Bill > HB5121

This bill, titled the Family Justice Centers Act, establishes a framework for cities, counties, the State, and non-profit organizations to create multiagency, multidisciplinary Family Justice Centers, which are centralized locations offering comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. These centers will bring together professionals from various public and private agencies, such as domestic violence providers, rape crisis organizations, legal service providers, mental health professionals, law enforcement, and State's Attorneys' offices, to provide coordinated support and reduce the burden on survivors who often have to navigate multiple agencies and repeat their experiences. The Act mandates that these centers operate with survivor consent and strict confidentiality policies, ensuring privacy protections and requiring collaboration with law enforcement and community providers through operating agreements. It also outlines processes for survivor feedback, annual training standards for staff on topics like evidentiary privileges and confidentiality, and emphasizes a trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach to service delivery, acknowledging the rising rates of domestic violence and the need for enhanced support for victims of sexual violence and human trafficking. Importantly, survivors are not required to engage with law enforcement to receive services at a Family Justice Center, though information sharing protocols are established with provisions for mandatory reporting and safety concerns.

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=5121&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104