Topic:
Custody and visitation
(Morthland, R-Moline) Makes three changes to the IMDMA. (1) It prohibits a court from awarding either sole custody or joint custody to a parent who has been convicted of any felony unless these criteria are met. (a) A psychological examination of the parent has been conducted by a qualified individual who gives an opinion that the parent is a fit person to raise and care for the child. (b) The child or the child's legal guardian has consented to an award of custody to the parent. (2) Prohibits a court from awarding unsupervised visitation to a parent who has been convicted of a felony unless the same criteria are met. (3) Requires immediate suspension of a parent's unsupervised visitation if the child alleges that he or she has been a victim of abuse or sexual molestation perpetrated by a person in the home where the unsupervised visitation has taken place. Introduced and referred to House Rules Committee for assignment to a substantive committee.