HB0360eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0360 Engrossed LRB094 02474 LCB 32475 b

AN ACT concerning families.

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 608 and by adding Section 604.3 as follows:

(750 ILCS 5/604.3 new)

Sec. 604.3. Counseling. The court shall determine whether counseling is appropriate for a child who is involved in a custody proceeding. If the court determines that counseling is appropriate, the court may order counseling and may apportion the costs between the parties.

All counseling sessions shall be confidential. The communications in counseling shall not be used in any manner in litigation nor relied upon by any expert appointed by the court or retained by any party.

(750 ILCS 5/608) (from Ch. 40, par. 608)

Sec. 608. Judicial Supervision.

(a) Except as otherwise agreed by the parties in writing at the time of the custody judgment or as otherwise ordered by the court, the custodian may determine the child's upbringing, including but not limited to, his education, health care and religious training, unless the court, after hearing, finds, upon motion by the noncustodial parent, that the absence of a specific limitation of the custodian's authority would clearly be contrary to the best interests of the child.

(b) If both parents or all contestants agree to the order, or if the court finds that in the absence of agreement the child's physical health would be endangered or his emotional development significantly impaired, the court may order the Department of Children and Family Services to exercise continuing supervision over the case to assure that the custodial or visitation terms of the judgment are carried out. Supervision shall be carried out under the provisions of Section 5 of the Children and Family Services Act.

(c) The court may order individual counseling for the child, family counseling for one or more of the parties and the child, or parental education for one or more of the parties, when it finds one or more of the following:

(1) both parents or all parties agree to the order;

(2) the court finds that the child's physical health is endangered or his or her emotional development is impaired including, but not limited to, a finding of visitation abuse as defined by Section 607.1; or

(3) the court finds that one or both of the parties have violated the joint parenting agreement with regard to conduct affecting or in the presence of the child.

(d) If the court finds that one or more of the parties has violated an order of the court with regards to custody, visitation, or joint parenting, the court shall assess the costs of counseling against the violating party or parties. Otherwise, the court may apportion the costs between the parties as appropriate.

(e) The remedies provided in this Section are in addition to, and shall not diminish or abridge in any way, the court's power to exercise its authority through contempt or other proceedings.

(Source: P.A. 87-824.)