HB0185 Summary

• Adds to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act a new purpose recognizing that equal parenting time involvement of both parents is presumptively in children's best interests.

• Deletes language stating that nothing in the Act requires each parent be allocated decision-making responsibilities.

• Establishes a rebuttable presumption in favor of equal parenting time between parents, requiring courts to issue written findings of fact and conclusions of law when deviating from this presumption.

• Relocates factors for determining a child's best interests for parenting time allocation to Section 602.7, including consideration of each parent's past caretaking, the child's wishes, domestic violence, and sex offender status.

• Requires courts to issue written decisions with specific findings and legal conclusions when restricting parental responsibilities or deviating from the equal parenting time presumption.