HB 5654

Abstract

Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Includes, in the definition of "abuse", the following: (i) coercive control that is a pattern of threatening, humiliating, or intimidating actions to harm an individual, stripping away the individual's sense of self and making the individual dependent by isolating, exploiting, and regulating the individual's behavior; (ii) emotional distress that undermines an individual's self-worth and self-esteem through constant criticism, diminishing abilities, and damaging relationships; (iii) psychological abuse that causes fear by intimidation, threatening harm, destroying property, and forcing isolation; as part of coercive control, it is a pattern of actions to harm, punish, or frighten that involves isolation, financial control, and coercion; and (iv) physical abuse or assault that includes actions such as hitting, slapping, and denying medical care. Requires that courts offer the option of a remote hearing to a petition for an order of protection that is now limited to counties with a population of more than 250,000. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Domestic Violence Victims' Expense Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for the purpose of assisting domestic violence victims in covering the expense of traveling to and from and participating in the domestic violence proceedings.