HB5635 EngrossedLRB099 20446 RLC 44947 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning health.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental 
5Disabilities Code is amended  by adding Section 2-107.4 as 
6follows:
 
7    (405 ILCS 5/2-107.4 new)
8    Sec. 2-107.4. Video conferencing.
9    (a)
The Illinois Supreme Court or any circuit court of this 
10State may adopt rules permitting the use of video conferencing 
11equipment in any hearing under Section 2-107.1 subject to the 
12following conditions:
13        (1) if the parties, including the respondent, and their 
14    attorneys, including the State's Attorney, are at a mental 
15    health facility, or some other location to which the 
16    respondent may be safely and conveniently transported, and 
17    the judge and any court personnel are in another location; 
18    or
19        (2) if the respondent and his or her attorney are at a 
20    mental health facility or some other location to which the 
21    respondent may be safely and conveniently transported, and 
22    all of the other participants including the judge are in 
23    another location, if, and only if, agreed to by the 
 
 
HB5635 Engrossed- 2 -LRB099 20446 RLC 44947 b

1    respondent and the respondent's attorney.
2    (b)  In any hearing under Section 2-107.1, any court may 
3permit any witness, including a psychiatrist, to testify by 
4video conferencing equipment from any location in the absence 
5of a court rule specifically prohibiting that testimony.