IL HB5270

Establishes juvenile-specific fitness to stand trial standards in Illinois, recognizing that minors differ from adults due to developmental limitations, immaturity, and trauma that may affect their ability to understand proceedings or assist in their defense.

Defines unfitness as lacking sufficient ability to consult with an attorney rationally or understand proceedings, considering factors including chronological immaturity, relative immaturity, mental illness, developmental disability, and child traumatic stress.

Requires the State to prove fitness by preponderance of evidence for minors 14 and older, and by clear and convincing evidence for minors under age 14, once a bona fide doubt of fitness is raised.

Mandates fitness evaluations be conducted by licensed clinical psychologists or psychiatrists with training in forensics, child development, and child trauma, completed within 30 days in the least restrictive environment.

Creates the Juvenile Discharge Hearing Task Force to examine Illinois' juvenile discharge hearing process, compare it with other states, and submit reform recommendations to the General Assembly by July 1, 2027, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2026.