SB2630eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2630 Engrossed LRB098 14338 HEP 49558 b

AN ACT concerning civil law.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act is amended by changing Section 609 as follows:

(750 ILCS 5/609) (from Ch. 40, par. 609)

Sec. 609. Leave to Remove Children.)

(a) The court may grant leave, before or after judgment, to any party having custody of any minor child or children to remove such child or children from Illinois whenever such approval is in the best interests of such child or children. The burden of proving that such removal is in the best interests of such child or children is on the party seeking the removal. When such removal is permitted, the court may require the party removing such child or children from Illinois to give reasonable security guaranteeing the return of such children.

(b) Before a minor child is temporarily removed from Illinois, the parent responsible for the removal shall inform the other parent, or the other parent's attorney, of the address and telephone number where the child may be reached during the period of temporary removal, and the date on which the child shall return to Illinois.

The State of Illinois retains jurisdiction when the minor child is absent from the State pursuant to this subsection.

(c) The court may not use the availability of electronic communication as a factor in support of a removal of a child by the custodial parent from Illinois.

(d) If raised as an issue by either party, the court shall consider a parent's current or future lack of legal immigration status as a factor when deciding the issue of permanent removal of a child or children from this State.

(Source: P.A. 96-331, eff. 1-1-10.)