92_SB0615eng SB615 Engrossed LRB9203960WHcsA 1 AN ACT concerning family law. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of 5 Marriage Act is amended by changing Section 604 as follows: 6 (750 ILCS 5/604) (from Ch. 40, par. 604) 7 Sec. 604. Interviews.) (a) The court may interview the 8 child in chambers to ascertain the child's wishes as to his 9 custodian and as to visitation. Counsel shall be present at 10 the interview unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties. 11 The court shall cause a court reporter to be present who 12 shall make a complete record of the interview instantaneously 13 to be part of the record in the case. 14 (b) The court may seek the advice of professional 15 personnel, whether or not employed by the court on a regular 16 basis. The advice given shall be in writing and made 17 available by the court to counsel. Counsel may examine, as a 18 witness, any professional personnel consulted by the court, 19 designated as a court's witness. The court shall enter an 20 order as appropriate for costs, fees, and disbursements, 21 including a retainer, when the court's witness is appointed, 22 and thereafter as necessary. The order shall require payment 23 by any of the named parties, by any other party or source, or 24 from the marital estate or a child's separate estate in cases 25 involving children. The court may not order payment by the 26 Illinois Department of Public Aid in cases in which the 27 Department is providing child and spouse support services 28 under Article X of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Unless 29 otherwise ordered by the court at the time fees and costs are 30 approved, all fees and costs payable to a court's witness 31 under this subsection (b) are by implication deemed to be in SB615 Engrossed -2- LRB9203960WHcsA 1 the nature of support of the child or children and are within 2 the exceptions to discharge in bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. 3 523. 4 (Source: P.A. 80-923.)