HB1280 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 07539 JRC 17583 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1280

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Rep. Daniel Didech

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act. Allows parents to enter into a temporary agreement granting custodial responsibility during military deployment. Allows a court, after a deploying parent receives notice of deployment and until the deployment terminates, to issue a temporary order granting custodial responsibility. Allows either parent to file a motion, at any time after a deploying parent receives notice of deployment, regarding custodial responsibility of a child during deployment. Allows a court, on motion of a deploying parent, to grant caretaking authority or limited contact to a nonparent who is an adult family member of the child or an adult with whom the child has a close and substantial relationship. Provides that an agreement or grant of authority is temporary and terminates after the deploying parent returns from deployment, unless the agreement has been terminated before that time by court order or modification. Provides that if a court has issued an order granting caretaking authority, the court may enter a temporary order for child support. Allows the court, after a deploying parent returns from deployment until a temporary agreement or order for custodial responsibility is terminated, to issue a temporary order granting the deploying parent reasonable contact with the child. Includes provisions regarding expedited hearings, testimony by electronic means, and the effect of prior judicial orders or agreements. Sets forth notice requirements related to pending deployments and change of mailing addresses.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning civil law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Article 1. General Provisions

Section 101. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act.

Section 102. Definitions. In this Act:

(1) "Adult" means an individual who has attained 18 years of age or an emancipated minor.

(2) "Caretaking authority" means the right to live with and care for a child on a day-to-day basis. "Caretaking authority" includes physical custody, parenting time, right to access, and visitation.

(3) "Child" means:

(A) an unemancipated individual who has not attained 18 years of age; or

(B) an adult son or daughter by birth or adoption, or under law of this State other than this Act, who is the subject of a court order concerning custodial responsibility.

(4) "Court" means a tribunal, including an administrative agency, authorized under law of this State other than this Act to make, enforce, or modify a decision regarding custodial responsibility.

(5) "Custodial responsibility" includes all powers and duties relating to caretaking authority and decision-making authority for a child. "Custodial responsibility" includes physical custody, legal custody, parenting time, right to access, visitation, and authority to grant limited contact with a child.

(6) "Decision-making authority" means the power to make important decisions regarding a child, including decisions regarding the child's education, religious training, health care, extracurricular activities, and travel. "Decision-making authority" does not include the power to make decisions that necessarily accompany a grant of caretaking authority.

(7) "Deploying parent" means a service member, who is deployed or has been notified of impending deployment and is:

(A) a parent of a child under law of this state other than this Act; or

(B) an individual who has custodial responsibility for a child under law of this State other than this Act;

(8) "Deployment" means the movement or mobilization of a service member for more than 90 days but less than 18 months pursuant to uniformed service orders that:

(A) are designated as unaccompanied;

(B) do not authorize dependent travel; or

(C) otherwise do not permit the movement of family members to the location to which the service member is deployed.

(9) "Family member" means a sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin, stepparent, or grandparent of a child or an individual recognized to be in a familial relationship with a child under law of this State other than this Act.

(10) "Limited contact" means the authority of a nonparent to visit a child for a limited time. "Limited contact" includes authority to take the child to a place other than the residence of the child.

(11) "Nonparent" means an individual other than a deploying parent or other parent.

(12) "Other parent" means an individual who, in common with a deploying parent, is:

(A) a parent of a child under law of this State other than this Act; or

(B) an individual who has custodial responsibility for a child under law of this State other than this Act.

(13) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

(14) "Return from deployment" means the conclusion of a service member's deployment as specified in uniformed service orders.

(15) "Service member" means a member of a uniformed service.

(16) "Sign" means, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record:

(A) to execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or

(B) to attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process.

(17) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(18) "Uniformed service" means:

(A) active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard of the United States;

(B) the United States Merchant Marine;

(C) the commissioned corps of the United States Public Health Service;

(D) the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States; or

(E) the National Guard of a state.

Section 103. Remedies for noncompliance. In addition to other remedies under law of this State other than this Act, if a court finds that a party to a proceeding under this Act has acted in bad faith or intentionally failed to comply with this Act or a court order issued under this Act, the court may assess reasonable attorney's fees and costs against the party and order other appropriate relief.

Section 104. Jurisdiction.

(a) A court may issue an order regarding custodial responsibility under this Act only if the court has jurisdiction under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

(b) If a court has issued a temporary order regarding custodial responsibility pursuant to Article 3, the residence of the deploying parent is not changed by reason of the deployment for the purposes of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act during the deployment.

(c) If a court has issued a permanent order regarding custodial responsibility before notice of deployment and the parents modify that order temporarily by agreement pursuant to Article 2, the residence of the deploying parent is not changed by reason of the deployment for the purposes of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

(d) If a court in another state has issued a temporary order regarding custodial responsibility as a result of impending or current deployment, the residence of the deploying parent is not changed by reason of the deployment for the purposes of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

(e) This Section does not prevent a court from exercising temporary emergency jurisdiction under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

Section 105. Notification required of deploying parent.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) and subject to subsection (c), a deploying parent shall notify in a record the other parent of a pending deployment not later than 7 days after receiving notice of deployment unless reasonably prevented from doing so by the circumstances of service. If the circumstances of service prevent giving notification within the 7 days, the deploying parent shall give the notification as soon as reasonably possible.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) and subject to subsection (c), each parent shall provide in a record the other parent with a plan for fulfilling that parent's share of custodial responsibility during deployment. Each parent shall provide the plan as soon as reasonably possible after notification of deployment is given under subsection (a).

(c) If a court order currently in effect prohibits disclosure of the address or contact information of the other parent, notification of deployment under subsection (a), or notification of a plan for custodial responsibility during deployment under subsection (b), may be made only to the issuing court. If the address of the other parent is available to the issuing court, the court shall forward the notification to the other parent. The court shall keep confidential the address or contact information of the other parent.

(d) Notification in a record under subsection (a) or (b) is not required if the parents are living in the same residence and both parents have actual notice of the deployment or plan.

(e) In a proceeding regarding custodial responsibility, a court may consider the reasonableness of a parent's efforts to comply with this Section.

Section 106. Duty to notify of change of address.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), an individual to whom custodial responsibility has been granted during deployment pursuant to Article 2 or 3 shall notify the deploying parent and any other individual with custodial responsibility of a child of any change of the individual's mailing address or residence until the grant is terminated. The individual shall provide the notice to any court that has issued a custody or child support order concerning the child which is in effect.

(b) If a court order currently in effect prohibits disclosure of the address or contact information of an individual to whom custodial responsibility has been granted, a notification under subsection (a) may be made only to the court that issued the order. The court shall keep confidential the mailing address or residence of the individual to whom custodial responsibility has been granted.

Section 107. General consideration in custody proceeding of parent's military service. In a proceeding for custodial responsibility of a child of a service member, a court may not consider a parent's past deployment or possible future deployment in itself in determining the best interests of the child but may consider any significant impact on the best interests of the child of the parent's past or possible future deployment.

Article 2. Agreement Addressing Custodial Responsibilities

During Deployment

Section 201. Form of agreement.

(a) The parents of a child may enter into a temporary agreement under this Article granting custodial responsibility during deployment.

(b) An agreement under subsection (a) must be:

(1) in writing; and

(2) signed by both parents and any nonparent to whom custodial responsibility is granted.

(c) Subject to subsection (d), an agreement under subsection (a), if feasible, must:

(1) identify the destination, duration, and conditions of the deployment that is the basis for the agreement;

(2) specify the allocation of caretaking authority among the deploying parent, the other parent, and any nonparent;

(3) specify any decision-making authority that accompanies a grant of caretaking authority;

(4) specify any grant of limited contact to a nonparent;

(5) if under the agreement custodial responsibility is shared by the other parent and a nonparent, or by other nonparents, provide a process to resolve any dispute that may arise;

(6) specify the frequency, duration, and means, including electronic means, by which the deploying parent will have contact with the child, any role to be played by the other parent in facilitating the contact, and the allocation of any costs of contact;

(7) specify the contact between the deploying parent and child during the time the deploying parent is on leave or is otherwise available;

(8) acknowledge that any party's child-support obligation cannot be modified by the agreement, and that changing the terms of the obligation during deployment requires modification in the appropriate court;

(9) provide that the agreement will terminate according to the procedures under Article 4 after the deploying parent returns from deployment; and

(10) if the agreement must be filed pursuant to Section 205, specify which parent is required to file the agreement.

(d) The omission of any of the items specified in subsection (c) does not invalidate an agreement under this Section.

Section 202. Nature of authority created by agreement.

(a) An agreement under this Article is temporary and terminates pursuant to Article 4 after the deploying parent returns from deployment, unless the agreement has been terminated before that time by court order or modification under Section 203. The agreement does not create an independent, continuing right to caretaking authority, decision-making authority, or limited contact in an individual to whom custodial responsibility is given.

(b) A nonparent who has caretaking authority, decision-making authority, or limited contact by an agreement under this Article has standing to enforce the agreement until it has been terminated by court order, by modification under Section 203, or under Article 4.

Section 203. Modification of agreement.

(a) By mutual consent, the parents of a child may modify an agreement regarding custodial responsibility made pursuant to this Article.

(b) If an agreement is modified under subsection (a) before deployment of a deploying parent, the modification must be in writing and signed by both parents and any nonparent who will exercise custodial responsibility under the modified agreement.

(c) If an agreement is modified under subsection (a) during deployment of a deploying parent, the modification must be agreed to in a record by both parents and any nonparent who will exercise custodial responsibility under the modified agreement.

Section 204. Power of attorney. A deploying parent, by power of attorney, may delegate all or part of custodial responsibility to an adult nonparent for the period of deployment if no other parent possesses custodial responsibility under law of this State other than this Act, or if a court order currently in effect prohibits contact between the child and the other parent. The deploying parent may revoke the power of attorney by signing a revocation of the power.

Section 205. Filing agreement or power of attorney with court. An agreement or power of attorney under this Article must be filed within a reasonable time with any court that has entered an order on custodial responsibility or child support that is in effect concerning the child who is the subject of the agreement or power. The case number and heading of the pending case concerning custodial responsibility or child support must be provided to the court with the agreement or power.

Article 3. Judicial Procedure for Granting Custodial

Responsibility During Deployment

Section 301. Definition. In this Article, "close and substantial relationship" means a relationship in which a significant bond exists between a child and a nonparent.

Section 302. Proceeding for temporary custody order.

(a) After a deploying parent receives notice of deployment and until the deployment terminates, a court may issue a temporary order granting custodial responsibility unless prohibited by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. Appendix Sections 521 and 522. A court may not issue a permanent order granting custodial responsibility without the consent of the deploying parent.

(b) At any time after a deploying parent receives notice of deployment, either parent may file a motion regarding custodial responsibility of a child during deployment. The motion must be filed in a pending proceeding for custodial responsibility in a court with jurisdiction under Section 104 or, if there is no pending proceeding in a court with jurisdiction under Section 104, in a new action for granting custodial responsibility during deployment.

Section 303. Expedited hearing. If a motion to grant custodial responsibility is filed under subsection (b) of Section 302 before a deploying parent deploys, the court shall conduct an expedited hearing.

Section 304. Testimony by electronic means. In a proceeding under this Article, a party or witness who is not reasonably available to appear personally may appear, provide testimony, and present evidence by electronic means unless the court finds good cause to require a personal appearance.

Section 305. Effect of prior judicial order or agreement. In a proceeding for a grant of custodial responsibility pursuant to this Article, the following rules apply:

(1) A prior judicial order designating custodial responsibility in the event of deployment is binding on the court unless the circumstances meet the requirements of law of this State other than this Act for modifying a judicial order regarding custodial responsibility.

(2) The court shall enforce a prior written agreement between the parents for designating custodial responsibility in the event of deployment, including an agreement executed under Article 2, unless the court finds that the agreement is contrary to the best interests of the child.

Section 306. Grant of caretaking or decision-making authority to nonparent.

(a) On motion of a deploying parent and in accordance with law of this State other than this Act, if it is in the best interests of the child, a court may grant caretaking authority to a nonparent who is an adult family member of the child or an adult with whom the child has a close and substantial relationship.

(b) Unless a grant of caretaking authority to a nonparent under subsection (a) is agreed to by the other parent, the grant is limited to an amount of time not greater than:

(1) the amount of time granted to the deploying parent under a permanent custody order, but the court may add unusual travel time necessary to transport the child; or

(2) in the absence of a permanent custody order that is currently in effect, the amount of time that the deploying parent habitually cared for the child before being notified of deployment, but the court may add unusual travel time necessary to transport the child.

(c) A court may grant part of a deploying parent's decision-making authority, if the deploying parent is unable to exercise that authority, to a nonparent who is an adult family member of the child or an adult with whom the child has a close and substantial relationship. If a court grants the authority to a nonparent, the court shall specify the decision-making powers granted, including decisions regarding the child's education, religious training, health care, extracurricular activities, and travel.

Section 307. Grant of limited contact. On motion of a deploying parent, and in accordance with law of this State other than this Act, unless the court finds that the contact would be contrary to the best interests of the child, a court shall grant limited contact to a nonparent who is a family member of the child or an individual with whom the child has a close and substantial relationship.

Section 308. Nature of authority created by temporary custody order.

(a) A grant of authority under this Article is temporary and terminates under Article 4 after the return from deployment of the deploying parent, unless the grant has been terminated before that time by court order. The grant does not create an independent, continuing right to caretaking authority, decision-making authority, or limited contact in an individual to whom it is granted.

(b) A nonparent granted caretaking authority, decision-making authority, or limited contact under this Article has standing to enforce the grant until it is terminated by court order or under Article 4.

Section 309. Content of temporary custody order.

(a) An order granting custodial responsibility under this Article must:

(1) designate the order as temporary; and

(2) identify to the extent feasible the destination, duration, and conditions of the deployment.

(b) If applicable, an order for custodial responsibility under this Article must:

(1) specify the allocation of caretaking authority, decision-making authority, or limited contact among the deploying parent, the other parent, and any nonparent;

(2) if the order divides caretaking or decision-making authority between individuals, or grants caretaking authority to one individual and limited contact to another, provide a process to resolve any dispute that may arise;

(3) provide for liberal communication between the deploying parent and the child during deployment, including through electronic means, unless contrary to the best interests of the child, and allocate any costs of communications;

(4) provide for liberal contact between the deploying parent and the child during the time the deploying parent is on leave or otherwise available, unless contrary to the best interests of the child;

(5) provide for reasonable contact between the deploying parent and the child after return from deployment until the temporary order is terminated, even if the time of contact exceeds the time the deploying parent spent with the child before entry of the temporary order; and

(6) provide that the order will terminate pursuant to Article 4 after the deploying parent returns from deployment.

Section 310. Order for child support. If a court has issued an order granting caretaking authority under this Article, or an agreement granting caretaking authority has been executed under Article 2, the court may enter a temporary order for child support consistent with law of this State other than this Act if the court has jurisdiction under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.

Section 311. Modifying or terminating grant of custodial responsibility to nonparent.

(a) Except for an order under Section 305, except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), and consistent with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. Appendix Sections 521 and 522, on motion of a deploying or other parent or any nonparent to whom caretaking authority, decision-making authority, or limited contact has been granted, the court may modify or terminate the grant if the modification or termination is consistent with this Article and it is in the best interests of the child. A modification is temporary and terminates pursuant to Article 4 after the deploying parent returns from deployment, unless the grant has been terminated before that time by court order.

(b) On motion of a deploying parent, the court shall terminate a grant of limited contact.

Article 4. Return From Deployment

Section 401. Procedure for terminating temporary grant of custodial responsibility established by agreement.

(a) At any time after return from deployment, a temporary agreement granting custodial responsibility under Article 2 may be terminated by an agreement to terminate signed by the deploying parent and the other parent.

(b) A temporary agreement under Article 2 granting custodial responsibility terminates:

(1) if an agreement to terminate under subsection (a) specifies a date for termination, on that date; or

(2) if the agreement to terminate does not specify a date, on the date the agreement to terminate is signed by the deploying parent and the other parent.

(c) In the absence of an agreement under subsection (a) to terminate, a temporary agreement granting custodial responsibility terminates under Article 2 60 days after the deploying parent gives notice to the other parent that the deploying parent returned from deployment.

(d) If a temporary agreement granting custodial responsibility was filed with a court pursuant to Section 205, an agreement to terminate the temporary agreement also must be filed with that court within a reasonable time after the signing of the agreement. The case number and heading of the case concerning custodial responsibility or child support must be provided to the court with the agreement to terminate.

Section 402. Consent procedure for terminating temporary grant of custodial responsibility established by court order. At any time after a deploying parent returns from deployment, the deploying parent and the other parent may file with the court an agreement to terminate a temporary order for custodial responsibility issued under Article 3. After an agreement has been filed, the court shall issue an order terminating the temporary order effective on the date specified in the agreement. If a date is not specified, the order is effective immediately.

Section 403. Visitation before termination of temporary grant of custodial responsibility. After a deploying parent returns from deployment until a temporary agreement or order for custodial responsibility established under Article 2 or 3 is terminated, the court shall issue a temporary order granting the deploying parent reasonable contact with the child unless it is contrary to the best interests of the child, even if the time of contact exceeds the time the deploying parent spent with the child before deployment.

Section 404. Termination by operation of law of temporary grant of custodial responsibility established by court order.

(a) If an agreement between the parties to terminate a temporary order for custodial responsibility under Article 3 has not been filed, the order terminates 60 days after the deploying parent gives notice to the other parent and any nonparent granted custodial responsibility that the deploying parent has returned from deployment.

(b) A proceeding seeking to prevent termination of a temporary order for custodial responsibility is governed by law of this State other than this Act.

Article 5. Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 501. Uniformity of application and construction. In applying and construing this uniform Act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

Section 502. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. This Act modifies, limits, or supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 101(c) of that Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in Section 103(b) of that Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7003(b).

Section 503. Saving clause. This Act does not affect the validity of a temporary court order concerning custodial responsibility during deployment which was entered before the effective date of this Act.