Text of IL SB 2761 (2024)

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 SB2761- 2 -LRB103 36750 LNS 66860 b 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 SB2761- 3 -LRB103 36750 LNS 66860 b