IL HB0861

Creates the Domestic Violence Maintenance Task Force to research maintenance award patterns in Illinois domestic relations cases involving domestic violence, including amounts paid and whether victims or abusers are paying.

Task Force shall develop recommendations on whether a rebuttable presumption should exist preventing primary aggressors of domestic or sexual abuse from receiving maintenance or temporary maintenance.

Task Force shall recommend whether domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery convictions should be added as a factor in Section 504 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

Task Force membership includes 2 domestic relations judges, the Attorney General, 2 state legislators from each chamber, and 8 public members appointed by the Governor representing victims' organizations, domestic violence victims, and family law lawyers.

Task Force must issue a preliminary report within 15 months and a final report with evidence-based recommendations within 15 months after the preliminary report; the act repeals on January 1, 2025, with $250,000 authorized for the research project subject to appropriation.