State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
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[ Re-enrolled ][ House Amendment 001 ]

90_SB0363sam001

                                           LRB9002769NTmbam01
 1                    AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 363
 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend Senate Bill 363  by  replacing
 3    the title with the following:
 4        "AN  ACT  to  amend  the  Juvenile  Court  Act of 1987 by
 5    changing Section 2-18."; and
 6    by replacing everything after the enacting  clause  with  the
 7    following:
 8        "Section 5.  The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 is amended by
 9    changing Section 2-18 as follows:
10        (705 ILCS 405/2-18) (from Ch. 37, par. 802-18)
11        (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 89-704)
12        Sec. 2-18. Evidence.
13        (1)  At  the  adjudicatory hearing, the court shall first
14    consider only the  question  whether  the  minor  is  abused,
15    neglected  or  dependent. The standard of proof and the rules
16    of evidence in the nature of civil proceedings in this  State
17    are applicable to proceedings under this Article.
18        (2)  In  any  hearing under this Act, the following shall
19    constitute prima facie evidence of abuse or neglect,  as  the
20    case may be:
21             (a)  Proof  that  a minor has a medical diagnosis of
                            -2-            LRB9002769NTmbam01
 1        battered child syndrome is prima facie evidence of abuse;
 2             (b)  Proof that a minor has a medical  diagnosis  of
 3        failure  to  thrive  syndrome  is prima facie evidence of
 4        neglect;
 5             (c)  Proof that a minor has a medical  diagnosis  of
 6        fetal   alcohol  syndrome  is  prima  facie  evidence  of
 7        neglect;
 8             (d)  Proof that a minor has a medical  diagnosis  at
 9        birth   of   withdrawal   symptoms   from   narcotics  or
10        barbiturates is prima facie evidence of neglect;
11             (e)  Proof of injuries sustained by a  minor  or  of
12        the  condition  of  a  minor  of  such  a nature as would
13        ordinarily not be sustained or exist except by reason  of
14        the  acts  or  omissions  of  the  parent,  custodian  or
15        guardian  of  such minor shall be prima facie evidence of
16        abuse or neglect, as the case may be;
17             (f)  Proof that a parent, custodian or guardian of a
18        minor repeatedly used a drug, to the extent that  it  has
19        or  would  ordinarily have the effect of producing in the
20        user a  substantial  state  of  stupor,  unconsciousness,
21        intoxication,     hallucination,     disorientation    or
22        incompetence, or a substantial impairment of judgment, or
23        a substantial manifestation of  irrationality,  shall  be
24        prima facie evidence of neglect;
25             (g)  Proof  that a parent, custodian, or guardian of
26        a  minor  repeatedly  used  a  controlled  substance,  as
27        defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the  Illinois
28        Controlled  Substances  Act, in the presence of the minor
29        or a sibling of the minor  is  prima  facie  evidence  of
30        neglect.    "Repeated  use",  for  the  purpose  of  this
31        subsection, means more  than  one  use  of  a  controlled
32        substance  as defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of
33        the Illinois Controlled Substances Act;
34             (h)  Proof that a newborn infant's blood, urine,  or
                            -3-            LRB9002769NTmbam01
 1        meconium contains any amount of a controlled substance as
 2        defined  in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the Illinois
 3        Controlled  Substances  Act,  or  a   metabolite   of   a
 4        controlled  substance,  with  the exception of controlled
 5        substances  or  metabolites  of  those  substances,   the
 6        presence  of  which  is  the  result of medical treatment
 7        administered to the mother or the newborn, is prime facie
 8        evidence of neglect.
 9        (3)  In any hearing under this Act, proof of  the  abuse,
10    neglect  or  dependency  of  one  minor  shall  be admissible
11    evidence on the issue of the abuse, neglect or dependency  of
12    any other minor for whom the respondent is responsible.
13        (4) (a)  Any  writing, record, photograph or x-ray of any
14    hospital or public or private agency, whether in the form  of
15    an  entry  in  a  book  or otherwise, made as a memorandum or
16    record of any  condition,  act,  transaction,  occurrence  or
17    event  relating to a minor in an abuse, neglect or dependency
18    proceeding, shall be admissible in evidence as proof of  that
19    condition,  act,  transaction,  occurrence  or  event, if the
20    court finds that the document was made in the regular  course
21    of  the business of the hospital or agency and that it was in
22    the regular course of such business to make it, at  the  time
23    of  the  act,  transaction,  occurrence or event, or within a
24    reasonable time thereafter.  A certification by the  head  or
25    responsible  employee  of  the  hospital  or  agency that the
26    writing, record, photograph or x-ray is the full and complete
27    record of the  condition,  act,  transaction,  occurrence  or
28    event  and that it satisfies the conditions of this paragraph
29    shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained in  such
30    certification.   A  certification  by  someone other than the
31    head of the hospital or agency  shall  be  accompanied  by  a
32    photocopy  of  a  delegation  of authority signed by both the
33    head of the hospital or agency and by  such  other  employee.
34    All  other  circumstances  of  the  making of the memorandum,
                            -4-            LRB9002769NTmbam01
 1    record, photograph  or  x-ray,  including  lack  of  personal
 2    knowledge of the maker, may be proved to affect the weight to
 3    be   accorded   such  evidence,  but  shall  not  affect  its
 4    admissibility.
 5        (b)  Any indicated report filed pursuant  to  the  Abused
 6    and  Neglected  Child  Reporting  Act  shall be admissible in
 7    evidence.
 8        (c)  Previous statements made by a the minor relating  to
 9    any  allegations  of  abuse or neglect shall be admissible in
10    evidence.  However, no such statement, if uncorroborated  and
11    not  subject  to  cross-examination,  shall  be sufficient in
12    itself to support a finding of abuse or neglect.
13        (d)  There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a minor
14    is competent to testify in abuse or neglect proceedings.  The
15    court shall determine how much weight to give to the  minor's
16    testimony,  and  may  allow  the minor to testify in chambers
17    with only the court, the court reporter and attorneys for the
18    parties present.
19        (e)  The privileged character  of  communication  between
20    any   professional  person  and  patient  or  client,  except
21    privilege between attorney and client,  shall  not  apply  to
22    proceedings subject to this Article.
23        (f)  Proof  of  the  impairment  of  emotional  health or
24    impairment of mental or emotional condition as  a  result  of
25    the failure of the respondent to exercise a minimum degree of
26    care  toward  a minor may include competent opinion or expert
27    testimony,  and  may  include  proof  that  such   impairment
28    lessened  during  a  period  when  the minor was in the care,
29    custody or supervision of a person or agency other  than  the
30    respondent.
31        (5)  In  any  hearing under this Act alleging neglect for
32    failure  to  provide  education  as  required  by  law  under
33    subsection (1) of Section 2-3, proof that a  minor  under  13
34    years  of  age who is subject to compulsory school attendance
                            -5-            LRB9002769NTmbam01
 1    under The School Code is a chronic truant  as  defined  under
 2    The  School  Code shall be prima facie evidence of neglect by
 3    the parent or guardian in any  hearing  under  this  Act  and
 4    proof  that  a  minor  who is 13 years of age or older who is
 5    subject to compulsory school attendance under The School Code
 6    is a chronic truant shall raise a rebuttable  presumption  of
 7    neglect by the parent or guardian.  This subsection (5) shall
 8    not apply in counties with 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
 9    (Source: P.A. 88-343.)
10        (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 89-704)
11        Sec. 2-18. Evidence.
12        (1)  At  the  adjudicatory hearing, the court shall first
13    consider only the  question  whether  the  minor  is  abused,
14    neglected  or  dependent. The standard of proof and the rules
15    of evidence in the nature of civil proceedings in this  State
16    are  applicable  to  proceedings  under  this Article. If the
17    petition also seeks the appointment  of  a  guardian  of  the
18    person  with  power to consent to adoption of the minor under
19    Section 2-29, the court may also consider legally  admissible
20    evidence at the adjudicatory hearing that one or more grounds
21    of  unfitness  exists under subdivision D of Section 1 of the
22    Adoption Act.
23        (2)  In any hearing under this Act, the  following  shall
24    constitute  prima  facie evidence of abuse or neglect, as the
25    case may be:
26             (a)  Proof that a minor has a medical  diagnosis  of
27        battered child syndrome is prima facie evidence of abuse;
28             (b)  Proof  that  a minor has a medical diagnosis of
29        failure to thrive syndrome is  prima  facie  evidence  of
30        neglect;
31             (c)  Proof  that  a minor has a medical diagnosis of
32        fetal  alcohol  syndrome  is  prima  facie  evidence   of
33        neglect;
34             (d)  Proof  that  a minor has a medical diagnosis at
                            -6-            LRB9002769NTmbam01
 1        birth  of   withdrawal   symptoms   from   narcotics   or
 2        barbiturates is prima facie evidence of neglect;
 3             (e)  Proof  of  injuries  sustained by a minor or of
 4        the condition of a  minor  of  such  a  nature  as  would
 5        ordinarily  not be sustained or exist except by reason of
 6        the  acts  or  omissions  of  the  parent,  custodian  or
 7        guardian of such minor shall be prima facie  evidence  of
 8        abuse or neglect, as the case may be;
 9             (f)  Proof that a parent, custodian or guardian of a
10        minor  repeatedly  used a drug, to the extent that it has
11        or would ordinarily have the effect of producing  in  the
12        user  a  substantial  state  of  stupor, unconsciousness,
13        intoxication,    hallucination,     disorientation     or
14        incompetence, or a substantial impairment of judgment, or
15        a  substantial  manifestation  of irrationality, shall be
16        prima facie evidence of neglect;
17             (g)  Proof that a parent, custodian, or guardian  of
18        a  minor  repeatedly  used  a  controlled  substance,  as
19        defined  in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the Illinois
20        Controlled Substances Act, in the presence of  the  minor
21        or  a  sibling  of  the  minor is prima facie evidence of
22        neglect.   "Repeated  use",  for  the  purpose  of   this
23        subsection,  means  more  than  one  use  of a controlled
24        substance as defined in subsection (f) of Section 102  of
25        the Illinois Controlled Substances Act;
26             (h)  Proof  that a newborn infant's blood, urine, or
27        meconium contains any amount of a controlled substance as
28        defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the  Illinois
29        Controlled   Substances   Act,   or  a  metabolite  of  a
30        controlled substance, with the  exception  of  controlled
31        substances   or  metabolites  of  those  substances,  the
32        presence of which is  the  result  of  medical  treatment
33        administered to the mother or the newborn, is prime facie
34        evidence of neglect.
                            -7-            LRB9002769NTmbam01
 1        (3)  In  any  hearing under this Act, proof of the abuse,
 2    neglect or  dependency  of  one  minor  shall  be  admissible
 3    evidence  on the issue of the abuse, neglect or dependency of
 4    any other minor for whom the respondent is responsible.
 5        (4) (a)  Any writing, record, photograph or x-ray of  any
 6    hospital  or public or private agency, whether in the form of
 7    an entry in a book or otherwise,  made  as  a  memorandum  or
 8    record  of  any  condition,  act,  transaction, occurrence or
 9    event relating to a minor in an abuse, neglect or  dependency
10    proceeding,  shall be admissible in evidence as proof of that
11    condition, act, transaction,  occurrence  or  event,  if  the
12    court  finds that the document was made in the regular course
13    of the business of the hospital or agency and that it was  in
14    the  regular  course of such business to make it, at the time
15    of the act, transaction, occurrence or  event,  or  within  a
16    reasonable  time  thereafter.  A certification by the head or
17    responsible employee of  the  hospital  or  agency  that  the
18    writing, record, photograph or x-ray is the full and complete
19    record  of  the  condition,  act,  transaction, occurrence or
20    event and that it satisfies the conditions of this  paragraph
21    shall  be prima facie evidence of the facts contained in such
22    certification.  A certification by  someone  other  than  the
23    head  of  the  hospital  or  agency shall be accompanied by a
24    photocopy of a delegation of authority  signed  by  both  the
25    head  of  the  hospital or agency and by such other employee.
26    All other circumstances of  the  making  of  the  memorandum,
27    record,  photograph  or  x-ray,  including  lack  of personal
28    knowledge of the maker, may be proved to affect the weight to
29    be  accorded  such  evidence,  but  shall  not   affect   its
30    admissibility.
31        (b)  Any  indicated  report  filed pursuant to the Abused
32    and Neglected Child Reporting  Act  shall  be  admissible  in
33    evidence.
34        (c)  Previous  statements made by a the minor relating to
                            -8-            LRB9002769NTmbam01
 1    any allegations of abuse or neglect shall  be  admissible  in
 2    evidence.   However, no such statement, if uncorroborated and
 3    not subject to  cross-examination,  shall  be  sufficient  in
 4    itself to support a finding of abuse or neglect.
 5        (d)  There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a minor
 6    is competent to testify in abuse or neglect proceedings.  The
 7    court  shall determine how much weight to give to the minor's
 8    testimony, and may allow the minor  to  testify  in  chambers
 9    with only the court, the court reporter and attorneys for the
10    parties present.
11        (e)  The  privileged  character  of communication between
12    any  professional  person  and  patient  or  client,   except
13    privilege  between  attorney  and  client, shall not apply to
14    proceedings subject to this Article.
15        (f)  Proof of  the  impairment  of  emotional  health  or
16    impairment  of  mental  or emotional condition as a result of
17    the failure of the respondent to exercise a minimum degree of
18    care toward a minor may include competent opinion  or  expert
19    testimony,   and  may  include  proof  that  such  impairment
20    lessened during a period when the  minor  was  in  the  care,
21    custody  or  supervision of a person or agency other than the
22    respondent.
23        (5)  In any hearing under this Act alleging  neglect  for
24    failure  to  provide  education  as  required  by  law  under
25    subsection  (1)  of  Section 2-3, proof that a minor under 13
26    years of age who is subject to compulsory  school  attendance
27    under  The  School  Code is a chronic truant as defined under
28    The School Code shall be prima facie evidence of  neglect  by
29    the  parent  or  guardian  in  any hearing under this Act and
30    proof that a minor who is 13 years of age  or  older  who  is
31    subject to compulsory school attendance under The School Code
32    is  a  chronic truant shall raise a rebuttable presumption of
33    neglect by the parent or guardian.  This subsection (5) shall
34    not apply in counties with 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
                            -9-            LRB9002769NTmbam01
 1    (Source: P.A. 88-343; 89-704, eff. 1-1-98.)
 2        Section 95.  No acceleration or delay.   Where  this  Act
 3    makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by
 4    text  that  is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a
 5    Section represented by multiple versions), the  use  of  that
 6    text  does  not  accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i)
 7    the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived  from
 8    any other Public Act.
 9        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
10    becoming law.".

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