Illinois · House Bill 5638 · 103rd General Assembly

GAL-JUVENILE COURT ACT-IMDMA

HB 5638 Sponsored by Maurice A. West, II Died in committee

  1. Introduced Feb 9, 2024
  2. In committee Feb 9, 2024
  3. Died  
  4. Passed the Senate  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Defines a guardian ad litem as either (i) an attorney licensed in Illinois to practice law; or (ii) a person who holds at a minimum a bachelor's degree in psychology, psychiatry, social work, education, or any other relevant child-related discipline involving determining a child's best interests. Provides that a guardian litem must receive training to ensure they have a…

Read the full title (167 words)

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Defines a guardian ad litem as either (i) an attorney licensed in Illinois to practice law; or (ii) a person who holds at a minimum a bachelor's degree in psychology, psychiatry, social work, education, or any other relevant child-related discipline involving determining a child's best interests. Provides that a guardian litem must receive training to ensure they have a fundamental working knowledge of abuser tactics and its effects on children in domestic violence cases as ordered by the Supreme Court. Requires a guardian ad litem to meet with a child who has been exposed to domestic violence in an age-appropriate manner for at least an hour before the issuance of any judicial decision affecting the parental rights of the child and to meet with the child for at least an hour every 3 months and provide a written update to the court at least every six months. Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act to make conforming changes.

Every action

10 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

  1. HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Maurice A. West, II
  2. HouseFirst Reading
  3. CommitteeReferred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  4. CommitteeAssigned to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee · House Adoption & Child Welfare
  5. HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Maurice A. West, II
  6. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  7. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee · House Adoption & Child Welfare
  8. CommitteeRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  9. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  10. HouseSession Sine Die

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

From Illinois's official records (www.ilga.gov), checked Nov 2, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.