child to return home; and (4) a
       newborn born with a controlled substance in her system. 325 ILCS
       5/3 (West 2008). Prior to 1980, the Act included additional language
       in its definition of neglect, occurring when the child was placed in
       “an environment injurious to the child’s welfare.” Pub. Act 79-65,
       (eff. July 1, 1975). In 1980, this language was deleted. Pub. Act 81-
       1077 (eff. July 1, 1980). In 2012, after this case, the legislature
       reinserted similar environment-injurious language. Pub. Act No. 97-
       803 (eff. July 13, 2012).

                                         -6-
¶ 23       In addition to the express powers granted to DCFS under the Act,
       section 4 of the Children and Family Services Act provides DCFS
       with the power “[t]o make all rules necessary for the execution of its
       powers.” 20 ILCS 505/4 (West 2008). Pursuant to this authority,
       DCFS promulgated Appendix B to describe the “specific incidents of
       harm” that constitute abuse or neglect. 89 Ill. Adm. Code
       300.Appendix B (2011). The Allegations of harm are categorized as
       resulting either from abuse or neglect. Allegation 60 is titled
       “Substantial Risk of Physical Injury/Environment Injurious to Health
       and Welfare” and includes “situations that place a child at substantial
       risk of harm due to the effects of being subjected to participation in
       or the witnessing of the physical force or restraint of another” as an
       example of an incident placing the child in an environment injurious
       to his or her welfare. Allegation 60 also lists factors to be considered
       by DCFS in reaching its finding.
¶ 24       An administrative agency has no general or common law powers.
       Alvarado v. Industrial Comm’n, 216 Ill. 2d 547, 553 (2005). The
       agency is limited to those powers granted to it by the legislature in its
       enabling statute. Id. An act that is unauthorized is beyond the scope
       of the agency’s jurisdiction. Id. at 553-54. When the agency renders
       a decision that it is without statutory authority to make, it is without
       jurisdiction and the decision is void. Id.
¶ 25       DCFS argues that Allegation 60 does not exceed DCFS’s
       authority under the Act. First, it argues that Allegation 60 falls within
       the Act’s definition of neglect. DCFS also notes its authority to make
       all rules necessary to execute its powers under the Children and
       Family Services Act. In response, Julie Q. argues that DCFS
       exceeded its authority in promulgating Allegation 60. According to
       Julie Q., the legislature specifically deleted the “environment
       injurious” definition of neglect in 1980, and DCFS was without
       authority to add this definition back into the Act as it did with
       Allegation 60.
¶ 26       DCFS maintains that Allegation 60 falls within the Act’s
       definition of neglected child. Specifically, DCFS points to the plain
       language of the Act and the reference in section 3 to a child who is
       not receiving “other care necessary for his or her well-being,
       including adequate food, clothing and shelter.” 325 ILCS 5/3 (West
       2008). According to DCFS, the Act’s use of the word “including”
       indicates that the subsequent list is not exhaustive. Instead, DCFS

                                         -7-
       argues that this language authorizes DCFS to create its own list of
       what qualifies as “other care necessary” for the child’s well-being.
¶ 27        In People v. Perry, 224 Ill. 2d 312, 328 (2007), this court noted
       that the word “including” “when followed by a listing of items, means
       that the preceding general term encompasses the listed items, but the
       list is not exhaustive.” Rather, “[t]he preceding general term is to be
       construed as a general description of the listed items and other similar
       items.” Id. This court held that this rule applies even when the word
       “including” is not followed by the phrase “but is not limited to.”
       Therefore, DCFS is correct that because the Act uses the word
       “including,” the subsequent list is not to be read as exhaustive.
¶ 28        In addition to its express authority under the Act, DCFS also
       argues that it had implicit authority to promulgate Allegation 60 as
       DCFS had the authority under the Children and Family Services Act
       to make all rules necessary to perform its powers. 20 ILCS 505/4
       (West 2008). Wide latitude is given to administrative agencies to
       fulfill their statutory duties. Lake County Board of Review v. Property
       Tax Appeal Board, 119 Ill. 2d 419, 428 (1988). But, as discussed
       above, the agency is limited to the powers granted to it in the enabling
       statute. Therefore, even as we conclude that the list in section 3 is not
       exhaustive, we must still determine whether DCFS retained authority
       to promulgate Allegation 60 after the legislature deleted the
       environment-injurious definition of neglect from section 3.
¶ 29        When the Act was enacted in 1975, its definition of neglect
       included “subjecting a child to an environment injurious to the child’s
       welfare.” Pub. Act 79-65 (eff. July 1, 1975). However, this language
       was removed from the definition of neglect by Public Act 81-1077,
       effective July 1, 1980. Public Act 81-1077 was introduced as Senate
       Bill 973. In the House, it was an amendment to that bill, Amendment
       No. 8, which removed the environment-injurious language from the
       Act. It is this 1980 version of the Act that governs this case.
       Allegation 60 first took effect on October 12, 2001, nearly 20 years
       after the legislature removed the environment-injurious language.
       See 25 Ill. Reg. 12,781, 12,781-91 (eff. Oct. 1, 2001).
¶ 30        “Where the legislature amends an existing statute, the
       presumption is that the legislature intended a material change in the
       law.” In re K.C., 186 Ill. 2d 542, 549 (1999). “When the legislature
       amends an unambiguous statute by deleting certain language, it is
       presumed that the legislature intended to change the law in that
       respect.” Chicago Teachers Union, Local No. 1 v. Board of

                                         -8-
       Education of the City of Chicago, 2012 IL 112566, ¶ 21. This
       presumption, however, may be rebutted by evidence of a contrary
       legislative intent. State of Illinois v. Mikusch, 138 Ill. 2d 242, 252
       (1990).
¶ 31       Therefore, we next consider the legislative history. During the
       floor debate in the House of Representatives, the sponsor of
       Amendment No. 8 stated that
               “Amendment #8 is again an attempt to reach an agreement
               between the various associations and groups that have come
               into play in working on this comprehensive reform of the Act.
               What Amendment #8 would do is to remove from the
               definition of neglected child the words ‘subjected to an
               environment injurious to his or her welfare’ and the reasons
               we are removing that is the concern over the interpretation of
               what environment injurious may mean. We are fearful that it
               may end up in a lot of litigation, a lot of misunderstandings
               and until such time that we can arrive at a more clearer,
               concise kind of definition to address this kind of problem, we
               think it’s better to remove this from the Bill.” 81st Ill. Gen.
               Assem., House Proceedings, June 22, 1979, at 100
               (statements of Representative Peters).
¶ 32       Representative Peters’ statements show that the environment-
       injurious language was removed due to concerns regarding its
       ambiguity. The legislature was concerned with the possible various
       interpretations of the environment-injurious language. Furthermore,
       the legislature indicated that it was removing this language with the
       intent to reach a clearer and more concise definition in the future.
¶ 33       DCFS acknowledges that the phrase was removed due to concerns
       of ambiguity and possible confusion. However, DCFS argues that
       while the legislature removed the language, it did not indicate that it
       was an improper definition of neglect. Furthermore, DCFS notes that
       the language was removed at DCFS’s request. As noted by Senator
       Buzbee on the Senate floor, “[t]he [D]epartment had requested some
       tightening up language in House Amendment 6 and 8 which we
       accepted.” While the floor debate indicates that DCFS was involved
       in negotiating the final amendment, the notion that DCFS “requested
       some tightening up language” does not support DCFS’s argument.
       Amendment No. 8 did not merely “tighten up” the language, but
       expressly deleted one definition of neglect.

                                        -9-
¶ 34        DCFS also notes that the legislature removed this language with
       the intent to create a “more clearer, concise kind of definition to
       address this kind of problem.” According to DCFS, Allegation 60
       served this legislative intent by offering a clearer definition of
       “environment injurious” by listing several examples and factors for
       DCFS to consider.
¶ 35        Even if, as DCFS argues, the legislature removed the language
       due to concerns of ambiguity, this does not change the fact that the
       legislature deleted this definition and failed to reinsert the
       environment-injurious language until 2012. As DCFS is limited by
       the powers granted to it in the enabling statute, DCFS was without
       authority to reinsert a definition of neglect into the Act that had been
       deleted by the legislature. When the legislature stated that it was
       removing the environment-injurious language “until such time that
       we can arrive” at a clearer definition, it was referring to a time when
       it, the legislature, arrived at the definition. It was not granting DCFS
       the authority to create a definition on its own.
¶ 36        The legislature did in fact reinsert environment-injurious language
       into the Act in 2012. The legislature amended section 3 of the Act to
       expand the definition of neglected child to include a child “who is
       subjected to an environment which is injurious insofar as (i) the
       child’s environment creates a likelihood of harm to the child’s health,
       physical well-being, or welfare and (ii) the likely harm to the child is
       the result of a blatant disregard of parent or caretaker
       responsibilities.” Pub. Act No. 97-803 (eff. July 13, 2012). DCFS
       argues that this amendment was the result of the appellate court
       decision in this case and that this shows the legislature supported the
       “environment injurious” definition of neglect. Furthermore, DCFS
       notes that since Allegation 60 was promulgated in 2001, the
       legislature had chosen not to undo Allegation 60, even though it had
       the power to do so.
¶ 37        The fact that the legislature saw the need to amend the statute in
       2012 by including the environment-injurious definition, however,
       shows that this definition was not present in the prior version of the
       Act. In 1980, the legislature indicated that it intended to provide a
       clearer definition of environment injurious and it did so in 2012. The
       2012 decision to reinsert this language only reinforces our conclusion
       that the environment-injurious definition was removed from the 1980
       version of the statute, which governs this case.

                                        -10-
¶ 38       DCFS also argues that the appellate court’s ruling will lead to
       absurd results. Specifically, DCFS maintains that this result is in
       conflict with the Juvenile Court Act, as that act includes
       environment-injurious language in its definition of a neglected minor.
       705 ILCS 405/2-3(1)(b) (West 2010) (“any minor under 18 years of
       age whose environment is injurious to his or her welfare”). According
       to DCFS, it would be inconsistent for a person to be found to have
       neglected a child under the Juvenile Court Act, while DCFS could not
       issue an indicated finding under the Abused and Neglected Child
       Reporting Act for the same conduct. In support of this argument,
       DCFS argues that under section 7.16 there is no right to a hearing
       under the Act if there has been a court finding of neglect. 325 ILCS
       5/7.16 (West 2008).
¶ 39       The Act and the Juvenile Court Act serve different purposes. The
       Act is a reporting act and requires that certain individuals report
       suspected child abuse or neglect to DCFS. The purpose of the
       Juvenile Court Act, on the other hand, is to “ensure that the best
       interests of the minor, the minor’s family, and the community are
       served.” In re J.J., 142 Ill. 2d 1, 8 (1991). Proceedings under the
       Juvenile Court Act are civil, nonadversarial proceedings where the
       court determines whether the child has been abused or neglected. Id.
       The civil rules of evidence apply. Id. Under the Act, a parent who is
       found to have abused or neglected his child is placed on the State
       Central Register, but under the Juvenile Court Act, the court may
       terminate parental rights. 705 ILCS 405/2-21(5) (West 2008). Before
       such a finding can be made under the Juvenile Court Act, however,
       the court must find that the child was abused or neglected by a
       preponderance of the evidence. 705 ILCS 405/2-21(5)(ii) (West
       2008).
¶ 40       Due to the different purposes and rights at stake under each act,
       the legislature could have properly decided to cast a more narrow
       definition of neglect under the Act. Under the Juvenile Court Act, the
       court formalities provide due process protections and the court’s
       finding must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Due
       to these added protections, once the court has made a finding of
       neglect, it is reasonable for DCFS to issue a nonappealable finding of
       neglect under section 7.16 regardless of the trial court’s basis for its
       finding of neglect. Under the Act, however, the finding is not made
       by a court, and the same due process protections are not offered.

                                        -11-
¶ 41       The legislature’s decision to use certain language in one instance
       and different language in another indicates that the legislature
       intended different results. Collins v. Board of Trustees of the
       Firemen’s Annuity & Benefit Fund, 155 Ill. 2d 103, 113 (1993). By
       deleting the environment injurious language in 1980, the legislature
       chose to use different language in the Act’s definition of neglected
       child than that included in the Juvenile Court Act. This indicates that
       the legislature specifically intended these different definitions, and we
       reject DCFS’s argument regarding absurd results.
¶ 42       The environment-injurious definition of neglect was removed
       from the statute in 1980. While the legislature expressed the intent to
       reinsert a clearer version of this definition at a later time, it did not do
       so until 2012, well after this case. Therefore, DCFS was without
       authority to include a definition of neglect in Allegation 60 that the
       legislature explicitly removed from the Act and to apply that
       definition in the present case.

¶ 43                             CONCLUSION
¶ 44       Not every Allegation promulgated by DCFS needs to follow the
       exact language provided by the legislature’s definition of neglect
       under section 3 of the Act. But here, when the legislature has
       specifically removed the environment-injurious language from its
       definition of neglect, DCFS was without authority to reestablish the
       environment-injurious definition of neglect. Therefore, Allegation 60
       exceeds DCFS’s scope of authority under the Act and it is void.
       Because we determine that Allegation 60 is void, we need not address
       whether the finding was against the manifest weight of the evidence
       or whether Julie Q.’s due process rights were violated.
¶ 45       The judgment of the appellate court is affirmed.

¶ 46       Affirmed.

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