100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB5791

 

Introduced , by Rep. Michael Halpin

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
705 ILCS 405/2-17.1

    Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that a court appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem may be removed by the court from a case upon finding that the court appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem has made a materially false statement under oath.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB5791LRB100 17825 LNS 33005 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 5. The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 is amended by
5changing Section 2-17.1 as follows:
 
6    (705 ILCS 405/2-17.1)
7    Sec. 2-17.1. Court appointed special advocate.
8    (1) The court may appoint a special advocate upon the
9filing of a petition under this Article or at any time during
10the pendency of a proceeding under this Article. Except in
11counties with a population over 3,000,000, the court appointed
12special advocate may also serve as guardian ad litem by
13appointment of the court under Section 2-17 of this Act.
14    (2) The court appointed special advocate shall act as a
15monitor and shall be notified of all administrative case
16reviews pertaining to the minor and work with the parties'
17attorneys, the guardian ad litem, and others assigned to the
18minor's case to protect the minor's health, safety and best
19interests and insure the proper delivery of child welfare
20services. The court may consider, at its discretion, testimony
21of the court appointed special advocate pertaining to the
22well-being of the child.
23    (3) Court appointed special advocates shall serve as

 

 

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1volunteers without compensation and shall receive training
2consistent with nationally developed standards.
3    (4) No person convicted of a criminal offense as specified
4in Section 4.2 of the Child Care Act of 1969 and no person
5identified as a perpetrator of an act of child abuse or neglect
6as reflected in the Department of Children and Family Services
7State Central Register shall serve as a court appointed special
8advocate.
9    (5) All costs associated with the appointment and duties of
10the court appointed special advocate shall be paid by the court
11appointed special advocate or an organization of court
12appointed special advocates. In no event shall the court
13appointed special advocate be liable for any costs of services
14provided to the child.
15    (6) The court may remove the court appointed special
16advocate or the guardian ad litem from a case upon finding that
17the court appointed special advocate or the guardian ad litem
18has acted in a manner contrary to the child's best interest,
19made a materially false statement under oath, or if the court
20otherwise deems continued service is unwanted or unnecessary.
21    (7) In any county in which a program of court appointed
22special advocates is in operation, the provisions of this
23Section shall apply unless the county board of that county, by
24resolution, determines that the county shall not be governed by
25this Section.
26    (8) Any court appointed special advocate acting in good

 

 

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1faith within the scope of his or her appointment shall have
2immunity from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise
3might result by reason of his or her actions, except in cases
4of willful and wanton misconduct. For the purpose of any civil
5or criminal proceedings, the good faith of any court appointed
6special advocate shall be presumed.
7(Source: P.A. 90-28, eff. 1-1-98; 90-608, eff. 6-30-98; 91-357,
8eff. 7-29-99.)