SB1681 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB1681

Introduced 2/24/2005, by Sen. Mattie Hunter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Court Grandparent Awareness Training Act. Provides that the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall create an awareness training course that addresses and sensitizes judges and judicial personnel to the unique problems and issues faced by grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Requires that all judges and judicial personnel attend initial training within 90 days after the effective date of the Act or within 90 days after their appointment or transfer or date of hire, as appropriate, as well as an annual in-service training. Establishes minimum guidelines for the training course content.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 Court Grandparent Awareness Training Act.

Section 5. Course development. The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall develop and approve a training course that addresses and sensitizes judges and judicial personnel to the unique problems and issues faced by grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The training course shall be reviewed at least every 2 years and modified by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts from time to time as needed.

Section 10. Attendance. The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts shall be responsible for ensuring that all judges and judicial personnel attend initial training within 90 days after the effective date of this Act or within 90 days after their appointment or transfer or date of hire, as appropriate, as well as an annual in-service training.

Section 15. Course contents. The training course shall, at a minimum, include training that would:

(1) increase the awareness on the part of judges and judicial personnel of the social, psychological, financial, and physical problems and issues faced by grandparents who are raising their grandchildren; and

(2) provide judges and judicial personnel with guidelines for dealing with these grandparents sensitively and in a manner that facilitates their gaining access to the legal rights and remedies available to them through the judicial system.