Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB0068

LRB104 06321 JRC 16356 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB0068

Introduced 1/13/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Judicial Domestic Violence Training Act. Requires the Judicial Education Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to develop and implement a domestic violence continuing education program for judges and relevant court personnel. Provides that the continuing education program shall be required training for all judges every 2 years and shall be held at every biennial Education Conference and every new judge seminar.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning courts.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Judicial Domestic Violence Training Act.

Section 5. Education and training program.

(a) The Judicial Education Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall develop and implement a domestic violence continuing education program for judges and relevant court personnel. The continuing education program shall:

(1) be provided by professionals with substantial experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence;

(2) rely on evidence-based, peer-reviewed research by recognized experts; and

(3) be designed to improve the ability of the courts to recognize and respond to physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and trauma and to make appropriate decisions that prioritize the safety and well-being of victims and household members and are culturally sensitive and appropriate for diverse communities.

(b) The continuing education program described in this Section shall include, but is not limited to, information on the following subjects:

(1) the nature, extent, and causes of domestic violence;

(2) the lethality of domestic violence;

(3) physical abuse, emotional abuse, and coercive control;

(4) implicit and explicit biases toward parties involved in domestic violence;

(5) trauma and the short and long term impacts of domestic violence on the victim and household members;

(6) behavioral patterns and relationship dynamics within the cycle of violence;

(7) the increased vulnerability of victims who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, low-income, minority or immigrant;

(8) culturally responsive approaches to serving victims and courtroom treatment of victims;

(9) procedures designed to promote the safety of the victim and household members;

(10) resources available to victims and household members; and

(11) civil rights and legal remedies available to victims and household members.

(c) The continuing education program described in this Section shall be required training for all judges every 2 years and shall be held at every biennial Education Conference and every New Judge Seminar.

(d) Documentation showing completion of the class shall be submitted to and recorded by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and shall be made available to the public upon request.