100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB1540

 

Introduced , by Rep. Michael J. Madigan

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
735 ILCS 5/8-2701

    Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the admissibility of out of court statements concerning elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation made by elderly adults.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB1540LRB100 03372 HEP 13377 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by
5changing Section 8-2701 as follows:
 
6    (735 ILCS 5/8-2701)
7    Sec. 8-2701. Admissibility of evidence; out of court
8statements; elder abuse.
9    (a) An out of court statement made by an eligible adult, as
10defined in the the Adult Protective Services Act, who has been
11diagnosed by a physician to suffer from (i) any form of
12dementia, developmental disability, or other form of mental
13incapacity or (ii) any physical infirmity which prevents the
14eligible adult's appearance in court, describing any act of
15elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, or testimony
16by an eligible adult of an out of court statement made by the
17eligible adult that he or she complained of such acts to
18another, is admissible in any civil proceeding, if:
19        (1) the court conducts a hearing outside the presence
20    of the jury and finds that the time, content, and
21    circumstances of the statement provide sufficient
22    safeguards of reliability; and
23        (2) the eligible adult either:

 

 

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1            (A) testifies at the proceeding; or
2            (B) is unavailable as a witness and there is
3        corroborative evidence of the act which is the subject
4        of the statement.
5    (b) If a statement is admitted pursuant to this Section,
6the court shall instruct the jury that it is for the jury to
7determine the weight and credibility to be given to the
8statement and that, in making its determination, it shall
9consider the condition of the eligible adult, the nature of the
10statement, the circumstances under which the statement was
11made, and any other relevant factors.
12    (c) The proponent of the statement shall give the adverse
13party reasonable notice of an intention to offer the statement
14and the particulars of the statement.
15(Source: P.A. 98-49, eff. 7-1-13.)