102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0795

 

Introduced 2/10/2021, by Rep. Deanne M. Mazzochi

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
750 ILCS 5/506  from Ch. 40, par. 506

    Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that, in a case involving dissolution of marriage, declaration of invalidity of marriage, allocation of parental responsibilities, or domestic violence, the court shall only appoint a guardian ad litem if the guardian ad litem has completed 20 hours of classroom training and 20 hours of training by a domestic abuse advocate to become a guardian ad litem. Provides that the training to become a guardian ad litem shall be offered by a statewide organization advocating for survivors of domestic violence. Provides that the new requirements do not apply to a unit of State or local government providing services, or a public defender's office associated with a unit of State or local government.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB0795LRB102 15807 LNS 21174 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 Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of
5Marriage Act is amended by changing Section 506 as follows:
 
6    (750 ILCS 5/506)  (from Ch. 40, par. 506)
7    Sec. 506. Representation of child.
8    (a) Duties. In any proceedings involving the support,
9custody, visitation, allocation of parental responsibilities,
10education, parentage, property interest, or general welfare of
11a minor or dependent child, the court may, on its own motion or
12that of any party, appoint an attorney to serve in one of the
13following capacities to address the issues the court
14delineates:
15        (1) Attorney. The attorney shall provide independent
16    legal counsel for the child and shall owe the same duties
17    of undivided loyalty, confidentiality, and competent
18    representation as are due an adult client.
19        (2) Guardian ad litem. The guardian ad litem shall
20    testify or submit a written report to the court regarding
21    his or her recommendations in accordance with the best
22    interest of the child. The report shall be made available
23    to all parties. The guardian ad litem may be called as a

 

 

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1    witness for purposes of cross-examination regarding the
2    guardian ad litem's report or recommendations. The
3    guardian ad litem shall investigate the facts of the case
4    and interview the child and the parties.
5        In a case involving dissolution of marriage,
6    declaration of invalidity of marriage, allocation of
7    parental responsibilities, or domestic violence, the court
8    shall only appoint a guardian ad litem if the guardian ad
9    litem has completed 20 hours of classroom training and 20
10    hours of training by a domestic abuse advocate to become a
11    guardian ad litem. The training to become a guardian ad
12    litem shall be offered by a statewide organization
13    advocating for survivors of domestic violence. This
14    subsection does not apply to a unit of State or local
15    government providing services, or a public defender's
16    office associated with a unit of State or local
17    government.
18        (3) Child representative. The child representative
19    shall advocate what the child representative finds to be
20    in the best interests of the child after reviewing the
21    facts and circumstances of the case. The child
22    representative shall meet with the child and the parties,
23    investigate the facts of the case, and encourage
24    settlement and the use of alternative forms of dispute
25    resolution. The child representative shall have the same
26    authority and obligation to participate in the litigation

 

 

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1    as does an attorney for a party and shall possess all the
2    powers of investigation as does a guardian ad litem. The
3    child representative shall consider, but not be bound by,
4    the expressed wishes of the child. A child representative
5    shall have received training in child advocacy or shall
6    possess such experience as determined to be equivalent to
7    such training by the chief judge of the circuit where the
8    child representative has been appointed. The child
9    representative shall not disclose confidential
10    communications made by the child, except as required by
11    law or by the Rules of Professional Conduct. The child
12    representative shall not render an opinion,
13    recommendation, or report to the court and shall not be
14    called as a witness, but shall offer evidence-based legal
15    arguments. The child representative shall disclose the
16    position as to what the child representative intends to
17    advocate in a pre-trial memorandum that shall be served
18    upon all counsel of record prior to the trial. The
19    position disclosed in the pre-trial memorandum shall not
20    be considered evidence. The court and the parties may
21    consider the position of the child representative for
22    purposes of a settlement conference.
23    (a-3) Additional appointments. During the proceedings the
24court may appoint an additional attorney to serve in the
25capacity described in subdivision (a)(1) or an additional
26attorney to serve in another of the capacities described in

 

 

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1subdivision (a)(2) or (a)(3) on the court's own motion or that
2of a party only for good cause shown and when the reasons for
3the additional appointment are set forth in specific findings.
4    (a-5) Appointment considerations. In deciding whether to
5make an appointment of an attorney for the minor child, a
6guardian ad litem, or a child representative, the court shall
7consider the nature and adequacy of the evidence to be
8presented by the parties and the availability of other methods
9of obtaining information, including social service
10organizations and evaluations by mental health professions, as
11well as resources for payment.
12    In no event is this Section intended to or designed to
13abrogate the decision making power of the trier of fact. Any
14appointment made under this Section is not intended to nor
15should it serve to place any appointed individual in the role
16of a surrogate judge.
17    (b) Fees and costs. The court shall enter an order as
18appropriate for costs, fees, and disbursements, including a
19retainer, when the attorney, guardian ad litem, or child's
20representative is appointed. Any person appointed under this
21Section shall file with the court within 90 days of his or her
22appointment, and every subsequent 90-day period thereafter
23during the course of his or her representation, a detailed
24invoice for services rendered with a copy being sent to each
25party. The court shall review the invoice submitted and
26approve the fees, if they are reasonable and necessary. Any

 

 

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1order approving the fees shall require payment by either or
2both parents, by any other party or source, or from the marital
3estate or the child's separate estate. The court may not order
4payment by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services in
5cases in which the Department is providing child support
6enforcement services under Article X of the Illinois Public
7Aid Code. Unless otherwise ordered by the court at the time
8fees and costs are approved, all fees and costs payable to an
9attorney, guardian ad litem, or child representative under
10this Section are by implication deemed to be in the nature of
11support of the child and are within the exceptions to
12discharge in bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C.A. 523. The provisions
13of Sections 501 and 508 of this Act shall apply to fees and
14costs for attorneys appointed under this Section.
15(Source: P.A. 99-90, eff. 1-1-16.)