(55 ILCS 82/1)

Sec. 1.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the

Neutral Site Custody Exchange Funding Act.

(Source: P.A. 91‑811, eff. 6‑13‑00.)

(55 ILCS 82/10)

Sec. 10.

Definition.

In this Act:

"Custody exchange" means an exchange of the physical custody of a child at the commencement or conclusion of visitation with the child or at other times pursuant to an order for child custody or visitation.

"Neutral site" means a place not under the ownership or control of any party to an order for child custody or visitation, where a custody exchange takes place.

(Source: P.A. 91‑811, eff. 6‑13‑00.)

(55 ILCS 82/15)

Sec. 15.

Fund; fee; administration.

(a) In any county, a neutral site custody exchange fund may be established by the passage of an ordinance by the county board.

(b) In each county in which a county board has enacted an ordinance authorizing a neutral site custody exchange fund to be established, the county board shall set a fee to be collected by the clerk of the circuit court on all civil case filings of not less than $1 nor more than $8 to be paid by the plaintiff at the time of the filing of the case and by the defendant at the time of filing an appearance. The county board shall review the amount of the fee on an annual basis and shall increase the amount of the fee, not to exceed the $8 maximum, if the demand for neutral site custody exchanges requires additional funding.

(c) In each county in which a county board has enacted an ordinance authorizing a neutral site custody exchange fund to be established, the clerk of the circuit court shall charge and collect a neutral site custody exchange fund fee as established by the county ordinance. The fee shall be paid by the parties to the action at the time of filing the first pleading in all civil cases. The fees shall not be charged in any proceeding commenced by or on behalf of a unit of local government.

The fees shall be in addition to all other fees and charges of the clerk, shall be assessable as costs, shall be remitted by the clerk monthly to the county treasurer, and shall be deposited monthly by the county treasurer in the neutral site custody exchange fund established under this Section. Each such clerk shall commence the charging and collection of the fee upon receipt of written notice from the county board that a neutral site custody exchange fund has been established.

(Source: P.A. 93‑746, eff. 7‑15‑04.)

55 ILCS 82/20

(55 ILCS 82/20)

Sec. 20.

Grant disbursements.

(a) The county board in a county that has established a neutral site custody exchange fund shall annually make grant disbursements from the fund to one or more qualified not‑for‑profit organizations for the purpose of implementing a neutral site custody exchange program, provided that the expenditure is approved by the chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the county is located.

(b) Disbursements by the county board shall be made to one or more qualified not‑for‑profit organizations that operate within the county based on each such organization's proportionate share of the total number of neutral site custody exchanges handled by all such organizations in that county during the year prior to the grant application.

(c) In no event shall the disbursements to any not‑for‑profit organization in one year exceed $500,000. Any amounts collected under Section 15 but not disbursed in a particular year shall be paid to the county treasurer for the administration of justice in the county.

(Source: P.A. 91‑811, eff. 6‑13‑00.)

(55 ILCS 82/25)

Sec. 25.

Rules.

(a) The county board in a county in which a neutral site custody exchange fund has been established shall make rules pertaining to the operation and standards to be adhered to by a not‑for‑profit organization in that county in order to qualify for a grant under Section 20. The rules shall provide for the following:

(1) All work performed by the not‑for‑profit

organization, its staff, and volunteers shall be performed without collecting a fee or charge from the parties involved in a custody exchange.

(2) Each not‑for‑profit organization receiving a

grant under this Act shall maintain records as required by the county board. The records shall be available for inspection by the office of the Chief Judge and shall demonstrate adherence to applicable requirements.

(b) The county board in a county in which a neutral site custody exchange fund has been established may make additional rules necessary for the operation of this Act in that county.

(Source: P.A. 91‑811, eff. 6‑13‑00.)

(55 ILCS 82/5)

Sec. 5.

Legislative findings.

The General Assembly finds that the domestic relations area of law, and particularly child custody matters, frequently involves seemingly minor disputes between individuals that escalate into major social and legal problems without the intervention of neutral parties; these problems often result in emotional damage to the children involved and create an extra burden for the courts; there are compelling reasons for providing neutral sites for parents to exchange the physical custody of a child for purposes of visitation; and not‑for‑profit charitable organizations can make a substantial contribution to the expeditious implementation of child custody and visitation orders in this State.

(Source: P.A. 91‑811, eff. 6‑13‑00.)

(55 ILCS 82/99)

Sec. 99.

Effective date.

This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 91‑811, eff. 6‑13‑00.)