Bill > HB5176

This bill, titled the Family Law Definitions Act, aims to standardize terminology in family law cases by defining and mandating the use of specific terms: "safe parent," "parental alienation," and "high conflict." A "safe parent" is defined by criteria such as not abusing or neglecting a child or the other parent, being deemed capable of caring for the child without supervision by court-appointed officers, and not being subject to a protective order. "Parental alienation" is defined as actions or statements intended to estrange a child from a safe parent without good cause, or to negatively influence the child's opinion of a safe parent in bad faith. "High conflict" behavior is described as obstreperous, combative, or injudicious actions by a parent that arbitrarily oppose the other parent's time with the child, and importantly, is not a reaction to abuse trauma, fear of an abuser, or mental health conditions like PTSD, depression, or anxiety. The bill explicitly states that courts must use these definitions when applicable, and prohibits the use of similar, invented terms to avoid compliance, with failure to apply these definitions being grounds for a legal appeal.

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=5176&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104