Rep. Nabeela Syed

Filed: 3/20/2023

 

 


 

 


 
10300HB2624ham001LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2624

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2624 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Court
5Record and Document Accessibility Act.
 
6    Section 5. Record and document accessibility.
7    (a) All records and documents are presumed to be
8accessible by the court and the clerk of the court. A clerk of
9the court shall limit access to case information and documents
10that are not identified as public to the clerk of the court or
11limited supervisory staff through the use of access codes
12restricting access. Access to court records and documents
13remotely over the Internet shall be as authorized by the
14Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy.
15    (b) Unless otherwise specified by rule, statute, or order,
16access to case information and documents maintained by the

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 2 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1clerk of the court is defined as follows:
2        (1) "Public" means a document or case that is
3    accessible by any person upon request.
4        (2) "Impounded" means a document or case that is
5    accessible only to the parties of record on a case;
6    otherwise, the document or case is only accessible upon
7    order of a court.
8        (3) "Confidential" means a document or case that is
9    accessible only to the party submitting the document or
10    filing the case; otherwise, the document or case is only
11    accessible upon order of a court.
12        (4) "Sealed" means a document or case that is
13    accessible only upon order of a court.
14        (5) "Expunged" means a document or case that is
15    accessible only upon order of a court as provided in
16    subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of
17    Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification Act.
18    (c) Notwithstanding any provision of subsections (a) and
19(b), the court may enter an order restricting access to any
20case or document per order of court.
21    (d) If any law of this State restricts access to any case
22information and documents maintained by the clerk of the court
23by using the phrase "shall not be public", or a similar phrase
24stating that a court record is not available to the public, the
25clerk of the court shall impound such case information and
26documents unless the court directs otherwise.

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 3 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if any law
2or statute of this State conflicts with Supreme Court Rule 8,
3then Supreme Court Rule 8 governs.
 
4    Section 10. Process for access. The General Assembly
5encourages the Supreme Court to consider establishing a
6process for access to court files that are limited by statute
7or court rule that includes standardized forms and provisions
8for requesting access to documents in court files that are
9restricted in any manner.
 
10    Section 15. Applicability. This Act applies to all court
11records and documents related to any civil or criminal
12proceeding brought before any court in this State that are
13created and maintained by a State court.
 
14    Section 20. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
15amended by changing Section 108A-7 as follows:
 
16    (725 ILCS 5/108A-7)  (from Ch. 38, par. 108A-7)
17    Sec. 108A-7. Retention and Review of Recordings.
18    (a) The contents of any conversation overheard by any
19eavesdropping device shall, if possible, be recorded on tape
20or a comparable device. The recording of the contents of a
21conversation under this Article shall be done in such a way as
22will protect the recording from editing or other alterations.

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 4 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    (b) Immediately after the expiration of the period of the
2order or extension or, where the recording was made in an
3emergency situation as defined in Section 108A-6, at the time
4of the request for approval subsequent to the emergency, all
5such recordings shall be made available to the judge issuing
6the order or hearing the application for approval of an
7emergency application.
8    The judge shall listen to the tapes, determine if the
9conversations thereon are within his order or were
10appropriately made in emergency situations, and make a record
11of such determination to be retained with the tapes.
12    The recordings shall be sealed under the instructions of
13the judge and custody shall be where he orders. Such
14recordings shall not be destroyed except upon order of the
15judge hearing the application and in any event shall be kept
16for 10 years if not destroyed upon his order.
17    Duplicate recordings may be made for any use or disclosure
18authorized by this Article. The presence of the seal provided
19for in this Section or a satisfactory explanation for the
20absence thereof shall be a pre-requisite for the use or
21disclosure of the contents of the recordings or any evidence
22derived therefrom.
23    (c) Applications made and orders granted under this
24Article shall be sealed by the judge. Custody of the
25applications and orders shall be wherever the judge requests.
26Such applications and orders shall be disclosed only upon a

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 5 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1showing of good cause before a judge. Such documents shall not
2be destroyed except on the order of the issuing or denying
3judge or after the expiration of 10 years time if not destroyed
4upon his order.
5    As used in this subsection, "sealed" has the same meaning
6as in paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Section 5 of the Court
7Record and Document Accessibility Act.
8(Source: P.A. 79-1159.)
 
9    Section 25. The Privacy of Child Victims of Criminal
10Sexual Offenses Act is amended by changing Section 3 as
11follows:
 
12    (725 ILCS 190/3)  (from Ch. 38, par. 1453)
13    Sec. 3. Confidentiality of Law Enforcement and Court
14Records. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,
15inspection and copying of law enforcement records maintained
16by any law enforcement agency or all circuit court records
17maintained by any circuit clerk relating to any investigation
18or proceeding pertaining to a criminal sexual offense, by any
19person, except a judge, state's attorney, assistant state's
20attorney, Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General,
21psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, doctor, parent,
22parole agent, aftercare specialist, probation officer,
23defendant, defendant's attorney, advocate, or victim's
24attorney (as defined in Section 3 of the Rights of Crime

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 6 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1Victims and Witnesses Act) in any criminal proceeding or
2investigation related thereto, shall be restricted to exclude
3the identity of any child who is a victim of such criminal
4sexual offense or alleged criminal sexual offense unless a
5court order is issued authorizing the removal of such
6restriction as provided under this Section of a particular
7case record or particular records of cases maintained by any
8circuit court clerk. A court may, for the child's protection
9and for good cause shown, prohibit any person or agency
10present in court from further disclosing the child's identity.
11    A court may prohibit such disclosure only after giving
12notice and a hearing to all affected parties. In determining
13whether to prohibit disclosure of the minor's identity, the
14court shall consider:
15        (1) the best interest of the child; and
16        (2) whether such nondisclosure would further a
17    compelling State interest.
18    When a criminal sexual offense is committed or alleged to
19have been committed by a school district employee or any
20individual contractually employed by a school district, a copy
21of the criminal history record information relating to the
22investigation of the offense or alleged offense shall be
23transmitted to the superintendent of schools of the district
24immediately upon request or if the law enforcement agency
25knows that a school district employee or any individual
26contractually employed by a school district has committed or

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 7 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1is alleged to have committed a criminal sexual offense, the
2superintendent of schools of the district shall be immediately
3provided a copy of the criminal history record information.
4The copy of the criminal history record information to be
5provided under this Section shall exclude the identity of the
6child victim. The superintendent shall be restricted from
7revealing the identity of the victim. Nothing in this Article
8precludes or may be used to preclude a mandated reporter from
9reporting child abuse or child neglect as required under the
10Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
11    For the purposes of this Act, "criminal history record
12information" means:
13        (i) chronologically maintained arrest information,
14    such as traditional arrest logs or blotters;
15        (ii) the name of a person in the custody of a law
16    enforcement agency and the charges for which that person
17    is being held;
18        (iii) court records that are public, as defined in
19    paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 5 of the Court
20    Record and Document Accessibility Act;
21        (iv) records that are otherwise available under State
22    or local law; or
23        (v) records in which the requesting party is the
24    individual identified, except as provided under part (vii)
25    of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of Section 7 of the
26    Freedom of Information Act.

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 8 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1(Source: P.A. 102-651, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
2    Section 30. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by
3changing Section 5-5.5-15 as follows:
 
4    (730 ILCS 5/5-5.5-15)
5    Sec. 5-5.5-15. Certificates of relief from disabilities
6issued by courts.
7    (a) Any circuit court of this State may issue a
8certificate of relief from disabilities to an eligible
9offender for a conviction that occurred in that court if the
10court imposed the sentence. The certificate may be issued (i)
11at the time sentence is pronounced, in which case it may grant
12relief from disabilities, or (ii) at any time thereafter, in
13which case it shall apply only to disabilities.
14    (b) The certificate may not be issued by the court unless
15the court is satisfied, based on clear and convincing
16evidence, that:
17        (1) the person to whom it is to be granted is an
18    eligible offender, as defined in Section 5-5.5-5;
19        (2) the relief to be granted by the certificate is
20    consistent with the rehabilitation of the eligible
21    offender; and
22        (3) the relief to be granted by the certificate is
23    consistent with the public interest.
24    (c) If a certificate of relief from disabilities is not

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 9 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1issued at the time sentence is pronounced it shall only be
2issued thereafter upon verified application to the court. The
3court may, for the purpose of determining whether the
4certificate shall be issued, request the probation or court
5services department to conduct an investigation of the
6applicant. Any probation officer requested to make an
7investigation under this Section shall prepare and submit to
8the court a written report in accordance with the request.
9    (d) Any court that has issued a certificate of relief from
10disabilities may at any time issue a new certificate to
11enlarge the relief previously granted provided that the
12provisions of clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (b) of
13this Section apply to the issuance of any such new
14certificate.
15    (e) Any written report submitted to the court under this
16Section is confidential and may not be made available to any
17person or public or private agency except if specifically
18required or permitted by statute or upon specific
19authorization of the court. However, it shall be made
20available by the court for examination by the applicant's
21attorney, or the applicant himself or herself, if he or she has
22no attorney. In its discretion, the court may except from
23disclosure a part or parts of the report that are not relevant
24to the granting of a certificate, or sources of information
25which have been obtained on a promise of confidentiality, or
26any other portion of the report, disclosure of which would not

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 10 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1be in the interest of justice. The action of the court
2excepting information from disclosure shall be subject to
3appellate review. The court, in its discretion, may hold a
4conference in open court or in chambers to afford an applicant
5an opportunity to controvert or to comment upon any portions
6of the report. The court may also conduct a summary hearing at
7the conference on any matter relevant to the granting of the
8application and may take testimony under oath.
9    As used in this subsection, "confidential" has the same
10meaning as in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 5 of
11the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act.
12    (f) An employer is not civilly or criminally liable for an
13act or omission by an employee who has been issued a
14certificate of relief from disabilities, except for a willful
15or wanton act by the employer in hiring the employee who has
16been issued a certificate of relief from disabilities.
17(Source: P.A. 96-852, eff. 1-1-10.)
 
18    Section 35. The Stalking No Contact Order Act is amended
19by changing Sections 20 and 95 as follows:
 
20    (740 ILCS 21/20)
21    Sec. 20. Commencement of action; filing fees.
22    (a) An action for a stalking no contact order is
23commenced:
24        (1) independently, by filing a petition for a stalking

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 11 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    no contact order in any civil court, unless specific
2    courts are designated by local rule or order; or
3        (2) in conjunction with a delinquency petition or a
4    criminal prosecution as provided in Article 112A of the
5    Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.
6    (a-1) A petition for a stalking no contact order may be
7filed in person in-person or online.
8    (a-5) When a petition for an emergency stalking no contact
9order is filed, the petition and file shall not be public and
10shall only be accessible to the court, law enforcement,
11petitioner, victim advocate, counsel of record for either
12party, and the State's Attorney for the county until the
13petition is served on the respondent.
14    Accessibility to the petition and file under this
15subsection prior to the petition being served on the
16respondent shall be in accordance with Section 5 of the Court
17Record and Document Accessibility Act.
18    (b) Withdrawal or dismissal of any petition for a stalking
19no contact order prior to adjudication where the petitioner is
20represented by the State shall operate as a dismissal without
21prejudice. No action for a stalking no contact order shall be
22dismissed because the respondent is being prosecuted for a
23crime against the petitioner. For any action commenced under
24item (2) of subsection (a) of this Section, dismissal of the
25conjoined case (or a finding of not guilty) shall not require
26dismissal of the action for a stalking no contact order;

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 12 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1instead, it may be treated as an independent action and, if
2necessary and appropriate, transferred to a different court or
3division.
4    (c) No fee shall be charged by the clerk of the court for
5filing petitions or modifying or certifying orders. No fee
6shall be charged by the sheriff for service by the sheriff of a
7petition, rule, motion, or order in an action commenced under
8this Section.
9    (d) The court shall provide, through the office of the
10clerk of the court, simplified forms for filing of a petition
11under this Section by any person not represented by counsel.
12(Source: P.A. 101-255, eff. 1-1-20; 102-831, eff. 5-13-22;
13102-853, eff. 1-1-23; revised 12-14-22.)
 
14    (740 ILCS 21/95)
15    Sec. 95. Emergency stalking no contact order.
16    (a) An emergency stalking no contact order shall issue if
17the petitioner satisfies the requirements of this subsection
18(a). The petitioner shall establish that:
19        (1) the court has jurisdiction under Section 50;
20        (2) the requirements of Section 80 are satisfied; and
21        (3) there is good cause to grant the remedy,
22    regardless of prior service of process or of notice upon
23    the respondent, because the harm which that remedy is
24    intended to prevent would be likely to occur if the
25    respondent were given any prior notice, or greater notice

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 13 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    than was actually given, of the petitioner's efforts to
2    obtain judicial relief.
3    An emergency stalking no contact order shall be issued by
4the court if it appears from the contents of the petition and
5the examination of the petitioner that the averments are
6sufficient to indicate stalking by the respondent and to
7support the granting of relief under the issuance of the
8stalking no contact order.
9    An emergency stalking no contact order shall be issued if
10the court finds that items (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection
11(a) are met.
12    (a-5) When a petition for an emergency stalking no contact
13order is granted, the petition, order, and file shall not be
14public and shall only be accessible to the court, law
15enforcement, petitioner, victim advocate, counsel of record
16for either party, and the State's Attorney for the county
17until the order is served on the respondent.
18    Accessibility to the petition, order, and file under this
19subsection prior to the petition being served on the
20respondent shall be in accordance with Section 5 of the Court
21Record and Document Accessibility Act.
22    (b) If the respondent appears in court for this hearing
23for an emergency order, he or she may elect to file a general
24appearance and testify. Any resulting order may be an
25emergency order, governed by this Section. Notwithstanding the
26requirements of this Section, if all requirements of Section

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 14 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1100 have been met, the court may issue a plenary order.
2    (c) Emergency orders; court holidays and evenings.
3        (1) When the court is unavailable at the close of
4    business, the petitioner may file a petition for a 21-day
5    emergency order before any available circuit judge or
6    associate judge who may grant relief under this Act. If
7    the judge finds that there is an immediate and present
8    danger of abuse against the petitioner and that the
9    petitioner has satisfied the prerequisites set forth in
10    subsection (a), that judge may issue an emergency stalking
11    no contact order.
12        (2) The chief judge of the circuit court may designate
13    for each county in the circuit at least one judge to be
14    reasonably available to issue orally, by telephone, by
15    facsimile, or otherwise, an emergency stalking no contact
16    order at all times, whether or not the court is in session.
17        (3) Any order issued under this Section and any
18    documentation in support of the order shall be certified
19    on the next court day to the appropriate court. The clerk
20    of that court shall immediately assign a case number, file
21    the petition, order, and other documents with the court,
22    and enter the order of record and file it with the sheriff
23    for service, in accordance with Section 60. Filing the
24    petition shall commence proceedings for further relief
25    under Section 20. Failure to comply with the requirements
26    of this paragraph (3) does not affect the validity of the

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 15 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    order.
2(Source: P.A. 101-255, eff. 1-1-20; 102-831, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
3    Section 40. The Civil No Contact Order Act is amended by
4changing Sections 202 and 214 as follows:
 
5    (740 ILCS 22/202)
6    Sec. 202. Commencement of action; filing fees.
7    (a) An action for a civil no contact order is commenced:
8        (1) independently, by filing a petition for a civil no
9    contact order in any civil court, unless specific courts
10    are designated by local rule or order; or
11        (2) in conjunction with a delinquency petition or a
12    criminal prosecution as provided in Article 112A of the
13    Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.
14    (a-1) A petition for a civil no contact order may be filed
15in person in-person or online.
16    (a-5) When a petition for an emergency civil no contact
17order is filed, the petition and file shall not be public and
18shall only be accessible to the court, law enforcement,
19petitioner, rape crisis advocate, counsel of record for either
20party, and the State's Attorney for the county until the
21petition is served on the respondent.
22    Accessibility to the petition and file under this
23subsection prior to the petition being served on the
24respondent shall be in accordance with Section 5 of the Court

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 16 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1Record and Document Accessibility Act.
2    (b) Withdrawal or dismissal of any petition for a civil no
3contact order prior to adjudication where the petitioner is
4represented by the State shall operate as a dismissal without
5prejudice. No action for a civil no contact order shall be
6dismissed because the respondent is being prosecuted for a
7crime against the petitioner. For any action commenced under
8item (2) of subsection (a) of this Section, dismissal of the
9conjoined case (or a finding of not guilty) shall not require
10dismissal of the action for a civil no contact order; instead,
11it may be treated as an independent action and, if necessary
12and appropriate, transferred to a different court or division.
13    (c) No fee shall be charged by the clerk of the court for
14filing petitions or modifying or certifying orders. No fee
15shall be charged by the sheriff for service by the sheriff of a
16petition, rule, motion, or order in an action commenced under
17this Section.
18    (d) The court shall provide, through the office of the
19clerk of the court, simplified forms for filing of a petition
20under this Section by any person not represented by counsel.
21(Source: P.A. 101-255, eff. 1-1-20; 102-831, eff. 5-13-22;
22102-853, eff. 1-1-23; revised 12-14-22.)
 
23    (740 ILCS 22/214)
24    Sec. 214. Emergency civil no contact order.
25    (a) An emergency civil no contact order shall issue if the

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 17 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1petitioner satisfies the requirements of this subsection (a).
2The petitioner shall establish that:
3        (1) the court has jurisdiction under Section 206;
4        (2) the requirements of Section 213 are satisfied; and
5        (3) there is good cause to grant the remedy,
6    regardless of prior service of process or of notice upon
7    the respondent, because the harm which that remedy is
8    intended to prevent would be likely to occur if the
9    respondent were given any prior notice, or greater notice
10    than was actually given, of the petitioner's efforts to
11    obtain judicial relief.
12    An emergency civil no contact order shall be issued by the
13court if it appears from the contents of the petition and the
14examination of the petitioner that the averments are
15sufficient to indicate nonconsensual sexual conduct or
16nonconsensual sexual penetration by the respondent and to
17support the granting of relief under the issuance of the civil
18no contact order.
19    An emergency civil no contact order shall be issued if the
20court finds that subsections (1), (2), and (3) above are met.
21    (a-5) When a petition for a civil no contact order is
22granted, the petition, order, and file shall not be public and
23shall only be accessible to the court, law enforcement,
24petitioner, rape crisis advocate, counsel of record for either
25party, and the State's Attorney for the county until the
26petition is served on the respondent.

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 18 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    Accessibility to the petition, order, and file under this
2subsection prior to the petition being served on the
3respondent shall be in accordance with Section 5 of the Court
4Record and Document Accessibility Act.
5    (b) If the respondent appears in court for this hearing
6for an emergency order, he or she may elect to file a general
7appearance and testify. Any resulting order may be an
8emergency order, governed by this Section. Notwithstanding the
9requirements of this Section, if all requirements of Section
10215 have been met, the court may issue a plenary order.
11    (c) Emergency orders; court holidays and evenings.
12        (1) When the court is unavailable at the close of
13    business, the petitioner may file a petition for a 21-day
14    emergency order before any available circuit judge or
15    associate judge who may grant relief under this Act. If
16    the judge finds that there is an immediate and present
17    danger of abuse against the petitioner and that the
18    petitioner has satisfied the prerequisites set forth in
19    subsection (a), that judge may issue an emergency civil no
20    contact order.
21        (2) The chief judge of the circuit court may designate
22    for each county in the circuit at least one judge to be
23    reasonably available to issue orally, by telephone, by
24    facsimile, or otherwise, an emergency civil no contact
25    order at all times, whether or not the court is in session.
26        (3) Any order issued under this Section and any

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 19 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    documentation in support of the order shall be certified
2    on the next court day to the appropriate court. The clerk
3    of that court shall immediately assign a case number, file
4    the petition, order, and other documents with the court,
5    and enter the order of record and file it with the sheriff
6    for service, in accordance with Section 222. Filing the
7    petition shall commence proceedings for further relief
8    under Section 202. Failure to comply with the requirements
9    of this paragraph (3) does not affect the validity of the
10    order.
11(Source: P.A. 102-831, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
12    Section 45. The Mental Health and Developmental
13Disabilities Confidentiality Act is amended by changing
14Section 3 as follows:
 
15    (740 ILCS 110/3)  (from Ch. 91 1/2, par. 803)
16    Sec. 3. (a) All records and communications shall be
17confidential and shall not be disclosed except as provided in
18this Act. Unless otherwise expressly provided for in this Act,
19records and communications made or created in the course of
20providing mental health or developmental disabilities services
21shall be protected from disclosure regardless of whether the
22records and communications are made or created in the course
23of a therapeutic relationship.
24    As used in this subsection, "confidential" has the same

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 20 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1meaning as in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 5 of
2the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act.
3    (b) A therapist is not required to but may, to the extent
4he determines it necessary and appropriate, keep personal
5notes regarding a recipient. Such personal notes are the work
6product and personal property of the therapist and shall not
7be subject to discovery in any judicial, administrative or
8legislative proceeding or any proceeding preliminary thereto.
9    (c) Psychological test material whose disclosure would
10compromise the objectivity or fairness of the testing process
11may not be disclosed to anyone including the subject of the
12test and is not subject to disclosure in any administrative,
13judicial or legislative proceeding. However, any recipient who
14has been the subject of the psychological test shall have the
15right to have all records relating to that test disclosed to
16any psychologist designated by the recipient. Requests for
17such disclosure shall be in writing and shall comply with the
18requirements of subsection (b) of Section 5 of this Act.
19(Source: P.A. 99-28, eff. 1-1-16.)
 
20    Section 50. The Communicable Disease Report Act is amended
21by changing Section 1 as follows:
 
22    (745 ILCS 45/1)  (from Ch. 126, par. 21)
23    Sec. 1. Whenever any statute of this State or any
24ordinance or resolution of a municipal corporation or

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 21 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1political subdivision enacted pursuant to statute or any rule
2of an administrative agency adopted pursuant to statute
3requires medical practitioners or other persons to report
4cases of injury, medical condition or procedure, communicable
5disease, venereal disease, or sexually transmitted disease to
6any governmental agency or officer, such reports shall be
7confidential, and any medical practitioner or other person
8making such report in good faith shall be immune from suit for
9slander or libel based upon any statements contained in such
10report.
11    The identity of any individual who makes a report or who is
12identified in a report of an injury, medical condition or
13procedure, communicable disease, venereal disease, sexually
14transmitted disease, or food-borne illness or an investigation
15conducted pursuant to a report of an injury, medical condition
16or procedure, communicable disease, venereal disease, sexually
17transmitted disease, or food-borne illness shall be
18confidential and the identity of any person making a report or
19named therein shall not be disclosed publicly or in any action
20of any kind in any court or before any tribunal, board or
21agency; provided that records and communications concerning a
22venereal disease or sexually transmitted disease in any minor
23under 11 years of age shall be disclosed in accordance with the
24provisions of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act,
25approved June 26, 1975, as now or hereafter amended.
26    The confidentiality provisions of this Act do not apply to

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 22 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1the results of tests for diseases conducted pursuant to
2subsections (g) and (g-5) of Section 5-5-3 and subsection (a)
3of Section 3-15-2 of the Unified Code of Corrections.
4    Nothing in this Act prohibits the sharing of information
5as authorized in Section 2.1 of the Department of Public
6Health Act.
7    As used in this Section, "confidential" has the same
8meaning as in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 5 of
9the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act.
10(Source: P.A. 93-829, eff. 7-28-04.)
 
11    Section 55. The Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 is
12amended by changing Sections 202 and 217 as follows:
 
13    (750 ILCS 60/202)  (from Ch. 40, par. 2312-2)
14    Sec. 202. Commencement of action; filing fees; dismissal.
15    (a) How to commence action. Actions for orders of
16protection are commenced:
17        (1) Independently: By filing a petition for an order
18    of protection in any civil court, unless specific courts
19    are designated by local rule or order.
20        (2) In conjunction with another civil proceeding: By
21    filing a petition for an order of protection under the
22    same case number as another civil proceeding involving the
23    parties, including, but not limited to: (i) any proceeding
24    under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 23 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    Act, Illinois Parentage Act of 2015, Nonsupport of Spouse
2    and Children Act, or Revised Uniform Reciprocal
3    Enforcement of Support Act or an action for nonsupport
4    brought under Article X of the Illinois Public Aid Code,
5    provided that a petitioner and the respondent are a party
6    to or the subject of that proceeding or (ii) a
7    guardianship proceeding under the Probate Act of 1975, or
8    a proceeding for involuntary commitment under the Mental
9    Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, or any
10    proceeding, other than a delinquency petition, under the
11    Juvenile Court Act of 1987, provided that a petitioner or
12    the respondent is a party to or the subject of such
13    proceeding.
14        (3) In conjunction with a delinquency petition or a
15    criminal prosecution as provided in Section 112A-20 of the
16    Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.
17    (a-1) A petition for an order of protection may be filed in
18person in-person or online.
19    (a-5) When a petition for an emergency order of protection
20is filed, the petition shall not be public publicly available
21until the petition is served on the respondent.
22    Accessibility to the petition under this subsection prior
23to the petition being served on the respondent shall be in
24accordance with Section 5 of the Court Record and Document
25Accessibility Act.
26    (b) Filing, certification, and service fees. No fee shall

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 24 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1be charged by the clerk for filing, amending, vacating,
2certifying, or photocopying petitions or orders; or for
3issuing alias summons; or for any related filing service. No
4fee shall be charged by the sheriff for service by the sheriff
5of a petition, rule, motion, or order in an action commenced
6under this Section.
7    (c) Dismissal and consolidation. Withdrawal or dismissal
8of any petition for an order of protection prior to
9adjudication where the petitioner is represented by the State
10shall operate as a dismissal without prejudice. No action for
11an order of protection shall be dismissed because the
12respondent is being prosecuted for a crime against the
13petitioner. An independent action may be consolidated with
14another civil proceeding, as provided by paragraph (2) of
15subsection (a) of this Section. For any action commenced under
16paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of this Section,
17dismissal of the conjoined case (or a finding of not guilty)
18shall not require dismissal of the action for the order of
19protection; instead, it may be treated as an independent
20action and, if necessary and appropriate, transferred to a
21different court or division. Dismissal of any conjoined case
22shall not affect the validity of any previously issued order
23of protection, and thereafter subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2) of
24Section 220 shall be inapplicable to such order.
25    (d) Pro se petitions. The court shall provide, through the
26office of the clerk of the court, simplified forms and

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 25 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1clerical assistance to help with the writing and filing of a
2petition under this Section by any person not represented by
3counsel. In addition, that assistance may be provided by the
4State's Attorney state's attorney.
5    (e) As provided in this subsection, the administrative
6director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts,
7with the approval of the administrative board of the courts,
8may adopt rules to establish and implement a pilot program to
9allow the electronic filing of petitions for temporary orders
10of protection and the issuance of such orders by audio-visual
11means to accommodate litigants for whom attendance in court to
12file for and obtain emergency relief would constitute an undue
13hardship or would constitute a risk of harm to the litigant.
14        (1) As used in this subsection:
15            (A) "Electronic means" means any method of
16        transmission of information between computers or other
17        machines designed for the purpose of sending or
18        receiving electronic transmission and that allows for
19        the recipient of information to reproduce the
20        information received in a tangible medium of
21        expression.
22            (B) "Independent audio-visual system" means an
23        electronic system for the transmission and receiving
24        of audio and visual signals, including those with the
25        means to preclude the unauthorized reception and
26        decoding of the signals by commercially available

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 26 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1        television receivers, channel converters, or other
2        available receiving devices.
3            (C) "Electronic appearance" means an appearance in
4        which one or more of the parties are not present in the
5        court, but in which, by means of an independent
6        audio-visual system, all of the participants are
7        simultaneously able to see and hear reproductions of
8        the voices and images of the judge, counsel, parties,
9        witnesses, and any other participants.
10        (2) Any pilot program under this subsection (e) shall
11    be developed by the administrative director or his or her
12    delegate in consultation with at least one local
13    organization providing assistance to domestic violence
14    victims. The program plan shall include, but not be
15    limited to:
16            (A) identification of agencies equipped with or
17        that have access to an independent audio-visual system
18        and electronic means for filing documents; and
19            (B) identification of one or more organizations
20        who are trained and available to assist petitioners in
21        preparing and filing petitions for temporary orders of
22        protection and in their electronic appearances before
23        the court to obtain such orders; and
24            (C) identification of the existing resources
25        available in local family courts for the
26        implementation and oversight of the pilot program; and

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 27 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1            (D) procedures for filing petitions and documents
2        by electronic means, swearing in the petitioners and
3        witnesses, preparation of a transcript of testimony
4        and evidence presented, and a prompt transmission of
5        any orders issued to the parties; and
6            (E) a timeline for implementation and a plan for
7        informing the public about the availability of the
8        program; and
9            (F) a description of the data to be collected in
10        order to evaluate and make recommendations for
11        improvements to the pilot program.
12        (3) In conjunction with an electronic appearance, any
13    petitioner for an ex parte temporary order of protection
14    may, using the assistance of a trained advocate if
15    necessary, commence the proceedings by filing a petition
16    by electronic means.
17            (A) A petitioner who is seeking an ex parte
18        temporary order of protection using an electronic
19        appearance must file a petition in advance of the
20        appearance and may do so electronically.
21            (B) The petitioner must show that traveling to or
22        appearing in court would constitute an undue hardship
23        or create a risk of harm to the petitioner. In granting
24        or denying any relief sought by the petitioner, the
25        court shall state the names of all participants and
26        whether it is granting or denying an appearance by

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 28 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1        electronic means and the basis for such a
2        determination. A party is not required to file a
3        petition or other document by electronic means or to
4        testify by means of an electronic appearance.
5            (C) Nothing in this subsection (e) affects or
6        changes any existing laws governing the service of
7        process, including requirements for personal service
8        or the sealing and confidentiality of court records in
9        court proceedings or access to court records by the
10        parties to the proceedings.
11        (4) Appearances.
12            (A) All electronic appearances by a petitioner
13        seeking an ex parte temporary order of protection
14        under this subsection (e) are strictly voluntary and
15        the court shall obtain the consent of the petitioner
16        on the record at the commencement of each appearance.
17            (B) Electronic appearances under this subsection
18        (e) shall be recorded and preserved for transcription.
19        Documentary evidence, if any, referred to by a party
20        or witness or the court may be transmitted and
21        submitted and introduced by electronic means.
22(Source: P.A. 101-255, eff. 1-1-20; 102-853, eff. 1-1-23;
23revised 12-13-22.)
 
24    (750 ILCS 60/217)  (from Ch. 40, par. 2312-17)
25    Sec. 217. Emergency order of protection.

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 29 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    (a) Prerequisites. An emergency order of protection shall
2issue if petitioner satisfies the requirements of this
3subsection for one or more of the requested remedies. For each
4remedy requested, the petitioner shall establish that:
5        (1) The court has jurisdiction under Section 208;
6        (2) The requirements of Section 214 are satisfied; and
7        (3) There is good cause to grant the remedy,
8    regardless of prior service of process or of notice upon
9    the respondent, because:
10            (i) For the remedies of "prohibition of abuse"
11        described in Section 214(b)(1), "stay away order and
12        additional prohibitions" described in Section
13        214(b)(3), "removal or concealment of minor child"
14        described in Section 214(b)(8), "order to appear"
15        described in Section 214(b)(9), "physical care and
16        possession of the minor child" described in Section
17        214(b)(5), "protection of property" described in
18        Section 214(b)(11), "prohibition of entry" described
19        in Section 214(b)(14), "prohibition of firearm
20        possession" described in Section 214(b)(14.5),
21        "prohibition of access to records" described in
22        Section 214(b)(15), and "injunctive relief" described
23        in Section 214(b)(16), the harm which that remedy is
24        intended to prevent would be likely to occur if the
25        respondent were given any prior notice, or greater
26        notice than was actually given, of the petitioner's

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 30 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1        efforts to obtain judicial relief;
2            (ii) For the remedy of "grant of exclusive
3        possession of residence" described in Section
4        214(b)(2), the immediate danger of further abuse of
5        the petitioner by the respondent, if the petitioner
6        chooses or had chosen to remain in the residence or
7        household while the respondent was given any prior
8        notice or greater notice than was actually given of
9        the petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief,
10        outweighs the hardships to the respondent of an
11        emergency order granting the petitioner exclusive
12        possession of the residence or household. This remedy
13        shall not be denied because the petitioner has or
14        could obtain temporary shelter elsewhere while prior
15        notice is given to the respondent, unless the
16        hardships to respondent from exclusion from the home
17        substantially outweigh those to the petitioner;
18            (iii) For the remedy of "possession of personal
19        property" described in Section 214(b)(10), improper
20        disposition of the personal property would be likely
21        to occur if the respondent were given any prior
22        notice, or greater notice than was actually given, of
23        the petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief, or
24        the petitioner has an immediate and pressing need for
25        possession of that property.
26    An emergency order may not include the counseling, legal

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 31 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1custody, payment of support, or monetary compensation
2remedies.
3    (a-5) When a petition for an emergency order of protection
4is granted, the order and file shall not be public and shall
5only be accessible to the court, the petitioner, law
6enforcement, a domestic violence advocate or counselor, the
7counsel of record for either party, and the State's Attorney
8for the county until the order is served on the respondent.
9    Accessibility to the order and file under this subsection
10prior to the order being served on the respondent shall be in
11accordance with Section 5 of the Court Record and Document
12Accessibility Act.
13    (b) Appearance by respondent. If the respondent appears in
14court for this hearing for an emergency order, he or she may
15elect to file a general appearance and testify. Any resulting
16order may be an emergency order, governed by this Section.
17Notwithstanding the requirements of this Section, if all
18requirements of Section 218 have been met, the court may issue
19a 30-day interim order.
20    (c) Emergency orders: court holidays and evenings.
21        (1) Prerequisites. When the court is unavailable at
22    the close of business, the petitioner may file a petition
23    for a 21-day emergency order before any available circuit
24    judge or associate judge who may grant relief under this
25    Act. If the judge finds that there is an immediate and
26    present danger of abuse to the petitioner and that the

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 32 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    petitioner has satisfied the prerequisites set forth in
2    subsection (a) of Section 217, that judge may issue an
3    emergency order of protection.
4        (1.5) Issuance of order. The chief judge of the
5    circuit court may designate for each county in the circuit
6    at least one judge to be reasonably available to issue
7    orally, by telephone, by facsimile, or otherwise, an
8    emergency order of protection at all times, whether or not
9    the court is in session.
10        (2) Certification and transfer. The judge who issued
11    the order under this Section shall promptly communicate or
12    convey the order to the sheriff to facilitate the entry of
13    the order into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System by
14    the Illinois State Police pursuant to Section 302. Any
15    order issued under this Section and any documentation in
16    support thereof shall be certified on the next court day
17    to the appropriate court. The clerk of that court shall
18    immediately assign a case number, file the petition, order
19    and other documents with the court, and enter the order of
20    record and file it with the sheriff for service, in
21    accordance with Section 222. Filing the petition shall
22    commence proceedings for further relief under Section 202.
23    Failure to comply with the requirements of this subsection
24    shall not affect the validity of the order.
25(Source: P.A. 101-255, eff. 1-1-20; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21;
26102-831, eff. 5-13-22; revised 7-29-22.)
 

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 33 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1    Section 60. The Probate Act of 1975 is amended by changing
2Section 11a-9 as follows:
 
3    (755 ILCS 5/11a-9)  (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 11a-9)
4    Sec. 11a-9. Report.
5    (a) The petition for adjudication of disability and for
6appointment of a guardian should be accompanied by a report
7which contains (1) a description of the nature and type of the
8respondent's disability and an assessment of how the
9disability impacts on the ability of the respondent to make
10decisions or to function independently; (2) an analysis and
11results of evaluations of the respondent's mental and physical
12condition and, where appropriate, educational condition,
13adaptive behavior and social skills, which have been performed
14within 3 months of the date of the filing of the petition, or,
15in the case of an intellectual disability, a psychological
16evaluation of the respondent that has been performed by a
17clinical psychologist licensed under the Clinical Psychologist
18Licensing Act, within one year of the date of the filing of the
19petition; (3) an opinion as to whether guardianship is needed,
20the type and scope of the guardianship needed, and the reasons
21therefor; (4) a recommendation as to the most suitable living
22arrangement and, where appropriate, treatment or habilitation
23plan for the respondent and the reasons therefor; (5) the
24name, business address, business telephone number, and

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 34 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1signatures of all persons who performed the evaluations upon
2which the report is based, one of whom shall be a licensed
3physician, or may, in the case of an intellectual disability,
4be a clinical psychologist licensed under the Clinical
5Psychologist Licensing Act, and a statement of the
6certification, license, or other credentials that qualify the
7evaluators who prepared the report.
8    (b) If for any reason no report accompanies the petition,
9the court shall order appropriate evaluations to be performed
10by a qualified person or persons and a report prepared and
11filed with the court at least 10 days prior to the hearing.
12    (b-5) Upon oral or written motion by the respondent or the
13guardian ad litem or upon the court's own motion, the court
14shall appoint one or more independent experts to examine the
15respondent. Upon the filing with the court of a verified
16statement of services rendered by the expert or experts, the
17court shall determine a reasonable fee for the services
18performed. If the respondent is unable to pay the fee, the
19court may enter an order upon the petitioner to pay the entire
20fee or such amount as the respondent is unable to pay. However,
21in cases where the Office of State Guardian is the petitioner,
22consistent with Section 30 of the Guardianship and Advocacy
23Act, no expert services fees shall be assessed against the
24Office of the State Guardian.
25    (c) Unless the court otherwise directs, any report
26prepared pursuant to this Section shall not be made part of the

 

 

10300HB2624ham001- 35 -LRB103 30697 LNS 59234 a

1public record of the proceedings but shall be available to the
2court or an appellate court in which the proceedings are
3subject to review, to the respondent, the petitioner, the
4guardian, and their attorneys, to the respondent's guardian ad
5litem, and to such other persons as the court may direct.
6    Accessibility to a report prepared pursuant to this
7Section shall be in accordance with Section 5 of the Court
8Record and Document Accessibility Act.
9(Source: P.A. 102-109, eff. 1-1-22.)".