103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2761

 

Introduced 1/16/2024, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Judicial Domestic Violence Training Act. Requires the Judicial Education Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to develop and implement a domestic violence continuing education program for judges and relevant court personnel. Provides that the continuing education program shall be required training for all judges every 2 years and shall be held at every biennial Education Conference and every new judge seminar.


LRB103 36750 LNS 66860 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2761LRB103 36750 LNS 66860 b

1    AN ACT concerning courts.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Judicial Domestic Violence Training Act.
 
6    Section 5. Education and training program.
7    (a) The Judicial Education Division of the Administrative
8Office of the Illinois Courts shall develop and implement a
9domestic violence continuing education program for judges and
10relevant court personnel. The continuing education program
11shall:
12        (1) be provided by professionals with substantial
13    experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence;
14        (2) rely on evidence-based, peer-reviewed research by
15    recognized experts; and
16        (3) be designed to improve the ability of the courts
17    to recognize and respond to physical abuse, sexual abuse,
18    domestic violence, and trauma and to make appropriate
19    decisions that prioritize the safety and well-being of
20    victims and household members and are culturally sensitive
21    and appropriate for diverse communities.
22    (b) The continuing education program described in this
23Section shall include, but is not limited to, information on

 

 

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1the following subjects:
2        (1) the nature, extent, and causes of domestic
3    violence;
4        (2) the lethality of domestic violence;
5        (3) physical abuse, emotional abuse, and coercive
6    control;
7        (4) implicit and explicit biases toward parties
8    involved in domestic violence;
9        (5) trauma and the short and long term impacts of
10    domestic violence on the victim and household members;
11        (6) behavioral patterns and relationship dynamics
12    within the cycle of violence;
13        (7) the increased vulnerability of victims who are
14    gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, low-income, minority
15    or immigrant;
16        (8) culturally responsive approaches to serving
17    victims and courtroom treatment of victims;
18        (9) procedures designed to promote the safety of the
19    victim and household members;
20        (10) resources available to victims and household
21    members; and
22        (11) civil rights and legal remedies available to
23    victims and household members.
24    (c) The continuing education program described in this
25Section shall be required training for all judges every 2
26years and shall be held at every biennial Education Conference

 

 

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1and every New Judge Seminar.
2    (d) Documentation showing completion of the class shall be
3submitted to and recorded by the Administrative Office of the
4Illinois Courts and shall be made available to the public upon
5request.