HB 5254

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that no stipulation of fact entered into by a parent shall be accepted by the court unless all of the following occur: (1) each factual statement appears as a separate, numbered line item; (2) the parent initials each numbered factual statement individually; (3) the stipulation includes a plainly written section, initialed by the parent, describing the legal effect of the stipulation, including reliance on stipulated facts to satisfy the constitutional standard for removal or continued custody, and the requirement of probable cause or exigent circumstances; and (4) the parent signs and initials a written attestation stating the parent: (i) has reviewed and understands each factual statement; (ii) agrees each initialed statement is true; (iii) enters the stipulation knowingly and voluntarily; and (iv) does so without coercion or improper pressure. Provides that no waiver of temporary custody or shelter care hearing shall be accepted unless: (1) the waiver appears in separate, numbered line items describing the right waived and its legal effect; (2) the parent initials each line item; (3) the parent signs a written attestation meeting; and (4) the court obtains verbal, on-the-record confirmation of the waiver. Provides that nothing in the provision creates a private cause of action or alters substantive evidentiary standards. Defines "probable cause"" and ""stipulation of fact""."